The Daily Dose

Be Refreshed

Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  Luke 22:43

Have you ever come to a portion of scripture in your daily reading or study time that you have read many times before?  When that happens, you can be tempted to quickly go through it or even think: I know this part so I will skip on to the next section.  When that happens consider instead for it to be like a delicious meal.  Even though you have had your favorite meal many times in the past, when it is prepared for you again, you are ready and looking forward to it because it always tastes so good!!  You don’t skip and say “Oh, I’ve had that dish before and I know it is good, but I am going to pass this time because it isn’t something new.”  No!  You know that it is going to be delicious, and you want to enjoy the benefits of the taste and nutrition of that food again.  You also know that your physical body needs continual nourishment to thrive and survive in life.  Really, passing it up is not an option.  If we approach scripture with that mindset, we will be able to enjoy the delights of fresh revelation and new insights every time we look at it.  Not to mention the spiritual nourishment we need to grow in our faith walk.

The next few sections in Luke are passages that are probably familiar to many of us, so let’s go through these with the anticipation that we have been here before and it was good.  Looking at them again at this point in time is going to be delicious and nutritious!!

Jesus often withdrew from His disciples to pray.  In today’s reading He is once again going off to be alone in prayer.  However, this is the first time He ever took anyone with Him.  This time, He took Peter, James and John with Him and told them He was really struggling with what was about to happen.  He asked them to watch and pray while He went a little further to pray.  Jesus knew the guards would be coming for Him soon, so He set up His closest and most trusted guys to keep watch for those who would be coming to arrest Him.  Peter, James and John watched as Jesus went on ahead and fell on the ground to pray, but they did not understand the depth of His stress.  During that prayer time, Jesus came back to find them sleeping.  He cautioned them to watch and pray because He knew the hour of temptation was coming.

Jesus was praying for strength and deliverance that night in the garden.  He wanted to escape the next day’s events of torment, but He submitted His will to the Father’s will.  This portion of scripture says that during His prayer time, an angel came all the way from heaven to strengthen Him, and even though this was refreshing to Jesus, He continued to be in agony and pray more earnestly.  The angel must have encouraged Jesus enough to continue to press into God even though the reality was that He wanted to run away from what was about to happen.  That refreshing gave Him the empowerment to complete the mission He was sent here to do.

Today, we actually have a great strengthener than the angels.  We have the Holy Spirit of God with us at all times.  He is the refresher, and He is our strengthener and empowers us to complete our mission each day.  We only need to ask and seek the direction and empowerment of what that mission is.  When taking the time to press in for direction, strength and enablement, we are then refreshed by the Spirit’s life inside of us.

Today I want to encourage you to take some time away before you face each day.  Fall on your knees before your Father and seek His refreshing.  Receive the Holy Spirit’s strength and empowerment to accomplish the plan He has for you today.  Complete down to the last detail every plan and purpose your life has in this world, just as Jesus did.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 22:39-46

39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 

40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 

42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 

43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 

44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 

46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

He is Praying for you

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Luke22:32

It is fitting that this verse came up today because just last week I was in a worship service where there was some time set aside in the service to just worship and press into the goodness of God.  As I closed my eyes and prayed through part of a song, I had visions in my mind about times in my life that I wanted to forget ever happened. Two and then three different instances of predicaments I was in that could have gone very badly.  Places with people where I should have never been.  I tried to shake these thoughts because I was trying to put all my focus and attention on Him but they kept coming. Finally I said in my heart “Lord, I don’t know why these thoughts are coming now, but I lay them down and ask You to take them so I never have to visit these ghosts again.”  But that’s when He showed me that those were the times He was interceding for me.  He was protecting me.  He was watching over me as His dear child so that no evil could get its hands on me.  I had been disgusted and repulsed with myself for ever getting into these situations and never wanted to see or think about them again, but now it was beginning to make sense to me that He wasn’t showing me what I was doing wrong, He was showing me what He was doing in my life at the time. He was bringing me through times that could have ended up in injury, disaster or even fatality.  I had no idea.  I guess I always knew He was protecting me, but I never considered how things could have gone if He hadn’t been praying for me.

