READING:
One-year plan: Exodus 33:1-35:29, Matthew 24:32-25:13
Two-year plan: Genesis 41:46-42:38, Matthew 13:31-43
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In Jesus’ illustration in today’s reading, the servant was faithful even while the master was away. In fact, he may have pressed on steadily without much thought about the master’s return; after all, a servant who is faithful each day has little reason to worry when the master is coming home. Daily obedience helps us see God’s hand in the past, honor Him in the present, and look forward to His return in the future. As one author describes this faithfulness in preparation for the return of Christ, “Our ‘readiness’ for the coming of Jesus is not in excited speculation [about the timing of His return] but in faithful stewardship.”*
If you’ve read these devotions for some time, you know that I was one of the “Second Coming fanatics” of the 1970s who believed Jesus would likely return before the 1980s arose. We had it all figured out, we thought, as evidenced in our charts and timelines on our Sunday school classroom walls. The big problem then was that we were simply wrong in our conclusions. Today, I wonder little about when Jesus will return, with little attention to the oft-debated speculation of the timing of His coming. Rather, I don’t worry about that timing when I keep my heart focused on obeying Him today. In fact, it’s when I am losing spiritual battles and succumbing to temptation that I most think about His return—because I know I will answer to Him.
Here’s the point today, though: daily, simple obedience while the Master is away is the way to be ready when Jesus comes back.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you daily following God?
PRAYER: “Lord, let my head, heart, and hands be faithful to You today.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Exodus 35:30-38:31, Matthew 25:14-46
Two-year plan: Genesis 43, Matthew 13:44-58
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*France, R. T. (1994). Matthew. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 937). Inter-Varsity Press.