Luke 21:16-19

Luke 21:16-19

English Standard Version 

  This feels a little different than the promises some of those TV preachers make about you ending up rich if you send in $50 at the right time, doesn't it?

  Jesus is clear to his followers -- it will not be easy to remain faithful.  There will be division and difficulty and suffering at the hands of those who oppose Christ and his church. Some of his followers will be put to death.

  Can we all admit that if we were listening to this, we'd be wondering if following Jesus was really the best plan?  I don't know many people that get excited to be hated.  

  And then you'd hear Jesus telling you that not a hair on your head will perish, right after he said that some of the people will perish.  Death sounds perishing.  

  So many of the teachings of Jesus are trying to help us refocus, to lift our eyes from the immediate world around us and teach us to focus on the eternal Kingdom of God.  When we think about investing our money and time and energy and love -- do we think first about the Kingdom?  When we think about legacy, do we think about God's Kingdom?  We get very, very focused on the here and now, and Jesus isn't saying this is bad -- but he wants us to know there is more than what we see, and that our ultimate legacy and security is in God's Kingdom, which transcends this one.

  So setbacks in this world are not eternal.  Even death has been defeated.

  Hold on to hope.  Jesus wins.

Luke 21:10–15

Luke 21:10-15 

English Standard Version 

  Christianity isn't always setting up for the most positive publicity.  The prosperity Gospel always amuses me -- preachers proclaim that being a Christian will set you up for success and fame and wealth, and then I read the Gospels... and it seems to offer a different kind of world vision, one that recognizes the reality of suffering and pain and struggles.  Jesus doesn't shrink from any of this.  It's part of a broken world.  What Jesus does assure us is that when we are caught up in the midst of it, the Holy Spirit will give us the words to proclaim the Truth in the midst of it all.  He tells us not to get caught up in planning ahead of time, but rather to trust that God will be near.

  When there is strife in the world, Jesus has not abandoned us, or the world.  I don't claim to understand the plan, but I trust in God, and so may we faithfully follow Christ through whatever is next, taking life one step at a time, trusting God to give us what we need for today, for this moment.

Luke 21:5-9

Luke 21:5-9 

English Standard Version 

  It's hard to see landmarks struck down.  25 years later, it was still difficult to remember the terrible events of 9/11.  We look at the pictures of those towers and think about what they meant and the tragedy of their loss -- in so many ways, it has shaped the last few decades of American life.  We remember what things were like before that awful day.

  For those around Jesus, it was tremendously hard to hear them talk about the destruction of the temple.  The temple was massive and magnificent and the center of religious life.  They didn't want to think about life without it.  Tragically, that would be destroyed by the Roman army in 70 AD when they devastated Jerusalem.  

  Jesus doesn't want us to set all our hopes and dreams on temporary things.  The Kingdom of God is eternal, and we are to focus all of our aspirations on that Kingdom, for it cannot be taken, cannot be shaken.  Our hopes and dreams are safe there.  If we run in fear at each person who speaks of the end, then we'll be darting through shadows, unable to live as Christ calls us to live.  

  So may we boldly focus ourselves on Christ and his Kingdom, and strive to live in such a way that brings glory to God but doesn't chase every rumor and run in fear from every power in this world.  Remember, every knee shall bow before Christ the Lord. 

Black Belt Tests and the Gospel