Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Thursday, 23 November 2017 "Keep Watch" by Elizabeth Aliotta - Matthew 24:36-51Matthew 24:36 “But when that day and hour will come, no one knows — not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father. 37 For the Son of Man’s coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach. 38 Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; 39 and they didn’t know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes. 40 Then there will be two men in a field — one will be taken and the other left behind. 41 There will be two women grinding flour at the mill — one will be taken and the other left behind. 42 So stay alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But you do know this: had the owner of the house known when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you too must always be ready, for the Son of Man will come when you are not expecting him.
45 “Who is the faithful and sensible servant whose master puts him in charge of the household staff, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will go well with that servant if he is found doing his job when his master comes. 47 Yes, I tell you that he will put him in charge of all he owns. 48 But if that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is taking his time’; 49 and he starts beating up his fellow servants and spends his time eating and drinking with drunkards; 50 then his master will come on a day the servant does not expect, at a time he doesn’t know; 51 and he will cut him in two and put him with the hypocrites, where people will wail and grind their teeth!
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Jesus gave three illustrations to demonstrate the importance of keeping watch for the day of His return. The first illustration came from the story of Noah and the flood. Everyone but Noah and his family had turned their backs on God. When the flood came, only they were prepared. Noah did not know prior to God’s instructions that the flood would happen, yet he remained faithful to God and so he was forewarned.
The second illustration was of a homeowner preparing against theft. No one can predict when a thief will come, but we make preparations to keep them out. We lock our doors and set our alarm systems. The possibility of a thief breaking in influences what actions we take as precautions.
The last illustration was of a wicked servant caught in his wicked acts when his master returned unexpectedly. The good servant will not have to be concerned when the master will return because they will be doing what they should be doing, and will be rewarded for their faithfulness
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Hymn for Today: "A Charge To Keep I Have" by Charles Wesley
1. A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.
2. To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill,
O may it all my pow'rs engage
to do my Master's will!
3. Arm me with jealous care
as in Thy sight to live,
and now Thy servant, Lord, prepare
a strict account to give!
4. Help me to watch and pray,
and still on Thee rely,
O let me not my trust betray,
but press to realms on high.
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Thought for Today: Whether it is late at night or early in the morning, if this is how he finds them, those slaves are happy.(Luke 12:38)
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Please pray: For the compassionate ministries among the poor and in disaster areas of Mesoamerca.
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