Dailies ~ Advent
December 21, 2019
If I could title this chapter I would
call it “wake up!” Jesus teaches us that
we need to be cautious to be sure we are walking right according to His Will. He says that there
will be turmoil in the world but not to worry about it. In our worrying we are
not to get complacent either! We need to watch and be ready because when the
time is right He will return. We need to be sure that we do not get lost in the
cares of this world that we live in, taking care of everything, getting drunk,
having wild parties just for the ‘fun’ of it. We need to be purposeful in what
we do. We need to be sober minded, focused on God and what we can do for the
kingdom, not on what we desire to get or to do for enjoyment alone. We also
need to stay focused on God because if our heart and mind are in tune with the
Holy Spirit we will not follow false teachings that lead us down the wrong
path. We need to be sure we are following the one true path that leads to eternal
life with Christ. Live a life pleasing
to God and this will happen. Read the Word, follow what it says to do, pray the
words in the word but also pray as the Spirit leads, and as you do you will
find a closeness to God that will be better than anything the world would give
you!
Heavenly Father, draw us nearer to You
through Your Holy Spirit, help us learn to pray, to follow and to do the things
You want for us to do, In Jesus’ name amen.
Luke Chapter 21
While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping
their gifts in the collection box. 2 Then a
poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins.
3 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus
said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. 4 For they
have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given
everything she has.”
5 Some of his disciples began
talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations
on the walls. But Jesus said, 6 “The time
is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone
will be left on top of another!”
7 “Teacher,” they asked,
“when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about
to take place?”
8 He replied, “Don’t let
anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and
saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. 9 And when
you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take
place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” 10 Then he
added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There
will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands,
and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this
occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into
synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors
because you are my followers. 13 But this
will be your opportunity to tell them about me. 14 So don’t
worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, 15 for I
will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will
be able to reply or refute you! 16 Even
those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray
you. They will even kill some of you. 17 And
everyone will hate you because you are my followers.[d] 18 But not a
hair of your head will perish! 19 By
standing firm, you will win your souls.
20 “And when you see Jerusalem
surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has
arrived. 21 Then those in Judea must
flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the
country should not return to the city. 22 For those
will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will
be fulfilled. 23 How
terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days.
For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. 24 They will
be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the
world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of
the Gentiles comes to an end.
25 “And there will be strange
signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in
turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 26 People
will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the
heavens will be shaken. 27 Then
everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and
great glory. 28 So when
all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is
near!”
29 Then he gave them this
illustration: “Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. 30 When the
leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. 31 In the
same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the
Kingdom of God is near. 32 I tell
you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these
things have taken place. 33 Heaven
and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
34 “Watch out! Don’t let your
hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life.
Don’t let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a
trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. 36 Keep
alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these
coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Every day Jesus went to the
Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount
of Olives. 38 The crowds gathered at the
Temple early each morning to hear him.