The passage today is such a good example that we can cling to even today.  It wasn’t just for Peter and what He was going to do wrong, it is for us too, when we get off track. He is praying for us, even now in this time!  In the reading, Jesus was talking to Peter.  He told Peter that Satan was after Him and trying to run his life through the ringer.  In fact, Jesus said he wanted to sift Peter like wheat, but then Jesus told Peter the good news that He had prayed for him that his faith would not fail.  He told Peter what was about to happen, but He also gave Him instruction on what to do after he was restored.  Of course Peter argued the possibility of ever denying Jesus, but Jesus told him after he returned to Him to strengthen the rest of the group. 

Now, this is so precious to me.  Jesus praying for His disciples.  Maybe He prayed for the ministry and maybe He prayed about upcoming appointments?  We just don’t know for sure about those prayers.  I guess I always assumed when Jesus went away to pray, He was getting His next steps from God.  I didn’t really consider that He was praying for His team.  However, it makes perfect sense because Jesus came here for people, and He has and always will be all about people.  So why wouldn’t He be praying for His team?  Of course, He was.  All the times He slipped away from the crowds, He wasn’t praying about what to do or what was coming up next, He was praying for the people and especially those closest to Him.

This is great news even for us today because He never stopped.  He is still praying for people, His people.  In fact, Romans 8:34 says Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.  He is today, right now at the right hand of God our Father making intercession for us because of His great love for us.  But He doesn’t stop there.  The rest of the message is true for us today, also.  He wants us to strengthen and pray for each other.  He is praying for us to return to Him, stay close to Him and encourage others to do the same.  We have an advocate in Heaven right now interceding for us to be strong and help others.

Today I want to encourage you to return to Him if you have fallen away or even stepped away from Him.  Turn back and press in.  He is praying for you and when you do come back, bring others with you.  Strengthen and encourage those around you that may have slid away from Him also.  Don’t let the enemy of your soul have his way by destroying your life and sifting you like wheat.  Press into Him who is interceding on your behalf and run back to His loving arms today. We will never get things perfectly right, but we can depend on Him to be interceding for us to get us through our falls and to turn them around and make something good come from them.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke22:31-38

31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 

32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

35 And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.”

36 Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 

37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”

38 So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

He came to serve

For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. Luke 22:27

It is pretty amazing that Jesus, the King of kings, didn’t come to the world to be served by His people or any other people for that matter.  He came to serve us.  It makes sense though because the reason God sent Him was to save us all.  In today’s text the disciples were arguing over who would be first in the kingdom. So Jesus put it to them plainly that He came to serve others and that is the position they should be seeking also.

This reminds me of the opposite of how our society is today.  Always looking out for number one and trying to climb the latter of success no matter who they have to step on as they climb up.  Jesus said this is what the rulers of the gentiles do.  They hold their position of authority over everyone to try to keep them under control and get them to do exactly what they desire.

Thank goodness it’s not that way with our loving heavenly Father.  He does not want us to be competing with one another trying to be the greatest at anything.  He wants us to be submitted to one another and serving each other.  In this way we complement each other’s strengths and work together to get God’s plans and agenda accomplished in these last days.  Instead of vying for position and trying to be the G.O.A.T., we work as a team/body.  Each one of us doing our own part, the things we are gifted in.  Never considering that we could do someone else’s part better than they do.  We stay in our lane and let God’s grace make up the difference where we are lacking.

Today, this is what I want to encourage you:  To get in the place where you can start using your gifts to bring others into the kingdom.  You will start out small, but that is ok.  Be faithful in that area until God opens the next door of opportunity for you.  Keep a serving mindset.  Remember that you are here to serve and bless others, not other here for you.  Prefer others above yourself and offer to help whenever opportunities present themselves.  Promote other and always be trying to help them step up in their place.  There is no competition in the kingdom of heaven.  Just God’s family working together in agreement to rescue as many that are lost that we can in these last days.  God is not interested in how good you are at something; He is interested in how much you are determined to fulfil your purpose and love on others.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 22:24-30

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 

25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 

26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 

27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 

29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 

30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Blood of the New Covenant

Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20

This was a radical statement for Jesus to make.  Every one of the disciples and every Hebrew person for that matter, knew what a blood covenant meant.  It is not so common to us today, though.  A blood covenant was cut between to people or cities as a pact or agreement that each of the participating parties would bring their best into the accord.  For example, if there was a city that was rich in produce, they would share their best crops with another city that was rich in natural resources (i.e. water, soil, elements) that they would share in return.  This was a covenant in the natural.  Many cities that were weak would seek out a covenant with a stronger fortified city as a place of refuge in time of danger/war.

