Mark 13:9-13

Passage

Once more Jesus says to be on our guard.  The world will deliver Jesus’ disciples over to councils.  His followers will stand before kings and governments in order to bear witness to them.  First, the Gospel must be proclaimed to all nations.  But when the time comes for the followers of Jesus to go before trial, we are not to be afraid.  The Holy Spirit will speak in us and through us.  Brother will turn on brother, parent will turn on child, and child will turn on parent.  But the one who endures to the end shall be saved.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In these verses Jesus tells us what the signs of the end of the age will be.  Jesus’ disciples will be persecuted.  There will be rebellion against God and the persecution of His people.  When that happens on a global scale, we can know that the end is drawing near.  Natural disaster and war is just a part of life.  Persecution of God and God’s ways is humanity rising up against God.  That will inspire judgment.

How well do you think you would stand under persecution?  If you had to choose between death and denouncing God, are you truly in a place where you would choose death?

Second Thought:

Jesus tells us why persecution will happen.  It will happen so that the Gospel can be proclaimed.  When the faithful are persecuted for their faith, their story begins to be told in earnest.  Yet, I look the western world.  As Christianity is being persecuted more and more, are Christians stepping up to talk?  Or are we hiding and burying our faith deeper within ourselves and our increasingly hidden spiritual communities?

How well do you speak about how your faith impacts your life?  How much do you vocally speak out about your faith to others?  How well are you representing your faith before your leaders?

Third Thought:

Family will turn upon itself in the end.  I am on record for saying that “blood may be thicker than water, but spirituality is thicker than blood.”  In the end, spirituality will be the dividing line, not bloodline.  It is our true spiritual relationships that will pull us through the rough times, not necessarily those who are family.

To whom are you spiritually connected?  Through whom does God send His support in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 13: 14-23