Matthew 16:1–4; Matthew 13:1–9; Matthew 13:18–23; Titus 2:11–14
Humanity has smashed the atom. Humanity has gone to the moon. Humanity can splice the fabric of life (DNA). Humanity sill hates. Humanity still wars. Humanity still fears.
A generation goes and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.What has been is what will be,
Ecclesiastes 1:4,9 (CSB)
and what has been done is what will be done;
there is nothing new under the sun
When Jesus talks about the sower, we can look around us and see plenty of people who are in rocky ground and amongst thorns. The reality is that it may be that far too many so-called Christians are exactly those. In seemingly crazy and desperate times such as this, it is very easy to be overcome.
Whether it is political change, racial tensions, economic chaos, world tension, changes in how the body of Christ (the church) gathers, there are so many things that cause people to uproot their own faith. They also become easy victims to those who oppose the Christian faith.
The writer of Ecclesiastes didn’t see the internet coming. Really, though, the internet is just a faster form of communication. In other words, the mode changed, but that’s it. Ultimately, from the view of Ecclesiastes, the human condition doesn’t change.
Our fellow Christians, maybe even you, are struggling right now. The church is as divided as the US. The church, sadly, reflects the world. The politics (left, right, and everything from the middle to the extremes) of the world are not the church and should have no place there.
This is hard for most of us, currently. Some are feeling persecuted for their faith. Others are wagging their tongues and figures regardless of whether “their” “side” won or lost the recent election (or have been perceived to). It is nothing new under the sun.
Paul‘s words to Titus provide some guidance. While the “present age” was Paul’s and Titus’ time, the Christians of the “present age” should be aggressively taking Paul’s words to heart.
※Questions※
1) What do you think it means to “live in a sensible, righteous, and Godly way”? (Titus 2:12)
2) How have you been living like that in the current cultural/political environment?
3) How were your answers more worldly than Godly?
※Prayer※
Jesus, help us to walk in your footsteps. Amen.