Key Thought

Today's Prayer

O Father, help me not glory in the externals of my life, but in you, the Father and sustainer of all things. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus was leaving the temple area. One of his followers said to him, "Look, Teacher! This temple has very beautiful buildings with very big stones." Jesus said, "Are you looking at these great buildings? They will all be destroyed. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground. Not one stone will be left on another." Later, Jesus was sitting at a place on the Mount of Olives. He was alone with Peter, James, John, and Andrew. They could all see the temple. Those followers asked Jesus, "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will show us it is time for these things to happen?" Jesus said to the followers: "Be careful! Don't let any person fool you. Many people will come and use my name. They will say, 'I am the One.' And they will fool many people. You will hear about wars that are being fought. And you will hear stories about other wars beginning. But don't be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat. And there will be earthquakes in different places. These things are like the first pains when something new is born. "You must be careful. People will arrest you and take you to be judged. They will beat you in their synagogues. You will be forced to stand before kings and governors. You will tell them about me. This will happen to you because you follow me. Before these things happen, the Good News must be told to all people. You will be arrested and judged. But don't worry about what you should say. Say the things God gives you to say at that time. It will not really be you speaking. It will be the Holy Spirit speaking. "Brothers will turn against their own brothers and give them to be killed. Fathers will turn against their own children and give them to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and find ways for their parents to be killed. All people will hate you because you follow me.But the person that continues strong until the end will be saved.

Related Scripture Readings

Ahaz was the son of Jotham. Jotham was the son of Uzziah. Rezin was the king of Aram, Pekah son of Remaliah was the king of Israel. During the time Ahaz was king of Judah, Rezin and Pekah went up to Jerusalem to fight against it. But they were not able to defeat the city. A message was told to the family of David. The message said, "The army of Aram and the army of Ephraim (Israel) have joined together. The two armies are camped together." When King Ahaz heard this message, he and the people became very scared. They were shaking with fear like trees of the forest blowing in the wind. Then the Lord told Isaiah, "You and your son Shear Jashub should go out and talk to Ahaz. Go to the place where the water flows into the upper pool. This is on the street going to Laundryman's Field. "Tell Ahaz, 'Be careful, but be calm. Don't be afraid. Don't let those two men, Rezin and Remaliah's son, scare you! Those men are like two burnt sticks. In the past they were burning hot. But now they are only smoke. Rezin, Aram, and Remaliah's son are angry. They have made plans against you. They said: We should go and fight against Judah. We will divide Judah for ourselves. We will make Tabeel's son the new king of Judah.'" The Lord my Master says, "Their plan will not succeed. It will not happen. It will not happen while Rezin is the ruler of Damascus. Ephraim (Israel) is now a nation, but 65 years in the future Ephraim (Israel) will not be a nation. Their plan will not succeed while Samaria is the capital of Ephraim (Israel) and while the ruler of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you don't believe this message then people should not believe you." Then the Lord continued to speak to Ahaz. The Lord said, "Ask for a sign to prove to yourself that these things are true. You can ask for any sign you want. The sign can come from a place as deep as Sheol, or the sign can come from a place as high as the skies. "

Look at the people going down to Egypt for help. The people ask for horses. They think horses will save them. The people hope the chariots and horse soldiers from Egypt will protect them. The people think they are safe because that army is very big. The people don't trust the Holy One of Israel (God). The people don't ask the Lord for help.

Some Jews said to Jesus, "Show us a miracle for a sign. Prove that you have the right to do these things." Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days." The Jews answered, "People worked 46 years to build this temple! Do you really believe you can build it again in three days?" (But the temple Jesus meant was his own body. After Jesus was raised from death, his followers remembered that Jesus had said this. So his followers believed the Scripture {about him}, and they believed the words Jesus said.)