Luke 12:54-56 – He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, `It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, `It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
I’m always intrigued by the weather prognosticators and how they are able to predict the weather before it arrives. In the days of Christ, most people were weather-wise. By observing the winds and clouds they could foresee when there would be rain and when there would be hot weather. From repeated experience, they would anticipate that clouds and a west wind from the Mediterranean Sea usually meant rain was coming. If the wind was out of the south, from the desert, they expected it to be hot. After acknowledging that those in the crowd were astute to these factors and capable of drawing the correct conclusions based on these signs of nature, Christ calls them “Hypocrites!” Ow! Jesus rebukes them for not knowing how to interpret the times they’re living in. They know how to read the signs of nature in predicting the weather, but they are somehow incapable of reading the signs that signaled the Messiah’s presence, the spiritual condition of the nation, the coming confrontation with Rome, and the eternal consequences these events would have for their own lives.
History is a grand teacher, IF people will learn from it! It reveals, to those who are astute, what may be expected from particular behaviors, choices and actions. We arrive at the present from the actions of the past, and the present choices and actions will determine the future. We know that insanity has something to do with repeating the same actions, behaviors and choices over and over, expecting to get different results. Those who fail to learn from the lessons of history and their past are doomed to repeat the same mistakes! Those who are, on the one hand, willing to benefit from certain things that are historically demonstrated to be wise and prudent, and yet, on the other hand, turn a blind eye to other things that history and experience clearly reveals as foolish and destructive are rightly identified as HYPOCRITES! These people in the crowd have known all the historical information of the prophets and the Scriptures, yet they apparently disregard it when the signs are clearly present! They are hypocrites, pretending to be wise, but are really not. They pretend to expect the Messiah and His kingdom, yet are in no way desiring to receive it!
“How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” To prognosticate is to foretell or predict from signs or indications. In order to predict the weather one must study, recognize and pay attention to the signs and indications. Wisdom requires this! The Scriptures provide all the signs and indicators needed for understanding the times. Jesus had been fulfilling all of the prophetic signs and indicators relevant to the Messiah. They knew all these signs and indicators well, but still didn’t recognize their fulfillment or refused to connect the dots with Jesus! Along with the Scripture passages that reveal the Christ, we too, have been given many indicators to watch and predict from in the Scriptures. In Matthew 24, Jesus gives many for us to learn from: “Wars and rumors of wars,” “The fig tree,” “Signs in the heavens,” “As it was in the days of Noah,” are all among those given to help us know what time it is in history. Who will be wise and astute to interpret the times? How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? In the time of Christ it was because they refused to recognize the fulfillment of Scripture in their very presence! The same answer must be applied to today!
Thursday: Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
Friday: Pray for the families of the week: Juan & Jennifer Davila (Arianna, Angelina, Gabriella), Jim & Carol DeYaeger, Frank & Anna Diehl.
Saturday: Make time to study and know the signs and indicators given in Scripture!
Sunday: Worship God who reveals truth and light to our hearts, minds and spirits!
Monday: Recognize the times we are living in the light of the indicators and signs revealed in Scripture.
Tuesday: Pray for those who are still blind to the revelation of Scripture.
Wednesday: Pay attention to the signs that enlighten and enable us to interpret the times we live in!
Prayer Challenge – Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.– 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11