Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
What is the one thing you hate doing most of all? So why do you do it? Out of a sense of duty, fear, responsibility, love, all of those? We all face those tasks at some point, Jesus taught us how.
Scripture
Luke 22:40-42
Jesus: Pray for yourselves, that you will not sink into temptation.
He distanced Himself from them about a stone’s throw and knelt there, praying.
Jesus: Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me. Yet not My will, but Your will, be done.
Devotional
Jobs you just don’t want to do.
Dusting
Dishes
Yardword
Painting
We do them most of the time without too much complaint even when we don’t want to
Sometimes talk others into doing them
Sometimes swap with others
Sometimes hire out the work
Every once in awhile get tasks that no one can do but us
Our responsibility
Can’t shirk or put it off
Must be done
But nothing like what Jesus faced
He wanted out of His task
About to bear the weight of the world’s sins on His shoulders
Pay the penalty required for each of our sins
Guiltless but paying anyway
Asked if there was any other way to let Him take that alternate way
Resolved to do what the Father wanted rather than what He wanted
May ask us to do some things we don’t want to do
May be unpleasant or difficult
Can be sure they will never be as difficult as what Jesus did for us
He will help us accomplish whatever He tells us to do
He understands our reluctance to do difficult things because He’s been there
He also knows the importance of doing what the Father asks, because He’s been there
Not my will but Your will, can you say that from your heart
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Ever make a big promises that you didn’t keep? Peter made a whopper of a promise. Jesus caught him in his failure in less than half a day. Remember what that promise was?
Scripture
Luke 22:31-32
Jesus: Simon, Simon, how Satan has pursued you, that he might make you part of his harvest. But I have prayed for you. I have prayed that your faith will hold firm and that you will recover from your failure and become a source of strength for your brothers here. Peter:Lord, what are You talking about? I’m going all the way to the end with You—to prison, to execution—I’m prepared to do anything for You. Jesus: No, Peter, the truth is that before the rooster crows at dawn, you will have denied that you even know Me, not just once, but three times. Remember when I sent you out with no money, no pack, not even sandals? Did you lack anything? Disciples: Not a thing. Jesus: It’s different now. If you have some savings, take them with you. If you have a pack, fill it and bring it. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one. Here’s the truth: what the Hebrew Scriptures said, “And He was taken as one of the criminals,” must come to fruition in Me. These words must come true. Disciples: Look, Lord, we have two swords here. Jesus: That’s enough.
Devotional
Peter is like a lot of us.
Think we can stand the test
Make promises we can’t keep
Crumble under the intense pressure against us
Honest with ourselves
We’ve done the same
Failed to honor Him in the tough times
Kept silent when He said to speak
Went the path of least resistance
Denied Him when the pressure was on
Jesus says something important
I have prayed for you
That you faith will hold firm
That you will recover from your failure
That you will become a source of strength for your brothers
Peter still failed that night and many other times recorded in the New Testament
Recognized his failure
Repented
Learned from his errors
Became stronger in his faith each time
Finally was executed for his faith
Jesus prayer extends to us as He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us
That our faith will hold firm
That we will recover from any failure
That we will become a source of strength for our brothers and sisters
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Have you ever felt like you had some dread disease when you were going through tough times? Did you feel like everyone abandoned you? Jesus had something to say about that.
Scripture
Luke 22:28-30
You have stood beside Me faithfully through My trials. I give you a kingdom, just as the Father has given Me a kingdom. You will eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will have authority over the twelve tribes of Israel.
Devotional
I had an interesting experience midway through my military career that taught me a good lesson about being there for people in all kinds of circumstances.
