Tag: Christ’s return

Be Ready, Repent, Choose Jesus

Luke 12-13

Devotion by Jerry Wierwille (New York)

Luke 12–13 contains a series of teachings and parables from Jesus that invite us to reflect deeply on our priorities, our readiness for God’s kingdom, and the call to genuine repentance.

Living with Kingdom Readiness

Jesus’ words in Luke 12:35-40 call his followers to be dressed and ready for service and to “keep your lamps burning.” He uses the image of servants waiting for their master’s return, emphasizing the need for constant readiness. Through the analogy, Jesus emphasizes that life is not just about mundane daily routines, but first and foremost, it is about living in anticipation of God’s purposes and Christ’s return.

This urgency is underscored in Luke 12:54-56, where Jesus rebukes the crowds for being able to interpret the weather but failing to “interpret this [present] time.” Jesus’ ministry marked a pivotal moment in God’s plan, and people were called to recognize the significance of what God was doing through him. The call is to spiritual alertness—to see beyond the surface of daily events and discern God’s activity in our world, especially in and through Jesus the Messiah.

Reflect: Are you living with a sense of spiritual urgency? What might it look like for you to “keep your lamp burning” in your current season of life? How can you cultivate a heart that is attentive to God’s work happening around you?

Unless You Repent…

Luke 13 opens with a sobering reminder of the necessity of repentance: “Unless you repent, you will all perish as well” (Luke 13:3, 5). Jesus refers to recent disasters—the Galileans killed by Pilate and those who died when the tower in Siloam fell—not to explain the tragedies, but to call everyone to carefully examine their own lives.

Jesus’ call to repentance is not meant to instill fear, but to bring attention to the opportunity for repentance. God’s patience gives us time to turn to Him, as illustrated by the parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9). The owner seeks fruit, but the gardener pleads for more time to nurture the tree. In the same way, God graciously gives us opportunities to bear fruit in our lives, but there is a time when judgment will happen and the tree that does not bear fruit will be “cut down” (Luke 13:9).

Reflect: Where do you sense God inviting you to repentance and growth? Are there areas in your life that need to be surrendered or renewed? How can you respond to God’s patience and grace today?

Choosing Jesus

One of the more challenging statements of Jesus in this section is, “Do you think that I have come to bring peace on the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). Jesus explains that following him may even divide families, as people must decide whether to trust in him and align their lives with him, or not.

Division is not Jesus’ desire, and neither is conflict. But rather, it is a recognition that the truth of his message demands a response. The good news confronts every person with a choice: will I follow Jesus, even if it costs me personal relationships or people’s approval? The emphasis is not about the outcome of disagreement between people, but to remain a faithful believer and disciple, even when it is difficult and requires significant sacrifice.

Reflect: Are there relationships or situations where following Jesus has brought tension or misunderstanding? How can you remain faithful and loving, even when it is costly to you? What helps you choose Jesus above all else?

Encouragement

Throughout Luke 12-13, Jesus challenges us to live with spiritual urgency, to embrace repentance, and to follow him wholeheartedly—even when it leads to making hard choices.

Take time today to ask God to open your eyes to His work, to soften your heart toward repentance, and to give you courage to follow Jesus wherever he leads and to endure whatever it takes. As you do, may you experience the fruit that comes from a life marked by readiness, transformation, and hope in God’s kingdom.

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Stand Firm

Luke 21

Luke 21 19 NIV

I have had several opportunities to visit Arlington National Cemetery to witness the changing of the guard at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. What never ceases to amaze me is the precision of their movements. Every step, every turn is synchronized to the second. Crowds gather well in advance in order to get a view. But once the ceremony concludes and the crowds disperse, the soldier is there to stand guard in silence and no interaction with another person for 30 minutes, which is when another guard comes to relieve him or her.

What is even more impressive than the precision of their movements is their dedication to the post. The Tomb has not been left unguarded since 1937. Through scorching heat and oppressive humidity, blizzards and hurricanes, these guards stand firm in their watch – 24/7/365. There isn’t anything that will take them away from this honor-filled assignment.
As I read through Luke 21, I was struck by the use of the word “stand” in verses 19, 28, and 36. Jesus is explaining to his disciples what to expect as they wait for his triumphant return. Persecution, betrayal, natural disasters, and wars will be the signs that will foretell of Christ’s return. And 3 different times, Jesus instructs his followers to stand firm through it all.
In verse 19, we’re promised that if we stand firm, we will gain life.
In verse 28, we’re promised that by standing up, we will receive redemption.
In verse 36, we’re promised that if we are attentive during the watch, we’ll be able to escape all the turmoil and stand before the Son of Man.
As followers of Jesus, we are not promised an easy life. We will experience figurative (and sometime literal – depending on where you live) heavy storms that wipe away all that you know. The question and challenge is – will you stand firm through it all knowing that the foundation on which you plant your feet is our Rock, Jesus Christ.
Bethany Ligon

Followers Rewarded

matt 19 30

Matthew 19

We often wonder about what sort of rewards are waiting for us when we start a task. If we offer to mow the lawn for our parents, we usually expect some form of reward for that, or if we want to start a job, our first thought is, “How much money will I get from this?” In Matthew 19:27, Peter asks this very question of Jesus. He says, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you; what then will there be for us?”

Don’t you often wonder what will be your reward for following Jesus? This is simply in our human nature to want some form of reward for taking on any task, especially one as demanding as following Jesus. Jesus tells Peter this: “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for my name’s sake, will receive a hundred times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” Isn’t that a glorious promise from our Savior? Not only will we have to wait for him to come back to inherit immortal life; we can receive some reward now while we wait. This does not mean that we will get rich by any means, but it does mean that you will be given something great in this life for your service to Christ.

What has God given you through Christ? Have you ever had to leave something behind in order to follow him? Today’s challenge is to focus on the good things that God has given you, instead of the negatives that come with following His Son. And remember to always look forward to Christ’s return, where we will inherit immortal life in a perfect world, without sin, sorrow, or pain.

-Talon Paul