KILLED…BUT NOT HARMED
Opening Prayer
Thank you, Lord God, for your guidance and protection, even when I don’t sense your presence.
Read LUKE 21:5–24
Jesus Tells of the House of God
5 Some people were talking about the house of God. They were saying that the stones were beautiful and that many gifts had been given. Jesus said, 6 “As for these things you see, all these stones will be thrown down. Not one will be left on another.” 7 They asked Jesus, “Teacher, when will this take place? What are we to look for to show us these things are about to happen?” 8 He said, “Be careful that no one leads you the wrong way. For many people will come in My name. They will say, ‘I am the Christ.’ The time is near. Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and fighting in different places, do not be afraid. These things have to happen first, but the end is not yet.”
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Nations will have wars with other nations. Countries will fight against countries. 11 The earth will shake and break apart in different places. There will be no food. There will be bad diseases among many people. Very special things will be seen in the sky that will make people much afraid.
12 “But before all this happens, men will take hold of you and make it very hard for you. They will give you over to the places of worship and to the prisons. They will bring you in front of kings and the leaders of the people. This will all be done to you because of Me. 13 This will be a time for you to tell about Me. 14 Do not think about what you will say ahead of time. 15 For I will give you wisdom in what to say and I will help you say it. Those who are against you will not be able to stop you or say you are wrong.
16 “You will be handed over by your parents and your brothers and your family and your friends. They will kill some of you. 17 All men will hate you because of Me. 18 Yet not one hair of your head will be lost. 19 But stay true and your souls will have life.
Days of Trouble and Pain and Sorrow
20 “When you see armies all around Jerusalem, know that it will soon be destroyed. 21 Those in the country of Judea must run to the mountains. Those in the city must leave at once. Those in the country must not go into the city. 22 People will be punished in these hard days. All things will happen as it is written.
23 “It will be hard for women who will soon be mothers. It will be hard for those feeding babies in those days. It will be very hard for the people in the land and anger will be brought down on them. 24 People will be killed by the sword. They will be held in prison by all nations. Jerusalem will be walked over by the people who are not Jews until their time is finished.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
As you come to today’s reading, give God the things that are on your mind. Commit them to his safe keeping so you can focus on his Word.A couple of days ago we thought about what it means to live in the light of our future resurrection. This passage gives one ‘worked example.’
Look at verses 16–18. Jesus predicted what many of his followers, both soon after his ascension and up to the present day, would face: rejection, betrayal, hatred, and persecution. Some would be killed for their faith, but even to those, Jesus promised, ‘But not a hair of your head will perish’ (v. 18). We may lose our lives on this earth, but this earth isn’t all there is. No matter what our sufferings here, we will be kept for God’s kingdom in heaven.
And Jesus taught us how to approach such persecutions: ‘Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves’ (v. 14). This isn’t just saying ‘don’t worry about tomorrow’s problems today,’ but ‘decide today that you’re not going to worry about your problems tomorrow’! How amazing! We can stop future anxiety now by deciding to trust God to keep his promises.
Apply
There is much to worry about in the world. This passage reminds us that God knows about it all and we can trust him even when things seem to go wrong.
Closing prayer
Loving Savior, help me to remember that you are with me in painful relationships, in hard circumstances, and even in my inward struggles only you know about. Thank you that I can cast all of my cares on you. (1 Peter 5:7).
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