October 21 - Mark 13,14
The theme of these two chapters is "watch." Why does Jesus need to tell us to watch? Why did Jesus need to tell His disciples back then to watch? It is so easy to get caught up in the every day events of life and to miss what God is doing. In fact, Satan is a master of distraction. He keeps us focused on the wrong things, if we listen to him and fail to listen to the Holy Spirit. That is the reason we must watch.
In chapter 13 Jesus gives His disciples a long list of things for which to watch. Each of these things pertain to His Second Coming, and each of them is related to the world at large. He is telling us to be aware of what is happening in the nations around us. Be aware of what is happening with Israel. Watch for the false teachers and preachers. All of these things will give us clues about His coming. No one knows the day or the hour of His coming except the Father, but we can have a good understanding of what is going to happen by watching the work of God in the whole world.
Then, in chapter 14 Jesus is telling His disciples, which includes us, to watch for the work of God all around us in our personal world. The content of the chapter is the events leading up to Jesus' death. The disciples were right there watching first hand. Jesus had told them many times how this was to happen to Him. Now, He tells them to watch. See what God is doing. Don't miss it. However, they did miss a lot of it, because they were asleep or they fled the scene. Then, Peter even denied Jesus.
The same applies to you and me each day. We must watch for what God is doing and join Him in His work. How many times have you gone somewhere, met someone, or done something only to get home and realize you missed what God was doing in that event? You thought of something you "should have" said or done. At that point you had missed the opportunity. If you had been watching, you would have been able to have been a part of what God was doing. That is why we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and keep our spiritual eyes and ears open to see what God is doing.
Watch, today! Ask the Spirit to keep you alert and show you what God is doing. Then, when you see it, join in what God is doing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Mark 15 and 16.
In chapter 13 Jesus gives His disciples a long list of things for which to watch. Each of these things pertain to His Second Coming, and each of them is related to the world at large. He is telling us to be aware of what is happening in the nations around us. Be aware of what is happening with Israel. Watch for the false teachers and preachers. All of these things will give us clues about His coming. No one knows the day or the hour of His coming except the Father, but we can have a good understanding of what is going to happen by watching the work of God in the whole world.
Then, in chapter 14 Jesus is telling His disciples, which includes us, to watch for the work of God all around us in our personal world. The content of the chapter is the events leading up to Jesus' death. The disciples were right there watching first hand. Jesus had told them many times how this was to happen to Him. Now, He tells them to watch. See what God is doing. Don't miss it. However, they did miss a lot of it, because they were asleep or they fled the scene. Then, Peter even denied Jesus.
The same applies to you and me each day. We must watch for what God is doing and join Him in His work. How many times have you gone somewhere, met someone, or done something only to get home and realize you missed what God was doing in that event? You thought of something you "should have" said or done. At that point you had missed the opportunity. If you had been watching, you would have been able to have been a part of what God was doing. That is why we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and keep our spiritual eyes and ears open to see what God is doing.
Watch, today! Ask the Spirit to keep you alert and show you what God is doing. Then, when you see it, join in what God is doing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Mark 15 and 16.