The Evening News
Then Jesus added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands. Luke 21:10-11a
Today’s reading comes from the Gospel of Luke, but it sounds like it could also be a headline ripped from the evening news. Earth continues to groan under the weight of its ever-evolving existence, and humankind never ceases to find itself in situations where nation rises against nation, kingdom against kingdom.
Jesus also talks of persecution that will come as a result of following Him in chapter 21 of Luke.. But does Jesus’ advice in the face of such dis-ease seem reasonable? “Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance” (v. 14). It seems contradictory to what he says elsewhere, counseling, for example, a king to count the cost before going to war, or a builder to estimate the final construction project before laying a foundation (Luke 14:28-31). In both cases, the key element is trust. God, Who made the world in all its wonder, Who knows the complexity of national intrigue and geological phenomena, also knows us inside and out. No matter what, the promise stands: “Not a hair of your head will perish” (v. 18).
As we pray for peace in the Ukraine, we can and should pray for God to increase our trust in Him.
Loving Creator, you call us to trust you in all circumstances. We believe; help our unbelief. Amen.
Inspired by A Christ in Our Home Devotion