Luke 21:5-19 (NRSV)
Read Luke 21:5-19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, Verse 6"As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." Verse 7They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" Verse 8And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. Verse 9"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Verse 10Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; Verse 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. Verse 12"But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. Verse 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. Verse 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; Verse 15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. Verse 16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. Verse 17You will be hated by all because of my name. Verse 18But not a hair of your head will perish. Verse 19By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Devotion
Like Jesus' disciples we want to know about the end—"the day" that is coming, so we know how we end up. So we trust our common knowledge, or reading the future, or the record of our good works as the best ways to deal with "the day." How will we end up at our own death, which is "the day" for us? Have we been right and good enough? Have we done enough? The problem with all these ways of dealing with "the day" is that they have no Jesus in them. as if we do not trust his death on the cross is "the day" for us. He has preempted all judgment by his death and promised us life by his resurrection. Jesus' resurrection is "our day." Our future now rests in Jesus, and thus our future is of mercy, forgiveness, love from God, and eternal life. When we are given Jesus' mercy and love that promised future becomes for each of us our "today."
Prayer
Our Father, no one knows when the last day will be, the day when all the stones of our accomplishments will be thrown down. Give us faith in Jesus to see his death as our new life in his mercy and love. Help us to give and to speak of your mercy when we have an opportunity to testify of your mercy to those who are burdened by the wars in their lives. Amen.