CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ON YOUTUBE
Matthew 24:36-44
Jesus has been answering the questions of His disciples as to the end of the age and of His return; when these things will take place (Matthew 24). As Jesus ends this segment of His teaching and leads into the next, He assures His disciples that no one will know the exact day and hour when these things will be fulfilled. But He gives warning as to the fact that not everyone will be gathered by His angels as this will only be for His elect (Matthew 24:30-31). So Jesus teaches His disciples to be ready for His coming always as the time is not known when it will be (Matthew 24:44).
This is a promise that no one knows the day and hour of Jesus’ return.
This is a command to be ready for that day – in Christ.
Jesus states in Matthew 24:42-44 (NKJV), “42Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43But 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. 44Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
As Jesus nears His time to fulfill His mission on earth physically in His sacrifice for the sins of everyone, He is drawing more deliberately on the need for everyone to be ready at His time of return. His words to His disciples ring true to us as well as He teaches in Matthew 24:12-14, “12And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Being a Christian will have its trials and tribulations as Satan will strive to make you fall from God’s grace. But each time you call on the name of Jesus to help you overcome these trials and tribulations, a great victory is won over the devil and his demons that attack us each day. Put your faith in Jesus and call on His name as you do not know which day will be your last. He will give your victory over the devil and glory will be given to Almighty God in heaven. The celebration is yours to have – in Christ!
Dear LORD,
Only You know when our last day and hour will be. Please help us to realize and understand the importance of being ready when that day comes so that we too may be gathered as Your elect by Your precious angels. In Jesus name I pray, amen.