Tag: Luke 12
Weather forecasting experts?
Scripture reading for March 19: Luke 12
“He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and so it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Luke 12:54-56
After 78 years (today is my birthday) of observing the earth and sky and experience various weather patterns, I have a basic sense of what weather to expect from certain sky conditions. An old saying my mom always had from growing up was “Red sky in the morning, sailor take warning! Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.” As a farmer in my earlier days, we were always concerned with the weather and how it affected the work for the day and the development of crops or the need to harvest. It was no different in Jesus’ day. But Jesus was using this natural tendency to predict weather using sensory data as a warning about the need for awareness of spiritual times and seasons.
Jesus called the people who could read the weather signs but chose not to understand the spiritual signs ‘hypocrites.’ Jesus was warning them that signs of the ‘storm’ of God’s judgment were evident to the discerning. They had better make things right with God before that day arrived. The times we are living in are full of biblical signs of Christ’s soon return. The discerning are preparing their own souls and warning others, calling them to repentance and faith. Will Jesus find us in faith when He comes?
Do you know how to interpret this present time in which we are living? What signs of the end time judgment has God revealed to you? Will Jesus commend you for your faith and discernment or call you a hypocrite when He comes?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus revealing to us the signs of the times so that we might prepare and warn others. Open my eyes each day and let the light of Your Word illuminate my path and reveal the coming storm. Use me to warn my family, friends, and neighbors with godly discernment. Amen.
Be dressed and ready!
Scripture reading for March 19th: Luke 12
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 12:35-37,40 “Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. . .” “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”
Jesus knew all men and understood their tendency to become lazy and let down their guard. In many of His last teachings, Jesus emphasized the need for watchfulness and readiness when He returned for His followers. Unbelief in Christ’s return would produce this lax and lazy behavior in those who once were zealous. This would cause great loss because those found not ready would be left out completely!
No one knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return. (Matthew 24:36) He is coming back for those who are eagerly awaiting His appearing and doing the work He commanded them to do. There will be great reward for the faithful!
Observations for over-comers: Guard your soul against falling away and unbelief in Christ’s return by keeping an active faith and obeying Christ daily. The reward is out of this world! “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In My faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them.” (Isaiah 61:8)
Don’t be a hypocrite!
Scripture reading for March 19th: Luke 12
“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.” (Luke 12:1-3) Jesus was concerned for His disciples. The example of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time was one of proclaiming to be righteous but in reality still being bound by sin and uncleanness. The Pharisees were always judging others, but failed to see their own sin.
Hypocrisy is like putting on a show or play-acting to fit each situation you are in. Jesus wanted disciples who would be true to Him and God all the time. He warned them that living a lie would be exposed and would bring ultimate humiliation and condemnation by God. “I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him.” (Luke 12:4-5) Hypocrites lack a true fear of God and instead fear men and act to please those they are around.
“I tell you, whoever acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns Me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.” (Luke 12:8-9) Followers of Jesus must stay true to Jesus! There is great reward for the faithful and loss for the hypocrite!