Awake Us From Our Slumber, O God!
The Divine Reading – Mark 13: 24-37
24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.
28 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! 30 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the even-ing, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— 36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
Lectio Divina Prayer
Gracious Heavenly Father, I come with confidence before your throne, into Your Holy presence, knowing that in Christ Jesus I am beloved by You and that You desire to answer my prayers for the sake of Your Son. All of my being cries out, “Maranatha,” come Lord Jesus! I know with steadfast faith that you also long for Your Son to come and get His bride that we may be with you eternally in peace. Glorious will be the sight of the myriad of Holy Angels gathering Your elect from everywhere throughout heaven and earth! O God, how awesome it will be when You come to be glorified in Your saints on that Day!
Gracious LORD, heavy is my heart for the condition of we Your people, the sheep of Your Pasture! For we have all sinned and we all have become lukewarm and complacent in the stewardship of the Gospel of Your Son which You entrusted to us! We have allowed grievous wolves to enter into Your fold to ravage and devour your people. We have not listened to the words of our Lord and His apostles who clearly taught us that in the days before the Lord’s return sound doctrine would not be tolerated and that truth would be thrown to the ground. Even our Lord asked the question regarding these days, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” O God, let it be that when you return that You Find Your Church ablaze with truth! For truly Your household, the church of the living God, is “the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
O Lord of the Laborers, you commanded your Church to be watchful and to be prepared “to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you,” The Lord Jesus clearly taught that the generation that is alive at His return would know by the signs of His coming that He truly is standing at the door to come in great power and glory. Truly this generation will not pass away until all of our Lord’s Holy Words are fulfilled according to His will.
Gracious Father, cast off the slumber of Your people and grant us to throw off the false teachings that ravage us, making us powerless to stand for truth in a day when they call darkness “light” and evil “good.” Forgive us of the sin of treating Your Word as an insignificant thing. And grant us, O God, hearts that trust in Your promises in Christ Jesus, Who alone has the Words of eternal life, that we should believe with a full heart of faith that Christ “is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.”
“Now…to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
