How to Interpret this Present Time?

Scripture: Luke 12:54-57

Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times. “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?

I’m a weather junky! If there is one website I visit almost everyday, it’s probably windy.com. I love the way this website displays not only the weather forecast from different weather modeling centers like NOAA, the European Center for Medium Range Forecasts and Metro blue, a Swiss company that uses artificial intelligence to predict weather at any location on earth. I love how this website displays the different wind patterns, directions and speeds and how it will effects the weather where I live. I guess I like to know what is coming, and how to plan for it!

When I read this passage of scripture found in Luke 11:54-57, once again I saw myself being just like the crowds that followed Jesus. Seeing the physical, but not understanding the spiritual. With the plunge in the stock market and headlines of a pandemic effecting our world today, I have to ask myself, am I like the crowd that missunderstood the times in which they lived? Can I discern for myself what is right?

When I read those words spoken by Jesus, I admit they carried a sting. The present day context we find ourselves in today is quite different than it was just 2 months ago. Travel is being restricted and many people are wondering if they will be able to go to church or the store all because of the fear of contracting the virus. I totally understand all of those concerns, yet the question remains, how should I interpret the present times? As I did my own reflection, this is what the Lord impressed upon my heart about the days in which we live.

It’s time to build our faith through prayer and quietness in His presence. As we take time to be in His presence, the encouragement we receive from Him does wonders for our faith and perspective. If you are worried about the “What if’s” then take Isaiah 30:15 to heart, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

It’s time to acknowledge the extent of God’s love and favor toward us. I must remind myself to pause and bask again in the revelation that God both loves me and has blessed me. This doesn’t change in the midst of a pandemic! Like sitting in the sun after a long cold winter, we need to let the love of God spill into our souls. He has blessed us abundantly in more ways than any of us could count. These are the days to say to our souls, “God is good and his love endures forever!” Psalms 136

Lastly, it’s a time to see the many opportunities given us daily to encourage others! When those around us are lacking confidence about what the coming days may hold, it presents us a wonderful opportunity to comfort with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:4
The storms of life may come and blow and beat against our house, but if we will but hear the word of the Lord and put it into practice, our house will be strong as it will be built upon the rock! Matthew 7:24

Prayer topics this week:

1. Pray for our medical community that the Lord would protect doctors, nurses and technicians from this virus and give them wisdom in treatment. Pray also for their families to be strong in the face of this pandemic sweeping the globe.
2. Pray for our elected leaders to have the wisdom to know both what public policies to enact and how to communicate them. Pray also that we would be a nation united at this time of crisis.
May the Lord bless you and protect you and give you His peace!

David