SHARING BREAD

³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Luke 21:36 (NIV)

Jesus’ words warn us that we are to pray to stand.  I am reminded of Paul’s words to us in Romans:

To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.   Romans 14:4 (NIV)

Psalm one tells us also that the wicked will not be among those who will stand in the judgment:

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.   Psalms 1:5 (NIV)

“On the basis of the contrast between the godly and the wicked, the psalmist wrote that God will separate the righteous from the wicked in the judgment. The righteous are those who are related by covenant with the Lord, who live by His Word, who produce things of eternal value. God will divide the righteous and sinners as a man separates wheat from tares.”    Bible Knowledge Commentary

The behavior of those with a focus on the “joy set before them” should be that of watchfulness and prayer.  Watching and praying must go together.  We are to watch against falling into sin and we are to be watching for duty – diligently maintaining our communion with God in prayer.  I am reminded of our Lord’s warning to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane:

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”   Matt 26:40-41 (NIV)

Isn’t it interesting that Mark tells us Jesus’ enemies were wakeful and watchful enough to find and arrest Him yet His own disciples were too weak, dull and sleepy that they could not keep their eyes open in fervent prayer for one hour?

⁴² Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” ⁴³ Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.    Mark 14:42-43 (NIV)

Throughout Scripture God clearly teaches dependence on Him for our power and strength.  The world teaches, applauds and greatly admires independence and self-sufficiency yet our self-sufficient ways dishonor God.  God delights in circumstances that are humanly impossible because they set the stage for His power to shine forth.  Story after story in Scripture confirms this.  Sarah past child bearing age bears a child; military leaders like Gideon told to decrease their army size to show that the victory was won by God and not man; young David fighting against the giant Goliath, killing him with merely a stone and the hand of God; the parting and closing of the Red Sea protecting the Israelites from the pursuing Egyptians – our weaknesses set the stage for demonstrating God’s strength.  Our futility is an open door for His capability.

“When a man has not strength, if he leans on God, he becomes powerful.”  D.L. Moody

Paul tells us in all of his tribulations which, by the way, make many of ours pale by comparison – his power was found in his weakness:

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.   2 Cor 12:8-10 (NIV)

“Jesus is the One who shows us the paradoxical route to meaning in a chaotic and hostile world.  It’s the paradox of the gospel: Strength is found in weakness. Control is found in dependency. Power is found in surrender….God uses the frustrations of this life and the hurt of relationships to compel us to look beyond what we can control to the God who controls all things in order to woo us to himself. As we move from control to surrender, we move from chasing the wind under the sun to embracing God above it.”  Dan Allender, Breaking the Idols of You

Jesus turned the world’s thinking upside down – His achieving power made perfect in our weakness, His control discovered in our dependency and surrender.  Why is it that flesh fights so hard against this gift?

“Let us work as if success depended upon ourselves alone, but with heartfelt conviction that we are doing nothing, and God everything.”   St. Ignatius Loyola

“Our extremities are the Lord’s opportunities.”  Spurgeon

“When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist His powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.”  Charles Spurgeon

What I glean from this:

• I am to pray to stand.
• I am to be watchful against falling into sin and watchful for duty – diligently maintaining communion with God in prayer.
• My spirit may be willing but my flesh is weak.

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SHARING BREAD

³⁴ ”Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.

Luke 21:34-35 (NIV)

In our verses for today, Jesus tells His disciples the kingdom of God will come both unexpectedly and universally hence the call for careful continual watchfulness.  We are to lay aside every heavy weight – every distraction that keeps us from running the race with perseverance, following after Jesus.  I am reminded of the verses in Hebrews chapter twelve relaying to us this same ad vice:

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.   Heb 12:1-3 (NIV)

Just as a marathon runner would not think of beginning a race encumbered with heavy clothes and weights but rather strips to the essentials to run his race successfully, in like fashion, as followers of Jesus, we are to “throw off everything that hinders” our walk with Him.  This means we are to always be carefully examining our lives “cutting off”, so to speak, the unproductive – the dross.  Believers are to be growing in Christlikeness whatever hinders that in a life must go.  Yet, isn’t it easy to get caught up by the world?  There are so many distractions – so many enticing apples held out for us to grab.  The world is so loud and “His still small voice” can often be silenced to such a faint whisper in the midst of all of our frenzied activities.  The only way we are able to rise above this tyranny is through the power of the Holy Spirit fixing our eyes upon our Lord Jesus.  Jesus both pioneered and perfected our path of faith – it would do us well to keep our focus on Him. 