The disciples were familiar with the God covenants.  God had made agreements with: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David.  The nation of Israel knew about these covenants and celebrated them.  They also knew that they were cut in blood.  Blood shed is a requirement for a covenant with God.  So, when Jesus said His blood was a new covenant, they must have perked up to listen what He was talking about.  He briefly explains the new covenant as the remission of sins, or which actually means cancelling a debt owed.

I’m sure the disciples didn’t get it that day, and even after Jesus came back from dying on the cross, they were still focused on Him overturning the Roman government of their day.  It wasn’t until the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on them that they realized Jesus died to free them from their bondage of sin not Rome.  The greatest gift ever given and the greatest covenant.  This is why in the new covenant the commandment is to love one another because you are no longer required to pay the debt of your sin.  Jesus brought His best, His life into the covenant in exchange for our best, our love for others.

Today I want to encourage you to consider the new covenant.  The covenant with God through the pure and sinless blood of Jesus.  His strength in the agreement is His salvation from an eternity of paying the debt of our own sin and being separated from the God Who loves us.  Ours is loving and honoring our heavenly Father and all people.  If you have never entered into this covenant with God through His Son’s blood, do that today and as soon as possible.  Pray this prayer from your heart and Jesus will come into your life and save you and your life will make a radical change in a new and blessed direction, you cannot imagine.

Pray: _{God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen}

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 22:14-23

14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 

15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 

16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 

18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 

21 But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. 

22 And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

23 Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

Exactly how He said it would be

_{So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. Luke 22:13}

I know it is not always easy to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit when you sense them.  Sometimes, it can be downright scary.  Maybe you have in the past sensed that He was nudging you to invite someone to a small group or church service, but you had all the reasons why they would not want to come or maybe you had an unction to pray with someone but felt like you would offend them if you did.  The doubts and arguments of why it won’t be successful always come.  In fact, we can make a plan ahead of time to combat those reasonings by determining that when you sense those urgings you will ignore or have a scripture ready to cast down the imagination that tries to discourage you.

Imagine being one of Jesus disciples when Jesus told them to go into the city and a man will meet you with a pitcher of water.  Follow him home and ask the owner where their guest room is because you and your small group are going to use it for a ministry meeting.  I don’t know about you, but I would be a little bit uneasy about following these directions. Yet, when the disciples did go, they found things to be just the way Jesus said they would be.  However, I’m sure they followed each instruction slowly and deliberately making sure each step of the way was working out.  I can see them walking into a town and a man with a water pitcher walks up so they begin to follow him, a way back to try to be inconspicuous.  The man probably noticed them and wondered what they were up to.  Then when they told him they were going to follow him home to talk to his master, most likely more questions came up.  However, the point is that when Jesus gave them direction, they followed because they knew He had been right in the past.  They had been following Him step by step for three years now, so they were getting used to seemingly unusual instructions by this time.

It’s a clear example of what it means to be a disciple/follower of God.  Taking the steps that He leads and trusting when you get to the place, He points to that it will be set up the way He said it would be.  I have many examples of it happening in my life, but one particular time was when I wanted to have a small meeting at my house with others that I could encourage and connect with.  I didn’t have much support on the outside from family or friends, but I felt impressed that it was a step of faith that I needed to take.  There were only a couple of people that God put on my heart to invite and quite frankly, I didn’t know them well at all.  I was sure it was going to be an invitation only, with no positive response. However, those that I invited happily accepted the invitation and the friendships that were developed there have grown into relationships for a lifetime.  It was uncomfortable reaching out, but I am so thankful that I did.  Not only did it impact me, but it impacted those that really needed the connection at that time in their life.  A simple invitation that I reluctantly gave proved to be exactly the direction I was being led and all it took was a simple step of faith.  The risk was minimal.  If I was turned down, I might have felt a little embarrassed, but it certainly wasn’t going to hurt me beyond that.  God gives us simple steps to take so that when we see it all work out, we can remember next time how that prompting turned into a connection that He had been working on all along.

