Luke 21:12-19
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
As we continue listening to Jesus’ prophecy about events to come, read Luke 21:12-19 noting any questions that arise and paying attention to anything that stands out to you as you read.
The first followers of Jesus did, in fact, face “a time of great persecution” before the fall of Jerusalem in 70AD. And several of Jesus’ closest disciples were martyred because of their tireless efforts to spread the Good News to as many people as possible.
It is ironic that the way of shalom should cause such violent reactions, but it is important to remember that when we choose to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom, we will be acting in ways that are contrary to the expected and accepted norms of the world. And though most of us are not in danger of persecution or death for our faith, we must understand that the counter-cultural ways of God, will not be easily embraced by a culture fixated on power and dominion.
Stop to contemplate these words from the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth:
“…[God] uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Read Luke 21:12-19 again.
Jesus warns that even some of the people who should be open to the life-giving, love focused ways of the Kingdom, will react against our efforts to spread shalom. As we have seen throughout Luke’s Gospel, the religious leaders of Israel, who had the most knowledge of the Scriptures, were largely enraged by Jesus’ ministry of restoration and redemption.
As Paul said in his first letter to the church at Corinth: “…knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1).”
For the final moments of this time of reflection, imagine a normal day in your life and consider the “scent” that your actions and attitudes emit to the people around you. Do they experience the scent of God’s love, or something else? As you consider this question, get still and listen to Jesus for a while.
What might Jesus want you to realize or do today?
What will you do about that?
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