June 11th, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Faith not Fear

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Opening Prayer

Lord of the storm, and the storms in my life, speak Your word to me, “…don’t be afraid.”

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.

Meditate

“We fear being sued, finishing last, going broke, and the sound of the clock as it ticks us closer to the grave. What if faith, not fear, was our default reaction to threats?” (Max Lucado).

Think Further

I often watch repeats of sporting events on television or highlights at the end of the day, when I already know what the result will be—and this changes the way I make sense of it. When things are not going well for the winning team, I can see this as a minor setback, since I know they will win in the end, while every achievement has greater significance, since it is a foretaste of the victory to come!

This is how this passage should shape our perspective on our own lives. The focus here is not on when Jesus will come, but that he will. It is very clear that no one knows the hour (36)—and we certainly cannot work it out—but the fact of Jesus’ coming changes everything. Problems that would be disastrous—prayers unanswered, friends unresponsive, a culture that is increasingly hostile to faith, even persecution—are now mere setbacks, because we know how it will all end. Even the smallest of victories becomes hugely significant, because it is true to the final victory of God over all the powers of darkness.

All this should lead us to faith, not fear. Noah knew what was coming, and he acted in faith in preparation for that day. It was only those who did not listen to God who were taken by surprise and swept away in the flood (39). As it was then, “so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (37). It is those who have not listened and responded who will unexpectedly be taken in judgment, while we welcome the one we have expected to reign over the world that is rightfully his.

For those unaware, Jesus will come as a thief in the night; but for us who wait, he will come as a friend in the day—at an unknown time, but not unexpected.

Apply

How does the reality of Jesus’ return affect the way you live? What victories have you experienced recently? How do they strengthen your faith?

Closing prayer

Father, I want to envision the day when I trust You more and fear less. Loosen fear’s hold on me. When fear calls to me, may faith answer.

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