“Sometimes the enemy seems to get an advantage over us; but the battle is not over yet.  At last thou shalt have the victory, and carry the day for all that.  In hard struggles remember the power of Christ, who, in his resurrection, broke through everything.  With him thou canst also break through, and be more than conqueror.  Yea, in every conflict, if thy faith be firm, thou canst be sure of victory beforehand; for faith engages Christ’s power, and his power ensureth victory; it is as impossible for thine enemies to keep thee always in bonds, as it was impossible that Christ could be kept in the grave by the stone, seal, and keepers.  Nay, the greater their force is, the more glorious will be the victory of Christ over them.”    K. H. Von Bogatzky

¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.   Phil 4:13 (NIV)

“Everything” includes everything – abundance as well as poverty; health as well as sickness; loneliness as well as companionship; repetitive and boring as well as interesting and exciting – everything.  Power is given us not only to endure, but to embrace with joy what is allowed.  The peace and joy that accompanies surpasses human understanding.

“I wonder how many of us will look back over a lifetime of wasted opportunities and ineffective witness, and weep because we did not allow God to use us as He wanted.  ‘Night is coming, when no man can work’ (John 9:4 NASB).  If ever we are to study the Scriptures, if ever we are to spend time in prayer, if ever we are to win souls for Christ, if ever we are to invest our finances for His kingdom – it must be now.”  Billy Graham

 ¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:13-14 (NIV)

As believers, we need a healthy Biblical perspective of our earthly sojourn.  Our purpose and significance lies in fulfilling His perfect will for our lives – anything short of this, we come up wanting.  It is our “sweet spot” if you will.  The all too familiar Jeremiah quote comes to mind:

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.   Jer 29:11-13 (NIV)

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”   Helen H. Lemmel

What I glean from this:

• I should do the things that count.
• I should be constantly examining my life to cut off the unproductive – the dross.
• I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.

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SHARING BREAD

³² ”I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Luke 21:32-33 (NIV)

⁸⁹ Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. ⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. ⁹¹ Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.   Psalms 119:89-91 (NIV)

It would do us well to remember that the only two things we can invest our time and efforts in eternally are the souls of men and the Word of God.  Everything else will pass away.  As the wisest man that ever lived wrote:

¹² I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! ¹⁴ I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.   Eccl 1:12-14 (NIV)

Unfortunately we often expend much effort on the temporal resulting in no eternal lasting results gained – spending rather than investing our time; hence the “chasing after the wind” remark.

“Lost wealth may be replaced by industry, lost knowledge by study, lost health by temperance or medicine, but lost time is gone forever.”   Samuel Smiles

The teacher closes his Book of Ecclesiastes with the following command:

¹³ Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. ¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.   Eccl 12:13-14 (NIV)

“If you wish to know God, you must know his Word.  If you wish to perceive His power,
you must see how He works by his Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word.”  C.H. Spurgeon

“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection.  And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others.
Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.”   A.W. Tozer

“The best protection against Satan’s lies is to know God’s truth.”  Anonymous

Favorable consequences follow God’s people who live by God’s laws.  This is not to say we will never encounter difficulties or hardships, but by pursuing God’s way through His revealed will in His Word we will fulfill our God given purpose and be filled with His peace which passes all human understanding.  The prophet Isaiah tells us:

⁸ Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. ⁹ My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.   Isaiah 26:8-9 (NIV)

The psalmist adds this following insight:

⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. ¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. ¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.   Psalms 119:9-11 (NIV)

“Beware of reasoning about God’s Word – obey It.”  Oswald Chambers

“Truth and love are the characteristics which build up the church, especially in association with each other. Yet this combination is rare in the contemporary church. Some leaders are great champions of the truth and anxious to fight for it, but display little love. Others are great advocates of love, but have no equal commitment to truth…Truth is hard if it is not softened by love and love is soft if it is not strengthened by the truth.”  John Stott

We are called to love God and to love His people.  Fleshing out His life to others through our obedience to His revealed will is proof of our love and of our sonship.

