Luke 21:5-9 Don’t Be Terrified of Wars
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: November 15, 2018 Luke 21:5-9
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.
And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
(Understanding the Text) I always thought that this conversation took place when they were outside of the temple looking at it from a distance, but Luke makes it sound as if they were still sitting in the temple resting and talking. The conversation could have taken place more than once as these types of conversations do, or they may have already left the temple at this point.
The disciples were trying to be positive and pointing out the beauty that they saw. Jesus had cleaned out the temple and taught there, so maybe they were trying to show Him that now that it was cleared, it was a worthy house of God. Either way, Jesus rained on their parade when He didn’t go along with their positivity. He told them that the temple would fall and be totally destroyed.
The disciples could only imagine this happening at the end of time. They asked when it would happen and for signs to look for to know that it would happen soon. Jesus’ response was that many would come claiming to be from Him or to be the Messiah and that the end of the world was near. Jesus said not to follow after everyone who claimed these things. He also told them not to fear because of wars and hearing about wars. They will happen, but they are not the end.
(Revelation of God) God wanted to work through Israel, but they would not allow it. Thus, He rescued those that could be saved and took them out to start a new people. The ones who were left would no longer have His special protection. He would no longer dwell among them in a temple, so the temple would be destroyed. There was no purpose for it anymore. However, we are told in another passage that Jesus wept over the loss of so many people. He had to let them go, and that broke His heart.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that people are still crying out “the end is near” and “follow this way to be saved,” but they are not following the Bible. They are using the scriptures as a front, but it is not being studied and spoken of as it is. Instead, they try to twist its words to incite fear and anger. I need to remain true to the real message of the Bible. To do this I need to know its messages. I don’t want to ever give a false message. Keep me from ever messing others up. Reveal to me my misunderstandings of Your word, and help me to understand Your truths.