The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 4 April 2020 – TOPIC: WATCH OUT!
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DATE: SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2020
TOPIC: WATCH OUT!
READ: MARK 13:1-13 (NKJV)
1. Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings [are here!”]
2. And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not [one] stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
3. Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
4. “Tell us, when will these things be? And what [will be] the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”
5. And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
6. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am [He,’] and will deceive many.
7. “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for [such things] must happen, but the end [is] not yet.
8. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These [are] the beginnings of sorrows.
9. “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.
10. “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
11. “But when they arrest [you] and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
12. “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father [his] child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
13. “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
THE MESSAGE:
The disciples admired the temple’s magnificence and drew Jesus’ attention to its beauty; Jesus used the occasion to teach them about the future destruction of the same temple, warning them not to be deceived. The temple was the pride of the Jews, and so they were alarmed when Jesus talked about its destruction. The disciples raised two questions namely, when would the temple be destroyed and what would be the signs? Jesus did not give any direct answer to those questions but rather told His disciples to watch out against deception.
Today, many false prophets and teachers predict dates, times and seasons when Jesus would come back but Jesus only listed the signs of His coming such as: Spiritual deception by false Messiahs, wars and wide scale violence in the world, earthquakes, famines and other natural disasters, persecution by civil and religious authorities, world evangelization, and family divisions and intense animosity against the Christian faith.
As revealed by historical events, from the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in AD 70 till now, it is clear that the end is very imminent. We are therefore admonished to stand firm in the faith, despite all challenges; for only those who endure to the end shall be saved.
PRAYER: Pray for believers undergoing severe trials.