“Remember Whose you are and Whom you serve.”    Oswald Chambers

³⁶ ”Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matt 22:36-40 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• God’s Word is eternal – it stands firm in the heavens.
• The only two things that will stand eternally which I can and should invest my time and efforts in, is the Word of God and the souls of men.
• I am to love God and to love His people.

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SHARING BREAD

²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

Luke 21:29-31 (NIV)

“As in the kingdom of nature there is a chain of causes, so in the kingdom of providence there is a consequence of one event on another.  When we see the ruin of persecuting powers hastening on, we may infer from this that the kingdom of God is near.”   Matthew Henry

The Bible often addresses our need for readiness and preparation –warning us, so to speak, so as to not be caught unaware.  Just as John the Baptist proclaimed repentance in preparation prior to the first coming of Jesus, we too should be reminded of his words in regard to His second advent:

¹ In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”   Matt 3:1-2 (NIV)

Peter advises us in the following way:

¹³ Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”   1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)

We are to have hope and to be holy in anticipation of Jesus’ sure return.  This demands preparation and determination on our part – a tough minded holiness that is ready for action. 

“It is easy for us to imagine that we will suddenly come to a point in our lives where we are fully prepared, but preparation is not suddenly accomplished.  In fact, it is a process that must be steadily maintained.  It is dangerous to become settled and complacent in our present level of experience.  The Christian life requires preparation and more preparation.”  Oswald Chambers

 I am reminded of Daniel’s firm resolve not to defile himself when placed in the midst of a pagan culture as a teenager.  Scripture tells us:

 ⁸ But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.   Dan 1:8 (NIV)

For Daniel’s decision to choose obedience regarding the food requirement’s of the Mosaic Law in lieu of the luxurious portions of food and wine offered him from the king’s table we are told:

 ¹⁵ At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.   Dan 1:15 (NIV)

¹⁷ To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. ¹⁸ At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁹ The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service.   Dan 1:17-19 (NIV)

We are to allow the Word of God to examine our hearts closely, permitting the Holy Spirit to convict and lead us into standing firm “in all the will of God, mature and fully assured” (Colossians 4:12).  Just as surely there are consequences to sin, there are blessings in obedience.

“The speediest and easiest method to accomplish our desire of overcoming the evil, and doing the good, is an immediate compliance with our first convictions, without conferring with flesh and blood.  If we delay the work, we give room to other people without, and to Satan and to our sinful hearts from within, to persuade us to the contrary:  by which the flesh can easily renew its strength, and the spirit will be weakened.  And what will be the consequences of this, but that either we miscarry in our design, or that the conflict will be afterwards so much sharper; and the good work if not stifled, dropped entirely?  Yet, if it be done, it will not be done so completely, and with such singleness of heart as it should be.  But if we narrowly watch our hearts, and directly engage with every the least opposition when it stirs, then our enemies will not be so strong and we shall have no reason to despair.”  K. H. Von Bogatzky

What I glean from this:

• I am to be ready and prepared for Jesus’ coming.
• I am to be hopeful and holy in anticipation of His return.
• I am to have a firm resolve regarding obedience to God’s will for my life.

