Bible League: Living His Word "When the Son of Man comes, it will be the same as what happened during Noah's time."— Matthew 24:37 ERV During my high school days, I used to run long distances on the track and road races. I enjoyed running the 1500 kilometers because we'd go three and a quarter laps around the track. While running (if you were not counting), you'd hear the bell ringing and the field judge saying, "Final lap!" Then the pace would drastically pick up. Those who want to win will outrun those who enjoy a slow pace! It is similar to the times the church is in, we are on the final lap of the coming of Jesus the Messiah! The believers are to be in tune with what the Holy Spirit is telling us regarding our eager waiting for the Messiah. Galatians 5:5 says, "But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us!" What a faithful runner we ought to be! Knowing that God is faithful and will reward all of the faithful runners (1 Corinthians 9:24). The church is running the last lap to win souls, to stand on righteousness, to remain holy and keep up with the deeds of faith in Christ until He returns. That is the difference between slow-paced runners and high-paced runners. Some are running for fitness while others run to win! Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to get rid of the sin that gets us tangled up, making us to run less effectively and lose the race. A person who is running a race ought to be light and fit with running gear and running shoes. When a believer is living a holy lifestyle, every obstacle of darkness is a walkover, the Holy Spirit empowers him to win any battle the enemy gives him. Today's verse warns everyone that when Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One, comes back to take the His church, it will be similar to the days of Noah. Noah was a devout, godly man in a generation that was corrupt and violent. He became light in the dark world of sin; in the New Testament he is called a herald of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5; Genesis 6:9). The two questions that we are to ask and respond to are these. 1) How were the days of Noah? During Noah's time, sin increased (Genesis 6:1-6) and God was grieved by the corruption. 2) What should each one do before the advent of Christ? The answer is in 2 Peter 3:11, "Everything will be destroyed in this way. So, what kind of people should you be? Your lives should be holy and devoted to God." In those days, people disregarded God, and even Noah's warning about the flood. In our day, sin replicates to the degree of deadening the godly conscience in people. Hence morality and the fear of God no longer exist. Jesus informs us even after the Gospel is preached, some will remain hardened. That should not discourage us from ministering the salvation of Christ to all people. We are all called to be witnesses for Jesus so that we can account for what we have done since coming to Christ. Are you telling people about Jesus? Are you living a holy and righteous life to be an example to others? Judgment comes after grace has been offered. The Gospel shall be proclaimed then judgment will follow afterwards (Matthew 24:14). My beloved, choosing immoral life and wickedness leads to condemnation in the lake of fire. Choose Christ and live eternally! By Christopher Thetswe, Bible League International staff, South Africa Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingDeuteronomy 23, 24, 25 Deuteronomy 23 -- List of Those Excluded from the Assembly NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Deuteronomy 24 -- Law of Divorce, Leprosy, Justice and Charity NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Deuteronomy 25 -- Laws of Stripes, Oxen, Seed, Modesty, Weights and Measures NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 14:51-72 Mark 14 -- Jesus Anointed; Last Supper; Gethsemane; Judas Betrays Jesus; Jesus before the Sanhedrin, disowned by Peter NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion With God's help we will do mighty things,for he will trample down our foes. Insight Do our prayers end with requests for help to make it through stressful situations? David prayed not merely for rescue, but for victory. With God's help we can claim more than mere survival—we can claim victory! Challenge Look for ways God can use your distress as an opportunity to show his mighty power. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Corinthians 10:12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of grace. A man says, "I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little faith may, but I never shall." "I have fervent love," says another, "I can stand, there is no danger of my going astray." He who boasts of grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry. If a continuous stream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burn brightly today, it will smoke to-morrow, and noxious will be its scent. Take heed that thou gloriest not in thy graces, but let all thy glorying and confidence be in Christ and his strength, for only so canst thou be kept from falling. Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for men's souls. So live that men may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of him; and when that happy day shall come, when he whom you love shall say, "Come up higher," may it be your happiness to hear him say, "Thou hast fought a good fight, thou hast finished thy course, and henceforth there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness which fadeth not away." On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, "Uphold me according to thy word." He is able, and he alone, "To keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." Daily Light on the Daily Path Titus 2:10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.Philippians 1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 1 Thessalonians 5:22 abstain from every form of evil. 1 Peter 4:14,15 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. • Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; Philippians 2:15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Proverbs 3:3,4 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. • So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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