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Many signs await us.

Some signs catch our attention while others escape us. We pay attention to approaching clouds, announcing a sudden rainstorm. When driving, we watch for someone in front of us turning unexpectedly or pulling off a side street. When a ball rolls into the street, we look for the child chasing it. And think of how vigilant we become when a child faces illness. Just as the people of Noah's time did not look for signs to explain why he was building an ark, we might miss sudden brake lights in front of us.  

With Christmas approaching, we often hear "Are you ready?" and we know the question pertains to our Christmas preparations. We make cookies, breads, pies, and candies. Our refrigerators and pantries nearly explode with food. For Christmas dinner, we time the cooking of each dish, ensuring we serve them at the right temperature and appropriate time. We clean our homes, anticipating family visits. We clothe guest beds with crisp sheets and stock guest bathrooms with dryer-fresh towels and washcloths. We trim the Christmas tree and decorate our homes. We clear snow from driveways and sidewalks, making the paths to our homes safe.

Carving out time for Netflix, binging to understand the highly advertised season finale of a favorite TV show, and reading about the latest scandal on Facebook seem easy. All the while, the Word which tells of Jesus’ return quietly sits on our bedside table or bookshelf. Often, we don’t open, investigate, analyze, and explore the signs it gives of Jesus’ return.

Matthew warns us to prepare for the return of the "Son of Man." This entails considering the signs, making preparations, studying the Word, and changing our daily focus.

Be as diligent in watching for the signs of Jesus’ return as you are in preparing for the Christmas celebration.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)