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6 Actions Every Christian Should Take in Light of Jesus’ Return

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The last year has been tough—no doubt about it. Many people have asked me how I’ve stayed so positive during such a difficult time. Here’s my answer: I’ve read the end of the story. I know we win. I don’t know when Jesus will return (no one does), but I know we’re closer than we’ve ever been in the history of the world. Many Christians know that Jesus is coming back someday, but it doesn’t affect their lives. They don’t understand how the truth of Jesus’ return connects to the problems they’re facing. But James 2:12 says, “Speak and act like people who will be judged by the law that sets us free” (CEV). Jesus wants his followers to be ready for his return. So as we lead our churches through this tough season, one of our responsibilities is to help people get ready for the second coming of Jesus. How should we live in light of Jesus’ return? Here are six actions to take from the book of James:

Clean up the garbage from our lives.

“Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” (James 1:20-21 NLT). When we’re expecting house guests, we clean up our houses. In a similar way, we need to prepare our lives for Jesus’ return by confessing our sin and inviting God to remove it from our lives. Let’s urge our congregations to do the same.

Remain close to Christ.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8 ESV). As we get closer to the climax of history, it’s important for us to draw near to Jesus. The Bible also says, “Remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame” (1 John 2:28 NLT). We are to be “full of courage” for whatever comes our way as we await his return. Our ability to face the difficulties on the horizon is connected to our closeness to God. Now isn’t the time to stray from him. We need him more than ever.

Use trouble to become spiritually strong.

“You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance. Endure until your testing is over. Then you will be mature and complete, and you won’t need anything” (James 2:3-4 GW). When Jesus returns, it won’t matter if we made a ton of money in our careers. It won’t matter if we’re famous. God is more interested in us becoming spiritually strong. Whether we face vocational, financial, or relational troubles, used correctly, they won’t stunt our spiritual growth, but instead they will spur us to grow even more.

Practice loving everyone.

“You will do all right, if you obey the most important law in the Scriptures. It is the law that commands us to love others as much as we love ourselves” (James 2:8 CEV). This is particularly important in our world today as it becomes less loving, more bitter, and more polarized. As we await the return of Christ, we need to see people with eyes of love and refuse to look down on those we don’t agree with. In 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, Paul says to “increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, so that [God] may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints” (BSB).

Invest in the bank of heaven.

“Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!” (James 2:17 CEV). Five times in his book, James emphasizes God’s generosity toward us. He also reminds us that God’s generosity should inspire us to be more generous with others. As we live in light of eternity, it becomes more clear that we don’t need all we have. So as we give to others what God has given to us, the Bible says we’re storing up treasures in heaven.

Use our gifts to reach others.

“Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:17 NLT). God created every one of us with certain gifts, talents, abilities, and skills. God doesn’t do this for our own good but for the good of others. And he gives church leaders the responsibility of helping people discover what their gifts are—and how to use their gifts to help others. When pastors don’t equip their congregations to serve, it’s as if they’re encouraging them to waste what God has given them. The truth is, the more your congregation understands the reality of Jesus’ return, the more motivated they will be to apply these six actions to their lives. I’m asked often, “Why do you think Jesus hasn’t returned yet?” It’s really not a hard question. Peter answers it in 2 Peter 3:15, “Our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved” (NLT). God isn’t lazy. He’s patient. As we help people make these actions a part of their lives on a regular basis, more people will get saved. Jesus will come back. We don’t know when. But let’s help people get ready as we wait.

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Remember Your Gospel Mission

“The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 (NCV)Pastor, God gave you a mission. With meetings to lead, decisions to make, and another sermon to prepare, it’s easy for that mission to get crowded out of your week.Nothing matters more than this mission.The most important work in your ministry isn’t to keep every program running, finish every task, or satisfy every expectation. Those responsibilities matter, but they must serve the mission Jesus gave you: telling people the Good News of God’s grace.Paul said, “The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace” (Acts 20:24 NCV).Jesus died on the cross to bring grace to you and to give you a mission. Part of your mission is to tell other people about the Good News of God’s grace. You came to faith in Christ because someone told you about Jesus. Now who are you going to tell?Jesus died for every single person in your community and around the world. Many people go through life without knowing what he did for them. Some live near your church. Some are people you see every week. They need to hear about his grace.Because God cares about every single person on the planet, we must too. Because God showed grace to us when he saved us, we must tell other people about the amazing grace of God. They can have a relationship with God and an eternal home in heaven.This week, ask God to help you share that Good News with one person.It’s our mission!

