PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 13:1-8
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Every one (of these massive stones) will be thrown down.”” (Mark 13:2)
Jesus does not seem to be impressed by the magnificence of the temple.
He sees that which seems massive and magnificent as unstable and doomed.
Not only buildings, but nations and kingdoms and the earth itself.
Apparently “such things must happen”, so “do not be alarmed” (Mark 13:7).
What do we see as massive and magnificent today?
The temple was destroyed by Rome, and eventually Rome collapsed as well.
Right now we seem to be in a season of increasing instability and polarization.
Our magnificent technological, political, economic, etc. advances are colliding.
Our confidence should not – cannot – be in the magnificence of human achievement.
For human folly is more massive than that, and it will bring itself down.
As a Jesus follower, my confidence is in the Jesus Way of humility and grace.
It seems weak and pathetic before the massive magnificence of human empire.
My calling is not to be ‘massive’ or ‘magnificent’, but to humbly follow Jesus.
Especially now, when we see signs of collapse all around us – we need to kneel with Jesus.
PRAYER
Lord, as our world increasingly experiences division and collapse, help me to keep walking and kneeling with you, for this is how we make our world great again!
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.” Again and again we see it and more vividly so with media. The birth pangs are real! Help me Lord to be faithful in helping support efforts to stop the fighting and help the victims. Help us not to grow ‘cool’ to all that we see. It hurts and grieves us to see all the people who lost their loved ones – devastation of warfare – human lives snuffed out! Lord help me to realize that building any kind of utopia here on earth is folly! Yours Kingdom – let me seek your Kingdom Lord!
Wars and rumours of wars.
Famines, earthquakes, droughts, floods . . . are all part of the signs of the times. These things must happen. And where do we put our trust? Do I see God speaking in all these events? The end is coming. All this needs to bring the people closer to God – return to Him! He is in charge and man needs to see that – man is not the king of the ‘castle.’ God is! Only He can bring the peace that is needed. Find refuge/shelter in Him. Our kingdoms fall but His will last forevermore.
1 God is our refuge and our strength,
in straits a present aid;
therefore, although the earth remove,
we will not be afraid:
2 Though hills amidst the seas be cast;
though waters roaring make,
and troubled be; yea, though the hills
by swelling seas do shake.
3 A river is, whose streams make glad
the city of our God;
the holy place, wherein the Lord
most high hath his abode.
4 God in the midst of her doth dwell;
nothing shall her remove:
The Lord to her an helper will,
and that right early, prove.