There will come an end to this age of Grace. No one knows when. But everyday we draw a little closer to the end of evil and the glorious reign of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God.
Matthew 25:13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
We are never abandoned; Christ is with us. His death was not the end. On our darkest days, we have hope because of His resurrection.
Let's "remember that [we] were at that time separated from Christ ... having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus [we] who once were far off have been brought near" (Ephesians 2:12-13,).
Jesus Christ…is our atoning Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), and He "has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). First 5
So, I’m so grateful for this, from Kent Neburn’s book Small Graces. It does my heart good…
“I have walked a quiet path today… Do we really need much more than this?
To honor the dawn. To visit a garden. To talk to a friend.
To contemplate a cloud. To cherish a meal.
To bow our heads before the mystery of the day. Are these not enough?
If we should be so lucky as to touch the lives of many, so be it. But if our lot is no more than the setting of a table, or the tending of a garden, or showing a child a path in a wood, our lives are no less worthy.
To do justice. To love mercy. To walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8)
To bring peace to the old. To have trust in our friends. To cherish the young. Sometimes, it seems, we ask too much. Sometimes we forget that the small graces are enough.” Sabbath Moments
If God is able to place the stars in their sockets and suspend the sky like a curtain, do you think it remotely possible God is able to guide your life? Next time a sunrise steals your breath, say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, “Do you like it? I did it just for you.” Max Lucado
Matthew 24:36–42
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. The New King James Version
Jesus might be alluding to the Septuagint translation of Zechariah 14:7, which reads “It will be for one day—and that day is known to the Lord.” If the Father knows something, it is difficult to understand how Jesus does not also know it since He is equal with God. However, when Jesus took on human form, He accepted limitations of His divine attributes. It may be that Jesus does have this knowledge now since He is presently in His exalted state. This phrase might describe the gathering of God’s people to Himself (Mattew 24:31); if that is the case there is no indication here of what happens to the remaining people. The point of this parable is that believers need to be vigilant for Jesus’ return, because it will be sudden and unexpected. Faithlife Study Bible
Mark 13:32 indicates that even Jesus Himself did not know the day and hour of His return. When the Lord Jesus was on earth, He voluntarily limited His use of His divine attributes. Therefore He became hungry, thirsty, and tired. Luke records that Jesus grew in knowledge and wisdom. In this instance, Jesus surrendered the use of His divine omniscience. As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be: Jesus was referring to the indifference of the people of that time to the coming disaster. There is nothing sinful about eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. However, the people of the end times will be doing these things without any thought of God or the coming judgment. As Noah was vigilant in preparing for the Flood, so should people living in the tribulation be alert. They should prepare for the return of Christ. The NKJV Study Bible
Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 7:7 So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the flood.
Genesis 7:8 Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of everything that creeps on the earth,
Genesis 7:21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man.
No comments:
Post a Comment