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SHARING BREAD

²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Luke 21:28 (NIV)

Here Jesus is encouraging all of is His faithful disciples – “stand up and lift up your heads” – look heavenward in faith and hope with great joy when these things begin to take place because our redemption is near.  We have no need of fear.  We have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb.  The word translated “redemption” in our verse for today is from the Greek word “Apolytrosis” meaning “to release on payment of ransom, redeem; redemption, ransom, liberation, manumission, the act of redemption, the freeing of a slave through payment or ransom.  Of spiritual redemption, the rescuing of captives (sinners) from captivity (sin) through the payment of a ransom for them, that is, Christ’s death.  Deliverance from sin results in freedom.”  Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids.

I am reminded of Paul’s words to the believers in Colosse:

 ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.   Col 1:12-14 (NIV)

Freedom – no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness.  John tells us in his gospel:

³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.    John 8:34-36 (NIV)

Paul gives us more insight into our freedom in Christ in Romans:

¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.   Romans 6:16-18 (NIV)

“The first thing I must be willing to admit when I begin to examine what controls and dominates me is that I am the one responsible for having yielded myself to whatever it may be.  If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because somewhere in the past I yielded to myself.  Likewise, if I obey God I do so because at some point in my life I yielded myself to Him.  If a child gives in to selfishness, he will find it to be the most enslaving tyranny on earth.  There is no power within the human soul itself that is capable of breaking the bondage of the nature created by yielding.  For example, yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust, and although you may hate yourself for having yielded, you become enslaved to that thing – lust is “I must have it now” – whether it is the lust of the flesh or the lust of the mind.  No release or escape from it will ever come from any human power, but only through the power of redemption….. Yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery in any person’s life.”     Oswald Chambers

“Has Christ brought life and immortality to light?  Then look unto him and live.  Is there redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins?  Then throw all thy guilt upon his atonement.  Has he blotted out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against thee?  Then shake off self-righteous dependences, and legal fears also.  Did he die for thy sins?  Then let his goodness and love lead thee to unfeigned repentance; let the sense of thy sins break thine heart, but encourage thy hope in the gospel.”   K.H. Von Bogatzky  

What I glean from this:

• Looking heavenward in faith and hope with great joy, I am to stand firm with anticipation of Christ’s return.
•  I have been rescued from the captivity of sin by the blood of Jesus.
• Yielding to Jesus will break every kind of slavery to sin in my life.

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SHARING BREAD

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

Luke 21:27 (NIV)

I am reminded of John’s words in Revelation regarding the certain return of Jesus:

⁷ Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.  So shall it be!  Amen.   Rev 1:7 (NIV)

“Every eye will see him, the eye of his people, the eye of his enemies, every eye, yours and mine.  He shall come, to the terror of those who have pierced him and have not repented and of all who have wounded and crucified him afresh by their apostasy from him, and to the astonishment of the pagan world.  This account of Christ is ratified and confirmed by himself (Revelation 1:8).  He is the beginning and the end; all things are from him and for him he is the Almighty; he is the same eternal and unchangeable one.”  Matthew Henry

Paul echoes this same sentiment gloriously as he bursts forth in the following doxology of praise found in Romans:

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!  ³⁴ ”Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”  ³⁵ ”Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”
³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.    Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)

“Behold, the Heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, and thou sayest, ‘Come ye all unto me.’”    Thomas a Kempis

Daniel speaks to this same future account in the Book which bears his name:

¹³ ”In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.   Dan 7:13-14 (NIV)

Jesus gives us similar words in the gospel of Mark:

⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”   Mark 14:62 (NIV)   

Jesus will return accompanied with great, achieving power and bright glory.  The word translated “glory” is from the Greek word “Doxa” meaning:  “Glory, honor, wealth, splendor, prestige, respect, renown, fame, distinction, notoriety, recognition, approval.  It refers to the favorable opinion which is held regarding something; praise, credit, acclaim, respectful acknowledgment, fawning adoration, admiration, attention; outward splendor, grandeur, pomp elegance, magnificence, beauty, excellence of appearance, impressiveness, brilliance, illustriousness, eminence.”  Hebrew-Greek key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids.

