Matthew 24:1-35
Reflect
One of the questions that I have observed being asked by many this season is: "Are these the end times?" Given the current reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption/death that it has unleashed on our world, many are starting to wonder if this is the end. I can't say for certain either way, as only the Father knows the day and time that Christ will return. What I do hope this crisis does for us is that we begin to re-orient ourselves to live as if Christ could come at any time. Jesus' teaching shows us two different ways that we can be responding to this crisis. Firstly, we are called to stand firm. One of the themes of the first part of Jesus' teaching is that His church will be persecuted. According to Jesus' teaching, rather than turn away or grow cold toward God, we are to grow in love and continue to preach the gospel of Jesus' Kingdom. The second thing is that we have ultimate hope in the midst of this crisis. This passage ends with Jesus' teaching on His return, that He is going to come back, make all of the wrongs right, gather all the nations to Himself, and reign as King (not mentioned in this passage but mentioned throughout Revelation). We can hold on to this hope regardless of how grim things get in this life, and that is a good thing!
Apply
Let us live our lives in these days with urgency, faithfulness to God, and hope.
Pastor Daunavan
Pray
- Pray for our Lead Team Pastor, Terry Okken and his family.
- Pray for Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Assistant.
- Pray for all our small group leaders, and our Small Group Intern Isaac Lee.
- Pray for the ministry of International Student Ministries as they have taken a break from meeting together.