Hated Because of Him

September 12

(Luke 21:12-19 NIV) ““But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. {13} This will result in your being witnesses to them. {14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. {15} For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. {16} You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. {17} All men will hate you because of me. {18} But not a hair of your head will perish. {19} By standing firm you will gain life.””

(Hebrews 11:32-40 NIV) “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, {33} who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, {34} quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. {35} Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. {36} Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. {37} They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- {38} the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. {39} These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. {40} God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

Some Christians think of God as the great security man in the sky -- trust Him and you can slay a thousand enemies or walk through fire. Although this has been true in the lives of some believers, history also records that saints bleed and die on a regular basis. And as the end draws closer, the fires of persecution will burn hotter. Anyone willing to stand for anything associated with the glory and holiness of God will pay dearly. Even parents and siblings will turn against those who choose to persevere in the faith. We will be hated for just bearing His name. But Jesus counseled us not to worry. We will not perish like those without Christ. Glorify His name as you stand before your enemies. Divine power does not come from the muzzle of a gun. The Lord will give us words and grace to face whatever comes. Pray that we can be His witnesses. Stand firm and gain eternal life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Birth Pains

September 11

(Luke 21:6-11 NIV) ““As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." {7} "Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?" {8} He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. {9} When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." {10} Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. {11} There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.””

(Matthew 24:3-8 NIV) ““As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" {4} Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. {5} For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, ' and will deceive many. {6} You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. {7} Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. {8} All these are the beginning of birth pains.””

The signs of Christ’s return are present in every age, but there will be an intensification of these signs in the days before He comes again. When we look at end time’s prophecy we must realize that there is mystery involved. Anyone saying they have it all figured out should be viewed with suspicion. We will never have all the answers on this side of eternity. The run-up to the end of the age will be marked by false messiahs, claiming divine knowledge and demanding divine respect. They will be phonies. Wars and revolutions will abound. Violence will increase. Earthquakes will shake the foundations of the Earth. Famine will cause millions of deaths. Pestilence and disease will overpower the healthcare systems. Things will happen in the heavens that bring great fear and anxiety. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus calls these events, “the beginning of birth pains”. Get ready. Something big is coming. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Not One Stone

September 10

(Luke 21:5-6 NIV) ““Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, {6} "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.””

(Luke 19:41-44 NIV) ““As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it {42} and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. {43} The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. {44} They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.””

(Acts 7:48-49 NIV) ““However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: {49} "'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be?””

Man builds magnificent buildings. He adorns them beautifully and endows them with the latest technology. They can be tall, reaching toward the sky. They can be massive and have huge seating capacities. We often become impressed with our cathedrals and temples and they become the objects of our worship. We begin to value the created more than the Creator. The  Temple in Jerusalem was such a building. The disciples were impressed by its size and its beautiful stone work. But the Creator of the heavens and the Earth remained unimpressed. Christ prophesied that not one stone would remain upon another -- it would eventually all come down. Then the Lord would live where He has always wanted to live -- in the hearts of those who worship Him and follow Him as Lord. Does the Lord God Almighty live in you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Three Truths About Giving

September 9

(Luke 21:1-4 NIV) ““As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. {2} He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. {3} "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. {4} All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.””

(1 Kings 17:7-16 NIV)  "Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. {8} Then the word of the Lord came to him: {9} "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." {10} So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" {11} As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread." {12} "As surely as the Lord your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son,  that we may eat it--and die." {13} Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. {14} For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.'"  {15} She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. {16} For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah."

Love always costs us something. It always involves self-denial and sacrifice. You cannot love without giving. With the widow’s gift at the Temple, Jesus teaches three things. First, God knows what we give. Just as Jesus took note of the widow’s giving and the giving of others, God observes our giving. Second, God cares about what we give. Jesus said the widow’s gift had significance beyond the amount she contributed. She had given “more than all the others”. Third, God cares more about attitude than amount. The widow wasn’t a big giver in terms of amount. She contributed only two small copper coins -- others put in much more. But in faith, she gave “all that she had”. While others dutifully tithed their ten percent, this woman gave one hundred percent. With God, the amount you give is not as important as the amount you have left over. The more we love, the more we give. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day