Service of Love

The Message Bible says this so well: Verses 7-11--Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

I don't know how many times of late, someone has commented how this must be the start of the end times. They note how sinful our world has become. They point to the hate and evil which seems to be taking over society. And then there is the climate; the storms, the wild fires and on and on. 

I believe all this may be true, but the most important point to be making here is we are to "love each other as if your life depended on it." (verse 12) If this was our go-to behavior, relational conflict would end. There would still be storms and fires, but because we love first and foremost, we would help one another through these difficulties.

As Proverbs 10:12 says: Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Peter has carefully set out before us the way we are to serve. Everything we do is in a context of love, love and love. No matter if Jesus comes tomorrow or in two-thousand years, love is still the only way to live. Love keeps us engaged with God and His will for the world. As we all know, when we love others, when we are in love with someone special, when we love our neighbor, our hearts are light and we are happier than when burdened by hate.


1 Peter 4:7-11

But Really, It’s the Beginning

Matthew 24:22-31

One day this past week, just as I was leaving the office, the sirens went off. It was a tornado warning. We’d already had heavy rains accompanied by high winds. Now the sky was dark. The trees were still. It was all very ominous. But I wasn’t going to wait until 6:30 when the warning was supposed to be over.

 During my drive home, I listened to the talk radio station. A local meteorologist was on the air. As the sirens were screaming to “run and hide”, he was warning everyone to “find your safe place”.

He went through the list. “If you have a basement, go there. If you don’t, go to a room without a window. And if you’re in your car”… you’re screwed. He didn’t really say that, but it’s what I thought.

He was on the air for over thirty minutes dispensing a message of fear; of impending disaster. Afterwards, the announcer on the following program shared how when he was a little boy he was so afraid of thunder that when he heard a loud clap, five seconds later he would throw up. It was like clockwork.

You’d think it was the end of the world. Maybe it was.

²⁹ “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.          NLT

I’ve never been that interested in the “end times”. The guys who carry a sandwich board declaring the end of the world, are an oddity to me. It’s not that I don’t believe; it just seems irrelevant to right now. Following Jesus is difficult enough without worrying about something that’s been predicted since Jesus was on earth.

 I think that the question to ask is, “Who is in control”? The answer is Jesus. Knowing that he is in control, makes life bearable; makes life meaningful; makes life hopeful. And when he does return, it will be apparent to all.

 ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come like the lightning which flashes across the whole sky from the east to the west... ³¹ The great trumpet will sound, and he will send out his angels to the four corners of the earth, and they will gather his chosen people from one end of the world to the other.   GNT

 THE END…

But really, it’s the beginning.

SIGNS OF SPRING

Scripture Reading:  Matthew 24:6-35

 

“Spring is in the air.” Really?!? It snowed this week, the wind is bitter-cold, snow squalls are predicted once more. It seems like winter wants to hang around indefinitely. Will spring ever come?  In my funk about our seeming perpetual winter, a voice within encourages, “Look at the trees, check out the flowers.”  Buds are beginning to appear, green foliage has pushed up from the ground, and many spring flowers have bloomed.  Yes, though winter still has us in its grip, there are signs that spring is just around the corner. 

 

Jesus used such as analogy in talking to his disciples about the end times and his eventual return. “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its young shoots become tender, and it puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near; so you, too, when you see all these things [taking place], know for certain that He is near, right at the door (Matthew 24:32-33, AMP).”  What things would signal Christ’s return?  We’ve heard these before: “wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution of believers, increasing wickedness (Mt 24: 6-9),” …and are we not seeing these things taking place in our world today?  He is right at the door.

 

When I think about Jesus’ return, I must admit I wonder how we will know for sure it is He who has come. Jesus warns us to not listen to people who try to convince us that Christ has returned (vs 23, 26). There will be plenty of false prophets and “Messiahs.”  It helped me to read verse 27 of Matthew 24: “For as the lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” We won’t have to go looking for him among the counterfeit.  He will come swiftly and suddenly – like lightning – to be seen and known by all!

