DEVOTIONAL

Prayers: Father thank you for this new day of your mercy and love, thank you once again for your amazing kindness, I worship and praise you and ask you to have your way in me, change me, transform me, wash me clean from all sin. And as I wait for your coming prepare my heart and help me to live a life that will bring glory to your name.

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: Psalm 7:17 

“I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.”

Worship Song Sung or Said: 

God’s Word for Today: Luke 21:1-36

“1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.” 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.” 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.” 
4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”” 5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God.” But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” 

7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” 8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived.” For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.”’ Do not follow them.” 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened.” These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”” 10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” 12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you.” They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.” 13 And so you will bear testimony to me.” 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.” 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” 

Devotional/Study: Part 1

Brothers and sisters, with all that is happening around the world, Many Christian leaders believe because of the chaos and unrest in some of the countries all over the world, Jesus Second coming is drawing near. And he will make right all that is wrong in this world. 

We know for certain that Jesus will come again, because when Jesus went up to heaven, the disciples witnessed this amazing event, it must have been amazing to see their saviour taken up to heaven. I wonder what they were feeling, I think they must have felt sad. 

However, they were encouraged and comforted by two men who appear out of nowhere and say to them in Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” 

Knowing that Jesus is coming again, we need to be ready and prepared for the second coming of Jesus as he will come as king of king and judge of all. In the book of Revelation 22:11-13 Jesus said “Behold, I am coming soon.” What will be amazing is when Jesus returns the whole world will see him, I don’t know how that will be.

We read in Revelation 1:7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”” So shall it be! Amen.” 

Although we are certain Christ will come again, we do not know when that will be. In the gospel of Mark 13:32-33 we are told that “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Paul the apostle also tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” 

Thieves do not give you a hint or sign that they are coming. They will not phone you up and say hey, I am your local thief, and I am going to rob. A thief comes unexpectedly, and that’s how Jesus describes His second coming. What is important for us is to be watchful, ready, and prepared for that day whenever that may be. 

The question is with all that is happening around the world are these signs of the Second Coming? Are these events pointing to the return of Jesus? In our reading of Luke Jesus gives us a glimpse and teaching about His second coming and the end of the world which for some can be frightening and difficult to understand. 

However, we must always keep in mind as we wait in the midst of those things that cause us anguish and anxiety, hope is present. And that hope is in Christ alone For He is the one who stands with us in and is the one we need and the one who will come to end all evil. 

For the early Christians the second coming of Christ was a very real expectation. Some thought Jesus was coming back soon to rescue them from the oppression of the Roman occupation. They longed for a future without conflict and suffering, a future filled with peace and a future with God. Isn’t that something we long for. Gradually they began to see that the second coming was not going to happen as soon as they thought. 

As followers of Christ, when Christ will come again and a future with God where there will be no more suffering, no more tears or death. In our reading of Luke Jesus teaches us about His second coming and how to prepare for that glories day. As we look at the beginning of Luke 21 Jesus warns of coming persecutions and foretells the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. 

In Luke 21:5-6 we are told that some of the disciples were talking and admiring the beauty of the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus than tells them that one day this temple will be destroyed. (AD 70 the temple was destroyed).

 He says to them in Luke 21:6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be.”  In response to what Jesus said about the temple, the disciples ask Jesus two questions: we read in Luke 21:7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” They wanted to understand what Jesus meant when this terrible destruction would happen. The reply of Jesus to these questions are recorded in both Matthew 24 and here in Luke 21. In Luke 21 Jesus gives two answers.

Firstly, he warns them not to be deceived by those who will claim to be the messiah. In the first century there were false teachers who would lead people astray. Peter the apostle warned God people of false teachers. 

He said in 2 Peter 2:1-31 "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.” They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.” 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.” Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 

You may want to look up these verses (1 John 2:18; 4:1-3).

Secondly Jesus warns them not to be frightened when they hear of wars and uprisings v9. When we see what is happening around the world its easy to become fearful, however we know God is in control and we must not be surprised by what is happening around the world. Jesus tells them in v10-11 tells “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” 

But before all this Jesus warns them that they will be persecuted and arrested and put in prison for being his followers. After the resurrection we know persecution began and is still happening now.

Brothers and sisters in these days it is becoming harder to live out your Christian life. In the last few years, I have noticed there has been some hostility towards Christians in the work place and even there have been some cases where Christians been arrested for preaching Gods word in the streets. 

It seems to me the more the UK moves further away from Christian’s beliefs, the more Christians who chose to follow Christ will experience all kinds of hostility. One of my friends said that “opposition has come from an increasingly intolerant political correctness that seems biased against Christianity”.

For the disciples of Jesus, It tough following Jesus as they looked to preach Church crucified and the resurrection. Jesus encourages them to continue to proclaim the gospel and not worry because He will help them and give them the wisdom, they needed to share the message of Jesus. We read in Luke 21; 13-15 “And so you will bear testimony to me.” 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.” 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” We will continue tomorrow with the rest of the chapter. 

 Personal Prayers: