Reading: Luke 12:54-59

And he said also to the people, “When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.”
As humans, we have a fascination with the weather, we like to know if it is going to rain, if it is going to be a nice day, to anticipate what will happen. This is even more noticeable in towns that make their living through farming and agriculture, or in places where the weather can be hostile.
The Jews were experts in reading the signs of the weather. In reference to this, Jesus tells them that they should also use this ability to read and understand the times in their spiritual life.
The signs are clear; the Kingdom of God is near. Jesus travels the world calling the people to repentance. His identity and authority are evident in His power over sickness, demons, weather, and even death. But they refuse to see, to hear.
Today is a time when God continues to give us the opportunity to rid ourselves of sin, look at Jesus, and be aware of Him. There is grace, there is mercy. Today is still a day when we have the opportunity to repent and seek God.
We know that there will come a day when the Lord will return to judge all of us. Everyone will repent of their sins that day, standing in front of the Righteous and Holy Judge.
But today we still have time to experience the repentance that leads to salvation, makes us born again, and makes us contemplate in wonder the love that Jesus poured out in the cross.
If we do not accept God today, while His hand of grace and mercy is still extended, then our repentance will be filled with anguish for having rejected the only one who can save us.
Let us seek Him while He can still be found; let us call to Him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6)
Sometimes we have the tendency to think that the day when the Lord is coming to judge the earth is still far away, but none of us can be sure.
We can convince ourselves that we still have time to believe in Jesus, but in that day, if we haven’t already done it, it will be too late.

MEDITATE: Disciples of Jesus should always have an attitude of humility, repentance, and dependence on the cross. Never miss an opportunity to seek the Lord’s mercy.

Translation By: Emily Stader