August 18 2026

August 18 Tuesday

1 Thessalonians 1:10

Waiting for His Son from Heaven

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat. Today we come to the final verse of 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. Paul writes: “And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” Yesterday, in verse 9, we saw that the Thessalonian believers had “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Today Paul gives us another evidence of their genuine conversion: they were waiting for Jesus to return. In these two verses we really have a wonderful picture of the Christian life. We have turned to God. We are serving God. And we are waiting for the Son of God. That is Christianity in three directions: we look back to our conversion, we look around for opportunities to serve, and we look ahead for the return of Jesus Christ.

Paul says they were waiting “for His Son from heaven.” The word “wait” does not mean that they were sitting around doing nothing. Biblical waiting is an attitude of expectation. It means living every day with the realization that Jesus Christ could return. Remember, these Thessalonian believers were young Christians. Paul had only been with them for a short time. Yet one of the truths he had already taught them was the return of Jesus Christ. That tells us something about how important this doctrine is. In fact, the return of Christ is mentioned in every chapter of 1 Thessalonians. At the end of chapter 1, we are waiting for His Son from heaven. At the end of chapter 2, Paul speaks of being in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ “at His coming.” At the end of chapter 3, he speaks of “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” Chapter 4 contains that wonderful passage where Paul tells us: “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout…” And in chapter 5, Paul speaks again about “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So the return of Jesus is not a minor subject in this letter. It is woven throughout it.

But notice Who we are waiting for. Paul does not say we are waiting primarily for an event. He says we are waiting for “His Son from heaven.” We are waiting for a Person. We are waiting for Jesus. The One Who loved us. The One Who died for us. The One Who rose again. The One Who promised, “I will come again.” Paul then reminds us that God “raised Him from the dead.” Our hope in Christ's return is connected to the resurrection.

Jesus is not in a grave somewhere. He is alive! The same Jesus Who died on the cross and rose from the grave ascended into heaven, and one day He is coming again.

In Acts chapter 1, as the disciples watched Jesus ascend into heaven, two angels said: “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” My friend, Jesus is coming again. We don't know the day. We don't know the hour. But we know Who is coming, and that should affect the way we live today. If we really believe Jesus could return, it should encourage us to live holy lives. It should cause us to forgive quickly. It should motivate us to share the Gospel. It should remind us not to become too attached to the things of this world. And it should give us hope when life becomes difficult.

Then Paul closes the chapter with these wonderful words: “Even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” There is judgment coming upon sin, but for those who have trusted Jesus Christ, there is wonderful assurance. Jesus has delivered us. Our salvation rests not in what we have done for Him, but in what He has done for us. He took our judgment upon Himself on the cross. He paid the price for our sins, and because we have trusted Him, we can face the future not with fear, but with hope.

I love how this entire first chapter fits together. These believers had a work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in verse 3. They received the Word in verse 6. They became examples in verse 7. They sounded out the Word in verse 8. They turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God in verse 9. And now, in verse 10, they were waiting for Jesus to return. What a testimony! And what a pattern for us today. Receiving the Word. Living the Word. Sharing the Word. Serving the Lord. And waiting for Jesus. My friend, perhaps today would be a good day to ask ourselves: Am I living as though Jesus could come today? Because one day—perhaps sooner than we think—our waiting will be over. Jesus is coming again!

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Thank You that Jesus died for our sins, that You raised Him from the dead, and that one day He is coming again. Lord, help us to live every day expecting His return. Keep our hearts from becoming too attached to this world. Help us to faithfully serve You, share Your Word, love those around us, and live in a way that honors Jesus Christ. Thank You that because of Jesus we do not have to fear the wrath to come. Thank You for saving us by Your grace and giving us the blessed hope of seeing our Savior face to face. Until that day, may we be faithful. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!