S. O. A. P.

Here’s your 90 second AM devotional!

S-cripture:

Luke 21:13

And so you will bear testimony to me.

O-bservation:

These words of Jesus were given just before He went to the cross. He told His disciples what signs to look for just before the destruction of the temple (in those days), and the end of the world as we know it (closer to our days). Luke is one of three synoptic gospels in the New Testament. The others are Matthew and Mark. In each of the three, JESUS spoke of these same signs to watch for. He said that unusual suffering and abuse would come to “Followers of Jesus” in the future. Then He said, “You will bear testimony to Me.”

A-pplication:

It’s one thing to GIVE a testimony; it’s an entirely different thing to BEAR a testimony. In other words, the spiritual and physical battles we BEAR here on earth include: Wins & Losses, Pain & Gain, Joy & Sorrow, and Hope & Despair just to name a few. And they all help to add up to the “WEIGHT” of our beliefs, convictions, and resolve for Jesus. St. Paul once said, “I BEAR in my body the marks of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:17b). And none of us would doubt the WEIGHT of Paul’s testimony. Certainly you’ve heard someone say, “I love the Lord.” Then you heard someone else say the same thing. And one of them seems to stand out MORE to you. You can’t explain it, but it just seems like the one carries more WEIGHT! It is OUR joy to BEAR testimony of OUR Lord today. But it’s probably good that we always ask Ourselves, “How Heavy Is MY Testimony?”

P-rayer:

Dear Jesus,

I guess as I read this verse this AM all I can say is … “Thanks for the pain, the losses, the sorrows, and the despair along the way. As Your servant, I must say, the heavier the better!” Amen