Luke 12:54-59 A Storm is Coming!
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 16, 2018 Luke 12:54-59
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
(Understanding the Text) This all started after a dinner at a Pharisee’s house where they judged Jesus because He did not ceremonially wash His hands. Jesus criticized them for leading the people wrongly, and after that they were solidly against Him and began trying to trap Him. Then, Jesus was surrounded by a crowd of thousands so large that they were trampling each other. He warned them against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and then a man wanted Jesus to arbitrate his brother’s inheritance. Jesus refused and began telling the crowd and His disciples that they had their priorities all wrong. They needed to focus on God and not money or working for this world’s desires. Then, Jesus turned to the necessity of being ready for the kingdom of heaven and told his disciples not to relax into the world, but to be constantly prepared for His coming. He told them that they would be expected to take care of His other servants as if He were there and would be held accountable if they did not. Then, Jesus turned from the preparation needed for His second coming to the immediate future and warned them that He was about to rock their world in ways that would divide their whole society from top to bottom.
Now, Jesus ends by telling the crowd that all the signs are there for them to see that it is the time of the Messiah, yet they have been blind to them even though they are obvious. He is warning them that time is short and they need to take accountability for their own actions instead of expecting the leaders and magistrates dictate their beliefs and actions. If they know that they have done wrong, they need to make it right with the other person instead of being forced by an outside authority to behave in the morally correct manner.
Jesus could be saying these words to us today. All the signs are there that this world does not have much longer. From the signs in nature to the signs in mankind. Evil abounds. I see case after case on the news where humans are hurting and killing others almost as if they are demon-possessed. It is as if the restraints placed upon evil humans are being loosed, and when they are free to attack others, they do. It is as if the devil is trying to herd us in a certain direction through fear, and God is not stopping Him because it is time to finish this war. Men’s hearts are failing themselves for fear. In fact, I guess Jesus did say this for those of us in the last days. “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-28). Jesus is telling us to stop ignoring the signs and start taking accountability for ourselves. It is not up to our leaders to tell us what is right or what to believe. It is up to me to study and learn and listen and obey God. It is up to me to allow God to work in me so that I will reflect His glory (love and character) to the world.
(Application / Prayer) It is time. I may not live to be part of the very last actions in the war, but I am living in a time where I can support the ones who will live during that time with the knowledge, faith, and love that God gives me to share. Time is short, and they need to be prepared. How can they know what to do if there is no one to teach them? I am a teacher. I pray that You will give me the lessons and methods that will prepare them for what they will face. If I am to face it also, I pray that I will face the future and the present living in Your will in the power of Your Spirit in the knowledge of Your love serving my King and my Prince Jesus. (You know Your nature is confusing to me.)
NOTE: At the time I wrote this prayer, I was just one knowledgeable person among others, many of whom were much more experienced and knowledgeable than me. God has answered my prayer and set me into a position of constant teaching of the scriptures and the need to understand more deeply so that I can fill the needs of those I am teaching. God answered with a resounding “Yes!” I pray that I will be faithful in the charge that I have been given. Thank You for Your trust.