“And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people.  And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold” (Matthew 24:11-12).

The coldness of this world is a spiritual issue.  In the Lord, we love others, and care for one another abounds.  With coldness come expectations and hatred.  Love is returned with hate.  Those around you will be used to influence you to leave the truth and follow the lie.  You have heard the word of truth.  Listen to the truth — Jesus — and do not be led astray by those who are of this world.

Lord, You have revealed the words of eternal life.  In You there is hope and a future.  Guide me to live life so that I may be found faithful to the call You have given me.  In this mixed-up world, may I learn from You what is means to be faithful.  Help me to not be a part of the lawlessness, but to live out Your words of truth in thought, word, and deed.

Lord Jesus, You have given me sight to see.  Do not let the dimness of this world make me blind.  You have opened my ears to hear truth.  Do not let my ears become so deaf that I believe the nonsense of the wicked one.  Lead me into all truth.  Keep me, Lord,  faithful in the calling You have given me.  Guide me according to Your never changing word of truth.  Amen.

“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.  And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another” (Matthew 24:9-10).

Handing one another over in betrayal and hating because of the name of Jesus  is not something new in our age.  It is the reality of the persecutions that have always been present.  The world hates God.  Any god will do, but they do not want to be in relationship with the Living God.  Look to the Lord alone and do not be influenced by the hatred and betrayal of the world.  Look to the Lord and live the life He has given you.

Lord, this world has increased its hostility.  We live amidst an increasingly violent society.  But these things You have warned us about.  It has happened before.  What it means, I do not know.  But You have revealed truth, so help me to walk in Your ways no matter what is happening around me.  Lead me into Your eternal promises in order that I may live the life You give me.

Lord Jesus, You have given us warning.  Help me to heed all Your teaching.  Guide me in the goodness and mercy that You have given me so that no matter what happens around me I remain faithful to You.  Grow this faith You have given me ever deeper into my heart.  Aid me to hold fast through all that may come in this age of continuous rebellion.  May I never fall away from the truth You have revealed.  Amen.

“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:7-8).

Lead us, O Lord; take away the constant anxiety of this world.  The nations vie for power, but all power belongs to You.  The nations that do not have what they want, take.  The nations that do have, keep and do not share.  These birth pangs have been happening all along.  Help me to trust in the provision You have given me and guide me into all goodness.  You are the light that shines amidst the darkness of this world.

Creator of the heavens and the earth, You have set all things in motion.  They will continue according to Your will and will produce what You intend.  Keep me from being carried away by the momentary anxieties that press in.  Lead me in the truth of the righteousness You have given me by faith in Your grace and mercy.  Though the world constantly denies You, help me to hold fast to the good confession.

Thank You Lord Jesus for giving us ample warning.  Help me to see through the fog of this age and hold fast to the faith You have given me.  No matter the circumstances, Your promises will come to pass.  All things will work together for good for those who love You.  Lead me into the truth of this promise.  Keep me close to You and grant encouragement along the way so that I may remain faithful.  Amen.

“And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end” (Matthew 24:6).

There have been constant wars from the time of Jesus until now.  The Twentieth Century was the most violent yet.  He warns us that all things that will happen must take place.  We are not to be alarmed, for everything remains in the Lord’s hands.  History will unfold as it must.  Do not become fearful or carried away with the way of the world.  Trust in the One who knows what will happen.

Lord, I watch the news.  Perhaps I listen closely and I become alarmed at the state of the world.  Constant war, violence and hatred.  You have given us promises that, despite what happens in the world, You knew they would happen.  Lead me to trust in You, the One in whom all things have their being.  Lead me away from the temptation to be carried away by this world, and help me remain steadfast in the faith You have given me.

Thank You, Lord, for the blessed assurance of my salvation.  Lead me in Your goodness and mercy to always look first to the Good News of Your salvation which comes despite what the world is doing.  Guide me to remain faithful to You.  Temptation will come; but lead me away from all temptation to look to You, the author and finisher of my faith.  Sustain me through all my trials to hold fast to the faith You have given me.  Amen.

“And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people” (Matthew 24:4-5).

Christ has already come.  Those who come to you are to preach Christ, not themselves.  Listen clearly and hear the Lord’s warning.  We are each called into the presence of the Lord, and to encourage others to come as well.  Do not listen to those who promote themselves.  Listen to the one who tells you of Christ.  Do not be misled.  Christ alone is the way, truth, and life.  He who made you is the only One who can redeem you.

Jesus, You have given clear warning.  Many in our time promote themselves.  We have many whom Christians look up to as the interpreter of Your word.  You have written the law upon our heart.  We do not need to be led to know you.  Grant us discerning ears to flee from the false ones who proclaim what is not true.  Guide us a place where Your word is properly proclaimed.  Hold together the faithful.

Lord Jesus, do not let me fall prey to the many deceptions that are all around.  But do not let me become paranoid either and fall for the trap of thinking I am in a select group.  Grant me temperance that I might be balanced, granting charity to others while also being on guard against the many heresies that surround me.  Help me to remain faithful to You throughout this time You have given me upon the earth.  Amen.

