St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 14a; Gospel of the Kingdom.

Our paragraph topic is: (He tells them of trials and hard times to come) Part 11. 

And now Christ makes a proclamation about what shall be known throughout the whole world.  His disciples need to know what their tasks are, what their jobs will be when he is gone.  They are the original ones, the original witnesses, the ones who will spread the message and lay the foundation upon which he is the cornerstone.  They will spread the message of the gospel of the kingdom to all.

Very few knew of the kingdom.  Those who knew did not spread that message, it was a knowledge kept to themselves.  The kingdom of heaven was not known to the people.  It was not spoken of in the synagogues, or read in the Sunday readings.  Christ came and brought the message to the people.  He came and gave them hope, faith in the one true God not the idols that were worshiped in those times.  

He came and demonstrated with great power who he was and who he represented, the likes of whom the people had not seen before.  But the rulers did not believe.  They were afraid they would loose their power over the people.  They had to rid themselves of this Christ.  So they crucified him and hung him on a cross for all to see.  And in true power and majesty God, the one true God, raised him from the dead that all may know.  Now he sits at the right hand of the almighty Father in the kingdom.  And Christ told his disciples:  "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world."

And so it is today that the whole world knows of the kingdom of heaven that is preached in the gospel and the proclamation made some two thousand years ago is true today.  

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.

St. Matthew, Chapter 24, verse: 13; Perseverance.

 Our paragraph topic is: (He tells them of trials and hard times to come) Part 10.  

Christ was planting his seeds in his disciples and those who would follow.  He gave them the knowledge they needed to survive the onslaught of hard times.   He wanted them to survive the winds of fate, the coming storm.  He wanted them to have something to pass on to those who would follow after them in years to come so that they also would be strengthened by the words of Christ.  They would become the future witnesses.  The disciples were the ones who walked and talked with him.  They were the ones who lived in his presence day in and day out.  They lived and breathed the essence of holiness from Christ Jesus even though they did not realize it at the time.

The effect he had upon them did not show until after he ascended.  And even then his presence was still felt through the Holy Spirit that was given them after he ascended.  True, they faced hard times.  True they faced trials and tribulations.  True all the things that he told them would happen came true.  Iniquity abound and charity grew cold.  False prophets arose and led many astray.  Many who were weak in the faith fell to the wayside and betrayed others who stayed true to their belief and faith.  And Christ told them:  "But whoever perseveres to the end, he shall be saved."

How strong are we today?  Can we stand the test of trials and tribulations that may come our way?  Will our faith withstand the onslaught of what evil may test us with?  Will we falter?  Will we stumble?  Will we get up and continue to hold on to that faith which Christ has given us?  Or will we give in and go along with the rest of humanity not believing in what Christ paid so dearly for with his own life?  

To persevere is something that is difficult to do if it is not in you to believe.  It is easy to say but difficult to do if you have not been tested to the limits of your ability and then some.  This is what it means to persevere, to not give up, to not give in, to continue to try even with that last burst of energy that you dug up from the depths of your soul that you did not know that you had, to continue a few more inches, to still try because you refuse to give up.  That is perseverance.  

And that is what Christ wants from us, not to give up, to persevere, even in the face of hopelessness, because he is our strength, he is our hope, he is our rock of salvation that nothing should be able to shake.  And our belief and our knowledge, and our faith should rest upon this one fact that no matter what happens in our lives, come life or death, he will always be by our side as long as we are with him and do not surrender, do not give up, as long as we persevere.  May we live our lives and love according to the example that he has given us, Christ our Savior, Amen.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ .   The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.