Again and again, Jesus comes to us - in love ...

Matthew 23:1-39

As you read Jesus' stinging words, remember this: there is a 'Pharisee'' in every one of us! Jesus disturbs the 'peace' of 'those who sit at ease in Zion' (Amos 6:1). He invites us to see ourselves as God sees us: 'before Him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do' (Hebrews 4:13). Why does Christ speak such disturbing words? - He loves us. He longs for us to return to Him and be forgiven. Many times He comes to us - 'How often would I have gathered you'. Many times we refuse His appeal of love: 'you would not' (37). You may have refused Him often, yet still He waits. Still, He perseveres in love. Still, He seeks to show you the emptiness of your life without Him - 'forsaken and desolate' (38). Still, He waits for you to say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord' (39).

Matthew 24:1-31

After the first two verses, concerned with the destruction of the temple, Jesus speaks of 'the sign of His coming and of the end of the age' (3). There will be times of testing (9,21). We must take care not to be drawn away from Him (4,23-24). Beyond the time of testing, there will be the return of the Lord (29-30). The events of our day are not without significance. They are signs of His coming. We are to prepare ourselves for His return. We must live as servants of the Gospel (14). This will not be easy. There will always be opposition. Current affairs may be confusing, but we must look beyond all this to 'the momentous event': 'the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory' (30). Awaiting the Lord's return, we say, 'If no-one joins me, still I will follow' (Mission Praise, 272).

Matthew 24:32-25:13

'The times they are-a-changing'. There is, however, one thing that remains constant. Jesus says, 'My words will not pass away' (35). In an age of unbelief, our faith is often under threat. We must stand upon this solid Rock: 'The Word of the Lord stands forever' (1 Peter 1:25). The scoffers will say, 'Where is the promise of His coming?' (2 Peter 3:3-4). We are to believe that 'He is near' (33). Christ has risen. He will return (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). When He returns need not concern us: 'the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect' (44). We are to be ready at all times (13) - doing the Lord's will (46). We are to be 'faithful and wise' (45). As 'the bride of Christ' (Revelation 19:7; 21:2), we await the Return of Christ our Bridegroom: 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet Him' (6).

Matthew 25:14-46

We are to be faithful to God (21). There is a reward for faithfulness (29; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Our 'reward' is not to get more glory for ourselves: 'what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord' (2 Corinthians 4:5). Bringing glory to God - this is to be our greatest joy. We are not to be thinking, 'What am I going to get out of this?'. We are to be asking, 'What can I give to others?'. The 'righteous' are not full of boasting about their 'righteous' actions (37-38). The Lord's true servants do not draw attention to themselves. Do you have 'talents'? Yes - you do! Use them! 'Serve the Lord with gladness' (Psalm 100:2). Let this be your 'reward': the joyful privilege of bringing blessing to others and glory to God. On earth, we begin to 'enter the joy of our Lord' (21). In heaven, there will be 'fullness of joy' and 'pleasure for evermore' (Psalm 16:11).

Proverbs 3:5-18

'Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ' (2 Peter 3:18). If we are to know the Lord, we must come to an end of ourselves: 'Be not wise in your own eyes' (7), 'do not rely on your own insight' (5). True knowledge of God comes through faith: 'Trust in the Lord...' (5). True knowledge of God is heart-knowledge: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart' (5). Knowing Christ involves growing in grace. We cannot get to know God apart from the grace of God working within us. Growth in grace is not always a smooth pathway (11-12; Hebrews 12:5-11). Never forget: 'the Lord's discipline' is an expression of the Lord's love. 'Lord, You are more precious than silver, Lord, You are more costly than gold, Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, And nothing I desire compares with You' (13-15; Mission Praise,447).