What part of this verse is most important to you? If you had been one of the shepherds on that dark winter night, hearing the angels proclaim the Messiah's arrival on planet earth, hearing them say, "This will be the sign for you...", what would you have thought? Would there have been any chance at all that you would have ignored the fact that they have told you "the sign" to find this baby that will change the world?
When we are given signs, do we follow them? The shepherds did. They didn't hesitate. The angels said, "here's the sign to look for" and they went out on their search. The search for the baby that matched the sign's criteria...wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger. When they found that baby, they knew they had found the object of the angels' divine announcement.
Aren't we glad the shepherds didn't ignore the angels' instructions? They paid attention. They obeyed.
Are we still given signs? Are we paying attention?
The disciples asked Jesus, "What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus didn't think their question out of line or unworthy of a very serious and detailed response---the next 30 verses of Matthew 24. What signs did Jesus relay:
1. Deception
2. False Messiahs
3. Wars & Rumors of Wars
4. Famines & Earthquakes
5. Persecution because of Allegiance to Christ
6. Falling Away from Faith
7. Increase of Wickedness
8. Loss of Love for Others
9. Preaching of the Gospel throughout the World
And what did Jesus tell His followers to do? To "stand firm to the end."
Here are our signs. Are we seeing them? Are we looking? Jesus told His disciples at the close of this chapter, “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door."
"Near", "right at the door"---relative terms in God's perspective of time. But when we look at the signs, we cannot ignore that they speak to our time. Let us not be caught unaware. Let us be diligent in our watching, asking for God's wisdom and discernment to see the signs that He sets before us. But most importantly, to be obedient to Christ's command...to "stand firm to the end."
I am sitting in my home in Amarillo, Texas, on the eve of a Presidential primary election. I am so thankful for the freedom to vote and I will celebrate in my ability to do that tomorrow. There are many things that I see going on in this election that make me watchful, and wary. My confidence is in no man and in no human's declarations of their power or ability to make all things great again. I pray that we elect a leader who seeks to do God's will; one who prays and humbles himself before God. I pray for that. I pray that we do not fall into voting out of fear, but out of faith...putting our trust in God, not any man.
I am reminded that as a follower of Christ I am not to be anxious and I am not to fear. No matter the outcome of our elections, I know that God is sovereign and trustworthy...and I will watch...watch for the signs. And I pray that I will always, always, stand firm to the end.
For that baby who came wrapped snugly in cloths and lying in a manger, IS coming again!
Watch!
When we are given signs, do we follow them? The shepherds did. They didn't hesitate. The angels said, "here's the sign to look for" and they went out on their search. The search for the baby that matched the sign's criteria...wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger. When they found that baby, they knew they had found the object of the angels' divine announcement.
Aren't we glad the shepherds didn't ignore the angels' instructions? They paid attention. They obeyed.
Are we still given signs? Are we paying attention?
The disciples asked Jesus, "What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus didn't think their question out of line or unworthy of a very serious and detailed response---the next 30 verses of Matthew 24. What signs did Jesus relay:
1. Deception
2. False Messiahs
3. Wars & Rumors of Wars
4. Famines & Earthquakes
5. Persecution because of Allegiance to Christ
6. Falling Away from Faith
7. Increase of Wickedness
8. Loss of Love for Others
9. Preaching of the Gospel throughout the World
And what did Jesus tell His followers to do? To "stand firm to the end."
Here are our signs. Are we seeing them? Are we looking? Jesus told His disciples at the close of this chapter, “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door."
"Near", "right at the door"---relative terms in God's perspective of time. But when we look at the signs, we cannot ignore that they speak to our time. Let us not be caught unaware. Let us be diligent in our watching, asking for God's wisdom and discernment to see the signs that He sets before us. But most importantly, to be obedient to Christ's command...to "stand firm to the end."
I am sitting in my home in Amarillo, Texas, on the eve of a Presidential primary election. I am so thankful for the freedom to vote and I will celebrate in my ability to do that tomorrow. There are many things that I see going on in this election that make me watchful, and wary. My confidence is in no man and in no human's declarations of their power or ability to make all things great again. I pray that we elect a leader who seeks to do God's will; one who prays and humbles himself before God. I pray for that. I pray that we do not fall into voting out of fear, but out of faith...putting our trust in God, not any man.
I am reminded that as a follower of Christ I am not to be anxious and I am not to fear. No matter the outcome of our elections, I know that God is sovereign and trustworthy...and I will watch...watch for the signs. And I pray that I will always, always, stand firm to the end.
For that baby who came wrapped snugly in cloths and lying in a manger, IS coming again!
Watch!
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