Word@Work Luke317 - Luke 21:34-36
Published: Mon, 03/21/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
WATCH OUT FOR THE TRAP
Luke 21:34-36 "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (NIV)
This wicked world will not continue for ever because Jesus is coming back. Eternity is closer than you think! Jesus told His disciples not to be weighed down with the problems of this world, or to try to escape the painful circumstances of a sin-sick society with alcohol or other addictions. Salvation is not found in any of them but only in the Lord Jesus; so we need to be clear minded and alert to welcome Him when He comes.
Watching and praying are two essential disciplines which will help us not to be dragged down by the evils around us and not to miss the hope of Christ's glory which is ahead of us. But this is not just some psychological therapy to keep Christians happy in a messy world. It is all about being ready and prepared to stand before Jesus, knowing that we will have to tell Him everything that we have thought, said and done.
Carefulness is different from anxiety. Worry will shrink our vision, placing ourselves in the middle of disaster and despair; but being careful to live for Christ enlarges our vision, and places Him at the centre of eternity. When that happens, He becomes our reference point for everything, our hope for the future, our redemption from the past, our joy and peace in the present. Without making that deliberate choice, our minds and hearts will be swept along with the rest of Christless humanity - either boasting of our success today, in misery because of our failure yesterday, or addicted to diversions which we think will lift our minds away from a hopeless tomorrow. All these are traps. We do not have to fall into them. So, we should not be afraid to observe what is going on today or to look forward with hope as we pray. Our prayer is not just to help us today, but so that we may be clear minded and courageous until Jesus comes or Jesus calls.
Prayer: Almighty God, my heavenly Father. Thank You for this reminder not to get bogged down in the problems of each day so that I fail to see life with an eternal perspective. Please forgive me when I have lived as though this world is the only life, escaping its problems by diversions or addictions, successes and ambitions ... only to find myself empty because I do not fully rely on You. Please help me to watch out, observing the world through Your eyes. May I learn to pray for courage and strength to keep my eyes above the earthly horizon and focus my thoughts on Jesus who is coming back for me. May this hope give me strength and confidence to encounter the worst the world can throw at me, because I am expecting the best that Heaven will give. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
This wicked world will not continue for ever because Jesus is coming back. Eternity is closer than you think! Jesus told His disciples not to be weighed down with the problems of this world, or to try to escape the painful circumstances of a sin-sick society with alcohol or other addictions. Salvation is not found in any of them but only in the Lord Jesus; so we need to be clear minded and alert to welcome Him when He comes.
Watching and praying are two essential disciplines which will help us not to be dragged down by the evils around us and not to miss the hope of Christ's glory which is ahead of us. But this is not just some psychological therapy to keep Christians happy in a messy world. It is all about being ready and prepared to stand before Jesus, knowing that we will have to tell Him everything that we have thought, said and done.
Carefulness is different from anxiety. Worry will shrink our vision, placing ourselves in the middle of disaster and despair; but being careful to live for Christ enlarges our vision, and places Him at the centre of eternity. When that happens, He becomes our reference point for everything, our hope for the future, our redemption from the past, our joy and peace in the present. Without making that deliberate choice, our minds and hearts will be swept along with the rest of Christless humanity - either boasting of our success today, in misery because of our failure yesterday, or addicted to diversions which we think will lift our minds away from a hopeless tomorrow. All these are traps. We do not have to fall into them. So, we should not be afraid to observe what is going on today or to look forward with hope as we pray. Our prayer is not just to help us today, but so that we may be clear minded and courageous until Jesus comes or Jesus calls.
Prayer: Almighty God, my heavenly Father. Thank You for this reminder not to get bogged down in the problems of each day so that I fail to see life with an eternal perspective. Please forgive me when I have lived as though this world is the only life, escaping its problems by diversions or addictions, successes and ambitions ... only to find myself empty because I do not fully rely on You. Please help me to watch out, observing the world through Your eyes. May I learn to pray for courage and strength to keep my eyes above the earthly horizon and focus my thoughts on Jesus who is coming back for me. May this hope give me strength and confidence to encounter the worst the world can throw at me, because I am expecting the best that Heaven will give. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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