Still reading the book of Luke brought me to Luke 12:54, "Jesus speaking to the crowd said, 'When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, "It's going to rain," and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, "It's going to be hot," and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you do not know how to interpret this present time?"
About this passage, the Study says: "For most of recorded history, the world's principal occupation was farming. The farmer depended on the weather for his livelihood. He needed just the right amount of sun and rain--not too much, not too little--to make his living, and he grew skilled at interpreting natural signs. Jesus was announcing an earthshaking event that would be much more important than the year's crops--the coming of God's Kingdom. Like a rain-storm or a sunny day, there were many signs that the kingdom of God would soon arrive. But Jesus' hearers, though skilled at interpreting weather signs, were intentionally ignoring the signs of the times."
We here in MN also are weather-watchers. We think spring is always late until we finally see robins in the grass searching for worms. Winter is always too long with too much snow and too much shoveling, and we search the sky for a different look and wish for robins. Summer is always too short and Fall could last forever as it's so beautiful and we know what will follow way too soon.
Some of us here in MN are also watching the world for other messages. We watch the confusion and the heartache in Africa with Ebola deaths and terrorists killings and the fear that is among the nations of the Mid-East, either men or women, as to who will be killed next. Christians are asked to leave or be killed and Sunnis and Shiites are forever at war. Yes, our world is overcrowded, but killing one another just cannot be what our God wants---or anybody else's god for that matter. But the signs are apparent for any of us that are watching the world's signs,. Something is afoot and it looks like deep trouble.
Can we help? Prayer is the only thing I can think of. Prayer to God that in spite of all these other strange worlds around us, God can and will lead His people to do what we must do, and--this is important--in agreement.
I can pray. I am not as good as others in determining how God answers. But, I can watch the signs and try to run the thoughts I may have past you, my readers, for your interpretations.
But, all in all, let us NOT be like the tortoise sticking his head in the sand. Let us look up and out and try to find the signs that God will surely give us, His people.
Winter is coming. I can tell by my rheumatism! But so? Spring will follow! Open your eyes and see!
And Jesus is always here, don't forget! So, let's be at those prayers!
Jo in MN
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