Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father, in a world of so many words that are used to "spin" so many answers and aid in so much communicational manipulation, I thank you for Jesus' promises that are sure and trustworthy. Help me as I seek to build my life on your Son's promises. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"The fig tree teaches us a lesson: When the fig tree's branches become green and soft, and new leaves begin to grow, then you know that summer is near. It is the same with these things that I told you would happen. When you see all these things happening, then you will know that the time is near, ready to come. I tell you the truth. All these things will happen while people of this time are still living. The whole world, earth and sky, will be destroyed. But the words I have said will never be destroyed. "No person knows when that day or time will be. The Son and the angels in heaven don't know when that day or time will be. Only the Father knows. Be careful! Always be ready! You don't know when that time will be. This is like a man that goes on a trip and leaves his house. The man lets his servants take care of the house. He gives each servant a special job to do. One servant has the work of guarding the door. The man tells this servant to always be ready. This is the same as I am now telling you. So you must always be ready. You don't know when the owner of the house will come back. He might come in the afternoon, or at midnight, or in the early morning, or when the sun rises. The owner might come back quickly. If you are always ready, then he will not find you sleeping. I tell you this, and I say this to every person: 'Be ready!'"

Related Scripture Readings

You believe in God through Christ. God raised Christ from death. Then God gave glory to him. So your faith and your hope are in God. Now you have made yourselves pure by obeying the truth. Now you can have true love for your brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply—with all your heart. You have been born again. This new life did not come from something that dies. It came from something that cannot die. You were born again through God's living message that continues forever. The Scripture says, "People {don't live forever; they} are all like grass, and all their glory is like a wild flower. The grass dies, and the flower falls. But the word of God will live forever." And this is the word (teaching) that was told to you.

The "Yes" to all of God's promises is in Christ. And that is why we say "Amen " through Christ to the glory of God. And God is the One who makes you and us strong in Christ. God gave us his special blessing. He put his mark on us to show that we are his. And he put his Spirit in our hearts to be a guarantee—{a proof that he will give us what he promised}.

What we tell you now is the Lord's own message. We who are living now might still be living when the Lord comes again. We who are living at that time will be with the Lord, but not before those people who have already died.