Today I want to encourage you to listen closely to the nudging and promptings you are feeling on the inside.  Recognize that it is the Holy Spirit within you leading you in the path of success.  Don’t pass up the opportunities He is leading you to.  When you follow, you will trust His directions more the next time and if you pass that urging up, you will become less sensitive to His voice inside the next time.  Don’t miss out on the many blessings and opportunities God is leading you to through His Spirit inside.  Decide today to take those faith steps when you sense them and walk out all the goodness in this life that your Father has planned for you.  Know that every prompting will lead you to the place exactly how He said it would be.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 22:7-13

7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 

8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”

10 And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 

11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ 

12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”

13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.

Point Break

So he (Judas) promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude. Luke 22:6

Have you ever been pushed to your limit by the circumstances happening around you?  So many unexpected disappointments that it put you over the edge?  Maybe it was financial pressure or family trouble?  Maybe politics at work or the betrayal of a close friend?  Maybe it was all of these at once?  One could certainly understand if you met your breaking point if your world seemed to be crumbling around you.  The important thing is, what do you do next?  Do you give up?  Do you try to fix all the problems yourself or do you surrender them over to your Father in heaven?  The decision you make at that point will either make your way established or could break and destroy all that the Lord has been doing in your life and in your heart up to that point.

In today’s reading, Judas was at his breaking point. In Marks account of this event, this happened right after a woman came to Jesus and began to anoint Him with a very extravagant gift.  It was the most precious thing she had, and she poured it out on Jesus because she loved and honored Him so much.  Jesus didn’t correct her, but He protected her from the scrutiny of the crowd and taught them how her gift would mark her as one who gave it all for Him.  This was the final straw for Judas.  It was the offense that pushed him over the edge.  Judas had already betrayed the ministry by stealing from the funds, but he was no longer able to hold back the contempt he felt.  I don’t know if he thought the priest would be unable to take Jesus because he had seen Jesus in tight spots before? Or if he really wanted Jesus to be brought down by the hands of men.  I do know he was out for the money they offered him, but in betraying Jesus, he went further than he was ever able to come back from.

What do you think?  If Judas had confessed and repented would Jesus have forgiven and cleansed him from all unrighteousness?  I certainly believe so.  It was a terrible thing to do, but Jesus most certainly could have restored him.  However, Judas was unable to live with the shame of his actions and instead of running to Jesus, he ran aways from him and took his own life.  It is one of the saddest events in the bible.  One of Jesus closest and trusted friends on the outside, yet on the inside there was deception and lies.

Today I want to encourage you to examine where your breaking point is.  Take a look at your life and think about what things would push you close to the edge.  Imagine what your decision would be when you got to that point and consider would you run to God or away from Him?  Put together an action plan that will help you to surrender all your struggles over to Him to receive His peace and solutions.  You plan should start with spending time with Him each day and making it a habit to surrender your day and everything in it now when things are going well.  Then you will already be in the habit of running to Him with everything and you will not be as tempted to run and hide when problems randomly come up.  Next get around others that are fully surrendered and they will encourage you when you need it most.  Don’t let the enemy push you over the edge when you get close, call out to Jesus and He will come and rescue you from all your troubles.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 22:1-6

1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. 

2 And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 

4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. 

5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 

6 So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Watch and Pray

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36

This passage is a little disturbing to me, but mostly exciting.  It says that the Master (Jesus) could come back unexpectedly in verse 34.  It says that if we are distracted with the things of life, we will be caught by surprise when He comes.  It makes me consider, what are my priorities?

Today’s reading instructs us to be ready at any time, all the time for our Master to return.  If I think about how that would look, I of course, would be on my best behavior all the time, ready to be taken away with Him, but also ready for inspection of my life’s activities and responsibilities to be in order.  Though it is a part of kingdom living to steward our time and property well, there are those times that my guard is down.

