After the many troubling words we read in Matthew 26, we can understand why the disciples' hearts were troubled—and why Jesus tells His followers how not to have troubled hearts: 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

Jesus promised us that if He goes from us, He will come back to us and take us to the place He has prepared. Paul writes that when Jesus does this, He will rescue us from the wrath to come, transforming us in the twinkling of an eye to be with Him forever (see 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). This moment could happen at any moment, unattached to any other moment. This is the first part of His Second Coming, which we call The Rapture of the Church.

This hope is a purifying and comforting hope. So do not let your hearts be troubled—comfort each other with these words. 

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

If we know Jesus, His return should not make us fearful but hopeful. His promise gives us purpose as we live and serve Him with joyful anticipation. Knowing Christ transforms our desires and motivations by the Holy Spirit. This transformation can only come about by knowing Him personally (not just facts about Him). We are changed from the inside out as our desires shift from loving and serving ourselves to loving and serving others—not to earn our salvation, but because we’re surrendered to Him.
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God has given you time, talents, and resources to steward for His glory. How you choose to invest these will have an eternal impact. So be wise. Be faithful. Be ready—for every opportunity to honor Him and for His return so that when you see Him, He may find you joyfully trusting and faithfully serving Him.

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
–Matthew 24:42

While no one knows the exact hour of the Lord’s return, we do see indications that it is fast approaching. As faithful followers of Jesus, we want to be ready because we just don't know how bad it's going to get until or before the Great Tribulation.

God is not just the forgiving Father; He is also the righteous judge who is holding back His righteous wrath as long as he can. He’s not slow as some consider slowness. He's patient, and he wants all people to come to repentance. The only way to be saved from Him is to be found in Him.

We're not waiting for the Antichrist or the Tribulation. We're waiting for Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath and judgment that is to come. That’s why we live in anticipation of His imminent return. A faithful servant of Jesus is ready to share His word with His people and tell others about Him.

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
–Matthew 24:44

Jesus lamented and wept when Israel didn’t recognize the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy of the prophet Daniel. They missed the time of His visitation and would soon experience destruction.

God’s people will be held accountable to know His word, especially what it has to say about the world that we live in today. You cannot just relegate that knowledge to others. You must know for yourself so that you are prepared to answer everyone who asks why you have the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15). 

One of the most effective ways to give a reasoned response to someone who asks that question is to tell them about fulfilled prophecy. At least one-half of all biblical predictions have already been fulfilled precisely as God had declared. Because of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling these prophecies, we can be assured that He will fulfill the rest of the prophecies in Scripture without fault. 

There are so many to consider. Here are just a few:

• Isaiah 53 & Psalm 22 (how Jesus would be crucified)
• Genesis 5 (the Gospel message in the names in the genealogy from Adam to Noah)
• Daniel 9 (fortelling the exact day of Messiah’s entry into Jerusalem)
• Daniel 7 & 8 (which so accurately define world empires in advance that some think it couldn’t have been written when it was). 

God has given these prophecies (and so many more) to reveal His heart and purposes to you so you may be edified, comforted, and strengthened in your faith. Read His word. It’s great for your soul!

Within Christianity today, there is a temptation to focus on outward appearances that impress others and display success: buildings and budgets. But this is not what God sees, nor the metric He uses to measure success. He is neither blessed nor impressed by those things.

Although these are necessary aspects of ministry, finances and facilities should only facilitate the vision. When they become the focus of ministry, there is a risk of becoming emptied of God’s glory. It’s not about outward appearances; it’s about the heart. As a fellowship, we could have the biggest budget and the biggest building, but if those finances and that facility do not serve the heart of Jesus for His people, then it’s just empty of God’s glory.

The heart of Jesus for His people is found in a real relationship with Him, filled with the Spirit as we walk in the Spirit. It’s seen in lives cultivated with prayer, saturated in the Word, fellowship unhindered by sin, and communion with Him and one another out of the overflow of faith, hope, and love. This is what He is looking for in the heart of any fellowship of believers. This is how Jesus measures success.

Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, a Greek theater word referring to actors who wore large masks to play parts contrary to their true selves.

