Tag: signs of the times
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.
Sunday Rest and Reflection!
Sunday November 8th, 2014
Dear Friends,
As we enter the Thanksgiving season, it is good to reflect on all that God has blessed us with! His provisions have been wonderful and salvation will bring us joys beyond our ability to imagine! We live in a nation that has religious freedom and abundant food. We have ability to communicate and travel as we please. We have access to information that others around the world would not believe.
But there are great needs in our world too! People are hungry and children are starving in some places. Many are homeless and wander about looking for shelter and hope. War ravages many parts of our world and plagues are taking lives as well. The signs of the end of the age are all around us. It is time to be diligent in our relationship with God. Gather with God’s people to worship and pray! Lift your heads to heaven looking for our Lord’s soon return! The best is yet to come!
In His Love, Pastor John and Mary