Get the picture here?  It will be the show stopper of all show stoppers to say the least!!!!!  Jesus’ arrival in His first advent as a babe to a suffering servant stands in stark contrast to His second coming as the glorious Conquering King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

“We seem to have lost the vision of the majesty of God.”    John Stott

“We are changed by beholding.” Hudson Taylor

 What an awesome sight this will be!  How exciting for those who believe and, as Peter states:

You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.    2 Peter 3:11-12 (NIV)

“The fact of Jesus’ coming is the final and unanswerable proof that God cares.”  William Barclay

 “(Jesus’ return) is not a reason for star-gazing, but for working in the power of the Holy Ghost.” Charles Spurgeon

What I glean from this:

• Jesus is going to return in achieving power and great glory with the clouds.
• From Jesus and through Jesus and to Jesus are all things.
• In anticipation of His sure return, I am to be about His work in the power of His Spirit.

Yesterday afternoon our first grandchild arrived – Caroline Comer Eldridge – healthy and beautiful!  We are grateful for the prayers and love of our family and friends!  God has indeed blessed us abundantly!

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²⁵ ”There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

Luke 21:25-26 (NIV)

In our verses for today Jesus tells us that preceding His return there will be signs in the universe – finger marks of God, if you will, causing men to be seized with terror, fainting in the face of awesome cosmic phenomena.   When the heavenly bodies start to shake, so do those with feet of clay!  I am reminded of the words penned by the prophet Haggai:

²¹ ”Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. ²² I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.   Hag 2:21-22 (NIV)

These words are very much akin to the words written by the writer of the Book of Hebrews:

²⁶ At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷ The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken–that is, created things–so that what cannot be shaken may remain.   Heb 12:26-27 (NIV)

This is a sure reminder of the fact that apart from the transcendent eternal God, there is nothing lasting or meaningful in this life.  We are often guilty of expending much effort with no results gained – trifling with the temporal and demonstrating a lack of regard for the eternal – spending rather than investing our resources and time.  Solomon describes it thusly with these words in Ecclesiastes:

¹⁴ I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.   Eccl 1:14 (NIV)

“Our lives have meaning ‘under the sun’ only because of Him who dwells above the sun and beyond the stars – our transcendent Lord Jesus who alone gives us eternal significance.”   Robert J. Morgan

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”  C. S. Lewis

“The future belongs to those who belong to God.  This is hope.”  W.T. Purkiser

Peter gives us more insight into the “Day of the Lord”:

³ First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” ⁵ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. ⁶ By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. ⁷ By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. ⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.   2 Peter 3:3-10 (NIV)

It would do us well to remember that “We are not human beings going through a temporary spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience” – Anonymous.

“Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.”   Matthew Henry

¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.   2 Peter 3:11-13 (NIV)

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”   Corrie Ten Boom

What I glean from this:

• Preceding the return of Jesus there will be great signs and wonders in the heavens.
• God’s voice once shook the earth but now He has promised that He will also shake the heavens.
•  My life has meaning and purpose because of Jesus.

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SHARING BREAD

²⁰ ”When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. ²² For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Luke 21:20-24 (NIV)

The fulfillment of all that has been written by the prophets will most certainly take place.  If it is decree by God it is set in stone. In our verses for today, Jesus is describing to us future Tribulation events.

“Reprieves are not pardons.”    Matthew Henry  

¹ A day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided among you. ² I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.    Zech 14:1-2 (NIV)

Zephaniah clearly tells us:

¹⁴ ”The great day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. ¹⁵ That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, ¹⁶ a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. ¹⁷ I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. ¹⁸ Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.”    Zeph 1:14-18 (NIV)

The prophets warning here is much akin to the awakening of sleeping family members with the cry of “Fire!  Fire!” when it is suddenly at their door.    

