ESOCS Devotional 14 March 2024 – Be Alert, Be Watchful
MEMORY VERSE: “Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42
TEXT: MATTHEW 24: 36-51
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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The warning for believers to watch and be at alert for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is so critical because on it hangs our destination after life on earth. The two destinations available are Heaven and Hell, both of which are real. Heaven is the paradise and dwelling place of God prepared for true believers, a place of everlasting life and Joy, where no sickness, no death, no sorrow, no pains, no darkness will be found, a place of bliss. On the other hand, Hell is a place prepared for Satan the devil and his demons, a place of burning fire, brimstone and worms, where the wicked and disobedient will suffer for all eternity, a place of the second death.
I have no doubt that you who is reading this devotional desire to make it to Heaven. That is also the Lord’s desire for you and it is my prayer that you shall make it. No matter how excellent or poor your walk with Christ has been up till now, He warns that you must be on your watch for His Second Coming. The subject of His Second Coming and judgment is so important that the Lord in His earthly ministry gave us six parables on it: the Potter, the Master of the house, the Faithful servant and the evil servant, the Ten virgins, the Talents , the Sheep and the Goats.
To watch for the Lord’s coming is to keep your mind, heart, body and soul in the standard state of righteousness and spiritual responsibility that will make you acceptable to the Lord. Most of the six parables mentioned above teach one or two lessons on your responsibility to make ready for Him. He has clearly told us that no man, nor angel knows the day and hour except the Father alone. This excludes all eye service and leaves us with no other option than genuine repentance and preparation. More so, that we do not know even the date of our home call from the earth. It could be sooner or later. Therefore, watch and make your soul always ready.
Will the trumpet meet you as a cheat, an adulterer, idolater, a drunk, thief, backbiter, backslidden, a murderer? Will it meet you in the bore room, in an occult shrine etc.? For any of these, such a person is headed for hell. Watch that when the trumpet sounds, it will meet you in righteousness, purity, chastity, honesty, gentleness, singing and praising God, doing good to those in need, occupying well your duty post in the church. I have no doubt that if so be, you are headed for Heaven.
- What steps are you taking to ensure that you are ready and on guard for His Second Coming?
- O Lord, strengthen my feeble heart and give me faith to withstand all till you meet me in a rapturable state.
Further Reading: Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 21:36
ESOCS Devotional 14 March 2024
