Tuesday October 27, 2020

Today’s Reading: Mark 13:14-37

“It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming-whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning.”

Mark 13:34-35

Reflection: Since Jesus ascended in the first century A.D., many have tried to predict when He would return. It goes without saying that all of these predictions have been errant, and all in the future will be. So, don’t place any wagers on this one, no matter what Vegas, or any preacher (for that matter), tells you!

What is interesting, however, is that in almost every case where there had been a prediction of Christ’s return, the people groups who believed these predictions stopped living. Some would quit their jobs, others would give away their houses and possessions, and they would meet with the rest of their group on the predicted date just waiting for Christ to return. It is sad that many of these people would become disillusioned with Christianity and even leave the faith altogether.

But these wayward predictions and their aftermath can be attributed to two things: 1) an ignorance of Scripture, and 2) a misunderstanding of what we are supposed to do until Christ returns.

In our text from Mark’s Gospel, Jesus makes it very clear to His disciples that NO ONE knows the day or the hour when Jesus will return. No human on earth, no angel in heaven, not even Jesus knows when He is coming back. Only God the Father knows the timing for Christ’s return. So, predicting when Jesus is going to come back is not what we should be doing, even in these interesting times.

What, then, should we be doing?

Waiting for Christ while working for Christ until Christ returns.

Unlike those who waited for Jesus by stopping their work and literally waiting, we must wait for Jesus by working for Jesus until God says it is time. This will keep us from worrying about when Christ will return, and instead will make us active for Christ, giving us excitement for His coming.

My family in Christ, let us wait for Christ by working for Him until He either returns to earth or calls us home to Him, so that in either case we might hear those precious words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into My rest.”

Prayer: Lord God, I pray that You open my eyes to see how You are moving and working in the world, that I might be alert to the signs that point to the return of Your Son Jesus. Help me to wait for Him by working for Him until He returns or until You call me home, so that my life may be a sweet offering unto You. I pray all of these things in Your Holy Name, AMEN.

Thru the Bible in a year (credit: Biblestudytools.com: Mark 13:14-37; 1 Kings 7; Hosea 9:1-16