{"id":2237,"date":"2021-04-04T18:30:59","date_gmt":"2021-04-05T01:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/?p=2237"},"modified":"2021-04-03T23:20:50","modified_gmt":"2021-04-04T06:20:50","slug":"abiding-in-the-lord-mark-ch-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/blog\/abiding-in-the-lord-mark-ch-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Abiding in the Lord: Mark Ch. 13"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n

Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n

Scripture Reading: Mark Ch. 13 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>1-23) This\u00a0<\/span>passage<\/span>\u00a0is traditionally called the\u00a0<\/span>Olivet Discourse<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0about the day of the Lord<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s return.<\/span>\u00a0 The<\/span>\u00a0background is that after Jesus and his disciples came out of the temple, a disciple\u00a0<\/span>remarked<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!<\/span><\/b>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>To which\u00a0<\/span>Jesus replied,\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.<\/span><\/b>\u201d We still remember that in Mark 8, 9, and 10, Jesus\u00a0<\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>foretold three times that he would\u00a0<\/span>suffer many things and be<\/span>\u00a0killed<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>he<\/span>\u00a0first time<\/span>, Peter stood\u00a0<\/span>up<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>stop<\/span>\u00a0him (<\/span>Mark\u00a0<\/span>8:32)<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>he second time<\/span>, the disciples\u00a0<\/span>later\u00a0<\/span>argued\u00a0<\/span>with one another about who was the greatest\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>Mark\u00a0<\/span>9:34)<\/span>. After<\/span>\u00a0the third\u00a0<\/span>time<\/span>, James and John directly\u00a0<\/span>requested<\/span>\u00a0to sit\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>\u00a0the left and right of Jesus<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0glory (<\/span>Mark\u00a0<\/span>10:37)! This time, when Jesus said that this great\u00a0<\/span>building<\/span>\u00a0would be demolished in the future, they\u00a0<\/span>became<\/span>\u00a0rather worried, ask<\/span>ing<\/span>, “<\/span>Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?<\/span><\/b>“<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u00a0<\/span>were<\/span>\u00a0the disciples more concerned about? Is\u00a0<\/span>it that\u00a0<\/span>the body of Jesus\u00a0<\/span>was<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>going to suffer?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Or\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0majestic temple\u00a0<\/span>would<\/span>\u00a0be demolished<\/span>?\u00a0<\/span>Looking at<\/span>\u00a0ourselve<\/span>s,<\/span>\u00a0what\u00a0<\/span>do\u00a0<\/span>we usually care more about?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>We need to\u00a0<\/span>regularly\u00a0<\/span>adjust<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>our\u00a0<\/span>focus<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>from<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>worldly<\/span>, temporal, and material concerns\u00a0<\/span>and turn our attention\u00a0<\/span>towards<\/span>\u00a0the spiritual and eternal\u00a0<\/span>matters<\/span>\u00a0that Jesus\u00a0<\/span>talks<\/span>\u00a0about<\/span>. This\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0not only\u00a0<\/span>a lesson for the<\/span>\u00a0disciples\u00a0<\/span>of<\/span>\u00a0th<\/span>at<\/span>\u00a0time, but\u00a0<\/span>is a lesson even more so for all the disciples in the world today\u00a0<\/span>who live<\/span>\u00a0in a time after Jesus\u2019 resurrection<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>ascension to heaven and\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>now<\/span>\u00a0awaiting\u00a0<\/span>his return<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Addressing\u00a0<\/span>the disciple<\/span>s\u2019<\/span>\u00a0questions, Jesus\u00a0<\/span>spoke<\/span>\u00a0about\u00a0<\/span>certain<\/span>\u00a0things<\/span>\u00a0that would\u00a0<\/span>occur<\/span>\u00a0in the future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>When\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>prophec<\/span>y is\u00a0<\/span>mentioned in\u00a0<\/span>the Bible, sometimes\u00a0<\/span>different stages of realization\u00a0<\/span>of that prophecy\u00a0<\/span>occur at\u00a0<\/span>different\u00a0<\/span>points in\u00a0<\/span>time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>That is to say, the\u00a0<\/span>things mentioned in the\u00a0<\/span>prophecy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>may be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fulfilled\u00a0<\/span>at<\/span>\u00a0different times<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2013<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0near future and\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0more distant future. We know that the temple was\u00a0<\/span>later\u00a0<\/span>destroyed by the Roman army in 70 A<\/span>.<\/span>D.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>We can use history\u00a0<\/span>to look forward in<\/span>\u00a0faith\u00a0<\/span>towards what<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>God\u00a0<\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>ccomplish<\/span>\u00a0in the future<\/span>, that is, the Lord<\/span>\u00a0will d<\/span>efinitely\u00a0<\/span>return<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>24-37)\u00a0<\/span>From these verses, we can sort out some principles on h<\/span>ow to face the day when the Lord returns:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Know<\/span>\u00a0that\u00a0<\/span>th<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>day will definitely come!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Jesus<\/span>\u2019 return<\/span>\u00a0represents the end of all things, the\u00a0<\/span>last day<\/span>, and the\u00a0<\/span>final\u00a0<\/span>conclusion. It<\/span>\u00a0also represents\u00a0<\/span>the time when\u00a0<\/span>all people will be judged before the Lord according to their\u00a0<\/span>works<\/span>. (Romans 2:3-6; Rev<\/span>elation<\/span>\u00a022:12-13)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • Be vigilant\u00a0<\/span>because<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>false\u00a0<\/span>information<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0everywhere<\/span>! There are false gods, false\u00a0<\/span>c<\/span>hrists<\/span>, false gospels, false prophets, false teachers, false miracles… We must use\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s truth<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>discern<\/span>\u00a0false\u00a0<\/span>information<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>not be deceived. (Ephesians 4:13-14)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Remain steadfast because<\/span>\u00a0persecution and temptation<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0are\u00a0<\/span>inevitable<\/span>! However,\u00a0<\/span>do not be afraid<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The Lord\u00a0<\/span>said<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0“<\/span>But the one who endures to the end will be saved.<\/span><\/b>”\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>e must boldly bear witness to\u00a0<\/span>our<\/span>\u00a0Lord and preach the gospel<\/span>, for t<\/span>he Lord\u00a0<\/span>also said<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0“<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span><\/b>gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.<\/span><\/b>“<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      W<\/span>ith regard<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0to the Lord<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s return, many people like to\u00a0<\/span>try to\u00a0<\/span>calculate or\u00a0<\/span>come up with<\/span>\u00a0the date<\/span>. In th<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0past year,\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>pandemic affecting the whole<\/span>\u00a0world,\u00a0<\/span>this type of\u00a0<\/span>false information\u00a0<\/span>can be found<\/span>\u00a0all around us<\/span>. We must\u00a0<\/span>not be a part of this\u00a0<\/span>or<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>arbitrarily\u00a0<\/span>pass along\u00a0<\/span>false information. If you\u00a0<\/span>ever\u00a0<\/span>receive this kind of\u00a0<\/span>information<\/span>, just delete it and do<\/span>\u00a0not forward it<\/span>. If you know the person who passed it to you, ask him not to do\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0again! The Lord clearly said: “<\/span>But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.<\/span><\/b>“<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2237"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2237\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2239,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2237\/revisions\/2239"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}