Study With Me ( Mark 13:32-37)

The Verses

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.

"It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

My Thoughts

The sentiment, "Stay awake" or "be on guard" are repeated four times in these six verses - eight times in the whole chapter. They are the words which open Jesus' discussion of the end times, and they are the very emphatic words that close it.

Important much?

In the parts before these verses, most of these instances refer to guarding yourself against false christs and prophets. But as we get into 32-37 (the most concentrated spot), it refers to keeping oneself ready for Jesus' return.

Guys, to say this is not easy would be an understatement.

I once listened to a podcast where a woman in ministry talked about how Satan and his followers rarely try to engage Christians in upfront and obvious battles, at least in America. Why? Because those battles, lost or won, open our eyes to the reality of the spiritual war we're engaged in. And that brings us to a state of alertness hard to get past.

If you want to get beyond a gatekeeper without raising alarms or making a big fuss that will get everyone inside up-in-arms, you don't charge across an open field and attack full force. No, you try to sneak as close as you can. And when you can't get any closer without detection, you turn to subtle ways to keep that gatekeeper from raising the alarm. Maybe you offer him gifts that lower his guard or convince him to keep quiet. Maybe you go in disguise. Or maybe you try to lull him to sleep.

Satan's lullaby is all around us, tempting us to lower our guard, lay down our weapons, and surrender to that oh, so sweet pleasure of sleep.

And yet Christ commands us, "STAY AWAKE!!"

Guys, he's coming back, and no one but God the Father knows when. It could be next month. Five years from now when you're having your first kid. Twenty years, when they're grown up and on their own. A hundred, when you're dead and gone.

The point is that we have to be alert and ready for his return. If Jesus showed up on earth ten minutes from now, would you be happy? Or would you wish that you had had time to put things to right first?

We can't become perfect overnight. Trust me, I've tried. XD But let's stop putting things off, listening to the lullaby, and live like today is our last chance.

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Who would you talk to? What distractions would you ignore? What work would you do for his coming kingdom?

Until next time,

Take courage, pursue God, and live like you're running out of time.

-Joelle

(P.S. The short story contest ends on September 30th! Make sure to submits your stories before then or I won't count 'em. :))