MINDFUL

Seeker: Saying No to My Way & Yes to Following Jesus (30 Days in Matthew) - Day 26

When I was working full time, I’d often pull into the driveway at the end of a long day and find my husband standing on the front stoop waiting for me. He was mindful that I would be returning soon, and so he would wait for my arrival with a big smile on his face.

This is the expectant attitude that Jesus describes here in the gospel of Matthew. We don’t know exactly when our Savior will return, but we should remain vigilant.

The carnal Christian will get distracted by the worries of this world and even “fall asleep” spiritually rather than living on alert. It’s easy to forget that Jesus could return at any time, and so we need to get ready — just as if we were preparing for a storm looming on the horizon during hurricane season. His signs for His return are increasing, but we don’t know the exact day.

Jesus likens His return to a thief surprising us unaware, and this theme is threaded throughout the New Testament in several places (I Thessalonians 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15). Let’s resolve to be mindful that Jesus is coming back and wait with joyous expectancy.