 

 

The promise of spring is sure – we have come to rely on the signs, and we look forward to its coming, especially after a hard winter.  Just so, we have heard Jesus’ words about his return. We see the signs, his promise is sure.  He has told us that heaven and earth as we know it, will pass away, but “[his] words will never pass away.” We look forward to his coming, especially so after all the hardships of this life.

 

Dear, Jesus, thank you for the sure promise we have as your children that you will be returning soon.  Thank you, too, that we can rely on your words – they will remain faithful and true.  Come Lord Jesus, Come quickly!  Amen.

Mark 13:26-37

Keep Watch - Always

As chaos builds around me, I stay the course.

When untruths are spoken about me and my loved ones, I do not retaliate.

The corrupt attempt to pull me in, but I turn to the Lord.

The world claims to have all I need, I am tempted, but hear my God’s whisper.

As Jesus advised us in Mark 13 about being watchful for the end times, he referenced a fig tree; “As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.” In the same way certain things will occur as judgment day draws near.

Jesus uses the fig tree as an illustration of watching for signs of the end times, but it could not sprout if it took in water and nutrients from the soil on that day only.

Will we be healthy and sprouting when that day and hour comes? In order to be strong in the Lord we must be well nourished with the Holy Word on a regular basis. Going days without that fuel will affect our spiritual health, just as going without food and water impact our physical and emotional well-being.

Turning the other cheek, not being judgmental, being kind to those who don’t deserve it, and loving our enemies are true challenges. We are called to do these things, but we cannot go it alone. If we are to be one of his elect on the day of reckoning, our responsibility is to live each new day in humility seeking ways to make life more pleasing to God.

Do you know someone who does this? Take notice. It is not that it comes easy for them, but that they work at it daily, and strive to remain in the Lord…..always.

God graciously offers to take our burdens, thus lightening our load. I suggest you take him up on that!

 Read/Listen to Mark 13:26-3           You Tube video For King and                                                                         Country  "Shoulders"

John 18:15-27

My daughter and I were talking about the day when Jesus comes back and of the time that leads up to that glorious day.  We both were saying how frightening it might be to have to endure the hardships the Bible talks about, the pain of hunger or the anguish of a plague.  I have always feared the possibility that I would not have courage to stand up for Jesus if physical pain threatened me or someone I love.  I have always wondered if I would cave like Peter.

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

   He replied, “I am not. (John 18:17)

The fact is there is opportunity every day to experience and proclaim Jesus as my Lord and the one I follow through thick and thin, just as there is occasion to deny that He means anything to me.  When I ignore my conscience and toss my principles to the wind, I am rejecting Jesus just as Peter did.  When I allow my 'wants' to overrule my needs and pursue worldly passions, I reject Jesus and His love.

On the same note, when I forgive a friend for hurting me I am acknowledging Jesus' forgive me too.  When I give of myself to people who need what I have, I am showing the world that Jesus is more important.

Read the John 18:15-27 text here.  Listen to a reading of the John 18:15-27 text here.

Matthew 24:1-28

My daughter Katie who co-authors this Bible Blast with me, was reviewing the next assignment. I asked if I had an easy one coming up as I wasn’t sure how motivated I would be to write on something difficult. She said, “Signs of the End, is the title, have fun with that one.” I couldn’t help but smile as God has been using these devotionals to guide me to the place I am today and to keep my heart close to His as I sit at my husband’s bedside.

Reading about false prophets and discerning what they might look like today I can’t help but think about some Hollywood stars, a few professional athletes and even some elected politicians, and wonder, “Do they fit the description?” We see everything they have and we want some of it. We condone their actions, approve of their words, and admire their appearance and covet their lifestyle. Are these some examples of the false prophets Jesus warned of? Then I look in the mirror and ask the same question.

The Matthew 24:4-14 commentaries describes the end of the age and sums it up with, “Severe trials will sift true Christian believers from phony believers." Waiting at my husband’s side for death to come seems like a severe trial to me. Watching him suffer adds to the trial. But reading the text for today brightens the room, lightens the mood.

Now I consider I am sitting at my husband’s LIFE-bed, not deathbed. Jesus is waiting to usher him into eternal life. “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:12-13)

Read this text at Biblegateway by clicking here.