Rich Maffeo on Nostr: Many Christians believe the Lord’s return is imminent. I am one of them. Today ...
Many Christians believe the Lord’s return is imminent. I am one of them. Today would be a good day. And we often turn to the so-called ‘End-Time’ passages in the gospels to encourage ourselves.
As I’m making my way again through Matthew’s gospel, I thought not only of the 24th chapter – but my mind went to the last part of the NEXT chapter.
If it has been a while since you’ve read Matthew 25 and particularly verses 31-46, I hope you will take the minute or two (that’s all it will probably take) to read those verses. They encompass a solemn warning from Jesus. You can read it here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2025%3A31-46&version=NASB1995
Anyway, as I read those verses, I suddenly thought of what Amos said in his prophecy. Here is only a part of what he said, and I hope you ‘ll read the entire chapter for context:
“Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 19 As when a man flees from a lion, and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him. 20 Will not the day of the Lord be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:18-20)
It's hard to not connect the dots between the “End-Time” prophecies in the gospels with the last 15 verses of Matthew 25, and Amos’ warning in the 5th chapter of his book.
And so, I very often pray that the Holy Spirit will PLEASE give me a heart that looks less toward His return and MUCH MORE to the work Jesus commanded us to do while we still have opportunity to do so.
The warnings of Scripture regarding living more devotedly for Christ and not for ourselves are given to us for good reason.
As I’m making my way again through Matthew’s gospel, I thought not only of the 24th chapter – but my mind went to the last part of the NEXT chapter.
If it has been a while since you’ve read Matthew 25 and particularly verses 31-46, I hope you will take the minute or two (that’s all it will probably take) to read those verses. They encompass a solemn warning from Jesus. You can read it here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2025%3A31-46&version=NASB1995
Anyway, as I read those verses, I suddenly thought of what Amos said in his prophecy. Here is only a part of what he said, and I hope you ‘ll read the entire chapter for context:
“Alas, you who are longing for the day of the Lord, for what purpose will the day of the Lord be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 19 As when a man flees from a lion, and a bear meets him, or goes home, leans his hand against the wall and a snake bites him. 20 Will not the day of the Lord be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:18-20)
It's hard to not connect the dots between the “End-Time” prophecies in the gospels with the last 15 verses of Matthew 25, and Amos’ warning in the 5th chapter of his book.
And so, I very often pray that the Holy Spirit will PLEASE give me a heart that looks less toward His return and MUCH MORE to the work Jesus commanded us to do while we still have opportunity to do so.
The warnings of Scripture regarding living more devotedly for Christ and not for ourselves are given to us for good reason.