The scribes and Pharisees pretended to be super-spiritual to intimidate and rule over the people. These individuals who should have been serving the people were only serving themselves.

And they were pretty good at deceiving the people. But Jesus looks at the heart. He sees their motives and hypocrisy and calls out these charlatans in righteous anger mixed with deep sorrow and great grief.

But it didn’t have to be this way. Jesus wanted to gather them, but they were not willing to come to Him (see Matthew 23:37-39). There is no value in clinging to a phony piety that attempts to deceive others and rule over others. There is a better way. The Apostle Paul’s life is a testimony to this fact. His legalistic righteousness was off the charts, yet this was the conclusion he made after meeting Jesus:

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith…” (Philippians 3:7-9)

Like Paul, let go of your self-righteousness. Gain Christ and be found in Him.

The scenes we read in Matthew 21 show us that God wants to enjoy the fruit of our fellowship with Him. But it upsets Him when people pretend to be His people but bear no fruit for Him to enjoy and show no concern for Him, His representatives, or His Son.

Sadly, we see through Jesus’ teaching that fruitless phonies who pretend to be His people will eventually treat the people who do have a heart for Him poorly. And ultimately, they will treat Jesus with scorn.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. He offers forgiveness. And those who receive His forgiveness will forgive others. This is fruit that comes from fellowship with Him.

Is this a fruit you have in your life that God can enjoy? He can’t force His forgiveness upon you, but desires to enjoy this fruit that is cultivated in genuine fellowship with Him. You don’t need to impress Him (or anyone else). He didn’t come to make bad people good, but to give dead people life—real, full, and eternal spiritual life. Learn from the mistakes of the religious leaders. Don’t turn away and leave.

Follow Him.

Why do we grumble and complain when we see God give others what we don’t think they deserve, or opportunities He hasn’t given us? After all, we deserve those things! 

But do we really? Do we really want what we deserve?

Everything we have is God’s mercy. Every opportunity is His grace. Every chance we have to serve in ministry is more than we justly deserve. When we lobby leadership for perceived positions of power and think we have a right to fight for what we really deserve, we forget about what we actually deserve.

None of us can truly and genuinely serve apart from Jesus. Our resume, pedigree, or experience is never the reason we receive any opportunity to serve. Only with humility can we realize that ministry isn’t about us. Ministry looks like coming after Jesus, denying ourselves, taking up His cross, and following Him in humble, self-sacrificial, others-centered service. 

Two verses prior to His interaction with the rich young ruler, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” So, how would a little child receive the kingdom of God?

Have you ever watched a little child playing with their favorite toy when someone brings a gift far more wonderful than what they have? The child looks at the toy in their hands, then tosses it aside to receive what’s been given, saying, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

This is quite the contrast to how the rich young ruler responded. He wanted to serve something other than God and was unwilling to repent and renounce his old ‘toy’ in favor of something far better. It was never about the money; it was about repenting of idolatry and making God number one on a list of one.

The rich young ruler was unwilling to do this. What about you? You can’t do anything to inherit eternal life. The only thing you can do is throw down your sin, run to Jesus, and receive the free gift of salvation He wants to give you.

Throughout the Scriptures, God uses human relationships to convey His emotions and provide an analogy for reconciliation. The book of Hosea contains one of the most powerful examples of the Lord’s love for His people, even when they didn’t love Him back. It explores a human relationship to illustrate His pain and anguish over Israel’s repeated unfaithfulness. 

This book has many gut-wrenching verses concerning the sin and impending captivity of Israel. It also contains many verses of the Lord’s love for His people, even when Israel was bent on sin, rebellion, and rejection. 

Maybe your sin is destroying you. If so, consider the amazing grace and love of the Lord who calls out to us even in the midst of our mess and while we are at our worst:

“Israel, return to the Lord your God. Your sins have destroyed you! Tell the Lord you are turning away from your sins. Return to him. Say to him, ‘Forgive us for all our sins. Please be kind to us. Welcome us back to you. Then our lips will offer you our praise.’” (Hosea 14:1-2)