KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, November 06, 2016
Chapters: Mark 13, Matthew 24
Message: Enduring Tribulation
Hello My Friend,
Tribulation, the troubles and distresses which proceed from persecution. We have all gone through tribulation, in fact, whether or not we care to admit tribulation is what grows and defines us, some of us in a more positive way. I remember when my ex got caught doing something he should not have been doing that I was the one who got persecuted, as if I knew he did what he did. I would not want my worst enemy to go through what I did, but that was also the time that I stepped in a church for the first time in years. Tribulation is not meant to get us away from God, but draw us near to His Son. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” – II Corinthians 1:3-4.
“that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,” It is funny, but when I grab a verse to go along with what I am talking about I am thinking it is matching what I am thinking, in reality it is just the Holy Spirit directing me in the message. The things we go through often happen to us so that we can be there for others in their time of need. Why? One, it gives comfort to others knowing that we made it through what they are dealing with, and two, it reveals Christ in us, and that is the most important reason why God sends people our way that need to hear the Gospel. The Tribulation, a time when all hell might as well be breaking loose because that is what it will feel like, it is talked about in every one of the Gospels, each one adding something a little more so we get more insight into what will take place before and after Christ returns.
“But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” – Mark 13:14-20.
“whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” God does not want us to see all the destruction that will take place upon Christ’s return, it is bad enough that we are in the stages of reaching the Tribulation, which is why He shortens our days here on earth. However, His elect are safe and sound awaiting His return, God is the one who chooses those who will be saved from the Tribulation and Judgment, and they are those who believe in and receive Christ as their Saviour. Jesus explains this further in a parable.
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” – Mark 13:28-31.
“that this generation shall not pass,” Jesus is not talking about a specific generation of people, He is talking about the human generation, when the very last person on earth gets saved that is when He will get the order from God to judge the earth. God is longsuffering that He does not want one soul to perish so, He is giving ample time for one to receive His Son before He sends Him back. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” – II Peter 3:9-10.
The Tribulation is only the beginning, and we do not want to be here for that, but that will be the time when the Jews will finally know who Christ is. Jesus goes on to explain this.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” – Matthew 24:29-31.
“and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds,” Jesus will return for His elect and they will be carried to safety while all these things come to pass. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – I Thessalonians 4:16-17.
Who better to hear these words from that Jesus Christ Himself? We have, but a short time on earth, eighty-ninety years, and some do not get that, we cannot life live as though once we are done here it is over. I have seen people do some crazy things when they thought they were going to die, so many people oblivious to the fact that if they die or even do not believe before Christ returns they will face a judgment no one wants to face. We do not know what hour Jesus is coming, and for that reason it is important that we reach our loved ones with the Gospel before it is too late.
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” – Matthew 24:36-43.
“and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” We often face tribulation for one reason only, and that is to either know Christ ourselves or that we may show Him to someone else. The last thing we need to be doing when facing tribulation is rebelling or walking away from God, with Christ we can endure anything, even the most devastating troubles. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” – Romans 5:1-5.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.” – Mark 13:26-27.
Today’s Prayer: God, There is a fine line between going completely insane or finding peace through tribulation and that is a relationship with You. I know that no matter what I go through I can endure it with You, but when I am distressed or troubled it can be so hard to get up and push forward. Thank You for being my strength and motivation to keep going, even when all I want to do is give up. Through all my tribulation You are there, leading and guiding me, and working a good work in me. I love You, and pray this in Jesus’ name…Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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