Today’s The Day!
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since… what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor. 4:18).
Read Mark 13:28–37
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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.
The Day and Hour Unknown
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!’”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are you being alert for the coming of Jesus (33)? Or have you become complacent?Knowing that the events described in the first part of this chapter would occur in their lifetime (30) meant that the disciples could be prepared (29,33). The trouble was that no one—apart from their heavenly Father—knew when the trouble would start (32)!
In the absence of a timetable their only safe course was to live all of every day in a state of readiness (33), but to stay alert would apparently require teamwork (34)! In case some in the Christian community became too involved in the duties of everyday life, someone needed to keep watch and be ready to remind everyone of the urgency of the hour (33,35,37).
It is so easy to get drawn into the demands of daily life—even of church life—and forget that we live in a world where Jesus might return “suddenly,” at any moment. One of the great benefits of living in fellowship with other Christians is that there is always someone around to wake you up when you nod off (36)!
Apply
Prayerfully consider your Christian friends. Is there anyone who has “nodded off” spiritually? How could you wake them up?
Closing prayer
Pray for those you know who are struggling in their relationship with the Lord.
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