14˝Again, it will be like a m...

14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

16The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.

17So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.

18But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

- P116

26"His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28"‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.

29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

- P117

In this well-known parable, the master entrusts different amounts of gold to his servants. Two of them are faithful with what they have been given, and they double what they have received. The master praises these servants, entrusting them with more responsibilities and inviting them to share in his happiness. The parable reminds us that God gives different gifts and abilities to each of us, and we do not have to question God’s reasons or be envious of others. Rather, we should be faithful with what we have been given, and we will share in the joy of partnering with God and multiplying His kingdom blessings. - P118

May we recognize what He has entrusted to us and be faithful in bringing more glory to Him. - P118

The final servant with the one bag of gold comes and hands back what hehas been given. His excuse for his laziness is that he fears his master andviews him as a hard man. We might shake our head in judgment at thisman, who did not even earn interest on his master‘s gold, or might excusehis behavior because his master did not return for a long time. However,
we, too, can be tempted into being unproductive and lazy when we thinkGod does not care about us or what we do.  - P118

"The real test of being in the presence of God is, that you either forget about yourselfaltogether or see yourself as a small, dirty object. It is better to forget about yourselfaltogether."-C.S. Lewis - P118

Dear God, thank You for the gifts and abilities that You have entrusted to me. May I not be lazy or stingy with them. Lead me to use them faithfully so that I may be a joyful partner for Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P119

1˝At that time the kingdom of...

1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

4The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6"At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

- P112

10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11"Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12"But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

- P113

Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins, five wise and five foolish, who waitfor the bridegroom of a wedding ceremony. They are all invited to the samewedding. They all have lamps with them. They all fall asleep and wake upwhen they hear the call announcing the bridegroom‘s arrival. What setsthe wise apart is that they prepared oil for their lamps; the foolish did notand their lamps are going out. All ten virgins were waiting expectantly forthe bridegroom but only the wise were prepared.  - P115

Our own human zeal orefforts may give us an appearance of devotion to Christ but neither of thosewill keep us burning for Him. It is the Holy Spirit whom God has given uswho can help us endure until Christ returns. Let us keep inand allow Him to make us ready.
step with Him - P115

Dear Jesus, we do not know when You will return. Help us be like the wisebridesmaids-ready and faithful each day. Fill our hearts with joy as weprepare for You. In Your name, amen. - P114

38For in the days before the ...

38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

- P106

Jesus tells His disciples that no one knows the day of His coming except the Father. People will go about their daily lives and not know until the last minute what is about to overtake them. Jesus’ return will be unexpected even to the disciples. Humans are hardwired to feel uneasy about uncertainty. If a major event is about to take place, we want to know when. But because this knowledge about Jesus’ return is not given to us, we must always be ready. - P108

How does one get ready? Keep doing what you, as a Christian, are already doing: Repent of your sins, serve the Lord with all your heart, and tell others about Jesus so that they are not caught unprepared. - P108

Holy Spirit, as I wait for Jesus’ return, do not let me be lulled into self-indulging pursuits. Help me stay alert for however long I must wait. Keep me aware of those Jesus has entrusted to my care and keep me ever ready for His coming. In Jesus’ name, amen.

- P108

30˝Then will appear the sign ...

30"Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

31And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. - P102

34Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

- P102

This world as we know it will someday be no more. All that humanity takes for granted will vanish. The sun and moon will darken and stars will fall from the heavens—all these events will be the sign of our Lord’s return. Many throughout the earth will mourn His appearance as it signals their impending judgment. At the same time, God’s elect will be gathered from every corner of the heavens. - P104

It is important to note the emphasis these verses place on the humanity of Christ. Twice, He is referred to as the Son of Man. Jesus, through His sinless life and sacrificial atonement for our sins, is God’s anointed King, the only One worthy to rule over the new heavens and earth. - P104

23At that time if anyone says...

23At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

24false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

- P99

Lord Jesus, deliver me from the evil that is in the world today, as well as the evil that is coming. Cleanse my heart, purify my spirit, and fill me with Your presence that I may resist the schemes of the enemy. In Your name I pray, amen. - P101

Jesus once more warns His disciples of false messiahs and false prophetsthat will come during the time of great distress at the end of the age.
Thesepersons will perform signs and wonders that will seem so genuine that,
without God‘s help, even true followers of Christ would be taken in. Jesuswarns His disciples that "wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures willgather." What does He mean by this metaphor? In light of Jesus‘ previouswarnings, we cannot help but conclude that our Lord is warning againstspiritual deception and the inevitable death it brings to those seduced byit.  - P100

As we navigate these last days, it is imperative that spiritual discernmentthrough God‘s Word and the Holy Spirit be our guide.
What can make a person vulnerable to false prophets and false messiahs? Why doesJesus give us these warnings ahead of time? - P100

When wespend time with God in prayer, rest in His presence, and read and meditateon His Word, we begin to learn more about His character, understandHis heart and recognize His voice. This way, when false teachings try toHiscompete with God‘s, we will be able to clearly identify them as counterfeitand discern the enemy‘s lies from God‘s truth. - P101