“But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Matthew 24:29).

What is coming?  Because Jesus is speaking of the end, are we able to even comprehend what He is saying?  Too much thought has gone into what may come.  Do not live for what may be but live in the moment the Lord has given you.  Anything beyond this tempts us to the place where our pride takes over.  Each one of us knows only what we know; the Lord knows everything.  Learn to trust that He will lead you in the way you need to go.

Lord, so-called knowledge of these things is filled with speculation.  We hear something that seems logical, and we follow after it, sometimes to the detriment of trusting You.  Help me to hold to the first truth, and that is to trust You above all things, especially when I think about what the future holds.  Guide me into all goodness and mercy so that I humbly live the life You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You give us these warnings so that we are not led astray by things that tickle our ears.  Help me to learn how to listen to You clearly and live this day which You have given me.  Guide me in the steps I need to take to live the life You have given me.  Keep me undistracted by the latest speculations which come along.  Lead me by Your goodness so that I may learn how to be faithful.  Amen.

“For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather” (Matthew 24:27-28).

There are messages of warning that are here to remind us that if we become too comfortable with this age, we may lose sight of the reality that this age is temporary.  Jesus will return and He will find those who are alive in Him and those who remained dead.  They are those who are not walking with the One who made them, they are dead corpses, though we call them alive.  The Lord offers us life.  Without Him, we are dead.

Lord of life, many in this world fall for the ongoing unreality of living what little there is to live in this life but remain dead to You.  You are the source of life and so they wither slowly.  Does this continue forever?  Help me to dwell in You and live into the life You offer me through grace.  Guide me in the upward call You have given me that I may learn how life is meant to be lived.

Thank You Lord Jesus for giving us warning.  You Have come that we may not only have true life but learn how to live that life beginning here and now.  Teach me this new life and lead me in the way You would have me go.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and help me to not be hindered by the things of this world.  Help me Lord in all I think, say, and do so that I may grow in this life You have given me.  Amen.

John 13:31-35

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, boys and girls!

Pastor: Sammy, today we are going to talk about one of the most important commandments Jesus gives to his disciples.

Sammy: Wait! Let me guess what it is!

Pastor: …Go ahead, Sammy.

Sammy: Eat your vegetables.

Pastor: Nope.

Sammy: Do your chores.

Pastor: Not quite.

Sammy: Remember to brush your teeth.

Pastor: Not even close.

Sammy: I give up.

Pastor: Boys and girls, what do you think the most important commandment Jesus gives us is?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: These are all great answers. One of the most important commandments Jesus gives us is to love each other just as he loved us.

Sammy: But what does that mean? How can I love other people like Jesus loved me?

Pastor: There’s lots of ways to show love to other people. Boys and girls, can you help Sammy think of some ways we can show love to other people?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: I like these answers. Sometimes it’s hard for me to love other people, especially when they make me upset or sad. But I will always try my best to love just like Jesus.

Pastor: Sammy, I know that sometimes it’s hard to love people, but we have to remember that as much as we make mistakes and make God sad, he continues to love us no matter what.

Sammy: That’s incredible, Pastor. I make a lot of mistakes.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. But our God has such a big heart for us, his people. He chases after us and loves us no matter what.

Sammy: I’m grateful for his love. I am going to do my best to love others no matter what, too.

Pastor: Boys and girls, let’s say a prayer together. Can we please fold our hands and bow our heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for your love. Thank you for showing us how to love others, even when it’s hard. Help us to always look to your example. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, boys and girls!

“Behold, I have told you in advance.  So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them” (Matthew 24:25-26).

Christ has come, and the final days will be such that the faithful will know the right way.  Do not be misled by those who by deceit lead people astray.  You know the faith that has been given to you.  You know the sinners through whom the message was delivered.  Do not be misled by the nonsense that comes upon every generation but be led by the One who redeemed you.  In Him alone is true life.

Holy Spirit, You know all the things that go on around me.  Keep my mind clear and guide me so that I remain on the path of true faith.  Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil, knowing that the eternal kingdom has already been established and that You alone, Holy Trinity, is the power and the glory.  Teach me to faithfully walk through this wicked world of pits, snares and traps.

Lord Jesus, You have told us these things in advance so that we do not fall into the traps laid out by the wicked and those who by deceit would lead the faithful astray.  Guide me ever deeper in the true faith for which You died.  Help me to see the traps before me and hold me close to the Father by drawing me near to Him.  Jesus, You know what I need.  I commend myself to You; lead me as I need to be led.  Amen.

“For false christs and false prophets will arise and will provide great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

Do not pay attention to what seem like miracles.  Pay attention to the message.  Just because someone does something does not mean they are anything.  All power belongs to Jesus.  He who took your sin and died so that you may have His life has already accomplished your salvation.  Charlatans will come but give them no room in your heart.  Keep humbly walking in the faith you have been given, trusting in Jesus.

