The return of Christ will come unexpectedly to those who are spiritually unprepared. Scripture repeatedly compares the coming of the Lord to a thief in the night because the exact timing will not be known beforehand. The answer is not fear but readiness. Let us live every day in such a way that the coming of Christ will not catch us spiritually asleep. Scriptural Readings for the Day 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 (KJV) “ But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 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. Revelation 3:3 (KJV) “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
” Prayer Father, keep me from spiritual sleep and carelessness. Help me to watch faithfully and to live every day prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jesus gave a very short but powerful warning: “Remember Lot’s wife.” She left Sodom physically, but her heart remained attached to what she was leaving behind. As we prepare for Christ’s return, we must not allow our hearts to remain attached to a sinful world. Following Jesus requires us to look forward and not turn back. Scriptural Readings for the Day Luke 17:32-33 (KJV) “32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Genesis 19:26 (KJV) “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV) “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
” Prayer Lord Jesus, deliver my heart from every attachment that can draw me back into the world. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and press forward toward the eternal prize. Amen.
Jesus also compared the time of His coming to the days of Lot. The people of Sodom were deeply involved in ordinary pursuits while living in a society marked by great wickedness. Judgment came suddenly, and those who were unprepared had no opportunity to escape. Let us remember that God’s patience is not permission to continue in sin. Scriptural Readings for the Day Luke 17:28-30 (KJV) “28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Genesis 19:15 (KJV) “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” 2 Peter 2:7-9 (KJV) “7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”
Prayer Lord, help me to remain spiritually separated from the wickedness around me. Give me grace to live righteously and be ready when the Son of man is revealed. Amen.
Jesus compared the days preceding His coming to the days of Noah. People were eating, drinking, marrying, and carrying on with ordinary life while ignoring God’s warning of coming judgment. The problem was not simply that they were living normal lives, but that they were living without regard for God. Let us not become so occupied with this present world that we forget eternity. Scriptural Readings for the Day Matthew 24:36-39 (KJV) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 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, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Genesis 6:5 (KJV) “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
” Prayer Father, help me not to become distracted by the pleasures and cares of this present world. Give me the faith of Noah to believe Your Word, obey Your voice, and prepare for the coming judgment. Amen.
Jesus made it clear that no human being knows the exact day or hour of His return. Therefore, attempts to set dates for His coming are contrary to His warning. The proper response to uncertainty is not speculation but preparation. Since He may come when we least expect, we must remain ready at all times. Scriptural Readings for the Day Matthew 24:36, 44 (KJV) “36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Acts 1:7 (KJV) “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”
Prayer Lord Jesus, keep me from the temptation to speculate about the exact time of Your coming. Instead, help me to remain ready, watchful, and faithful every day. Amen.
Jesus warned that in the last days the increase of iniquity would cause the love of many to grow cold. When sin becomes common, people can gradually lose their sensitivity to righteousness and their passion for God. We must guard our hearts and continue walking in love, even when the world around us becomes increasingly hostile to biblical truth. Do not allow the spiritual condition of the world to determine the condition of your heart. We are already living in such days. Let us not focus on the filth around us, but on the standard of God’s holiness so that we will not compromise our faith. Scriptural Readings for the Day Matthew 24:12-13 (KJV) “12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Revelation 2:4-5 (KJV) 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Prayer Lord Jesus, keep my love for You burning even when iniquity increases around me. Help me to remain faithful, compassionate, and steadfast until the end. Amen.
