Holston Daily Devotional December 2, 2020

Focus Scripture

Luke 21:34-38 NIV

34 “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.

Devotion

In the verses prior to today’s text, Jesus is teaching his disciples about signs of end times in response to their inquiries as to when this will take place. He does not give them a timeframe or date. Rather, he tells them of things which will take place before His return. He offers the parable of a fig tree as an illustration. In today’s passage Jesus offers words of caution and guidance for preparing for such days. The NIV translation of Luke 21:34 says, “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.” Eugene Peterson’s translation, The Message, puts it this way, “But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping.” And The Voice says, “So be careful. Guard your hearts. They can be made heavy with moral laxity, with drunkenness, with the hassles of daily life.” The words are different but issue the same warning about what we should not allow to guide our lives. Be careful how you live, in choices you make, in habits and routines you develop. Be careful of what you allow to occupy your mind and, subsequently, your heart. Don’t be led off course.

As we move through Advent in our celebration of Christmas it can be easy to get off course with the busyness and trappings of the season. We need to remember that Advent is not only a time to celebrate the birth of a baby who would die for our sins. It is also a time to look forward and prepare for His return. Be careful.

As part of my effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle, I walk daily. Some days it is easy. Others, not so much. After a bout of some rather unpleasant weather spanning several days, I was walking one morning and one of our neighbors commented that I must be really committed as he had seen me out in the unpleasant weather. I responded by sharing that even though it is not always pleasant, I don’t want to skip a day because that makes it easy to skip the next and next. It seems easier to fall into bad habits that develop good ones in much of life. This is true of our spiritual health. Be careful.

Jesus says we need to remain alert and vigilant, to watch and to pray. Stay in touch with God. Develop holy habits which feed heart and spirit. When we are not intentional about spending time in prayer, in study of scripture, in worship, in service then the door is open for poor substitutes to our relationship with God. Be careful, guard your hearts.

Don’t let the hassles of everyday life determine your priorities and habits. Just as intentional disciplines such as exercise, diet, managing stress are necessary for our physical well-being, so intentional spiritual disciplines are necessary if we are to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. For me, Bible study and devotions are followed by morning walks as a time set aside to pray and meditate, to listen for and to God’s voice and discern the next right steps. This routine is not for everyone. However, if you don’t have one, develop your own routine of holy habits as it is important that this be a priority in the lives of all who seek to follow Jesus.

There was a song I learned as a child in a small country church Sunday School. It seems appropriate for today’s scripture and I share it with you in closing.

O be careful little eyes what you see. O be careful little eyes what you see.

There’s a Father up above and He’s looking down in love

so be careful little eyes what you see.

The other verses caution in similar ways:

Be careful little ears what you hear.

Be careful little hands what you do.

Be careful little feet where you go.

Be careful little mouth what you say.

May we heed the words of Jesus and the advice of that old children’s song so that we will be ready when we stand before Jesus. Be careful, watch and pray.