Thursday, August 22, 2024
Have you ever predicted when something would happen? Maybe you guessed when it would rain, or what would happen at the end of a certain movie. Our human brains love to make conclusions and place puzzle pieces together. I suppose it even makes sense that many have tried to predict the end of the world, but Jesus teaches that nobody knows except God.
In our day and age, we are bombarded with acts of violence, destruction, and natural disasters that can make us anxious and lead us to believe that the end is upon us. When we try to guess or speculate when the end times will arrive, it puts pressure on us to be on guard 24/7, and that can lead to a host of problems, such as anxiety and apprehension.
The truth is that we will never know when the end of the world is coming. As we read in Matthew 24:36, not even Jesus knows when it will happen—only the Father does.
Matthew 24:36
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”
We weren’t meant to know when exactly the end is coming because God doesn’t want us to live our lives with trepidation. When we try to hold tight to things that we cannot control, it only plagues our hearts with fear.
Instead, we must place our trust in God and rest in the knowledge of two truths: God causes everything to work together for our good (Romans 8:28), and he sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to save us from our sins and experience eternal life with him (John 3:16). When we live from this place of confidence, we are able to step into the purpose that he has for us, today, as we introduce others to Jesus and the life-changing adventure with him.
Questions:
How can we tune out what those of this world say about the end times and instead focus on what Jesus says?
What happens when we speculate about the end times instead of focusing on what the Bible teaches?
Next Steps:
This week, read Matthew 24 and meditate on what Jesus teaches about the reality of the end times.
Through prayer, ask God to help you surrender your fears and speculations about the future, replacing them with trust in God and his timing.
21 Days of Prayer - Day 11
Focus: Our Schools (Mark 10:14)
Prayer:
Dear God, you said to “let the children come to you,” showing that you have a big heart for children. I pray for safety for the children, teachers, staff, and administrators as they embark upon a new school year. I pray for the district leaders as they make crucial decisions, that you would grant them great wisdom. May your followers be a positive influence in their schools, reflecting the hope that we have in you. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 3:14
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
Today’s post was written by Isabelle Billlnitzer, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut devotional.