King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: A Thief In The Night
Date: Sunday October 30, 2011
Chapters: Luke 21-22
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-30

Hello My Friend,

“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” - I Thessalonians 5:2-8.

While every generation has had their share of signs that Jesus is coming soon, this generation has had more signs than any. Those who know Christ have no problem understanding that many of the wars, famines, and natural disasters of today are signs of His coming. We may not know what day Jesus will return, but we do know that we are one day closer to His return. Of course, there is always someone predicting the day He will return and it will get people all stirred up, but I think that is just a way that God gets people to sober up and realize that He truly is coming. We, especially those who allow Christ to live in and through our lives, need to keep watching and stay sober, because Jesus will be here as a thief in the night.

As Jesus was standing in front of the synagog, He watched people casting money and highly valuable gifts into the offering plate, then something caught His attention. A little old lady, poor as can be, took all she had, which added up to about a penny, and cast it into the offering plate.

“And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” - Luke 21:1-6.

The little bit of money that this woman gave meant more to Jesus than all that the rich men gave. Why? This says a great deal about this woman and her love for God. She cast all she had into the treasury, trusting in God to provide for her. People who are rich are not really depending on God to do anything for them, but perhaps have the idea that their good deeds will save them from hell. Good deeds do not save you, giving tithes and offerings does not save you, even coming to church and serving God does not save you. What does save you is personally asking Christ to come into your life. He is coming and when He does all hell is literally going to break loose, no amount of money or possessions will save you when the destruction comes, but Christ will, if you have received Him. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10.

Throughout their journey, Jesus often spoke to the disciples of His coming death, burial, and resurrection, this time He is speaking about His return after His resurrection and ascension. The question came up, what will be the signs of Your return? Jesus responded, “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” - Luke 21:29-36.

Jesus spoke this parable in the spring, just before the Passover, when all the trees were budding on the mount of Olives, where they then were. He tells them to observe the signs of the times, which will be wars and famines, earthquakes and unusual storms in strange places. As Christian's, we are to remain sober, always watching for the signs of His return so we are prepared. Pay attention to the signs of today, if we are not prepared we are going to be like the millions of other people caught off guard. We cannot be safe, if we are carnally secure, therefore, we are to be careful not to be overpowered by temptations, nor betrayed by our own corruptions. May we begin, employ, and conclude each day with Christ, obeying His precepts, and following His example, that whenever He does come that we may be found watching for His return. “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” - I Peter 4:6,7.

Jesus knew that the time was near that He should suffer, before everything came to pass He wanted one last meal with the disciples. “And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” -Luke 22:14-20.

Christ suffered the most horrific beating and humiliation for you, He hung on a cross for you, He shed His blood for you, He died for you. He gave His body to be the sacrifice that would save you from hell, from the destruction yet to come, as well as the judgment that will come to all when He returns. Are you prepared for His return? Jesus will be here as a thief in the night, but He will not be subtle, you will know when He comes to claim all that are His. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” - I Thessalonians 4:16,17.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
While I do not know the hour in which You will return, I do know that You are coming and I want to be prepared. Lord, lead me not into temptations or worldly pursuits that take my eyes off of You. Help me to be a watchful and sober at all times and to be a witness to others so they too can know that You will save them too if they only believe. I love You Lord, and pray in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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