December 31 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Mark 13:24-37:

²⁴But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
²⁵And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
²⁶And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
²⁷And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
²⁸Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
²⁹So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
³⁰Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
³¹Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
³²But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
³³Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
³⁴For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
³⁵Watch 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:
³⁶Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
³⁷And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Devotional

How hard it is for us, when we are sleepy, to keep awake. Think of the disciples, sleeping in the garden of Gethsemane. Christ told them "to watch and pray, lest ye enter into tempta­tion." In the parable of the Ten Virgins, they all slumbered and slept, the wise as well as the foolish. How urgent then it must be to stay awake in view of the coming of Christ to judge the world, especially since we do not know the day, nor the hour of his coming? And we do know that He will come "as a thief in the night," and "in such an hour as we think not."

As a snare shall the day of the Lord "come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." There shall be "distress of nations, with perplexity . . . men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." 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." In the day of God "the earth and also the works that are therein shall be burned . . . and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such thing, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, while we sojourn here on earth, may we not become absorbed in earthly things, that we forget our high calling; but may we be mindful of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. May He establish our hearts, unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at his coming with all his saints. May we always watch and pray, and so be found watching, when the Lord comes, and be permitted to share in his glory. And unto the King eternal, the only wise God, be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Mark 14:38; Matt. 25:5; 24:36; 1 Thess. 5:2; Matt. 24:44; 24:27; Luke 21:35, 36; 2 Pet. 3:10-14; Mark 13:37.

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