February 28, 2024 -- Luke 21:25-28 -- Taking fresh courage in the face of today's evil

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:25-28 ESV

Jesus has spent a significant amount of time warning His disciples of the coming persecutions, wars and natural disasters that will take place just before the return of the Son of Man. Our world is convulsing in the ways in which Jesus predicted. And in ways that seem unexpected, but are definitely part of His prophetic words. A recent article noted that students in public schools are assaulting their teachers at rates never seen before. Teachers are hurt, kicked, hit but there are virtually no consequences for the students.  Another example, the Canadian government is preparing a bill to regulate the use of the internet against sexually explicit material—great. Problem. This same government is promoting gender dysphoria, celebrating drag, and teaching all kinds of sexually confusing messages in the public schools. This is the government that is going to regulate what is wrong and what is right? It continues to usurp the role of parents in its bid to make the state the main influencer in children's upbringing.

Rather and grab one’s gut and bend over double as if hit by a gut-punch, Christian, straighten yourself, and raise your heads. Why?

~Jesus Christ is in charge. He will return when all the evil has been gathered and He will destroy it. Jesus’ victory is assured. He has already overcome the world (John 16:33).

~Stand up tall and see, as in the past, so it will happen today, evil will tear evil down. In the Bible times you see this repeated so often. In history it is repeated so often. Think of World War II, when Hitler’s own generals plotted to kill him. Evil is a restless poison that pollutes the unwary and continually infects and kills the conjurers of it.

~The Spirit of God will place you in circumstances, some exactly suited to your gifts, others extremely difficult but also suited to your calling in Christ—all such things happen not by accident but by God’s design so that wherever you are you can testify to the salvation of God. It was reported that when the theologian-pastor D. Bonhoeffer was taken from prison to a concentration camp, while in the back of a truck he witnessed to his fellow prisoners. Later just before he was executed, the man who’d pastored many in the death camp, preached before he died, and prayed with such fervor that even decades later witnesses remembered it and wrote of it.

~The times we live in should drive us to our knees in prayer. Appeal to God for the Spirit’s power to help you. Ask that Jesus’ saving work will touch family and friends, and the nations, that those appointed for life in Christ will be drawn into the kingdom. Pray for fresh courage.

Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to Your steadfast love! Let them know that this is Your hand; You, O LORD, have done it! Let them curse, but You will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but Your servant will be glad! May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak! With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy one., to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

Be not silent, O God of my praise! Psalm 109:26-31, 1ESV)

https://youtu.be/pCoWaxaU0sQ?si=UvlqhXLt9DYqOis4

“Draw Me Close to You” Michael W. Smith

Copyright © 2024 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.