Parents:)
I'm sure some days that title is more exciting that others. Today, know that your role as a parent before God is indispensable, valuable and influential. You are loved.
This week at the Well we will be looking at Jesus's words in the 12th chapter of Luke.
He also said to the crowds: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does. And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be a scorcher!’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this time? Luke 12:54-56 (HCSB)
As we have been discussing authenticity in our walk with Jesus, this passage is of great encouragement and correction. Primarily the Pharisees but many also began asking Jesus for signs to prove who He was. They wanted more and more proof to "believe" that Jesus was who He claimed to be- the Son of God, the promised and long-anticipated Messiah. As we know Jesus has been performing many miracles in their midst and yet they still don't believe.
What sticks out to me is this picture of the people looking to the sky and interpreting what was going on or what would soon take place. Based off the geography of the land and their experience, they could say confidently when a storm was blowing in and what type of weather it would bring. Jesus says "you see... you say... and it does/is..." and then immediately declares them to be "hypocrites!"
How does this apply to us and the students tonight? I think we are a very interpretive people. We are always determining what is coming next, what we will do and what others are doing. We interpret consequences of action and inaction. We have gotten pretty darn good at looking at a situation in our life or close to us and declaring what is to come. We do this with sports, academics, success, politics, etc.
My fear is that sometimes we get so caught up and we miss what is happening spiritually. We miss things that are right in front of our face. They are obvious and for whatever the reason- we miss it completely- but oh will we be sure not to miss whats happening in the cowboys game. It aches my heart to know that one day many will have to face the reality that although they thought they could interpret well, they missed it.
My encouragement to the students tonight is to fix their eyes on Jesus. That they would know the times, especially that of the spiritual realm, and interpret them in light of the Word of God. That they would see the need to put God first in their live and that they would have a growing desire to see others come to faith in Jesus Christ, knowing the current time is urgent and very real.
I hope that you will be encouraged today that God is with you. That we have been given truth in His Word and that the very Spirit of God dwells within us. We will not be able to interpret the time in which Christ will come back but by the authority of Scripture, we sure can interpret the spiritual climate of our day and the ever pressing call to go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything God has commanded us.
And remember, HE is with us always, to the end of the age.
Remind your student of these things. Talk with them about Jesus words of eternal life that so many failed to see. Encourage them to see what God has already revealed to us and walk boldly and confidently in those things.
As we journey,
-R