Keep watch
Day 446, Friday, Oct. 31
Matthew Chapters 24 – 25
Christians believe that Jesus will one day return to the earth, and on that day all will be judged.
It’s the question of “when” that gets unnecessarily complicated.
Jesus is clear about one thing: no one knows when it is going to happen, not even Jesus himself. In 24:36 he says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
That hasn’t stopped people of every age since the ascension insisting that they have it figured out and know when Jesus will return.
Some of the people making predictions draw from the early part of chapter 24, taking its warnings of difficult days to come as specific guidance. Even there, though, in verse 4, Jesus says “Watch out that no one deceives you.”
In chapter 25 we have a series of parables, each with the same basic message: We do not know when Jesus will return; it will be both sudden and unexpected.
In the words of 24:42, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Friday meditation

Psalms 18:46-50
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever.

Prayer focus
Lord, let us live as those prepared for your return.