Day 19 - (Today’s Bible readings: Genesis 15, Psalm 18:1-30, Matthew 10:5-25)
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:17-22 ESV)
Jesus is warning us of what is to come. It does not sound very pleasant at all. Believers will...
● stand trial and endure torture,
● be dragged before authorities because of their faith in Jesus,
● face the heartbreak of family members turning against them,
● and be recipients of hatred for the sake of the Gospel.
Yet, Jesus does offer words of comfort in the midst of these impending trials:
● Don’t worry about how you will respond, the Holy Spirit
will provide the right words at the right time for His right purpose.
● This horrific time will not last forever.
● God promises that You will not be alone:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
You can take enduring comfort in Jesus’ most important message spoken to penitent sinners:
“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
● Don’t EVER give up on Jesus - NO MATTER WHAT!
● Don’t let the rough times weaken your faith in Jesus - NO MATTER WHAT!
● Do trust Jesus to lead you through the impending trials - NO MATTER WHAT!
● Do encourage other believers to endure the end - NO MATTER WHAT!
● Do look forward to all that God has waiting for you - NO MATTER WHAT!
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
Lord Jesus, thank You for letting me know of what is coming. Mercifully keep me faithful to You NO MATTER what comes my way. Use me to share Your comforting message of forgiveness and heaven with others so that they too may endure to the end and be saved. Amen.
Pastor David Paape
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings form the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless you meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!
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