“It is spoken of as a very dreadful day.  The cry of this day of the Lord, shall make the shouting of the warrior there bitter.  It will be a day of distress and anguish to the sinners; they shall see no ways of easing or helping themselves.  It is a day of clouds and blackness; the thick clouds are big with storms and tempests…..The destruction of that day will be unavoidable and universal.”   Matthew Henry

Peter states this destruction in the following way:

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.   2 Peter 3:10 (NIV)

Paul describes these end time events as follows further adding a warning to the believers in our Lord Jesus to be alert, self-controlled and prepared:

¹ Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self- controlled. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.   1 Thess 5:1-9 (NIV)

Interestingly, we are told that neither silver nor gold will be able to save a soul – nor, may I add, will any argument or “wisdom” of man – it is only through the precious blood of Jesus covering all of our sins that we are able to stand.  Believers have been redeemed from the empty way of life by the blood of the Lamb.  Praise Him!  We no longer, therefore, live in fear of destruction but in hopeful expectation. Peter gives us these following instructions:

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. ¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.   1 Peter 1:17-19 (NIV)

 ²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶ At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷ The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken–that is, created things–so that what cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our “God is a consuming fire.”   Heb 12:25-29 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• What God has decreed is set in stone.
• Just because God tarries – not wanting any to perish – does not mean “The great day of the Lord” is not most certainly coming.
• I am to be alert, self-controlled and prepared.

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SHARING BREAD

¹⁷ All men will hate you because of me. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ By standing firm you will gain life.

Luke 21:17-19 (NIV)

Stand firm – gain life; Matthew renders it in the following way:

⁹ ”Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matt 24:9-14 (NIV)

The word translated “firm” in our verse for today is from the Greek word “Hypomone” meaning “A bearing up under, patience, endurance as to things or circumstances.  Generally, signifying endurance, patience, perseverance, or constancy under suffering in faith and duty.  Used in an absolute sense.  The bearing of evils and sufferings with a tranquil mind.”  Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids.

Standing firm by exhibiting patient endurance amidst the dire circumstances of life is a very prevalent theme throughout the New Testament.  What goes against human nature – the bearing of evil and suffering with a tranquil mind – is made possible in the believer’s life through the indwelling power of the precious Holy Spirit. Paul exhorts us in Romans to:

¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.    Romans 12:12 (NIV)

As believers, our hope is founded in Jesus – He is our reason for rejoicing.  Our scrawny necks are saved through no work of our own, our eternal state is secure.  Therefore, our distresses and troubles are to be patiently endured – resting in His comfort and peace – with the full assurance that He will use everything He allows for our good and His glory. Our prayers should be for wisdom and guidance so that we may, as Epaphras prayed for the Colossians, “stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”

I do not know about any of you, but often I find myself a “whiny britches” in dire circumstances or even in unpleasant ones.  In fact, if the truth be known, I can complain with the greatest of ease when things are even but a bit askew!  Shame on me!  This is not befitting a child of the King!  I am reminded of a verse that specifically addresses this issue – one of my favorites when my kids were younger:

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe ¹⁶ as you hold out the word of life–  Phil 2:14-16 (NIV)

Complaining reflects a bad attitude and is usually expressed through grumbling.  God did not like it when the Israelites did it back in Exodus and He gives us no high fives for it either!  It is an affront to Him and His pleasing and perfect will for our lives and it displays our lack of trust and faith in what He allows – perhaps the complaining endorses our belief that we deem His will neither pleasing nor perfect!  

“The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God cannot sustain you!”  Anonymous

 “Our extremities are the Lord’s opportunities.”  Spurgeon

Moses brings clarity to the Israelites regarding to Whom their grumbling was ultimately directed.  Remember, like the Israelites, as believers, God has also taken us out of bondage (Egypt) and is directing us through our own desert and wilderness experiences into the Promised Land – our heavenly eternal home:

⁶ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, ⁷ and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” ⁸ Moses also said, “You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD.”    Ex 16:6-8 (NIV)

 “Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.”  Charles Spurgeon

What I glean from this:

• By standing firm I gain life.
• I am to bear evils and sufferings with a tranquil mind through the power of the Holy Spirit.
• My joy and hope is found in Jesus.

