PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 21:20-28
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
Do these verses describe the end times, or the destruction of Jerusalem?
The answer is both, they speak to all times of crisis before Jesus’ return.
Every time terror and misery reign, “stand up and lift up your heads!”
In times when thing are most bleak, our redemption is drawing near.
Whether the crisis ends, or we die, or Jesus returns, we are rescued!
Believers through the centuries have met Jesus through their suffering and death.
We will too, whether Jesus ends our trial, returns or takes us home to himself.
It takes great faith to stand up and lift up one’s head in the midst of suffering.
Yet this is what believers through the centuries have done.
I think of martyrs like Stephen seeing Jesus exalted while they died.
“I see the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56)
This makes me think how I grumble and doubt when I face my first world problems.
Jesus is urging me, whether my struggles are big or small, to keep looking up.
To know that no matter what happens, my Helper is drawing near!
PRAYER
Lord, believers have stayed hopeful when facing torture and death. Help me to stay hopeful when I face my first world problems!
Sometimes when I stressed out by what I read and see on the news – particularly now with what is happening in Afghanistan and Haiti – the persecution of believers and the situation in Syria and other countries, Palestine/Israel – I think Jesus come quickly. Yet here I still am – in relative safety and comfort. Lord, help me not to lose sight of those suffering – the time for your return will come – help me to be busy to help others whenever and wherever I can. Help me to be at peace – because I am at peace because of Jesus!
Lord help me remember to look up to you in times of trouble and moments of truth. Thank you for being my redemption, and thank you for being our hope!
Open my eyes Lord that I may see You in times like these.
Jerusalem was destroyed. God’s world here is going through turbulent times. Wars. Famines. Earthquakes. Drought. Floods. Pandemics.
But He has promised to be with us. He will give us safety with all the destruction and threats. I need to continue my walk with Him. I need the upward look for He is my Lord. One day I will be with Him in glory but in the meantime I need to serve Him faithfully.
Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.