Tag: watching
Why the mourning?
Scripture reading for February 3rd: Matthew 24
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in the heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31
This was Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples about conditions on the earth at His return in power and glory. There would be a period of great tribulation on the earth just prior to His return. This period would be marked by a darkened sun and no moonlight. There would be great shaking in the heavens, causing the stars to fall. People on earth would be fainting with fear at the supernatural events. Then, suddenly, the sign of the Son of Man would appear. Jesus Christ would come with legions of angels in great power and glory. The command to gather His elect from the corners of the earth would go forth and those watching for Him and prepared would be caught up to meet Him.
However, there would be many from the tribes on earth who would be mourning at His glorious coming! Why? I believe it is because they refused to listen to the warnings of Jesus and the Word of God. They were busy doing their own things instead of preparing for Christ’s return and furthering His kingdom through sharing the Gospel and holy living. The judgments of the tribulation and the signs on earth and in heaven were lost on them. They wrote them off as ‘climate change’ or chance. They mocked God and those warning them.
As you contemplate this description of Christ’s coming, would you say that you are prepared? What signs have you observed that match those in this passage? What is your attitude towards God’s Word?
Prayer: Father, thank You again for warning us through Your own Son of the events at His return. I am trusting in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and Word for escape from tribulation and eternal life. Use me to share this Good News with those still lost in their own willful ways. May my family all be saved. Amen.
The God Who Watches Over His Own!
Scripture reading for February 4th: Exodus 10-12, Ephesians 2
Key Scriptures: Exodus 12:40-42 “The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.”
Our salvation and deliverance from sin and death is not an accident. It did not come from man’s works or schemes, but was a sovereign act of God prepared beforehand and announced through the prophets. On an exact day predetermined by God, the Israelites were brought out of Egypt through the grace of God by a blood sacrifice. So Paul wrote to the Ephesians, that God’s grace alone had brought them salvation through faith in His Firstborn Son’s sacrifice. God watched over it all and now we watch in amazement as He completes the work in us.
Faith Confession and prayer: I simply rest in the grace given me by trusting in Jesus Christ and His shed blood. I ask our Lord to guide me daily in fulfillment of the works He also has prepared for me as I wait and watch for the fullness of time and Christ’s return!
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Thankful for a God who Watches!
Scripture reading for August 18th: Jeremiah 5-8
Key Scriptures: Jeremiah 7:9-11 “Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, “We are safe”–safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching!” declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah was called as a young child to be a prophet to the nations. In fact, before God formed him in the womb, this call was on his life! Jeremiah had a hard message for his own people, the Jews. Many of them were going through the motions of religious activity, but their daily lives were a mess of sin and rebellion against God’s Law and loving character. God sent Jeremiah with a message of what He saw!
Thankful for a Watchful Savior: “On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as He taught them, He said, “Is it not written: “‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations/? but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ (Mark 11:15-17)