Monday, October 19, 2015

Keep Watching For Jesus

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Monday, October 19, 2015
Chapters: Mark 13-14 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-292.html
Message Title: Keep Watching For Jesus

Hello My Friend,

Sacrifice, surrender something of value for the purpose of gaining something more desirable or preventing some kind of evil. Since God is the God of the living, we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to Him. In other words we are to take the most valuable thing that we have, life, and give it to Him. No, we are not to die for God, we are to give our lives for the purpose of gaining something more desirable, the Kingdom of God. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1,2.

The news that Jesus gave in the temple about destroying the temple in three days had left many people with questions, including His disciples. As they walk out of the temple, they wondered when it would happen, and of course, Jesus was referring to His own body as He would be soon captured. However, He does give them some insight to the tribulation and end of the world. He leaves them with one clue, watch. “And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” - Mark 13:20-23,35-37.

And except that the Lord had shortened those days” Christ could have come already, but He's waiting to give all a chance to know Him. Israel has rejected Him and still today they suffer, but there will come a time when they too will finally accept Him, and a remnant will be saved. The tribulation is coming quicker than we think, in fact, many things are coming to pass as we speak. Religious apostasy, wars, rumors of wars, fighting among nations, and natural disasters, these are all signs that the tribulation is fast approaching. We must be prepared, and the best way is being that living sacrifice we need to be so we are ready and alert for His coming. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” - 2 Peter 3:9,10.

Being a living sacrifice for God is not about following a set of rules, keeping ourselves locked up in a corner, or not enjoying the life that He gave us, it's about the new life that Christ gives as we conform to Him, not the world. We must never forget the sacrifice He made to save us from a burning, fiery hell, He didn't just give His life, He was beaten and maimed for our sins, not His. As the time fast approaches for Jesus to be betrayed, He gathers His disciples for one last passover feast. As Jesus blessed the food, He did something else. “And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” - Mark 14:22-26.

This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.” Jesus appointed the Lord's Supper to be a reminder and memorial of His blood, that was shed for establishing His new covenant, in which all who believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus shed His blood for all, but He only saves those who believe in and receive Him. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” - Hebrews 9:27,28.

When Jesus knew the hour was coming for Him to give His life He went to pray. He knew what had to be done, but He was sorrowful and weary since He was here in the flesh. “And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” - Mark 14:33-38.

Couldest not thou watch one hour?” When we take our eyes off Jesus even for a second that is when the devil comes and temptation begins. The flesh is weak, we get tired, weary, scared, lonely, and unless we are walking in the Spirit of God the flesh will take over and that is how we not only lose sight of Jesus, but fall into temptation. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” - Galatians 5:16-18.

Today's Prayer: Jesus, I will never forget the state I was in before I truly understood what Your death on the cross meant. You not only saved me from the pits of hell and death, You saved me from the life I was living, a life that was quickly bringing me to death myself. Lord, I want to be a living sacrifice for You, I want to be a witness and example of the amazing life that all can have by accepting You as their Saviour. I know my flesh is weak, I have failed so much when I was weary and stopped watching You, but You are always there to pick me up and get me going again. Lord, keep my eyes on You, when I am weak keep me praying so the devil has no cause to tempt me. In You name, Jesus I pray, amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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