12.04.25 Luke 21:29-38

Prepare

Lord Jesus, as we read your journey to the cross, may your Holy Spirit lead us into all truth and keep us curious.

Help us examine your example and in doing so, be moved to worship.

Amen

Read

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 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.”

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

Reflect

Time magazine made a list of who the most significant historical figures in human history. The list included artists like Elvis Presley and Beethoven, leaders like Napoleon and Starlin and writers like Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. I’m sure there’s many of us that aspire to appear on a similar list ourselves.

Still, it doesn’t come without cost. The name at the top of the list is often subject to ridicule and mockery, being teased in TV, song and film. I doubt anyone else on the list has been undermined in the same way. I think there are many around the world that would prefer him to be forgotten but that is impossible, because his Words will never pass away!

Jesus, the man at the top of the list of most significant people to have ever lived, He has proved to be impossible to cancel, hide, dismiss or forget. Many will try but they will never succeed. He is no ordinary man and neither are His words.

Be

Jesus , we thank you that you are true to your word

Thank you Father, no word comes back to you void or empty

Holy spirit, we pray that Jesus words would ring loudly and prominently in our hearts and minds

Become

Jesus tells us to make our home in his word. Our passage gives us an idea of the consequences of making our home in other places or in someone else’s words. Jesus says “be careful or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life”

If you had to give Jesus words a price tag, what price would you give them? Is the price you’d say today higher or lower than 5 years ago? It seems that whenever this value falls, we become vulnerable to heavy hearts that are preoccupied and distracted.

Let’s spend a moment praying against those things and ask the spirit for a renewed sense of how significant Jesus words are.

Do

With Jesus words ringing in our hearts, we are going to be much better equipped for recognising the signs of the times and discerning the nearness of God’s Kingdom

"Lord, help me see where Your kingdom is near, even in the chaos…"

Practice

Our passage says “all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple”. Living in Jesus words is not for some, but for all. It’s not just for church staff, it’s for everyone.

If the people of Jesus day were willing to get up early, travel across town to hear him speak at the temple, how willing our we to make effort towards living in Jesus words? Perhaps you could choose a new verse to commit to memory, or write a verse reminder and stick it somewhere.

Anything that takes his words off the page and into our hearts can only be a good thing.