Wise Counsellor

It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his workers in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, Be on the alert!  Mark 13:34-37 NASB

Wow, walk with Jesus, it is an awe inspiring journey on a road that climbs mountains and passes through valleys, and while taking His hand, we are to live in a constant state of readiness for Christ’s return, in fact watch and pray without ceasing. When we watch and pray we receive spiritual strength to resist temptation and the pull of spiritual slumber. If we fall asleep in our faith walk, we will no longer live in expectation of Christ’s return because to be spiritually asleep is to focus on the here and now with little thought of eternity or the will of God. But to be alert is to remain faithful and true to our Lord until the very end. We need to choose the narrow path which leads to heaven, and stay away from the wide gate of complacency and the broad way of leniency that lead to destruction. 

Oh Jesus, help us remain open to Your presence, soften our hearts to watch and pray so we can be ready to meet You at any time.

Mark 13:3-10 NASB As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many.  When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.  For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 

Mark 13:24-26 NASB But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

We may live in a society that glorifies isolation and the ideas of the individual, but if we walk in the way that Scripture promotes, we will instead value Holy Spirit led wisdom, God’s loving correction, and personal humility. 

And when we actually, (though it may feel raw and vulnerable in the moment) - put our lives into God’s hands we can stand / in fact withstand the testings and and see Him clearly ahead of us. 

Do you have plans for today, tomorrow, or next week? Let Holy Spirit form them!

Because God governs the universe, and He will alter our days in however He chooses to bring glory to His kingdom. Those seeking wisdom will submit to God, knowing that we can never determine the forecast or change the future. The Lord knows the end from the beginning while we don’t even know what this afternoon will bring! We can plan, but God rules the details of our lives. He created all and governs it all while we, as believers in Jesus, get to go to God in prayer until His timing is revealed. 

That is truly freeing! Let go of the reins! Do not despair, but rather, rejoice and trust in His goodness. Continuously seek Christ, strive to keep His commandments, be joyful while all appears lost, and give thanks regardless of the outcomes and circumstances here in this life. 

Ask for Holy Spirit to give His discernment, to remove the veil that clouds our actions and help keep us wide awake, eager, yes expectant! For Jesus Christ’s return.  That's how we will glorify the King of kings - by our faith filled, bold in the face of the adversary allegiance to God.