Photograph by Eradio Valverde at the Temple, Jerusalem
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5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” 7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” 8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” 10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life. (Luke 21:5-19 NRSV)
CORRECTION! Dear friends, the old man has failing eyesight and no concept of days! Christ the King Sunday is not this coming Sunday but the Sunday after this one. I apologize, but you have an advance edition of Monday-next. At no charge! Here this is the correct passage for this coming Sunday. My thanks to Jody Bagley, the choir director at one of my former churches, who caught the error. Happens to those not actively running a church!
Good day dear Friend! I pray God's blessings are upon you and that you are staying warm as we welcome this cold front. I confess this is being written on Monday night and it's 39 degrees here in Seguin. Nellie and I went to San Marcos to shop at Sam's Club and I checked my weather app on my phone and it said we were fine going in short sleeves and shorts. We shopped at Sam's, and had lunch. Then home to HEB and by the time we came out, it was raining and the breeze was freezing! And it was only 1:30 or so! Please stay warm. Prayers please for our brother from Gonzales, Mr. Bob Clark who is hospitalized with some cardiac concerns, but his wife Evelyn reports he may go home tomorrow. Please keep Evelyn's daughter, Vicki in your prayers as she undergoes a biopsy tomorrow. Pray for her results and for her healing. Pray for one another. Pray for yourselves.
The photograph is one I took back in April, 2018, at the Temple in Jerusalem. Those are precisely the stones mentioned by Jesus when He said, "the time will come when not one stone willl be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." It was an emotional moment for me as Dr. Jack Beck explained the passage and the fulfillment that came when the Temple was destroyed again. Compare it to someone who is touring the United States Capitol and someone would say the day is coming when the stones that made up the capitol would be destroyed and not one stone would be left upon another. It was not what the disciples expected to hear, and it made them quite nervous. "When will this be?" they asked. Jesus answers that there is not a definitive answer; rumors and hearsay will be what you hear, and news since that time have included "nation rising against nation; kingdom against kingdom, earthquakes, famines and pestilences, fierce events and great signs from Heaven." And Jesus warns, "But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you." Arrests of believers would occur, and believers would be handed over to synagogues, some would be imprisoned, some brought before kings and governors - all because of Jesus' name.
The day of sightseeing ends with news that would ruin anyone's day, but Jesus speaks about their need to stay strong and in faith. Jesus would stand with them and provide the defense; the words and wisdom needed for those days, Jesus would provide. Yes, Jesus says, you will be betrayed by your own parents, your own brothers and sisters, and some would even be put to death. Jesus even adds, "Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life."
Yesterday I preached about the Sadducees and the sad viewpoint on life and life beyond life they had. Sadder still are those real.life contemporary Sadducees who still walk among us, hoping they will be good enough to live on in the minds and hearts of those that live on after they die. We believe differently. We believe in what Jesus said, even in this passage; that God is a God of the living, not of the dead; and all who believe in Him will not die, but have eternal life. So, as we live our life we do as the title of today's devotional says, "Stick With It!" And life will be ours, forever and ever.
PRAYER: Loving God, as I walk among modern Sadducees and Pharisees, please count me among the faithful. Grant me stronger faith to see beyond the here and now, to the truth of life that never ends. Bless those who are worried due to illness and sickness, and lift them to life. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Walk and talk as a believer today!
Blessings of love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
The latest episode of my podcast is ready! The newest edition is called Handmade Gods and you can listen to it at www.pimplesandwrinkles.org under Media section, or on the Facebook page of Pimples and Wrinkles. May it bless you!
