Good Morning Friends,
The gospel reading below is one that you want to throw back and fish out another one. For a moment I desired to go back to sleep until another scripture comes along to spark my writing. Maybe Ephesians 4 or John 17 or 1 Corinthians 12. Those are ones to soak one’s soul in but then this one about end times and the destruction of the Temple is Sunday’s reading, so I had better get my act together. For today’s passage is filled with really frightening images of earthquakes, famines, pestilence, fearful events, and persecution that might send us searching for a kinder and gentler religion. Then comes this thought that through fearless endurance we are granted a special reward that we grow into and can count as gain. Maybe we are not cowards, but we do seem to lack courage in the face of witnessing our faith. It is about fighting the good fight for an eternal purpose and not following false teachers. There are rewards for the faithful. So, How Is The Status Of Your Soul?
Scripture: When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Luke 21:5-19 (NIV)
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5 (NRSV)
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:22-23 (NRSV)
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 (NRSV)
Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name. They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them. Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
Malachi 3:16-18 (NRSV)
Message: We live in bewildering times. But the strong words in today’s text that echo the prophetic words of Micah and Jeremiah can give us an understanding as a base of doing evangelism to win souls more so than predicting the future of events of destruction for Luke was written after the destruction of the Temple. So, it is not so much about scaring the hell out of people, that had already happened, but it is about giving a sober assessment of the situation that may well include being persecuted, betrayed, judged, imprisoned, and executed. The thing is that the blood of martyrs has seeded the growth of the church and the reality is that where the church is persecuted the church grows more than in places that actively support the church but in a milk toast sort of way. So, the message is that it may well be best to put less emphasis on the signs of the times and more on being a faithful witness during difficult times. Friends, Jesus will come at the appointed time and that time is not known to us, but in the suffering of the saints and the confessed expectation of the return of Jesus and the resurrection to life everlasting the message can spread. Luke’s account of Jesus’ prophetic speech followed the prophets in teaching that the struggles in history and in disturbances in nature are more than accidental. They remind believers that God triumphed over chaos in creating the natural world, and yet both human and historical forces are still contending for the earth. Jesus’ followers are aware, therefore, that his death and resurrection is God’s ultimate act in a struggle of cosmic proportions. Only the final outcome is sure. So, it does not authorize yet one more set of charts or timetables to read God’s clock down to the last second. It is as the apostle Paul testified. Even now the whole creation has been growing in labor pains and we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption and redemption. This is the harder course, but also the more rewarding for it brings the triumph. That is the deal. The times when we feel our faith tested, the times when we feel we are crawling along the valley floor, crushed by life, are the very times when God is closest to us, even though we often do not realize it at the time. When our world seems to be collapsing around us God stands firmly amid the rubble. And Jesus says that is the way it will before he returns. The early Christians knew all about the endurance and the importance of resilience and grit, toughing it out, and their commitment was often tested. Paul even picked up the theme realizing that we are transformed by this endurance, moving from reliance on human strength to trusting in God’s love. Here endurance is itself a gift of the presence of the Holy Spirit that saves us. Indeed, Christians should be admired for their persistence in the face of opposition when they say that it was only by God’s grace that they endured.
And So, many people claim that Christianity is an escape from the rigors of thought and realities of existence, but this is not the case at all. Following Jesus is not an escape from life but to life for even though it is not easy being a Christian, it nevertheless brings meaning and purpose and freedom and yes even protection in the challenges of life. Here we find our marching orders and an opportunity to say and do something that enriches our very souls. Jesus never promised it would be easy to follow him. And maybe we are closer to the end right now than ever before. But God still loves us and God rewards responsibility and obedience and though it is unlikely we will be delivered from all troubles and tribulations, we most certainly, if patient, will receive deliverance in the midst of them. It seems to me, that we need to set our gaze upon our witness for Jesus. We are to realize that witnessing is costly. In fact, the original Greek meaning of the word “martyr” is simply one who brings testimony in court. It does not take much imagination to see why the meaning of the word has changed to what we understand today. We must bear this witness in very troubling and uncertain times. We need to be able to give an answer to those who accuse us. This is why Jesus tells us not to fret as the Spirit will answer for you. The Spirit will give you the words at that time. Concentrate upon the fact that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us in these times. We must be steadfast with a work ethic worthy of our calling, for in this we gain our souls and soar.
Pray we focus more on our witness than end-time prophecy. Pray we avoid the snare of prophetic oracles that sidetrack our efforts to love. Pray we are not to be deceived into departing from the place of truth when it comes to sharing the Gospel. Pray we are not frightened into failing to be a witness for Christ. Pray we are not distracted into living as if this life is all there is. Pray we not ignored the warnings all around us. Pray we turn to God in repentance. Pray we not drift alone with the prevailing culture, living lives characterized by the attitudes of the day. Pray we count the cost of discipleship but still embrace the amazingly beautiful purpose of enduring suffering for Christ. Pray we fight the good fight. Pray we realize that the warrior always seeks peace. Pray our emotions be servants, not masters of our lives.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 