“Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house.  And whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.  But woe to those women who are pregnant, and to those who are nursing babies in those days!” (Matthew 24:17-18)

Our Lord has great compassion for His sheep, but we all must go through what we will go through.  From that time until now, there have been many who have left all of their belongings  behind because of the calamities caused by the wicked.  Yet, we have the promise that He is with us always.  Let your hope be in the One who saves you from eternal death.  Keep the faith and trust what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do.

Lord, I want to be one of the special ones with insight, but is that not one of the major problems?   Our pride is alive. It does much against You.  Grant me a humble heart that knows that You love us no matter our circumstance.  What comes is not punishment, and what we experience You have promised to work for good for those who love You.  It is more than enough to have Your salvation.  Guide us to endure faithfully and not by the constant wishful thinking of this age.

Lord Jesus, I need Your help and wisdom, Guide my inner thoughts, Holy Spirit, so that the truth of my faith is in Your inspired word and not in this world.  Keep me from speculations and the idea that Your love means You will keep me out of bad circumstances.  Guide me into deeper and unshakable faith so that I humbly walk with You through all circumstances that I will face.  Amen.

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place – let the reader understand – then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16).

Was Jesus speaking of the time the Romans came in forty years after his crucifixion and leveled the temple mount?  Is Jesus speaking of that, someday in the future, or even both?  Does it really impact your faith?  For some it seems to.  Jesus is giving us warning that this world is evil and will continue to become increasingly evil for those who reject salvation.  Those who believe will suffer the persecution of it.  They must flee.

Lord, this current age is filled with all kinds of speculation as if it were truth.  Are people being led astray with false hopes and not humbly trusting You for all things?  Our hope should be in Your salvation, Lord, no matter what the circumstances are in this world.  Lead us away from all temptations that would place our hope anywhere else.  What they say may be true, but then again, if it is not clearly spelled out in Scripture, it is better to simply rely on Your word.

Lord Jesus, in this mixed up world, help me to hear Your word rightly.  I enjoy speculating, but keep my faith firmly grounded in You.  Let not the deceiving words of the wicked one take any root in me.  You have called me, justified me, and You are the One who must lead me.  Guide me in all goodness that by Your mercy I would reach the prize of my faith which is being with You in eternity.  Amen.

“But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.  This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:13-14).

We do not have to go through these trials to be saved, but when the trials come, the ones who trust what the Lord has already done will remain in the salvation which is already theirs.  It seems that Jesus is saying that there are some who will reject the salvation that He gives.  You have been given the truth.  Live in the truth and let nothing get in the way of living in the promised hope which is already yours.

Lord, the trials and tribulations of this world can choke off true life.  The world screams at believers in contradictory fashion, tugging and pulling in multiple directions.  Listen to and obey the word of truth.  Do not let yourself be guided by the ever changing, and yet never changing, winds of this world.  See clearly the words of eternal life which Jesus has revealed through His life, death, and resurrection.

Lord, the culture is constantly influencing the church.  We are tugged and pulled in so many different directions.  Help me to see through the mess of this world so that I am not led astray.  Keep me in the way of true life.  Teach me how to endure past all of the pablum that this world spews.  Guide me ever deeper into the truth of the Gospel which has been delivered once for all.  Amen.

“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.