Surprise, Surprise!
Opening Prayer
Lord God, I praise You today for Your might and power that You use so wisely and well on our behalf.
Read MATTHEW 24:36-51
[36] “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [37] As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. [38] For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; [39] and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. [40] Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. [41] Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. [42] “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. [43] But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. [44] So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. [45] “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? [46] It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. [47] I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. [48] But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ [49] and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. [50] The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. [51] He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What key admonition is Jesus making here?Some people are mystery shoppers. They turn up at a restaurant, cinema or business undetected, unknown and unannounced, and observe whether it is performing to the highest of standards. The whole idea is to see people’s true colors—how they really are and what values they really care about. In a similar way the return visit of Jesus is unknown, except by the Father (36). We are therefore encouraged to maintain godly standards of behavior and not become lazy or shameful (42). The supreme quality our Master is looking for is faithfulness (45).
In order to make this point, Matthew uses the analogy of servants who have been put in charge of their master’s household. The servant who abuses that trust and ignores his responsibilities will be punished (51). But the true servant is the one who carries out his master’s wishes with wisdom and consistency, not getting sidetracked by other things. We may have started our walk of faith with godly intentions and a spirit-filled passion, but have we become distracted? Perhaps it’s time to consider again the wishes of our Master and follow them.
Apply
If there are ways in which you know you’ve been unfaithful to Christ, ask for forgiveness and strength to live differently.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, You are faithful to me every day and I want to live each day faithful to You.
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