| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Be the church” Our Bible verse for today: “You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these events are the beginning of labor pains.” Matthew 24:6-7 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Act but don’t overreact” We live in unsettled times. We have just come through a worldwide pandemic; there is widespread political instability and social unrest in our nation; the economy is in the tank; and there is a rapid ideological drift to the left that’s taking us further and further away from Biblical principles. Our national dialogue is characterized by anger and bitterness, and the national mood is filled with fear, uncertainty, and pessimism. Into this setting the church must rise-up and be the church. We need strong and resilient Christians who can be involved in the problem without being part of the problem. Matthew chapters twenty-four and twenty-five together constitute one long discourse in which Jesus tells the future. New Testament scholars have long debated the precise meanings and timings of many of the specific details contained in the discourse, but it is clear that Jesus was alerting His followers about trials and hardships they would face in future times. Some of it pertained to the coming destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (which did happen in A.D. 70). Some of it clearly refers to the times immediately before Jesus’ second coming. But much of it also seems to pertain to trials and tribulations the followers of Christ will have to be prepared to face over the hundreds and thousands of intervening years from the time Jesus said these things until His return. The point for us today is found in verse six when He said, “See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet.” What He was saying there is the same thing we read in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus was telling us that we should not be surprised by or excessively alarmed about the unpleasant and difficult things that unfold in the world around us. As His followers we should remain calm and cool, reasoned and reasonable. That doesn’t mean that we can or should dismiss the importance of wars and famines, plagues and politics (or the plague of politics?). But we shouldn’t become overwrought about them either. We must recognize the situations for what they are, keep our heads about it, and then do what we can to be a positive force for good in the middle of it all. Mature Christians who have confidence in Christ can be on-mission with Him in this messy world of ours without giving in to despair, fear, or anger. We act, but we don’t overreact. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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