Being Ready
Opening Prayer
Lord God, I pray that Your Word will guide both my thinking and my doing as I read it today.
Read Mark 13:28-37
[28] “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. [29] Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. [30] Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. [31] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. [32] “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [33] Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. [34] It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. [35] “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. [36] If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. [37] What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!'” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Reflect
What does this passage say about predicting Christ's return?It’s difficult to separate Saturday’s passage from today’s. The whole chapter intertwines two events. One of them is now in the past–the destruction of the Temple (14). The other is in the future–the return of Jesus (26). Jesus returns to the subject of fig trees. When fig trees come into leaf it is a sign of the approaching summer (28). Similarly, the events described in vs. 5-13 are a sign to warn of terrible things about to happen in Jerusalem. These signs are not meant as clues to tell us when the end would come. No one knows when that will be (32). Their real point is to change the way we live. The only thing that we do know about the end is that it will be sudden (35,36). For us, much of what Jesus warned the disciples about still stands. False messiahs, stretched relationships and persecution have always been part of Christian experience. It may be a long time since Jesus left the earth, but his return is as certain as ever. For us the most important thing of all is the last word, “Watch!” (37).
Apply
If you knew that the world would end tomorrow, what would you change today? So why not change it anyway?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I realize I can’t know when You’ll return, but help me to “watch” and be ready, I pray.
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