Read Luke 21:5-19

Friday

Read Luke 21:5-19

(Matt 24:1, 2; Mark 13:1, 2)

5 Some of the disciples were talking about the Temple, how beautiful it looked with its fine stones and the gifts offered to God. Jesus said, ⁶“All this you see—the time will come when not a single stone here will be left in its place; every one will be thrown down.”

(Matt 24:3–14; Mark 13:3–13)

7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will this be? And what will happen in order to show that the time has come for it to take place?”

8 Jesus said, “Be on guard; don’t be deceived. Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t follow them. ⁹Don’t be afraid when you hear of wars and revolutions; such things must happen first, but they do not mean that the end is near.”

10 He went on to say, “Countries will fight each other; kingdoms will attack one another. ¹¹There will be terrible earthquakes, famines, and plagues everywhere; there will be strange and terrifying things coming from the sky. ¹²Before all these things take place, however, you will be arrested and persecuted; you will be handed over to be tried in synagogues and be put in prison; you will be brought before kings and rulers for my sake. ¹³This will be your chance to tell the Good News. ¹⁴Make up your minds beforehand not to worry about how you will defend yourselves, ¹⁵because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say. ¹⁶You will be handed over by your parents, your brothers, your relatives, and your friends; and some of you will be put to death. ¹⁷Everyone will hate you because of me. ¹⁸But not a single hair from your heads will be lost. ¹⁹Stand firm, and you will save yourselves.

Think

The disciples are impressed by the wealth and beauty of the temple.  As Jesus talks about the future for Christians he points to something that will be the opposite of comfort and glory.  Persecution and struggle.

Pray

Pray for Christians who are persecuted for their faith.