Series: Advent
Matthew 24:43-44
I have to admit the when I was younger this verse freaked me out a little bit.
What I know forty plus years later is that I didn’t need to be freaked out about it. I’m not sure why I couldn’t figure that out when I was younger. About all I can say is that with age comes wisdom.
I wasn’t thinking that the difference from being with Jesus, then and being with Jesus now was about the same. in other words, it wouldn’t have made any difference. Even though my children were young, they would’ve gone to be with Jesus
And it would have been glorious.
In Matthew 24:43-44 we are told, “know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
In my defense, there was a movie in the 1970’s entitled a thief in the night and I thought it was a scary movie. I’ve never been a fan of scary movies ever.
When I was growing up while other people were watching Night Gallery I was sitting in the room with a blanket over my head. I’m not much different today. Night Gallery is about the scariest thing I’ve ever watched. Two of my children and their spouses love, horror movies. I can’t imagine sitting through a horror movie.
I know now that the point of the scripture is to be ready.
The point is we need to face life head on.
Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
If you need to forgive someone do it now. If there’s something you need to do for someone do it now.
Most people I know who have come to talk to me about forgiveness. Don’t really understand forgiveness as Jesus intended it to be. Jesus does not want us to carry it. Jesus does not want us to hurt so if we need to forgive someone we need to say, “I forgive them”. You do not need to confront the person with what you’ve done you do not need to ask them to forgive you. By telling God, the intent of your forgiveness is to right the wrong and God will help you with that. God will also help the other person to receive your forgiveness.
It seems like many times we take on too much. God does not expect us to do anything without help. God is always there to help us.
The root of the problem seems to be that we think we should independently be able to handle everything.
Especially in the American culture that independence seems to be written into our DNA. We are an independent culture.
In college and again in seminary, we studied culture. In college, the subject was communication and culture. In seminary, it was more general, but it was clear when working with a group of people we need to take into account their culture.
For example, when working with a group of people who have come to the United States from the Orient, their general philosophy will have some differences. It doesn’t mean we are right and they are wrong. It simply means we are different.
The other important item to note from Matthew 24 is the importance of having a regular time every day with God. When we take time every day to sit with God or to pray to God, God will prepare us for that day.
Once again we underestimate, God’s love and care for us.
We underestimate God’s ability to prepare us for tomorrow.
We underestimate God’s constant watch care over us.
So I go back to my initial reaction to the scripture. When I read it today, I remembered what I thought when I was 20 something
Many many years later my relationship with God is very different. I know God loves me regardless of what I’ve done or what I’ve messed up. I know God cares about every aspect of my life. I know God is preparing me for tomorrow. I know God watches over me day and night.
I know God never removes his hand from me.
God is before us.
God is behind us.
God is beside us.
God is over us.
God is under us.
We do not need to be afraid. God has everything covered with God’s great love we are covered. While we know not when, God will prepare us for what is ahead.
Spiritual Practice: Know You Are Covered
Sit with God. See God before you. See God behind you. See God beside you. See God over you. See God under you. And be grateful.
In God, Deborah
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