Daily Reading: Mark chapters 13 thru 16

Key Verse: Mark 13:33

As we go through the daily grind of life, we must be ever conscious that we do not know the day nor hour when Jesus will come back.  This should keep us on the alert.

What do you do when you are on the alert of an impending situation?  Most of us prepare for the situation.  For example, if you are going on vacation, there are certain things that you would most assuredly tend to before you left.  You may purchase appropriate clothing.  You may plan to have available your medications, sunscreen, coats, hats depending on the locale and the length of time.  You may hire someone to keep watch over your belongings whether it is your home, your car, your pets, your mail or your plants.  You may purchase airline tickets or make hotel arrangements or fill your gas tank.  You probably began saving money specifically for the trip well in advance.  You notified your employment, your family and your friends of your impending plans.  You probably made sure you were caught up on your work assignments - you knew all that was going to transpire while you were gone and you made sure that you would not be left behind.  If you realized a bill would be due during that time, you paid it early so that you would not be penalized for not attending to your responsibilities.  In other words, you made sure that all your affairs were in order prior to your departure that way you would not have to be concerned once you reached your destination.  If only, we would put the same effort into our walk with the Lord. 

What would it look like to make preparations for the Lord's return?