Interpreting the Times
Interpreting the Times
What do you make of all of the crazy things going on in our world today? Some are really wondering if Christ's return is coming quickly, and some are just continuing their "same old same old"--business-as-usual mentality.
Luke 12: 35 says this:
"Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in at the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded... He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready."
Jesus goes on to explain what it means to be "ready". "When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more, will be required." (12: 48b)
Jesus warns his disciples that he has not come to bring peace to the earth; instead believing in him will cause division. Some family members will choose to follow him and some will not. That will be the dividing line. Everyone will need to decide where they will take their stand in relation to that line.
Our OT story today draws our attention to a very strong, powerful message about what it means to be a faithful servant who is ready to serve God in all situations. Let's take a closer look, shall we?
Numbers 12:3 tells us, "Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.". God talked with Moses, walked with Moses, and worked through Moses... especially when Moses lacked the confidence needed and found his strength in God.
Wait! What in the world just happened here? Deut. 32: 51, 52 tells us that Moses like his brother Aaron will not be permitted to enter the holy land. He would see it from a distance but never enter in! Never! Someone else would take his place. Moses, the humble servant of God would not enter because he, along with Aaron, "betrayed me with the Israelites at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh. You failed to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel there."
So, what is the background of this story we are left to wonder... Moses' moment of greatest failure came when the people of Israel resumed complaining, this time about food and water (Num. 20: 1-5) It appears that the humble Moses, who depended on God, had become a little full of himself or filled with his own anger. He was acting on his own power and weakness. He chewed out the people and struck the rock twice with his staff. The way he handled this situation extremely displeased the Lord. I don't know how old Moses was at this point, but it appears that he was getting a "little cranky", I think.
What was his big offense here? Everyone has a little temper sometimes, right? Numbers 20:12 names his underlying offense: "You did not trust in me." Here's the bottom line... the dividing line for a servant of God.
How do we interpret the times? Whether it is the end of times or our time is coming to an end a servant is to be "ready".
Ready to obey. Ready to fully put our trust in God. He is the Lord of our life, and we are not.
Moses drives home a powerful lesson for all of us today. Are we living our lives as a true servant of God, operating in his power, his words, his attitudes, and his authority?
"You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don't know how to interpret the present times."
Today's message is loud and clear for all of us to hear,
Servant of God... be ready!"
Interpreting the Times. Morning, Noon, or Night. When least expected... Be dressed for service. Lamps burning.
PS. Anyone watching the news lately? Some servants are falling and some lowly are rising to be humble leaders. What about us?
I don't think I want to take a stick and hit any of the big ol' rocks in my life. Lesson learned from Moses.
