This quarter, we focus on Jesus as our Soon-Coming King in our weekly devotional series. This week’s devotional comes from Mark 5 – 10.
As I read through Mark 5 – 10, I note account after account of the power of God to alleviate human suffering. In Mark 5, we read that Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, and He restored Jairus’ daughter to life. In the next chapter, we read that Jesus walked on the water; shortly afterward He healed a man who could neither hear nor speak. All the miracles Jesus performed and the power He displayed point to the fact that He alone has the ultimate answer to the human condition: He provides complete salvation.
Two of my most vivid memories from childhood are based on experiences I had when I was about 9 years old. The first memory is of watching an Oral Roberts crusade on a black-and-white TV set. I was transfixed as person after person was healed by the power of God. The second memory is of my experience as a “Foursquare Cadet” in our local church. I memorized a scripture for each of the cardinal doctrines of The Foursquare Church, and I memorized 1 Thess. 4:16 for Christ the Soon-coming King: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout …” (NKJV).
Jesus came to Earth the first time as a vulnerable baby, born of a virgin; He humbled Himself and took on flesh so that He could die for our sins upon a rugged cross. When He appears a second time, as He surely will, He will do so in power and great glory to bring full and complete salvation to all who have accepted His sacrifice as payment for their sin (Heb. 9:28). His return in kingly splendor will be the completion of the earthly ministry that He began more than 2,000 years ago, as well as the completion of our salvation that was ordained before the earth’s foundations were laid.
The theme of this week’s devotional is “Who Is This King?” Psalm 24:8 says, “Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty …” Lift up your heads, and look with great expectancy! For this strong and mighty King is coming soon in great power to restore once and for all those who have believed in Him.
By: Sterling Brackett, chief operating officer and corporate secretary for The Foursquare Church
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