Verse 36 of this passage says: Pay attention by watching and praying. Yes, we see the things happening in the world today and hear how the evil seems to be growing, but that is not for us to focus on.  We are to watch and pray for His return and see that we keep our own “house” in order.  If we knew that He was coming back today, what would we be doing?  If we knew it was a week or a month from today?  I know for me; I would be making sure that His work and His plans for my life were being completed each day so that I would be ready when He did arrive.

That is how we watch and pray.  Watch that we are keeping God’s kingdom and righteous first and number one priority and pray for the grace to lead others to watch and pray also.  Rescuing the lost and making His agenda our agenda. This is not to secure our salvation. We are saved by His grace, through His blood, not our works. The point of watching and praying is to be ready and get His work done before He comes to get us .

Today I want to encourage you to watch and pray.  Watch, so that you are not caught off guard and unprepared when He comes.  Watch by seeking His plans first each day.  He wants to lead you in that perfect path of righteousness, but you must start out by fully trusting and following His lead each day.  Second, take time to pray.  Not just a quick “Good morning God, watch over me and protect throughout the day” prayer, but an earnest surrender to His plan for the day kind of prayer.  Determine to accomplish down to the last detail your entire missions before it is too late.

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 21:34-48

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 

35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 

36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 

38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Here is a hint

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Luke 21:33

This passage is about the end times and what signs to watch for as the end approaches, but I believe this is one verse in the passage that is key, but often gets overlooked.  It is verse 33.  Basically, it says no matter what happens and no matter when it happens, there is one thing that will remain and always be the same in strength and power, in heaven and earth, that is the Word of God.

God’s Word!  What a precious gift we have been given.  Having a written form accessible to us 24/7 is something that up until the last 200 or so years, was not available to everyone.  We are blessed more than any other generation before us because of the unrestricted access we have to the eternal words and promises of God to His people.  Sadly, we are probably the generation who ignores it more than any other generation, also.  Of course, I don’t know if that is the case, but certainly this present time in the world, people have a greater responsibility to know God’s Word since it is at our fingertips continuously.

Oh, we get excited about the latest headlines and the current crisis and think this could, be it?  Surly He is on His way back for us now, but we don’t take the time to bask in the love of His word that He gave us to know Him so intimately.  Plainly said: God’s Word needs to become our focus and our main priority in life again.  We should know if better than we know how to use any devise or any other written word we study.  We should value the Word of God as the great treasure that it is, bury it in our heart so that all our responses will be in line with Him, not against Him. We should turn to it before and more often than looking to the news, headlines, media or any other worldly attraction.

Today I want to encourage you to get deep into God’s Word.  If you don’t already have a quiet time that you spend with Him and His Word each day, start today.  If you do have that time, then start really appreciating the gift we have in His Word and recognize it as the authority that will stand forever and as the answer to anything you face. His Word is life to those who find and health to their whole body. (Proverb 4:22)

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 21:20-33

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 

21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 

22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 

23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 

24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 

26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 

27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 

30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 

31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 

32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 

33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

The End is not yet

But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.” Luke 21:9

 I can remember from a very young age looking for the Lord’s return.  We have believed for years that He could come back for us at any time.  What a glorious day that will be!  With the crazy times we are living in, sooner rather than later is what my hope is.  However, my greatest desire is to make the greatest impact with the remaining days I have here in this world and to reach as many lost people as possible.

In today’s passage, Jesus gave His disciples a look into the future as He explained some of the events that they would be up against and the rest of the world in the coming years.  He gave a list of some signs that we all have seen and continue to see, but then He said, but that is not the end.  He said: wars and rumors of war. Check! Nation rising up against another nation. Check! Earthquakes. Check! Famines and pestilence. Check!  Fearful sights and great signs from heaven Check! 

In Mark 13, this account ends with the phrase: And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.  We have not seen this accomplished yet, now or even in the past.  I was recently at an event that spoke of translating Bibles into many languages of nations that still do not have the massage of salvation.  I remember thinking:  with today’s technology and travel, how can there still be part of the world that have not been reached with the messages of God’s love and provision of salvation.  Yet, Jesus said before He comes to get us, first the gospel must reach every nation.

