Corona Devo 1356

I got together with some friends yesterday, except...one of them was gone.  Not dead, she had just moved away.  But--quickly, and without anyone telling me.  Not that I deserved to be informed, because I'm not in her family, or even that close to her, but when she wasn't there, and everyone else was...I felt things that I wasn't expecting: 

    Regret--Had I told her about God and His love for her during our last visit?  

    Shock--She's not here?  (She was always there.)  

    Sadness--I liked her, though many others did not.  She was quirky and a little bit odd, and she refused most of what I offered her when we would visit...but all the same, I had gotten to see and love her as a child of God.  

And now she's gone.

It was a positive (albeit jolting) spiritual wake-up call for me.  And maybe for you too. 

Sometimes we lose someone to death, and sometimes we "lose" people that are alive and well...but either way, the Bible tells us not to take our opportunity today for granted in sharing the hope and truth of Jesus with others, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow with them. 

My "missing" friend yesterday was a stark reminder that we never know when our last time with someone will be our last time with someone.  

Dear Lord, Help us to make the most of sharing Your hope and Truth with others today, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  Amen.  

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (33) Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. (34) It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.  

(35) “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. (36) If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. (37) What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”  ~Mark 13:32-37

~~~~~

“Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. (2) Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. (3) The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, (4) but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. (5) When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

(6) “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’  

(7) “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. (8) Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’  

(9) “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’  

(10) “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. (11) Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’  

(12) “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’  

(13) “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.  ~Matthew 25:1-13  

~~~~~

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.  Only the Father knows.  

(37) “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. (38) In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. (39) People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.  

(40) “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. (41) Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 

(42) “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. (43) Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. (44) You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.  ~Matthew 24:36-44  

~~~

Being confident in Christ and open to sharing His hope with others today will remove a burden on our shoulders of regret, shock, and sadness tomorrow.  

Lord, make our conversations intentional today.  Our interactions with others are always an opportunity to introduce You, because our tomorrow with them is not guaranteed, but our forever with them (and You!) can be.  Amen.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com