Tuesday, 3/10/2015

“What is hell? I maintain that it is the suffering of being unable to love.” 
~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky

DEUTERONOMY 11-13

God again commands them and gives them the secret to life...first and foremost before obedience is to Love the Lord

1Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always... therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 9and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.

MARK 13:1-13

Jesus remarks that the Temple will be torn down and Peter, James and Andrew ask him privately when this will happen and Jesus gives them a glimpse to the future and their own fate... 

9“You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

JOURNAL

These are hard words from Jesus.  He lovingly gives the disciples the sobering news of their future.  I am sure this is not the words they were longing to hear...persecution, death...families torn apart.  It is awful.  Yet I also know that it is reality and truth.  It goes on in the world now.  It again is a reminder to not put my trust in a certain outcome.  I am to love and trust God.  There and there only is where my hope is to be.  This is sobering and in many ways disappointing because I do long to know that I have a comforting future.  One in which I see my family thriving.

The reality though is that is not what is promised...it may happen but it is not what I am to place my hope in...it goes back to the Israelites and God's first command to Love the Lord God above all else...then to love others.

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^c Do not be conceited. (Romans 12:9-16)