End Times – Counting My Blessings

When Jesus told His followers about His return at the end of the world, He told them to "Know the Truth" and "Be Prepared." Here's why... #BibleStudy #EndTimes #Faith #Jesus #CountingMyBlessings #BlessingBloggers #WWGGG

Have you ever noticed all the euphemisms we use instead of actually calling something a lie?

We…

stretch the truth.
manipulate the truth.
mislead.
are inaccurate.
misrepresent the facts.
tell half-truths.

My family will tell you there is nothing that upsets me more than lying it doesn’t matter what you call it.

And that may be the reason I love the absolute truth of God’s Word.

Jesus said…

“I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”
John 18:37

And

“I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.”
John 15:26

I believe Jesus is and has always been TRUTH. He even described Himself as:

“the way, the truth, and the life.”
John 14:6

So, when He prophesied about the future . . . we can believe Him.

In Mark 13, Jesus told His disciples about near future and far future events. And you and I live in the time between the near and the far. In fact, it is because Jesus’ near future prophesies have happened that we know we can count on ones yet to come.

He warned of trials and tribulations, betrayals and wars and earthquakes and lies.

And that’s why, He impressed upon them the importance of knowing the truth.

When we know and trust the TRUTH…

We won’t be:

Misled

Don’t let anyone mislead you for many will come in my name, claiming “I am the Messiah.”
Mark 13:5–6

Worried

When you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say.
Mark 13:11a

We will be:

Alert

Since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!
Mark 13:33

Obedient

The coming of the Son of Man is as a man who went from his house to a far country. He gave each one of his servants some work to do.
Mark 13:34a (NLV)

Faithful

The one who endures to the end will be saved.
Mark 13:13b

Jesus told His followers the importance of being ready and prepared.

I tell you this, and I say this to everyone: ‘Be ready!’”
Mark 13:37

In a world where the father of lies constantly taunts and tempts us, you and I need to know the truth about Jesus so we are ready and prepared for the day we will meet Him face to face.

A Prayer to Know the TRUTH

Father, please forgive me for not consistently and faithfully turning to Your Word that I might know the truth about Jesus. Forgive me for selfishly focusing on my wants and worries. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, make me a SEEKer and give me everything I need to love You with all I am and to love others as You wish.

I believe Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. Please give me the courage, strength, wisdom, and discernment I need as I wait and watch for Jesus. In whose name, I pray. Amen.

You and I are so very blessed. We have the living and active Word of God because God loves us so much . . . He wants us to know the truth.

Jesus said in His High Priestly Prayer:

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
John 17:17

And that is my prayer for all of us today. That we will KNOW the TRUTH who frees us from the enemy’s lies.

On today’s note write:

In a world of lies, Jesus is the TRUTH!

God bless you today as you turn to Him to know the truth so you are able to reject anything that’s not.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

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In Matthew 24, the disciples received some very specific instructions to help them be prepared for Jesus' return. What they needed to know and how to wait. #BibleStudy #EndTimes #Hope #Jesus #CountingMyBlessings #BlessingBloggers #WWGGG

So much has been written about the end times . . . even people who deny Jesus talk about the world coming to an end.

I love that Jesus didn’t want His followers to be uninformed; so this week leading up to His suffering, death, and resurrection, He paused to talk about near future and far future events.

[Jesus] disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?
Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you,for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic.
“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.”
Matthew 24:3–6, 10–12

His words were intended to prepare disciples of every generation that we might all be focused on Him watch for “the day your Lord is coming.” (v. 42)

My friend, Louise, loved Jesus and she loved learning all she could about His Word, His promises, and His return. Her eyes sparkled every time she talked about Him.

And although we didn’t believe exactly the same things about what we could anticipate in the season preceding Jesus arrival on earth. We did agree about the most important thing.

We all need to be prepared for Jesus! We need to watch and pray!

And being prepared means keeping our hearts and minds focused on Jesus. It means loving the Lord, our God, with all our hearts, minds, soul, and strength. It means loving others in ways that show them His life-changing grace, mercy, and love. It means sharing the hope only He can give.

Jesus said…

When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. People were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings. They didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came. So you, too, must keep watch! (Paraphrase Matthew 24:37–39, 42a

So today, let’s pray and ask Jesus to fill us with His Spirit and help us to be focused on Him and prepared for Him to come and take us home.

The Best Way to Be Prepared for Jesus

Lord Jesus, Thank you for promising me an eternal future with You in heaven. Thank you for willingly sacrificing yourself for me that I might know the debt of my sin has been paid in full.

Please keep me focused on You, Lord. Keep me faithful to reading Your Word and spending time with You in prayer. When false teachers tickle our ears with tempting teachings, please fill me with Your Spirit and remind me of Your Word and promises. Please give me Your peace when my world is full of chaos and confusion. Give me courage and strength in a day of persecution and betrayal.

I love You, Lord. And I wait with hope to see you “appear in the heavens, coming on the clouds with power and great glory to gather Your chosen ones from all over the world.” (Matthew 24:30–31) Amen.

Friend, the enemy uses so many things trying to take our focus off Jesus. He wants to divide us and distract with different beliefs about the end times. But with the Spirit’s help we can prayerfully watch with faith and hope.

We can be prepared for Jesus!