Related Articles
Table of Contents
TOPIC: CAN YOU READ THE TIME?
[DCLM DAILY MANNA 16 MAY 2020 DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY PASTOR WILLIAM FOLORUNSO KUMUYI]
Text: Luke 12:49-59
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
Key Verse: “Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” – (Luke 12:56)
MESSAGE:
The meteorological department of most advanced countries has gone beyond just being able to forecast weathers to being able to give early warnings of possible natural disasters such as volcano eruptions, earthquakes, tornadoes, cyclones, floods, etc., especially in countries prone to these disasters. These early warnings allow for the quick evacuation of people to avert casualties. In spite of these early warnings, however, some people still fall victims. Despite all the technological advancement in the area of forecasting, the world is yet to see and correctly interpret spiritual signs.
In our text, Jesus sees among the Jewish leaders a form of deception and hypocrisy because they pretended not to see the signs of the end times glaringly before them. They were able to predict the weather but failed to observe or pay attention to the obvious signs of what was coming in the future. Because they deliberately chose to ignore the signs, they failed to recognise the Messiah and be part of the kingdom He came to establish.
Today, there are Christians who fail to see the signs of backsliding and spiritual disaster and as such are unable to take precaution. The signs that point to the closeness of Christ’s imminent return are everywhere but sadly, many fail to see. How we need to pray that the Lord will sharpen our sense of discernment!
There is danger if we fail to recognise that the increase in iniquity in the world, the wars and rumours of wars we hear, the uprisings and socio-political turbulences everywhere, the economic downturns, the increase of false pastors and teachers; the increase in the persecution of Christians, etc., are all signs that the end is near! Can you read the signs? If you do, what are you doing about them? Be wise!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There is danger in ignoring the signs.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Galatians 1-3
