#130 Luke 21:34-38 Be Always on the Watch
On July 2, 2023 by Amy BurginJoy:
Episode #130 Luke 21:34-38
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you are here! I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin.
Christgazing, kind of like stargazing, is the act of looking steadily and intently at Jesus. This podcast makes room for that. Amid a world of many words, we slow down here and make space for the God-breathed Words, the best words, the ones that rightly comfort, correct, and lead us. Each week we read a portion of scripture several times and create stillness after each reading so we might also be still and know God more.
We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
Before we read today, take time to share your heart with God. We do this each week; we draw intimately close to God, pouring out our hearts to him, and then make room for him to pour out his heart to us. So bring God your thanksgiving, grief, fear, joy, anger, excitement, questions, and concerns in this next minute.
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy:
In today’s passage, Jesus continues speaking about the end times. We ended last week’s passage with Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” As I continue the words of Jesus in today’s passage, consider the question, what does this say about God?
Luke 21:34-38 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Again?
Luke 21:34-38 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Take the next few moments to consider what this says about God.
[Pause and know]What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy:
In today’s passage, Jesus continues speaking about the end times. We ended last week’s passage with Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” As I continue the words of Jesus in today’s passage, consider the question, what does this say about people?
Luke 21:34-38 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Take a minute to consider what this says about people.
[Pause and know]Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?
Joy:
In today’s passage, Jesus continues speaking about the end times. We ended last week’s passage with Luke 21:33, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” As I continue the words of Jesus in today’s passage, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?” If it helps, put yourself in the narrative.
Luke 21:34-38 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Take a minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do in response to this passage?”
[Pause and listen]Blessing
Joy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you keep your face turned Jesus today and know him more.
One Response
Amy:
In today’s passage, Jesus said, “Be always on the watch, and pray that you will be able to escape all that is about to happen and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
“Son of man,” means a human being.
I went to church this morning, and my pastor, Matt Erbaugh, taught us more about this phrase, “Son of Man.” I want to pass on a tiny bit of what I learned. He pointed us to Daniel 7:13-14. Daniel was speaking about visions he had about the end times. Daniel said, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
For weeks now, these words have resonated in my mind, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
When Jesus said, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life.” I am reminded of a parable Jesus explained about a farmer who sowed seeds that fell in various places. Jesus describes the parable in Mark 4:14-20 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Let us pray.
Lord, We love you. Make us like seed sown on good soil. Make us like you, word made flesh. May we hear your word, accept your word, be compelled by your word alone, and become one with your word, that we may be able to stand before you. Your kingdom come; your will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For your is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Closing
Amy:
You can find a link to Matt Erbaugh’s sermon and a transcript of this episode at amyburgin.com. Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his righteous and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.
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