In the hustle and bustle of life in the 21st century, patience may not be seen as a virtue. But to become more like Jesus the fruit of patience needs to ripen in our life. Just like Jesus we need to demonstrate patience in waiting for God’s timing as well as in our dealings with difficult people.

Jesus gives us this astonishing promise: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). The world may define peace as the absence of conflict, but Christians equate peace with the presence of Jesus. If you have Jesus you can have peace no matter your circumstances.

One of the reasons we fail to experience joy is because we look for it in the wrong place. Christian joy is not rooted in our circumstances; Jesus is the source of our joy. It is through a relationship with Him we experience joy unspeakable and glorious. As we share in the joy of Jesus, we in turn become joyful Christians.

Jesus guarantees that the gospel of His Kingdom will be proclaimed to all nations before the coming of the end. Even before Jesus gives the Great Commission in Matt 28, He offers us this great certainty that nothing can thwart His mission. Focusing on this bright spot in Matt 24 will give us a contagious passion to advance the good news instead of being obsessed with the signs of the end times.

Many people have lost the sense of imminency when it comes to the Second Coming of Jesus. In Matt 24:36-51, Jesus gives us three illustrations that warn us about the unexpected nature of His coming and the importance of being ready at all times.

Be Discerning: Matt 24:1-13

In Matthew 24, Jesus responded to the disciples’ questions about the signs of the end of the age. He goes on to outline the signs that will characterize the New Testament age. The Bible does not give us a clear blueprint of when Jesus is going to return. But it is more interested in how we live in light of the reality of His return. We are called to stand firm until the very end!