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SHARING BREAD

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

Luke 21:16 (NIV)

Difficult words indeed from our Savior’s lips regarding both the situation His disciples would endure prior to the fall of Jerusalem and also the situation that would confront believers during the period of the Great Tribulation and quite frankly, everything in between these times.  Division, betrayal, hate and murder – all by those closest to us – Jesus addresses this exact point earlier in Luke where He states that He did not come to bring peace but division:

⁴⁹ “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! ⁵¹ Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵² From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”   Luke 12:49-53 (NIV)

Sadly, we should not be surprised at division in our immediate families.  Jesus is telling us in these verses that complete dedication to Him would sometimes (thankfully, not all times) bring about hurtful rejection from our own flesh and blood.  Scripture tells us that those who place family in front of Jesus are unworthy of HimimHim  :

 ³⁷ ”Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; ³⁸ and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.   Matt 10:37-39 (NIV)

“If religion is worth anything, it is worth everything.  They who do not like Christ on these terms, may leave him at their peril.  Whatever we part with for this pearl of price, we may comfort ourselves with this belief, that it is well worth what we give for it.  The terms are, that we prefer Christ.”   Matthew Henry

Perhaps part of the cost of discipleship may be that the love of family must not be placed above the love of Jesus.  Actually, nothing should be placed above the love of Jesus in our lives.   Family, friends, possessions, power, fame, finances, self – should all fall under His authority in our lives.  He is Ruler, we are not.  While He bestows everything to us for our enjoyment and pleasure – including family – nothing is to come before Him – nothing.

“Taking a stand for Christ is increasingly unpopular in our pagan and pluralistic society.  If you believe that God created the world, that He is a God of both love and holiness, that Jesus died and rose again for our sins and is the only way to heaven, and that we have a responsibility to take that message to a needy world – those beliefs will vilify you in many segments of our society.  Our world is determined to intimidate, marginalize, and silence Christians.  But our goal isn’t popularity; it’s to know Him and make Him known.  We shouldn’t be needlessly offensive, but we shouldn’t be afraid of the ‘offense of the cross’.  These are exciting days in which to bear a witness for our Savior!”       Robert J. Morgan

We would do well to emulate Paul’s indefatigable herald of God’s remedy for mankind’s spiritual needs – whether it alienate us from those we are closest to or not:

¹⁶ I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  Romans 1:16 (NIV)

“To be rebuffed by a loved one causes pain not to be compared with the cruelties inflicted by an enemy.  So your indifference and unresponsiveness to My call brings anguish to My soul, indeed, deeper grief than the crimes of the reprobate sinner.  I have laid My rod upon the sinner, but I have laid My hand upon you.  And I have put My arm around you to draw you closer, but you have been impatient and irritable as though I sought to interfere with your liberty.  I am able to give you greater liberty than you will ever find by seeking to be independent of Me.  I seek not to interfere with your happiness, but I do require that you relinquish your will; for I cannot bless you as I desire until your will is yielded up and you accept Mine in exchange.  As you love Me, you accept My will as your own, and the caliber and extent of your love for Me may be accurately measured to the degree that you accept My will with a peaceful heart.  You can best sing ‘My Jesus, I Love You’ when you can truly sing ‘Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow.’  For whoever does not take up his cross daily to follow Me cannot be My disciple.”   Frances J. Roberts  

“So let me encourage you to make the most of every opportunity to share this Good News.  With so much emphasis on hope generated by our current president, we have an obvious inroad to the cultural psyche.  Our Christian testimony, as Peter reminded his readers, is that, ‘we have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of the dead’.  Who else has the answer to the frailty of life, the reality of death and the certainty of judgment than Jesus, who by His death destroyed him who holds the power of death and frees those whose lives are enslaved by the fear of death?”  Alistair Begg  

What I glean from this:

• I should not be surprised by opposition when proclaiming the Good News of Jesus – even by those closest to me.
• Jesus must be Lord of all in my life or He is not Lord at all.
• My goal is to know Him and to make Him known.

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