Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Luke 12:54-56
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Do you know how to interpret the present time? It is important for us, as followers of Christ, to be able to look honestly at our cultures, societies and world as a whole and interpret it honestly and accurately. We need to be able to discern the goodness and the presence of God in our world and we need to also be able to identify and interpret the workings of the evil one in our present time. How well do you do that?
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One of the tactics of the evil one is the use of manipulation and lies. The evil one seeks to confuse us in countless ways. These lies may come through the media, through our political leaders and, at times, even through some religious leaders. The evil one loves it when there is division and disorder of every kind.
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So what do we do if we want to be able to “interpret the present time?” We must wholeheartedly commit ourselves to the Truth. We must seek Jesus above all things through prayer and allow His presence in our lives to help us sort out what is from Him and what is not.
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Our societies present us with countless moral choices, so we may find ourselves being drawn here and there. We can find that our minds are challenged and, at times, find that even the most basic truths of humanity are attacked and distorted. Take, for example, abortion, euthanasia and traditional marriage. These moral teachings of our faith are continually under attack within the various cultures of our world. The very dignity of the human person and the dignity of the family as God designed it are called into question and directly challenged. Another example of confusion within our world today is the love of money. So many people are caught up in the desire for material wealth and have been drawn into the lie that this is the way to happiness. Interpreting the present time means we see through any and every confusion of our day and age. It means we see the cultural and moral errors for what they are.
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Reflect, today, upon whether or not you are willing and able to let the Holy Spirit cut through the confusion so manifestly present all around us. Are you ready to allow the Holy Spirit of Truth to penetrate your mind and lead you into all truth? Seeking the truth in our present time is the only way to survive the many errors and confusions thrown at us each day.
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| Lord of Truth, help me to interpret the present time and to see the errors fostered all around us, as well as Your goodness manifest in so many ways. Give me courage and wisdom so that I may reject what is evil and seek that which is from You. Jesus, I trust in You. |
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