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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 16 March 2024:
Luke 21:1-4 – Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
It takes both love and great faith to give abundantly, giving because you really have a heart for others while trusting God to provide for your needs in the future. Hoarding is motivated by selfishness and fear, not trusting God with your future provision. According to Psychology Today, “For decades, surveys have shown that upper-income Americans … are particularly undistinguished as givers when compared with the poor…. lower-income Americans give proportionally more of their incomes to charity than do upper-income Americans…. ‘Empathy and compassion appeared to be the key ingredients’ in the generosity of the poor.” God’s people should have an abundance mentality and give generously whether they are rich or poor. True faith holds nothing back and trusts God completely to provide for the future. Tithing is an act of faith, a practice of faith, and a primer for greater giving. If you tithe, God will reveal to you clearly that you cannot outmatch his generosity. If you won’t tithe $10, you won’t tithe $10,000.
Luke 21:8 – And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.”
Many are deceived by false Christianity.
Luke 21:12, 13 – But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
Both, churches and governments will persecute true followers of Christ. God allows Christians to suffer so they can witness to their persecutors. Most of the time Christians aren’t called to face great tribunals for their faith but rather they are called to face local accusers in daily encounters.
Luke 21:13. 14 – This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer.
Our nation is turning away from God, and judgments will come. This is your opportunity to witness. Be like the poor widow and give your all to Jesus during these times. Don’t overthink it, just proclaim Jesus to the best of your ability without holding back, and trust God with the outcomes.
Luke 21:16 – You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.
Godlessness divides families. How much does your faith depend on the approval of others, particularly those very close to you? Remember this was one of Job’s tests – “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.’” (Job 2:9) What did Jesus say? “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37) Jesus was not suggesting we shouldn’t love our families; He was pointing out that we cannot truly love our families without loving Him first and foremost – all love flows from Christ. Our calling is to draw our friends and family closer to Christ, understanding that in their distance, they cannot and will not love as they ought and will persecute us. We mustn’t be surprised by this and must love them all the more – “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…. do good to those who hate you…. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27, 35-36)
Luke 21:17 – You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.
Are you willing to be hated by all for Jesus?
Like 21:29-36 – And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
We must be careful not to get caught up in the worries of the world and miss God’s activity all around us. We must have the eyes to see the signs of the times and what God is doing.
Luke 21:34 — But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
Some Christians try to ignore the growing ungodliness around them while others fall into deep despair and defeatism, neither group having much of an impact on the culture. Don’t conform to sin or feel defeated by sin, but stand boldly and joyfully in the face of sin without compromising your holiness or your message. Now is your time to witness!
Luke 21:36 – But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.
God does not intend to take His people out of these hard times but rather intends to give them the strength to endure through them. Don’t worry today but pray that you will have the strength to face the challenges ahead without compromising your holiness or your message.
- John 17:11, 14, 15, 21, 23 — I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one…. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one…. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world…. that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me…. I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 16 March 2024: Today, recognize that you were born into these days for a purpose; today is your day to witness. Resolve that today and every day you will make the most of every opportunity to proclaim Jesus to as many people as you can. Don’t be concerned with how well your message is received. Leave that to the Holy Spirit. Just proclaim Jesus. How many people will hear about Jesus from you today?
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 