Matthew 24:36-44 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 24:36-44 on biblegateway.com
Verse 36"But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Verse 37For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Verse 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, Verse 39and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Verse 40Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Verse 41Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Verse 42Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Verse 43But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Verse 44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Devotion
“Be prepared to be surprised.” There are invitations that come with a hint of surprise. Those words are also a good description of what we can expect about the coming of Jesus.
Be prepared to be surprised this Christmas. Most of us have experienced so many Christmases that all the surprise seems gone. Christmas can even become just another thing to get through. How can we recover the eager anticipation of a child in this season? How can we be prepared to be surprised by how Jesus might come to us again this Christmas?
Jesus’ words in Matthew 24 invite us to prepare for an even greater surprise when our Lord comes again. That coming could be the ultimate end of all things or whenever our own lives end. The truth is, we don’t know the number of our days. Living in faith and hope, let us be prepared to be surprised.
Prayer
God of all time, help me be not jaded or unexcited about Christmas either as a holiday or as a holy day. Make me a little child filled with anticipation. Awaken the child within me to anticipate meeting your Son as he comes again and ultimately to be ready for Jesus.