2 Corinthians 1:3-5 MSG
Father God, we lift up the victims of the horrendous Las Vegas attack, along with their families and loved ones. We know you are the Comforter, and we ask that you comfort them, and hold them close.
In Jesus' name we thank you, for we know that you hear and answer our prayers. Amen.
Jesus and the apostles were quite clear when addressing the times in which we live. Jesus said,
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and ethnic group against ethnic group. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 24:4-13)
The apostle Paul said,
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
But there's more: Isaiah 41:4 says that God calls forth each generation, in its order. That means that we are ordained to be here, in this time and place.
The Lord gives each of us what we need, including the strength to survive. What He orders, He pays for. Jesus didn't say we'd float through life on a bed of ease; He said we'd have troubles! But look what else he said about that:
Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:32-33)
5 comments:
Amen and Amen.
Padre, I pray every day, and give thanks for his guidance. I asked for guidance to find housing 4 years and he showed us a great small town.
Thank you, Linda.
Rob, He always answers when the request is sincere. It's His timing that most folks struggle with, as He often doesn't answer right away. That's to stop us from acting prematurely, of course, but it's hard to see that through our emotional filter. :)
I have to remind myself of this often, Reverend, that we are here in this time because (somehow) God meant us to be here. This era would not be my first choice.
TB, we don't see what God sees, nor know what He knows. He sits on the reviewing stand above the parade, seeing the whole thing from start to finish. While we, weary marching band, go step by step along the route. We have to trust His plan, and accept it by faith that He knows best.
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