*New Testament Reading: Mark 13
Psalms Reading: 82
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 47-48
“And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” – Mark 13:26 (ESV)
Remember the rescue scene from yesterday’s questions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pFUP0HZwWM)?
Well, here is the biggest rescue scene ever! Mark 13:24-27, “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”
Can you picture it? The utter despair and hopelessness that the world will experience?
Well, thankfully there’s more. “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.”
Does that give you chills? Just when everything appears to be doomed and evil is going to win, God steps in and sends Jesus back. For us.
Verses 19-20 say, “For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.”
It isn’t going to be fun, in those last days, for believers. Those who follow Jesus Christ will be persecuted; sadly, some to the point of breaking. This is why we need each other – to be encouraged to stand firm. Verses 32-33 say, “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake.[a] For you do not know when the time will come.”
But we do know that it WILL come.
Amy Blanchard
Reflection Questions
- We must encourage one another to be on guard, to stay awake, and to stand firm. We must see one another to do this, build genuine relationships, and be available to serve one another. Hebrews 10:25 tells us to not neglect meeting together. If you do not have a church you call home, please reach out to someone to help you find one. If you do, are you involved in ways that encourage others, serve others, support others?
- Trusting God’s promise of being rescued can be hard. What are some ways He has come through for you already? Keep reminding yourself of the times He has shown Himself faithful to you.
Seek Grow Love 