Mark 13:33-37 says,...
Today's verses are Mark 13:33-37 which read,
33 - "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.
34 - It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.
35 - Therefore, be on the alert--for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning--
36 - in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 - What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'"
Wow - this goes so much along with my short devotional this morning before the choir sings. Sometimes it is so great to give an illustration or short story to make a point and that is what Jesus is doing here.
First is the fact in verse 33 that there is an "...appointed time..." and it "...will come..." and "...you do not know when..." so "Take heed..." and "...keep on the alert;..." Be discerning and attentive that Jesus is going to return and don't spiritually fall asleep on this matter. Then comes the story illustration and lets add the characters to the story.
A man (Jesus) is going away on a journey (to heaven, to the right hand of God). Before leaving his house (the church) he (Jesus) put his slaves (believers) in charge and gives them tasks (spiritual gifts manifested in good deeds to love God and love one another). He (Jesus) also commands the doorkeeper (the spiritual leadership of the church) to watch even more attentively of who is coming and going.
Then Jesus gives us the time frame in which the master (Jesus) of the house (the church) will return (which is the fact). In the Jewish day there were 4 watches or times of the day. "...in the evening..." "...at midnight..." "...when the rooster crows..." "...in the morning..." (dusk, night, daybreak, day) Jesus could come at anytime.
And the final warning or instruction is to not be spiritually asleep about this fact that He is coming back. Jesus knew that the church would fall asleep on this matter so He spoke of it often. We have been guilty of this. I have been guilty of this. I can get so wrapped up in church and things of this world that Jesus coming again is an afterthought or something on the back burner or only for those studies of the book of Revelation.
Are we spiritually awake to this fact? Are we living our lives in the knowledge of His return? As a church, are we making the most of what Jesus has given us to fulfill the tasks at hand because of His return? All things to ponder this day.
Pastor Adam
33 - "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.
34 - It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert.
35 - Therefore, be on the alert--for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning--
36 - in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep.
37 - What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'"
Wow - this goes so much along with my short devotional this morning before the choir sings. Sometimes it is so great to give an illustration or short story to make a point and that is what Jesus is doing here.
First is the fact in verse 33 that there is an "...appointed time..." and it "...will come..." and "...you do not know when..." so "Take heed..." and "...keep on the alert;..." Be discerning and attentive that Jesus is going to return and don't spiritually fall asleep on this matter. Then comes the story illustration and lets add the characters to the story.
A man (Jesus) is going away on a journey (to heaven, to the right hand of God). Before leaving his house (the church) he (Jesus) put his slaves (believers) in charge and gives them tasks (spiritual gifts manifested in good deeds to love God and love one another). He (Jesus) also commands the doorkeeper (the spiritual leadership of the church) to watch even more attentively of who is coming and going.
Then Jesus gives us the time frame in which the master (Jesus) of the house (the church) will return (which is the fact). In the Jewish day there were 4 watches or times of the day. "...in the evening..." "...at midnight..." "...when the rooster crows..." "...in the morning..." (dusk, night, daybreak, day) Jesus could come at anytime.
And the final warning or instruction is to not be spiritually asleep about this fact that He is coming back. Jesus knew that the church would fall asleep on this matter so He spoke of it often. We have been guilty of this. I have been guilty of this. I can get so wrapped up in church and things of this world that Jesus coming again is an afterthought or something on the back burner or only for those studies of the book of Revelation.
Are we spiritually awake to this fact? Are we living our lives in the knowledge of His return? As a church, are we making the most of what Jesus has given us to fulfill the tasks at hand because of His return? All things to ponder this day.
Pastor Adam
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