Corona Devo 346

Buckle up, Y'all!  We are in for a rough ride!  

But if we keep our eyes on the destination (Heaven!--But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ~Mark 13:13), and know the purpose of our journey (But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.  For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. ~Mark 13:9-10) then we can enter into any difficult times with motivation and intentionality.

But the road is going to bumpy, and it is more-than-likely that we are going to take a few hits as followers of Christ.  While God's Word holds truth for every generation, I feel a fresh connection to the warnings of persecution that Mark 13 references: 

(5) Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, (6) for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. (7) And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. (8) Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

(9) “When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. (10) For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. (11) But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

(12) “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. (13) And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  ~Mark 13:5-13

It all sounds a bit crazy, doesn't it?  And perhaps you feel that these puzzle pieces are not fitting into place quite yet (or perhaps you feel that they are)...but how can we identify what is/what-will-happen if we have not been informed?  God's Word informs us.  

And God also advises us on the part we will play.  His first advice?  "Don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately" (Mark 13:7).

And while the Lord "warns" us of what is coming (You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. ~Mark 13:9), it could be more accurately described as "calling us into duty".   The days and times are approaching and are here that hold our opportunity to tell them about (God). (Mark 13:9)  

This--in a nutshell--is why we are here.  To tell others about the saving grace of God.  We are in relationship with Christ because someone told us.

During a recent prayer meeting, a grieving friend asked the circle, "Why are we here?"  The women around her reminded in unison: "To glorify God, and to bring others to Him."  For the Good News must first be preached to all nations (Mark 13:10).

Even in the midst of our pain/sorrow/dishevelment/anxiety/fear of today (or our persecution of tomorrow)--we have a calling and an opportunity: But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. (10) For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. (Mark 13:9-10).

And so, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let us prepare our hearts and minds not only for hard times that may come, but for the opportunity and calling that those times provide for us. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me (Mark 13:9).   

The relieving news is: we don't need to memorize every verse of the Bible.  We just need to know Jesus.  He will give us the words to say when we need to say them.  Don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit (Mark 13:11).  Phew.  It is still a steep order, but God is with us and will be with us.  

I am reluctant to "welcome" this stage for Believers into our society and our lives. (And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.  ~Mark 13:13).  In truth, I pray it is not yet time.  But if our eyes are open, the signs are presenting themselves. 

 And thus the door of opportunity is always open for us to tell them about (God).  (Mark 13:9) 

To what end?  Where does a life lived (or giving our best attempt!) in the march-of-faith and perseverance in Christ take us?  Where else but Glory!  But the one who endures to the end will be saved (Mark 13:13).

But if we keep our eyes on the destination (Heaven!: But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ~Mark 13:13), and know the purpose of our journey (But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.  For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. ~Mark 13:9-10) then we can enter into any difficult times with motivation and intentionality.

Buckle up, Y'all!  We are in for a rough ride, But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ~Mark 13:13.  

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/

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