30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 20-37 Be occupied with the work of His kingdom, till He returns 09 God who is awesome
📖 Luke 17:20-37
16Aug2020 - God who is awesome - _Luke 17:20-37_ - BE OCCUPIED WITH THE WORK OF HIS KINGDOM, TILL HE RETURNS 9 – Bible reading: _Deuteronomy 10:12-14_
Yesterday, we revised the various matters with which we need to be occupied until He returns. Our occupation is with the work of His kingdom, which is within us. The Lord is now speaking with His disciples about the signs of His return.
_Luke 17:24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day._
As we look at this verse the tendency will be to consider the sign of His return, which is what the Lord is saying in this verse. Nevertheless, let us take a step back and be amazed and astounded at the Lord, who is making that statement. The lightning, which we know is very powerful, is a creation of God.
_Psalm 24:1-2 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. (2) For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters._
_Job 37:2-5 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth. (3) He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth. (4) After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard. (5) God thunders marvellously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend._
As we await His return, let our hearts and minds focus on the God of all creation, how great are His majesty and His power. Yes, we are looking at the signs but it is more important to realise that we are contending with the owner, the creator and the one who holds everything in His hands. Does it not call for us to come before Him in awe, in reverence, in surrender and submission to Him? Can it be that we just get enthused about the signs of His return but have not chosen to walk before him, in obedience?
Moses ties it together for us beautifully. _Deuteronomy 10:12-14 "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, (13) and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? (14) Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it._
The heaven and the highest heaven belong to the Lord, ought not we to walk in His ways and serve Him with all our heart and soul?
Every passage that we read in scripture regarding His return is not highlighting the signs but the response that needs to be in us, recognising that we will soon stand before and will state ourselves to the almighty God. _(Imagine if we were to stand before a high official and state our claim or make a plea, how would it be? Will it not be with utmost seriousness?)_ How is it that we, when we are considering the matter of the return of the King, before whom we must give account, we are more concerned about the signs of His return and not so concerned about our readiness with our present occupation, with which He has entrusted us?
_II Peter 3:5-9 For this they wilfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, (6) by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. (7) But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (8) But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance._
God is longsuffering. Should man take the longsuffering of God for granted and live without reverence. awe, surrender and submission and be occupied with the things of His kingdom as he awaits the soon coming King?
*Thought to ponder*
```The day of the Lord will also be the day of His vengeance.```