2026 Reading Plan Reflections - Day 39

We can talk about the “signs of the times” until we’re blue in the face. Matthew 24 is filled with vivid language, symbolism, and warnings that easily pull our attention toward speculation. But Jesus doesn’t give these words so we can become experts in interpretation. He gives them so we will be ready. That’s the point we often miss.

The danger isn’t that we think too much about what’s happening in our nation or our world. The danger is that, in all our interpreting, we stop paying attention to who we’re following. The second half of Matthew 24 keeps pulling us back to the same simple, demanding call: stay awake, stay faithful, stay anchored to Jesus. That’s why writing this a day late feels providential.

While we’ve been busy analyzing headlines, weighing cultural moments, and choosing entertainment based on what aligns with our preferences, Jesus reminds us of something far more stable: everything else will pass away.

Movements rise and fall. Platforms change. Leaders disappoint. Even the things that feel permanent right now are temporary.

Only His words endure.

That’s why discernment matters so much. Not everything labeled “Christian” leads us toward deeper obedience. Not everything that feels familiar or affirming forms us in holiness. Sometimes, the greatest threat to faithfulness isn’t open opposition—it’s subtle distraction. Matthew 24 doesn’t call us to panic. It calls us to allegiance.

So the question isn’t, Do I like this? It’s, Does this help me stay true to following Jesus?
Heaven and earth will pass away. Preferences will pass away. Political moments, cultural trends, and even well-intended movements will pass away.

But the words of Jesus will not.

So stay awake. Stay rooted. And follow Christ more closely than anything else—especially the things that feel most convincing in the moment.

Jesus reminds us, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.” If that’s true—and we believe it is—then our lives need to be ordered around what lasts.

Measure permanence before preference. This week, pause before consuming, sharing, or celebrating something that claims to reflect Christian values. Ask yourself:
Will this still matter when heaven and earth have passed away—or is it only shaping me for the moment?
Practice quiet discernment. Not everything requires a reaction. Set aside time this week to sit with Scripture—without commentary, headlines, or algorithms shaping the moment. Let Jesus’ words have the loudest voice again.
Examine what forms you. Pay attention to what is shaping your imagination and your affections. Ask honestly: Is this helping me stay ready to follow Jesus—or simply reinforcing what I already prefer?
Recommit to following, not interpreting. Matthew 24 reminds us that readiness matters more than speculation. Instead of trying to decode the times, choose one concrete act of obedience this week—something quiet, faithful, and unseen.
Pray for allegiance, not certainty. End the day with this prayer: “Lord, anchor me to what will not pass away. Where I’ve allowed my preferences to dull my discernment, wake me up. Teach me to follow You with clarity, humility, and faithfulness.”