Sunday, November 2, 2008

cover to cover:we interrupt your regularly scheduled program...




Maybe it's because the elections are this week. Maybe it's because it seems like that's all that consumes my mind at this time. But I found some "political" tidbits in this weeks readings. Which just reminds me that God is NEVER late. He always has a better plan.


Political tidbit #1:
Jesus continued teaching and said, "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around wearing fancy clothes, and they love for people to greet them with respect in the marketplaces. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and at feasts. But they cheat widows and steal their houses and then try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. They will receive a greater punishment." Mark 12:38-40



Doesn't this remind you of the 45 bazillion political ads that you've seen lately? Let's surround ourselves with pretty, prominent people and say anything we can to make ourselves look good and get elected. Then, once we're elected, we'll do whatever we want...as long as it increases our power base.



Political tidbit #2: (while this is a warning against being unprepared for the endtimes, I thought it was relevant to election day as well.)





"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap." Luke 21:34

The dictionary says that dissipation means to have a mental distraction. I certainly feel that I have been distracted by all the promises, lies and so forth that have gone on during this campaign. And I know that I have been weighed down with a dark cloud of anxiety on many occasions as I have fretted over the outcome. But let me ask this. Have my worries affected the race? Will it get anyone elected? Will it save me? Nope. It's funny but another definition of dissipation is a process in which energy is used or lost without accomplishing useful work. Kind of sounds like worry, huh?



We then move from political topics to taking a closer look at ourselves:


“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. Matthew 23:25-28


Ouch! Too many times I am more concerned about what other people will see rather than who I am on the inside.



Finally, this week also focused quite a bit on the second coming. Some things that stood out were:


You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Matthew 24:6
Sounds like today, doesn't it?

"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. Matthew 24:30-31
Elect-to select for divine mercy or favor. I'm praising Him for being His elect!

Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. [Watch, I say] lest He come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep. Mark 13:33,36


So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” Luke 21:28
Doesn't that just give you chills? Our salvation is near! Rejoice!

Take a moment and join us at Bev's for this week's cover to cover. You won't regret it!



Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him." Luke 20:38

6 comments:

Queen B said...

Excellent post! Thank you for the reminders.

Anonymous said...

Salvation must be very near. I appreciate how very timely His Word is. Over and over, I see how alive it is. Good words to remember this week. I always love your thoughts on what lingers. Love you, Annette

Angela Baylis said...

God knows the outcome and I must say, I'll be glad when it's finally over! It was easy to get distracted! Thanks for taking the time to do these insights! They bless me more than you'll ever know!
Love you,
Angie xoxo

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

Well, what will linger with me from your post is the "mental distractions" that we must
e s c a p e
from, as He says. I know that will linger with me as I received some "bad news" this a.m. that wants to distract me all day long and I haven't even lived the day yet! Thanks so much Karen~
You have a great post here!

Anonymous said...

Mental distractions...that is for sure...yesterday in church when the man giving announcements mentioned that after Tuesday there would be no more political ads for awhile...there was a spontaneous round of applause.

I was also impacted by the signs of the times in the readings as well...and I am thankful that salvation is near.

Thanks Karen,

Helen

Abba's Girl said...

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...and yet politicians see themselves as savior and many people expect the govt to be their savior. Lord have mercy on us!