AFLC World Missions Devotional
Pastor David Nelson
10/1/2014
1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:1-14 (ESV)
As Jesus’ disciples were admiring the beautiful buildings of the temple, Jesus warned them of the trouble that would come upon them and upon others who would trust in Him. When? That was the question that the disciples had for Jesus. When will this happen? We know that the temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. We also know that there have been false prophets and false christs from the beginning of the Christian Church. Unfortunately, these false teachers will be around until the Day of Judgment. “See that no one leads you astray,” is how Jesus warned them. That was not exactly the specific answer they sought.
Anything else? Yes, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.” If those first disciples lived in our day they might have asked where their “better life now” and “trust in Jesus and your problems will go away” fit in. It seems like it will get more and more difficult, not easier. Should I just give up now? Will my local congregation really make a difference? Jesus challenged them (and us!) in verse 13, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” I don’t think I can. In fact, I know I can’t! No, you can’t. Not in your own strength. But Jesus sent us His Holy Spirit who will help and empower us.
If we don’t know when the end will come, and if we know that it will be more difficult before Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead, maybe that awareness will help us focus on our priorities. What are will called to do until the end? We know this from verse 14: “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Of course every Christian and every Christian congregation is to love their neighbor, show mercy on those who are suffering, and have compassion for those who are suffering. But that is not the Gospel. I am not the Gospel. You are not the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news that is to be shared with everyone: Jesus, the very Son of God, lived a perfect live, suffered, and died on a cross to pay for my sins and for the sins of the world. Sometimes our deeds of mercy, done in love, will give us an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus. The Holy Spirit brings about repentance (a change of mind about sin) through the law of God—the wages of sin is death—we are convinced that we, too, are sinners and cannot save ourselves. Then the Holy Spirit creates faith through the gospel when we hear the comfort and assurance that your sins are forgiven you for Jesus’ sake. Each of our congregations will have some way of showing Christian love to those who are hurting. But each congregation is also to focus on evangelism—sharing the gospel with those who do not know Jesus, and discipleship—helping Christians grow in their faith in Jesus and the trustworthiness of the written Scriptures.
As the AFLC, we want our missionary endeavors to show Christian love and mercy. But also to help with getting God’s Word in the language of the people, to begin new free and living Lutheran congregations where people will be built up in Word and sacrament ministry, and training for pastors, teachers, and those who will bring the good news of Jesus to those who are needing to hear it. Pray for and support those already sent. Pray that God would raise up more to be sent. Until the Lord’s return, the Church’s task is an unfinished one. May the Lord continue to empower His Church to finish her task of making disciples of all the ethnic groups of the world.
