Matthew 24:48
The attitude of individuals towards Christ makes all the difference. This evil servant represents those who, knowing the truth of God’s Word, fail to take it seriously. Keep in mind here that Jesus is referring to His second coming at this particular point. There will be manifest evidences of the coming of Christ at that time, but it will be an exceedingly difficult time for the faithful. Thus, many, knowing that Jesus is Lord, and that He is bound to come soon, will think He is not coming ‘right away’ and will be carried away by the great falling away from the Lord that shall be going on in this era.
Indeed, likely Jewish Christians at the time of the second coming are in view mainly here. They should know that Jesus is Lord, but like the rest of us, temptation to laxity is great. Keep in mind too that knowing Jesus is one’s Lord does not necessarily make a person a child of God. No saved person would deny or resist that fact, but the lost man may believe it even if it does not change him in practice. At the time of the end, all will have to admit that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Bible Reading: Psalm 85:1-89:52
Scripture Memory: James 3:11 “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your love! You have made Your plan and purpose in all things as clear to us as need be. We cannot say that we have not seen the great mercy of Almighty God! For You, who made the heavens and earth, to allow us to be redeemed after our rebellion against You, oh that is just like You! You are just and pure. Our evil does not prevent Your holiness. You have not turned back from Your gracious plan in spite of our disgusting sin. In fact, You have made a way for us to be changed into something so much more that we could ever hope. We may be, in Christ, new creations. We do not have to remain held down by this evil sin nature that has changed our bodies into living graves. We may look towards an eternal future of life and growth and creativity and love and fellowship and friendship and praise for You and enjoyment of all that is real and good and beautiful! This is surely the life that is meant for our souls! You have put eternity in our hearts, and we cannot but think that eternity is our rightful home. Truly, without sin it would be. Thus, You have taken aside the great enemy of our life, the bane of our existence. To live in Christ is to live free from the power of the degrading influence of the course of nature in sin. To be in the Spirit of Christ is to live with the ability to match the beauty of all that we might imagine about You and Your universe with the actual state of our own selves. We may be more that brute beasts with a mind that makes us mad. We may be glorious creations of the Eternally Self-Existent Lord God Over All. And we may enjoy and serve You forever! Thank You for the Christ! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.
Prayer Requests: Pray for my Dad as he continues to recover from heart surgery. Pray for us, as we recover from being ill. Pray for a man awaiting some important results from medical testing. Pray for a man with sugar. Pray for a family that travels for ministry and needs a new motor home.
Journal Entry #14270