Is there anything we can do to help that happen?  To this I say, yes!!  First of all, we can pray.  We can pray for the provision and the people to take the message.  We can pray for every corner and far out village that has not been discovered, to be revealed.  We can pray for hearts to be ready to jump on the opportunity when it finally gets to them, and we can pray that we will know what our place and part is in reaching the nations.

Next, we can support missions and outreaches that are taking the message out. And most of us have access to the world through the world wide web and can begin to ask for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and insight on how to use this resource and all other tools we have to get the message out.  This is an “All hands on deck” call.  We all have a part and we all have been commissioned.  We cannot live this life the way the world does and be content to let others do the things we were born into this time to accomplish.

Today I want to encourage you to get alone with God and seek His love, grace and direction.  Praise and worship Him for the great things He has done in the past, is doing right now in the present and the things He will do in the coming days.  Seek out the mission you have been assigned to if you do not already know what that is and begin to go through the doors that He opens on that road today.  If you are already on your called way, continue to press in to hear and know the next steps He has for you to take today and every day.  Let’s get His love and grace to the nations and to the ends of the earth and see Him returning in the clouds to get us, ASAP!

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 21:7-19

7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. 

9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

10 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 

11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 

12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 

13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 

14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 

15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 

16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 

17 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18But not a hair of your head shall be lost. 

19 By your patience possess your souls.

She gave it all

For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21:4

Have you ever felt so much love and admiration for God that you wanted to give all that you possessed?  What about just giving Him the things that are most precious to you.  Oh, I know God doesn’t require us to give Him all of our possessions, but has His love ever filled you up so greatly that you desired to lay it all at His feet?

In today’s reading, there was a poor widow woman that came to the temple to give.  She only had a little bit to offer, but she gave it all.  Even though there were many others there that were rich and gave large amounts of money, Jesus told His disciples that the widow gave more than all of them because she gave her whole livelihood.

This concept seems foolish to some people.  Why would you give your money away? And especially to the church?  This poor widow was giving at a time when it was obvious that the priests were getting rich off of the people’s giving.  Why would she give all that she had that they would never appreciate?  She knew something that they didn’t know.  She loved God and was giving her gift to Him, not to the leaders.  What they did with her gift was between them and God.  She gave because of God and what happened to the money after that was not her concern.  She knew that her offering was accepted in heaven at the throne because it was from her heart to the heart of God.

Maybe you are someone who gives tithes and offerings at the church or donations to ministries supporting the work of God in various places.  These are certainly worthy gifts, but if given out of duty or obligation, there is no love for God and His work being done in this world.  It is important to check your heart when giving and purpose that you want to love and honor God with all your giving. 

Proverbs 3:9 says: Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; and 2 Corinthians 9:7 says: So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  The instruction in these passages are clear, we are to give from every increase we receive and not just give, but to honor God by giving it to Him, not to an organization.  Also, to purpose or plan to give so you will not be compelled to give grudgingly.

Lastly, consider when giving to individuals in need.  Sure, if a friend or loved one comes to you and asks for help, you would certainly give willingly.  Probably not even considering that you are giving to God. But what about those on the street corner that are looking for their next meal?  Do you give willingly out of your account, or do you judge who it is and what they will do with your gift?  Proverbs 19:17 tells us that He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord.  It doesn’t tell us to consider and scrutinize what will be done with the funds, it just says that when you give you are giving to God. What a great promise and such freedom.  You no longer need to decide who is worthy to receive blessing and who will appreciate your sacrifice.  Instead, you can see these opportunities as an occasion to give to your Father in heaven and trust Him to see to how the substance is used.

Today I want to encourage you to give.  Give your tithes and give your offerings.  Very few things in this world are transferable into the spirit world but giving from your heart is seen and received by God.  Don’t worry about how God will provide for you if you give, just honor Him with your love and giving and His blessing will follow you in all the areas of your life.  Look for opportunities to bless others whether you know them or not and let God be the one who makes sure your gifts are used to reach the souls of others.  Remember, your love for Him is evident in what you are willing to release into His hands to reach those who are far from Him. Use your finances to reach the world with God’s love!

Today’s scripture reading: Luke 21:1-4

1 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 

2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 

3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 

4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”