1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:04,140 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:14,410 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, a Calming 3 00:00:14,490 --> 00:00:18,410 Speaker 2: Scripture Center devotional podcast designed to help you end each 4 00:00:18,470 --> 00:00:21,970 Speaker 2: day with God's Word in your mind and on your heart. 5 00:00:24,989 --> 00:00:27,830 Speaker 2: Right after this short word from our sponsors, we'll reflect 6 00:00:27,950 --> 00:00:42,390 Speaker 2: on tonight's scripture and Luke chapter 21. Tonight's scripture reflection 7 00:00:42,450 --> 00:00:45,930 Speaker 2: is written by Shea Smith and read by Carrie Eichberger. 8 00:00:47,010 --> 00:00:52,940 Speaker 2: Luke chapter 21. As Jesus looked up, he saw the 9 00:00:52,979 --> 00:00:56,140 Speaker 2: rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also 10 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,380 Speaker 2: saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 11 00:01:00,340 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 2: Truly I tell you, he said, this poor widow has 12 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:06,540 Speaker 2: put in more than all the others. All these people 13 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,559 Speaker 2: gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out 14 00:01:09,580 --> 00:01:11,539 Speaker 2: of her poverty put in all she. 15 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:12,220 Speaker 1: Had to live on. 16 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,430 Speaker 2: Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple 17 00:01:15,450 --> 00:01:18,610 Speaker 2: was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. 18 00:01:19,170 --> 00:01:22,429 Speaker 2: But Jesus said, As for what you see here, the 19 00:01:22,470 --> 00:01:25,190 Speaker 2: time will come when not one stone will be left 20 00:01:25,290 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 2: on another. Every one of them will be thrown down. Teacher, 21 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 2: they asked, When will these things happen, and what will 22 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,220 Speaker 2: be the sign that they are about to take place? 23 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,830 Speaker 2: He replied, Watch out that you are not deceived, for 24 00:01:39,870 --> 00:01:42,750 Speaker 2: many will come in my name, claiming, I am he, 25 00:01:43,230 --> 00:01:44,190 Speaker 2: and the time is near. 26 00:01:44,790 --> 00:01:45,709 Speaker 1: Do not follow them. 27 00:01:46,410 --> 00:01:49,830 Speaker 2: When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. 28 00:01:50,330 --> 00:01:53,380 Speaker 2: These things must happen first, but the end will not 29 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: come right away. Then he said to them, Nation will 30 00:01:57,020 --> 00:02:00,660 Speaker 2: rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be 31 00:02:00,780 --> 00:02:05,980 Speaker 2: great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events, 32 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: and great signs from heaven. But before all this, they 33 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you 34 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 2: over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you 35 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,810 Speaker 2: will be brought before kings and governors, and all on 36 00:02:18,870 --> 00:02:22,209 Speaker 2: account of my name. And so you will bear testimony 37 00:02:22,270 --> 00:02:25,110 Speaker 2: to me. But make up your mind not to worry 38 00:02:25,150 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: beforehand how you will defend yourselves. for I will give 39 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,620 Speaker 2: you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will 40 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 2: be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed 41 00:02:34,380 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 2: even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends. 42 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: They will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate. 43 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,100 Speaker 2: You because of me, but not a hair of your 44 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: head will perish. Stand firm and you will win life. 45 00:02:48,650 --> 00:02:51,790 Speaker 2: When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will 46 00:02:51,830 --> 00:02:55,670 Speaker 2: know that its desolation is near. Then let those who 47 00:02:55,730 --> 00:02:58,690 Speaker 2: are in Judea flee to the mountains Let those in 48 00:02:58,730 --> 00:03:01,350 Speaker 2: the city get out, and let those in the country 49 00:03:01,410 --> 00:03:02,250 Speaker 2: not enter the city. 50 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: For this is the time of punishment and fulfillment of 51 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:06,980 Speaker 1: all that has been written. 