Good morning friends,
Jesus continues his description of the trouble that will mark the approach of the end of history. The description of Jerusalem's fall has a lot of similarities to the warnings of the Old Testament prophets when they described what would happen to Jerusalem. He talks about the military defeat and destruction of the city and he talks about how the people will be scattered in exile. Specifically, his quote about the Son of Man coming in the clouds comes from a vision of the prophet Daniel as does the idea that "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."
These times will be terrifying and he warns the disciples to flee from Judea. At the same time, he tells them to "raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Even though the judgment will be terrifying for everyone, for those God has called the coming of God's kingdom is something to look forward to. We still look forward to that day when Christ will come and make everything right. We know that we will face danger and persecution, but we also know that God is with us as we minister. In everything we seek to put our trust in God.
God bless,
Sam
Luke 21:20-28
20“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; 22for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. 23Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; 24they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Showing posts with label trials. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trials. Show all posts
Monday, November 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
rooted in the word
Good morning sisters and brothers,
Our Psalm reveals hints of trouble today. The psalmist feels like a stranger in his home and considers princes plotting against him. Sometimes the life of faith can feel like that; sometimes we have a sense that powerful interests are opposed to our faith individually or as a church. It has always been this way from Israel's slavery in Egypt to Christ's persecution and the persecution of the early church. Sometimes our hardest opposition comes from times when the world around us is accepting of our faith, at least in words. Acceptance tends to make us complacent and lets us imagine that the social order and the gospel have more in common than they really do.
Other times our hardest opposition is within us. We want to follow God's path; we want to meditate on the word, but we let other commitments get in the way. Often our temptations are so subtle we don't notice them as opposition, so we find ourselves gently drifting away from the path God calls us to follow. We pray that God would open our eyes so we can see the wonders of God's law; we pray God would open our hearts to feel a longing for the word; we pray God would open our minds to meditate on God's commandments. Then God's decrees will be our delight and our counselors as we grow strong, rooted in the word. As we talk about meditating on the commandments, I'd like to invite you to supper and scripture at Laurelton tonight and every Wednesday. We begin at 5:30 in Christler Hall with a wonderful supper, and share about an hour of fellowship and discussion of scripture. For the next several weeks we'll be taking a look at the Ten Commandments and how they can guide us today. Dinner is free, but you are welcome to make a donation towards the cost of food. I hope you'll join us and bring a friend.
God bless,
Sam
Psalm 119:17-24
17Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word.
18Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
19I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.
20My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
21You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments;
22take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your decrees.
23Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.
Our Psalm reveals hints of trouble today. The psalmist feels like a stranger in his home and considers princes plotting against him. Sometimes the life of faith can feel like that; sometimes we have a sense that powerful interests are opposed to our faith individually or as a church. It has always been this way from Israel's slavery in Egypt to Christ's persecution and the persecution of the early church. Sometimes our hardest opposition comes from times when the world around us is accepting of our faith, at least in words. Acceptance tends to make us complacent and lets us imagine that the social order and the gospel have more in common than they really do.
Other times our hardest opposition is within us. We want to follow God's path; we want to meditate on the word, but we let other commitments get in the way. Often our temptations are so subtle we don't notice them as opposition, so we find ourselves gently drifting away from the path God calls us to follow. We pray that God would open our eyes so we can see the wonders of God's law; we pray God would open our hearts to feel a longing for the word; we pray God would open our minds to meditate on God's commandments. Then God's decrees will be our delight and our counselors as we grow strong, rooted in the word. As we talk about meditating on the commandments, I'd like to invite you to supper and scripture at Laurelton tonight and every Wednesday. We begin at 5:30 in Christler Hall with a wonderful supper, and share about an hour of fellowship and discussion of scripture. For the next several weeks we'll be taking a look at the Ten Commandments and how they can guide us today. Dinner is free, but you are welcome to make a donation towards the cost of food. I hope you'll join us and bring a friend.
God bless,
Sam
Psalm 119:17-24
17Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word.
18Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
19I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.
20My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
21You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments;
22take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your decrees.
23Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
planning for the future
Good morning friends,
Today Paul finishes his visit with the Ephesian elders reminding them again of his example and warning them that their community will face trials as well as he will. He warns them especially of false teachers, disciples who don’t hold the truth. We don’t know if he had some particular teaching in mind or if he is speaking in general, but the warning is clear. The love and fellowship Paul and these leaders have for each other is touching. They have worked hard together to spread God’s word, so naturally they are sorry to imagine that they might not see each other again. Blessed be the ties that bind.
In our second reading we see the crowd of faithful Christians in front of God’s throne. We’re told that they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. We’re also told that they have come out of the great ordeal. That seems to suggest they have been delivered from persecution. I suspect they left that persecution by going through it, witnessing to their faith even to death. Now they are sheltered by God’s throne where no more evil can harm them. Truly in life and in death we belong to God; no matter what comes in the end we are safe in him.
God bless,
Sam
Acts 20:29-38
29I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.
32And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. 35In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. 37There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.
*Sunday
Revelation 7:9-17
9After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Today Paul finishes his visit with the Ephesian elders reminding them again of his example and warning them that their community will face trials as well as he will. He warns them especially of false teachers, disciples who don’t hold the truth. We don’t know if he had some particular teaching in mind or if he is speaking in general, but the warning is clear. The love and fellowship Paul and these leaders have for each other is touching. They have worked hard together to spread God’s word, so naturally they are sorry to imagine that they might not see each other again. Blessed be the ties that bind.
In our second reading we see the crowd of faithful Christians in front of God’s throne. We’re told that they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. We’re also told that they have come out of the great ordeal. That seems to suggest they have been delivered from persecution. I suspect they left that persecution by going through it, witnessing to their faith even to death. Now they are sheltered by God’s throne where no more evil can harm them. Truly in life and in death we belong to God; no matter what comes in the end we are safe in him.
God bless,
Sam
Acts 20:29-38
29I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.
32And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. 33I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. 35In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. 37There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.
*Sunday
Revelation 7:9-17
9After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
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