My reading plan this morning has verses 11 through 18 of 1Thessalonians 4 bundled together as a reading . . . and it strikes me as presenting an interesting contrast. It begins with “aspire to lead a quiet life” (v. 11a) and ends with “thus we shall always be with the Lord” (v.17b). Practical, basic commands for doing life day in, day out (v. 11-12) give way to high and lofty considerations of Jesus descending with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, with the trumpet of God (v. 16). It starts with practical, basic commands for living and then jumps to what our perspective should be on dying. Paul tells these believers how to walk the talk while on earth but reminds them of a soon coming day when those who are alive at His coming will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord (v. 17).

And I guess, as I start out another week of “the routine”, I need to be reminded of “the return.”

That Paul, moved by the Spirit of God, should command these believers on doing the routine to the glory of God shouldn’t be lost on me. The routine counts. The basics need to be done. I need to aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind my own business, to work with my hands (I’m guessing using a computer keyboard counts) in order to “walk properly toward those who are outside. It is in these “mundane” activities where the bulk of my witness is found on most days. There is a way to do life for God and there’s a way to do life for me and/or for the world. There’s a way to walk and work that’s “proper” and a way that’s improper for those who take the name of Jesus. Good to remember from time to time.

And while Paul shifts the conversation in verse 13 as a means of providing comfort to these new believers as they work through the implications of death and their faith, these words of comfort also provide a context for the routine. Whether by death or by flight, the day is coming when we will be with the Lord . . . perhaps sooner than any of us really imagines. Whether by “crossing Jordan” or being “called into the clouds”, as believers our hope is grounded in the glorious day when faith gives ways to sight . . . when looking into a mirror dimly gives way to face-to-face. And so, shouldn’t I begin each day of routine with the recognition that “perhaps today” I will see Jesus. Kind of feels like it would have an impact on how I go about the routine, doesn’t it.

I’ve heard it referred to as living in the light of the imminent return of the Lord. I believe the claim that never has the church been more alive or more effective that when it has been gripped with the reality of the Lord’s “any moment now” return. Whether it’s on the frontline of foreign missions or working one’s “day job” to the glory of God, living in the reality of the “there and then” can have a huge impact on doing life in the “here and now.”

There’s coming a time when “we shall always be with the Lord” . . . until then, shouldn’t we always be living for the Lord . . . even in the routine? I’m thinking so.

Time to shower . . . time to shave . . . time to get ready for the day . . . time to do life in light of THE DAY . . . by His grace . . . and for His glory . . . amen?