Preach to Build People Up

Pastor, people need to hear the truth. They also need to see the life God is calling them to live. I want my preaching to build people and help them believe they can take the next step.The Bible says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 NIV).Speaking the truth in love means telling people what they need to hear for their growth and caring about them as we say it. Kindness gives people what they need, not what they deserve. In preaching, that means challenging people and correcting them with their growth in mind.Give people a personal challengePaul writes, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1 NIV). He is challenging believers to make their lives count. We all need a cause or purpose that calls forth the best in us. Preach toward a cause bigger than self-interest. Call people to use their strengths to serve others and make their lives count. Challenge the best in them, then give them a clear next step.Give people confidenceWhen somebody believes in you, it brings out the best in you. Jesus gave Simon a new name and told him what he could become. Simon was impulsive, but Jesus saw his potential.People need encouragement. Our words can reinforce labels they already carry, or point them toward what God can develop in them. Help them see their potential and take a next faithful step.Give people honest counselThere is no progress without learning, and no learning without feedback. Proverbs says, “People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17 GNT). People need someone who cares enough to tell them the truth, even when it hurts. When correction is needed, name it plainly.Aim to help a person change without condemning them. Affirm the person and correct the behavior. Speak the truth in love. That kind of correction can build people up.As you prepare this week, think of one person who needs a challenge, encouragement, or honest correction. Ask how your words can help that person grow. Build people up with kindness. Speak the truth in love.

Leave Some Room to Listen

“Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” Matthew 6:6 (MSG)Pastor, by Monday morning, you may already be thinking about next Sunday’s sermon. Your phone already has messages waiting, and someone needs you to make a decision. Finding a few quiet minutes can feel like one more task you’re behind on.But look at Jesus’ invitation above. He asks you to come honestly, without playing a part. You don’t have to arrive with a lesson prepared or something helpful to say. You can tell God what’s really going on with you.You spend much of your week helping other people know him. He wants time with you, too.That can be easy to forget when every open moment fills with sound. You listen to a podcast in the car. You check your phone between appointments. Even when you’re alone, someone else’s words keep coming.There’s nothing wrong with listening and learning. But leave some room to listen to God. The sermon you’re studying won’t take the place of bringing your own heart to him.You may not have a quiet office or an uninterrupted morning. Could you close the door for a few minutes before returning calls? Or take a short walk and leave your phone behind?The point is to meet with God. Tell him what you’re carrying. Give your attention to his Word. Let there be a little silence without rushing to fill it.Before you open the next message today, take a few quiet minutes with him. You have people to care for this week, and your Father welcomes you into his care.

What Jesus Does When You Fail

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)Maybe you blew it last week, Pastor. A decision that hurt someone. A harsh word in a meeting. A weakness you swore you'd beaten, back again. And now it's Monday, and Sunday is already coming.Failure is isolating. When you're in the middle of a failure, you feel ashamed and just want to be alone. That's doubly true when you lead a church. You're supposed to be the person who’s whole.But Jesus is with you always, even in your greatest failure. To help you through your failures, he is doing three things:Jesus prays for you. Even before Peter had failed, Jesus told him, "I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail" (Luke 22:32 NASB).Even at this very moment, Jesus is interceding—praying—for you. The Bible says, "He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf" (Hebrews 7:25 NLT).Jesus believes in you. In fact, he expects you to heal and recover. That's why, before Peter’s big failure, Jesus told him, "When you have repented and turned to me again . . ." (Luke 22:32 NLT). Jesus knew Peter would sin and fail and eventually come back to him.And Jesus knows the same about you. We all fail, and we fail repeatedly. Your biggest weaknesses are often habitual. The same one, again and again. But God isn't only there for the big, one-time failure. He's there for the mistakes you make over and over.Jesus shows you mercy. Jesus is more willing to show mercy than you are willing to ask for it. When you're down, he doesn't beat you up or add to your guilt. He saves you.In John 21, not long after Peter denied him, Jesus found Peter back in his fishing boat. Empty nets. A failed night. At dawn Jesus called from the shore and told Peter and the other fishermen where to cast. "So they did, and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it" (John 21:6 NLT).That catch was Jesus' answer to Peter's failure. He is ready to do the same for you. He can do more in five minutes than you can do in 50 years of planning.And God's mercy toward you is not dependent on your performance. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning—including this Monday morning.You may be ready to give up on yourself, Pastor. Jesus isn't. He is praying for you, believes in you, and will always show you mercy. He has never been more faithful to you than he is today.

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