the future

Luke 21 

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. 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!”

keeping on

Luke 11 

9 “And so I tell you, 

keep on asking, 

and you will receive what you ask for. 

Keep on seeking, 

and you will find. 

Keep on knocking, 

and the door will be opened to you. 

10 For everyone who asks, 

receives. 

Everyone who seeks, 

finds. 

And to everyone who knocks, 

the door will be opened.

So, let me ask this...

when is "keeping on..." a tireless discipline,

& after years & years of "keeping on...", when is it the vain babbling that God only finds annoying?

prissy

1 Corinthians 4 

10 Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, 

but you claim to be so wise in Christ! 

We are weak, 

but you are so powerful! 

You are honored, 

but we are ridiculed. 

11 Even now we go hungry and thirsty, 

and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. 

We are often beaten 

and have no home. 

12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. 

We bless those who curse us. 

We are patient with those who abuse us. 

13 We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. 

Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, 

like everybody’s trash,

right up to the present moment.

Compared to Paul's life lived as a Christ follower, 

our lives are so prissy & puny, 

relying more on the white privilege 

& middle class financial undergirding

we take for granted

rather than the power of the Holy Spirit...

child's faith

Luke 18 

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. 

But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, 

“Let the children come to me. 

Don’t stop them! 

For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 

17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

 

Psalm 112

1 Praise the Lord!

How joyful are those who fear the Lord
    and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
    an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
    and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
    They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
    and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
    Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
    they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
    and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
    They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will see this and be infuriated.
    They will grind their teeth in anger;
    they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

chosen

1 Corinthians 1 

27 God chose things the world considers foolish 

in order to shame those who think they are wise. 

And he chose things that are powerless 

to shame those who are powerful. 

28 God chose things despised by the world, 

things counted as nothing at all, 

and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 

29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

notorious

Luke 15 

1 Tax collectors 

and other notorious sinners 

often came to listen to Jesus teach. 

2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain 

that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!

These verses beg the question - do "notorious sinners" want to hang with you or me?

And do you & I have so much of the love of Jesus in us that we WANT to hang out with such people?