Mark 13:1-8 (NRSV)
Read Mark 13:1-8 on biblegateway.com
Verse 3When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
Verse 4"Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?"
Verse 5Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.
Verse 6Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray.
Verse 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.
Verse 8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.
Devotion
Does a day ever go by when we don’t hear about wars or rumors of wars? It’s enough to make us lose hope in humanity, want to close ourselves off and forget about the dangerous and violent world outside. It can make us want to give up and leave aside our call to this world.
Jesus’ words, while chilling and disheartening, are a reminder to us that the end is a long way off. If we think things are bad now, guess what? They’ll get worse later. We can hear this as bad news – or we can actually hear it as good news! There is still time, after all. The neighbor can still be served. The word can still be preached. Your gifts can still be shared. While things might be tough in the outside world, that only means that what you have to offer is needed all the more. It’s not the end of the world yet. It’s the beginning of your opportunity to make a difference in the lives of hurting, needy people throughout the world.
Prayer
Loving Father, when all seems lost, help us turn to you. Give us the courage to step into the hurting world and make a difference in your holy name. Amen.