Lord, You who know all things, keep my eyes open so that I am not misled.  Lead me in the way of all truth and guide me according to Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk past any who come to dazzle me in my naiveté.  All power is Yours and the greatest miracle of all has already taken place, for You have redeemed me at the cost of Your own life.  Keep me forever in the one true faith.

Lord Jesus, there are always anecdotes going on around me which distract me.  Help me to not live my life in a reactionary way.  Help me live according to the truth of all that You have spoken.  Guide me in truth.  Deepen my faith and the understanding of the faith You have revealed.  Teach me how to see things more clearly so that I humbly abide in You and You in me forever.  Amen.

And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.  Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him” (Matthew 24:22-23).

Let your faith be solid and firm, not reactionary.  Many will be tempted to have a conditional faith, either reacting to extraordinary circumstances or else for selfish reasons.  The Lord is calling you to have genuine faith, knowing that He who made You has established an eternal relationship with you.  The Lord knows your days and knows what is needed, including whether our days need to be shortened.

Lord, You know all things and You, who willingly went to the cross for me, know all that is needed for me to live into the eternal life Your dying made possible.  Things will happen in my lifetime that I am afraid of.  Help me through all trials and tribulations that may come in order that I may humbly walk in the truth of Your revelation, purpose, and plan.  Guide me into the truth of the Gospel.

Lord Jesus, You know tribulation, for You experienced it as a man.  You also know all things, for You are God.  Help me through all the difficulties I will face and keep me from being conditional with my life.  You are the One in whom all things have their being.  Lead me in the truth You have revealed and keep me forever close to You.  Keep me now and always in Your plan of salvation.  Amen.

“Moreover, pray that when you flee, it will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.  For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again” (Matthew 24:20-21).

Tribulation is what any person goes through during calamity.  Many, perhaps most, go through tribulations.  Tribulation is a fire that can refine or shatter personal faith.  If faith is not placed in the Lord, it needs to be renewed.  If your faith is in the Lord above all things, it will be firm.  Pray that you are kept from tribulation, but do not think the Lord is punishing anyone because it does come.  Tribulations are caused by wicked people in this world.

Lord, clear my mind to humbly and simply see things as they are.  Our minds are cloudy in this day and age and we do not see clearly.  Help me to trust in Your provision.  If it be Thy will, keep me from tribulation, but if it comes, prepare me to hold fast to the faith You have given me.  Through all things, help me to continue to study Your word, pray, and seek to live the life You have given me.

Guide me ever deeper into the faith You have given me Lord.  Guide me so that I walk humbly following where You are leading me.  No matter the circumstances, help me to live the life which You have given me, knowing that in You alone is all hope.  Teach me the things I need to know and help me to be a bold witness proclaiming that You alone are the One who saves no matter the circumstances in which we find ourselves.  Amen. 

“Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house.  And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.  But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days!” (Matthew 24:17-18)

Our Lord has great compassion for His sheep, but we all must go through what we will go through.  From that time until now, there have been many who have left all of their belongings  behind because of the calamities caused by the wicked.  Yet, we have the promise that He is with us always.  Let your hope be in the One who saves you from eternal death.  Keep the faith and trust what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do.

Lord, I want to be one of the special ones with insight, but is that not one of the major problems?   Our pride is alive. It does much against You.  Grant me a humble heart that knows that You love us no matter our circumstance.  What comes is not punishment, and what we experience You have promised to work for good for those who love You.  It is more than enough to have Your salvation.  Guide us to endure faithfully and not by the constant wishful thinking of this age.

Lord Jesus, I need Your help and wisdom, Guide my inner thoughts, Holy Spirit, so that the truth of my faith is in Your inspired word and not in this world.  Keep me from speculations and the idea that Your love means You will keep me out of bad circumstances.  Guide me into deeper and unshakable faith so that I humbly walk with You through all circumstances that I will face.  Amen.

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place – let the reader understand – then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16).

Was Jesus speaking of the time the Romans came in forty years after his crucifixion and leveled the temple mount?  Is Jesus speaking of that, someday in the future, or even both?  Does it really impact your faith?  For some it seems to.  Jesus is giving us warning that this world is evil and will continue to become increasingly evil for those who reject salvation.  Those who believe will suffer the persecution of it.  They must flee.

Lord, this current age is filled with all kinds of speculation as if it were truth.  Are people being led astray with false hopes and not humbly trusting You for all things?  Our hope should be in Your salvation, Lord, no matter what the circumstances are in this world.  Lead us away from all temptations that would place our hope anywhere else.  What they say may be true, but then again, if it is not clearly spelled out in Scripture, it is better to simply rely on Your word.

Lord Jesus, in this mixed up world, help me to hear Your word rightly.  I enjoy speculating, but keep my faith firmly grounded in You.  Let not the deceiving words of the wicked one take any root in me.  You have called me, justified me, and You are the One who must lead me.  Guide me in all goodness that by Your mercy I would reach the prize of my faith which is being with You in eternity.  Amen.