Tuesday 22 Nov 2022

November 22: Luke 21:5-11

Key Verse: Luke 21:8
He replied: ‘Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and, “The time is near.” Do not follow them.

Devotion:
One of the biggest temptations we face every day is the worldly treasures which surround us all the time. We tend to compare things by worldly standards and worldly riches – that way we can have what we think is a firm foundation from which to compare things from! Unfortunately that foundation is not all it seems to be. We think of things in this world as being firm and immovable, like buildings and mountains; to God these are just things which can be changed at any time...

I do like to see some of the wonders we have in our church buildings around the world, but the things which impress me most is the connection to God rather than the jewels or building parts. I would much rather see a small church whose walls are covered with scripture and pictures of how Jesus loves the world than a huge temple which stands firm because of it’s stone foundations.

Jesus wants to see the growth of the church through relationships with people instead of bigger and better buildings. Are those big buildings really a sign of the people’s love for God, or are they just bragging rights about how much people have done to impress others.

We are easily led by riches and worldly treasures because we live in this world which compares everything to everything else in physical ways. God does not want to compare us with each other – simply to compare what we are with what we could be – that is the way He wants to encourage us forward: to be bigger and better versions of ourselves working with and for God!

Points to Ponder:
How do you measure your success?

Will you simply try to be a better you?