52 00:03:07,820 --> 00:03:10,220 Speaker 2: How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant 53 00:03:10,260 --> 00:03:13,420 Speaker 2: women and nursing mothers. There will be great distress in 54 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,179 Speaker 2: the land and wrath against this people. They will fall 55 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to 56 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the 57 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There 58 00:03:26,740 --> 00:03:29,950 Speaker 2: will be signs in the sun moon and stars. On 59 00:03:29,990 --> 00:03:33,270 Speaker 2: the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at 60 00:03:33,290 --> 00:03:36,450 Speaker 2: the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint 61 00:03:36,490 --> 00:03:39,810 Speaker 2: from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, 62 00:03:40,290 --> 00:03:43,550 Speaker 2: for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time, 63 00:03:43,910 --> 00:03:46,270 Speaker 2: they will see the Son of Man coming in a 64 00:03:46,290 --> 00:03:50,230 Speaker 2: cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin 65 00:03:50,270 --> 00:03:53,510 Speaker 2: to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, 66 00:03:53,930 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: because your redemption is drawing near. He told them this 67 00:03:57,740 --> 00:04:00,980 Speaker 2: parable Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 68 00:04:01,580 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 2: When they sprout leaves, you can see yourselves and know 69 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,260 Speaker 2: that summer is near. Even so, when you see these 70 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 2: things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, 71 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,100 Speaker 2: I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away 72 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,940 Speaker 2: until all of these things have happened. Heaven and earth 73 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,430 Speaker 2: will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 74 00:04:24,210 --> 00:04:26,990 Speaker 1: Be careful, for your hearts will be weighed down with. 75 00:04:26,910 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 2: Carousing drunkenness and anxieties of life, and that day will 76 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,380 Speaker 2: close on you suddenly like a trap. 77 00:04:34,140 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: For it will come on all those who live on 78 00:04:36,020 --> 00:04:37,140 Speaker 1: the face of the whole earth. 79 00:04:37,940 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: Be always on the watch, and pray that you may 80 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:43,529 Speaker 2: be able to escape all that is about to happen, 81 00:04:44,190 --> 00:04:46,130 Speaker 2: and that you may be able to stand before the 82 00:04:46,170 --> 00:04:50,430 Speaker 2: Son of Man. Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, 83 00:04:50,910 --> 00:04:53,530 Speaker 2: and each evening he went out to spend the night on. 84 00:04:53,470 --> 00:04:55,369 Speaker 1: The hill called the Mount of Olives. 85 00:04:55,950 --> 00:04:58,420 Speaker 2: And all the people came early in the morning to 86 00:04:58,460 --> 00:05:04,710 Speaker 2: hear him at the temple. When we read Jesus' words 87 00:05:04,750 --> 00:05:07,830 Speaker 2: in tonight's chapter, there's a part of our spirit that 88 00:05:07,890 --> 00:05:13,750 Speaker 2: testifies to the very awful events Jesus prophesied. Kingdoms fighting kingdoms, 89 00:05:14,370 --> 00:05:19,460 Speaker 2: nations against one another, and immeasurable earthquakes, famines, and diseases. 90 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: Many might say we are indeed in the last days 91 00:05:23,779 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: and silently fear how much more pain and suffering is 92 00:05:26,900 --> 00:05:27,980 Speaker 2: there left to experience. 93 00:05:28,540 --> 00:05:32,540 Speaker 1: Before Jesus comes back. In the meantime, we live. 94 00:05:33,300 --> 00:05:36,340 Speaker 2: We go on each day learning more about a good 95 00:05:36,420 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 2: Savior and a God with a good redemptive plan. 96 00:05:40,180 --> 00:05:42,540 Speaker 1: We watch and wait with utter hope. 97 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,310 Speaker 2: That might be hard to do, but before we let 98 00:05:46,370 --> 00:05:50,290 Speaker 2: fear overtake us and get jaded with things we cannot control, 99 00:05:50,910 --> 00:05:54,469 Speaker 2: we must remind ourselves of the encouragement of God's presence 100 00:05:54,550 --> 00:05:58,380 Speaker 2: with us. We have the Holy Spirit living and breathing 101 00:05:58,580 --> 00:06:02,450 Speaker 2: in and through us, changing our perspective and lens of Christ. 102 00:06:03,410 --> 00:06:07,450 Speaker 2: How do we practically watch and wait with hope? First, 103 00:06:07,990 --> 00:06:11,490 Speaker 2: we need Christ's warning found in Luke 21, 34-36 to 104 00:06:12,830 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 2: be on guard and alert at all times. 