Hello Family!
Thank you for taking the time to read and pray on these end-time topics this week. I hope you have been strengthened, and I pray we all continue to stay alert, ready, and watching for King Jesus' return as we do the work He's planned for us to do!
Let's conclude this series now, with Day Five: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus & Remember He is Returning!
Much Love, Denae
Day 5: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus & Remember He is Returning!
The enemy would love for God’s people to be distracted, disheartened, and disillusioned. He would love for cracks in the church, fractions in the family, and tribulations in trial to paralyze the body of Christ and cause us to give up.Instead, let’s set our eyes on Jesus and remember that He is returning!
"Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2, AMPC).
Jesus is our perfect example and it is a joy to set our eyes on Him. It is an honor to spend time with Him, to listen and learn from His Word and hear the Holy Spirit, every day. The Lord is so willing to lead us in every decision. If we will just seek Him with our whole heart, believe that He wants to speak, and pay attention, then He will always show us the way through. (See Jer. 29:13, Matt. 21:22, James 1:5-6, & Ps. 32:8)
Let's read the response of Jesus when His disciples asked about the signs of His coming and the end of the age: "Yeshua answered them, 'Be careful that no one leads you astray! For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will lead many astray. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must happen but it is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only the beginning of birth pains.
“Then they will hand you over to persecution and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of My name. And then many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one other. Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. This Good News of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matt. 24:4-14, TLV).
We are but pilgrims passing through this place, heading towards our heavenly home, where the LORD still sits on His throne. He is still sovereign; God still reigns. He still saves, still heals, restores, and He still redeems every one who will call on His Name. Many people are hurting, feeling broken and confused. They don't know the answer. But you and I do, we know the Lord. He is waiting before He returns, so they can know Him and experience His love, forgiveness, and security, too (See 2 Peter 3:8-10).
In closing our week out together, let's remember that it is good to pray in repentance and receive the correction that our Father wants to give. It is an honor to pray for our leaders, ourselves, and live according to the truth. It is pure and right to fear the LORD and to live unto Him. It protects us and keeps us in peace with God and one another. And what a delight to grow in discernment and be alert in these last days, as the LORD teaches us His way and helps us grow up to be like Him. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus and remember that He is returning. Let's do our part to make sure that all who are willing are able to hear about Him. This is the response from the body of Christ that will please the Lord.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father,
We set our eyes on You and pray, "Probe me, Adonai, and test me, refine my mind and my heart" (Psalm 26:2, TLV).
May the fear of the Lord ever keep us clean before You.
Lord, we believe we are living in the last days, and we want to be alert. We ask for wisdom and discernment, and strength and courage to stand firm in the trials we go through.
We are listening for Your voice, studying Your Word, and watching for You.
Jesus, You are returning soon and we have a good work to do - to share the Good News of You with all who are willing to hear. Help us, Lord, live to please, share, and honor You.
Beautiful Lord JESUS, You are worth it all!
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.
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