“And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)

We do want to know things.  In our sinfulness, we want to know what will happen in our generation.  We need to see things through the Lord’s eyes.  That is, within the words He has given us.  Do not go any further, for many do and they go into many kinds of heresy.  Follow the words Jesus has spoken and trust Him to the end.  He has redeemed You and will lead you in the way you need to go.

Lord, help me to find peace no matter the circumstance.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to live through whatever may come, trusting in Your goodness and mercy.  Keep me holding fast to the truth You have spoken and not to be led away by wishful thinking.  You have given me enough to do this day.  Help me to live in this day which You have given me.  Lead me into all truth.

Lord Jesus, I need to better understand the truth You have spoken.  Lead me so that I humbly walk in the way You are teaching me to walk.  Guide me ever deeper into Your word so that I abide by Your word above all things.  Help me Lord when I flounder.  Keep me close to You so that I live the life You have given me to live, and by Your goodness and mercy, abide in the true faith.  Amen.

“Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him.  But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down” (Matthew 24:1-2).

Yes, even the stones are now alongside, but not touching each other.  Within the lifetime of many of those who heard these words from Jesus’ mouth, they witnessed the Romans coming in and completely dismantling the temple.  The stones were thrown over the wall and they sat where they were thrown until now.  Jesus speaks from what He knows.  Will you trust the speculation of man or the words of the One who knows?

Lord, You have given us the words of eternal life.  You have created all things and of course You know how they are and how they will be.  I become confused by my own speculation.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life.  Guide me into the goodness and mercy of Your never-failing love in order that I would live the life You have given me to live.  Show me the way You know I need to go.

Lord Jesus, help my unbelief.  Guide me into the way of life that trusts You above all things.  This world keeps telling me to have hope in the world.  That hope is crushed time and again.  You offer me true hope and life in spite of all that happens in this world.  No matter what comes, help me to trust You above everything else.  You know what is coming.  Help me to heed Your words of truth so that the disappointments of this world will not hold me back from living a life of faith.  Amen.

“Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!  For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Matthew 23:38-39)

Humanity is in rebellion against the Lord.  As long as we insist on things being the way we want them to be, we will never see that the Lord has been around us the whole time.  He is the One who created all things.  He is the One who has established morality.  It shall be the Lord’s will that is done.  Until one comes to the place of blessing the Lord, their eyes will remain shut and they will not see.

Lord, I do not understand the closing and opening of the eyes for those who do and those who do not see.  I know You desire that none would perish, but there are those who will perish.  Guide me into the sight You give by faith.  Help me to not be hindered by my thoughts, but to trust in You alone for all things, even the things which puzzle me.  You are God and You are the One who establishes all things.

Lord Jesus, help my unbelief.  You have given me the ability to see.  You have opened the eyes of my faith.  Lead me in the way You know I need to walk.  Help me to live by the faith You give knowing that there are those around me who cannot see.  Let me never again go to the place of desolation, but live according to Your word of truth.  Lead me, dear Savior, in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling” (Matthew 23:37).

The place which is supposed to be faithful is filled with wickedness.  Intrigue and sorrow abound.  It is sad when the place which is supposed to be a haven is a pit.  The wickedness of this world seeks to infect all places.  Look to the One who speaks truth and avoid the myriad traps of the wicked in this world.  The Lord will gather the faithful into the one true catholic and apostolic church, filled with the communion of saints.

Is there a prophetic voice in your midst?  Do not kill it.  If Christ crucified and resurrected is proclaimed, then live in the truth of the revelation.  Yes, the word of the Lord sometimes unsettles us, but do not be led by your feelings, but by the truth of the One who is the way, truth and life.  The Lord gathers those who will flock to Him.  He is watching out for all of the faithful.  Be counted amongst them.

Lord Jesus, in this troubled world, I am often at a loss for what to do.  I often do not know which way to turn.  Guide me into all goodness so that in Your mercy, I may live in the grace You give.  Help me to live according to Your word and never disregard it.  Help me to overcome my fears to live the life You have given me to live.  Lead me Lord in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“[S]o that upon you will fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.  Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation” (Matthew 23:35-36).

The blood of the righteous is spilled by the unrighteous who believe only in themselves.  It has happened over and over again.  The wicked of this world believe what they want to believe, and the righteous have received the truth.  If you hold to the truth, it will infuriate the wicked.  This world wants destruction, but the Lord of life offers truth.  The truth is what sets us free.

Lord, things really have not changed.  Styles and the particularities of culture and technology make us think things are different, but they are not and we are not.  Lead us in the way of truth.  Let us see through the fog of this age.  Help us to understand that only in You will we begin to understand this thing we call life.  You are the author of life and the author of true faith.  Help us see reality as You reveal truth.

Lord Jesus, You have come to reveal truth and lead any who will follow into genuine faith.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may humbly go where You lead.  Teach me the things I need to know and show me the right way of living so that I humbly walk with You, the author and finisher of my faith.  Lord, You know all that is needed.  Help me to joyfully receive all that You give.  Amen.