105 00:06:15,580 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: We refuse to. 106 00:06:16,420 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 2: Become lukewarm in our faith and remind ourselves there is 107 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:25,190 Speaker 2: an enemy actively roaming to kill, steal, and destroy. The 108 00:06:25,260 --> 00:06:28,990 Speaker 2: enemy of our soul's would love a complacent Christian, one 109 00:06:29,010 --> 00:06:33,570 Speaker 2: who is weary, with little hope of something beautiful to come. Next, 110 00:06:34,029 --> 00:06:37,580 Speaker 2: we do exactly what Jesus said. We raise our heads, 111 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:42,300 Speaker 2: not because of pride or unselfish gain, but because redemption 112 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 2: is on its way. 113 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 1: There's a deep part of my heart. 114 00:06:45,779 --> 00:06:48,750 Speaker 2: That beckons for things to be made right, for King 115 00:06:48,810 --> 00:06:52,070 Speaker 2: Jesus to reign and for every knee to bow and 116 00:06:52,190 --> 00:06:56,350 Speaker 2: every heart to confess his lordship. I'm so genuinely eager 117 00:06:56,410 --> 00:07:00,250 Speaker 2: for pain, suffering, and death to be no more. Can 118 00:07:00,300 --> 00:07:03,659 Speaker 2: you let your heart imagine that for a minute? All 119 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:07,140 Speaker 2: of the worries weighing your heart right now be no 120 00:07:07,220 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: more because all has been made right in a righteous plan. 121 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 2: And yet, we wait amidst the weight of anxiety. We 122 00:07:15,500 --> 00:07:18,500 Speaker 2: wait in the middle of grief. We wait in the 123 00:07:18,540 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 2: middle of the mundane, ordinary day-to-day work. 124 00:07:22,140 --> 00:07:22,780 Speaker 1: In the waitings. 125 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 2: We embody what Jesus said we'd do. Bear testimony to Him. Then, 126 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 2: we take the next step. We choose not to fear 127 00:07:31,980 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 2: the future or the persecution coming our way. Finally, we 128 00:07:36,380 --> 00:07:40,990 Speaker 2: stand firm and know God's rescue plan is already in motion. 129 00:07:41,810 --> 00:07:45,010 Speaker 1: We watch, but we do not fear. We wait. 130 00:07:45,430 --> 00:07:50,010 Speaker 2: We do not become weary. Tonight, allow hope to sweep 131 00:07:50,070 --> 00:07:52,710 Speaker 2: into the corners of your heart and refresh your soul. 132 00:07:53,740 --> 00:08:01,300 Speaker 2: Redemption is coming. God, it's so easy for me to 133 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 2: see the world and everything wrong in it. From tragedies 134 00:08:05,340 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 2: to health battles, from natural disasters to evil powers, my 135 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:13,490 Speaker 2: heart can become so weary. If I'm honest, Lord, the 136 00:08:13,550 --> 00:08:15,970 Speaker 2: fear of the future and what will happen to future 137 00:08:15,990 --> 00:08:20,450 Speaker 2: generations can grip me with frustration, worry, and a lack 138 00:08:20,490 --> 00:08:24,690 Speaker 2: of motivation to keep fighting. Help me stay passionate for you, 139 00:08:25,170 --> 00:08:29,350 Speaker 2: your word, and your redemption plan. Show me my place 140 00:08:29,410 --> 00:08:32,910 Speaker 2: in your story and help me live with conviction and purpose. 141 00:08:33,580 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: I pray for all who have read. 142 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 2: This tonight to have a deep sense of peace and 143 00:08:37,820 --> 00:08:41,700 Speaker 2: trust in you, a good and loving God. Lead the 144 00:08:41,740 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 2: way and set the example on how to stand firm 145 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,819 Speaker 2: in this time in history. Ignite our flame of hope 146 00:08:49,300 --> 00:08:52,390 Speaker 2: as we watch and wait for our King. In the 147 00:08:52,450 --> 00:08:57,390 Speaker 2: mighty name of Jesus, Amen. How did tonight's scripture speak 148 00:08:57,410 --> 00:09:00,500 Speaker 2: to you? Share your thoughts in the Your Nightly Scripture 149 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:01,300 Speaker 2: Forum discussion. 150 00:09:10,020 --> 00:09:14,590 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 151 00:09:15,030 --> 00:09:19,849 Speaker 3: was read from the New International Version by Biblica. All 152 00:09:19,910 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 3: rights reserved. Be sure to follow our sister show, Your 153 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:31,100 Speaker 3: Daily Bible Verse, on Apple or Spotify. By following Your 154 00:09:31,179 --> 00:09:35,490 Speaker 3: Daily Bible Verse and your nightly scripture, you can be 155 00:09:35,590 --> 00:09:39,850 Speaker 3: sure that your day begins and ends centered on the 156 00:09:39,890 --> 00:09:40,510 Speaker 3: Word of God. 157 00:09:52,929 --> 00:09:54,090 Speaker 2: Thank you.