1987 Major’s promotion board – non-select
Friends disappeared
Didn’t know what to say or do
Avoided me like it was contagious
Records missing and went to relook, selected, and promoted on time
There were a few the called and stood by throughout the ordeal
Right or wrong they were with me
All knew me and my faith and knew I’d make it through the situation
Others watched on the sidelines to see how I would react
Made me empathetic toward non-selects the next 18 years of my career
Never shied away from them
Knew how they felt
Knew how to help them through the process if they chose to appeal
Some of those have become closest friends
Stayed in touch long after retirement if 10 years is a long time
Jesus looked around at those twelve around the table and felt the same way
Many left because of His preaching
Many left because of the ridicule they receive
Many left because of the pressure from the religious leaders
Promises for those who remain through the trials
Best news for me
You will eat and drink at My table
Eternity with Him
70 or 80 years of enduring what the world dishes out is not so much in terms of eternity, is it?
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
The description Jesus gave the public servants of His day isn’t far from the description we could give the public servants of our day. Stick around and see what He has to say.
Scripture
Luke 22:25-27
Jesus(interrupting): The authority figures of the outsiders play this game, flexing their muscles in competition for power over one another, masking their quest for domination behind words like “benefactor” or “public servant.” But you must not indulge in this charade. Instead, among you, the greatest must become like the youngest and the leader must become a true servant. Who is greater right here as we eat this meal—those of us who sit at the table, or those who serve us? Doesn’t everyone normally assume those who are served are greater than those who serve? But consider My role among you. I have been with you as a servant.
Devotional
This past year during our election process we sure saw a lot of that gaming and muscle flexing, didn’t we.
All those politicians talking about what good public servants they would be and how well they would serve our interests as citizens.
Yet, somehow more than half of those long-term congressmen and women on just $174,000 annual salary becoming millionaires
Is that really public service?
Talk a lot of how they will help us, but seem to help themselves a lot more than helping us
Scandals in their internal banking system
Scandals in travel accounts
Scandals in abuse of privileges
Scandals with congressional aides, pages, and staff
We do have examples of real public servants
Police responding to crime and getting violent people off the streets
Fire department responding to fires
Medical personnel in multiple disciplines
Counselors in a variety of specialties
Even among those real public servants, we find competition
Chiefs
Hierarchy
Department heads
Within those organizations the servants do a lot of infighting to get to the top
Jesus gives us a different way
Greatest will be least, least will be greatest
Servants receive the greatest honor
He is our example
How do we stop the competitive spirit within us and become a true servant?
Follow Jesus example
Let Him into your heart
Die to self let Him be Lord
Only then can you really serve as He served
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
We use a lot of things to help us remember important events in our lives. Jesus’ words today gives us an important memento to help us do just that.
Scripture
Luke 22:16-22
Jesus: It has been My deep desire to eat this Passover meal with you before My suffering begins. Know this: I will not eat another Passover meal until its meaning is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
He took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it.
Jesus: Take this; share it among yourselves. Know this: I will not drink another sip of wine until the kingdom of God has arrived in fullness.
Then He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with them.
Jesus: This is My body, My body given for you. Do this to remember Me.
And similarly, after the meal had been eaten, He took the cup.
Jesus: This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant, made in My blood. But even now, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on this table. As it has been determined, the Son of Man, that firstfruit of a new generation of humanity, must be betrayed, but how pitiful it will be for the person who betrays Him.
Devotional
Time to think back about last year
successes
failures
goals left undone
happy memories
sad memories
Establish tokens or mementos to remember those events
Ticket stubs
Photos
Souvenir
Last Supper is the memento Jesus gave us to always remember the event that established the means for our salvation – His sacrifice on the cross
Penalty for sin
Eternal death
Separation from God
Blackness of isolation
We all sin
Jesus paid that penalty for us
Institution of memento to remind us of the price He paid for us; gift He gives
In 2017, your church will no doubt participate in the Lord’s Supper, Communion, the Eucharist, whatever name you call this sacrament several times in 2017.
Remember why Jesus gave us this memento
Remember the suffering He endured for your sins
Remember the blood He shed in payment as the penalty you should pay
Remember the death He experienced so you can have life eternal with Him
It’s not just a ritual we go through, let it truly touch your life each time you share
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
What does it mean to guard your heart? Have you ever thought about that? Let’s see what Jesus has to say.
Scripture
Luke 21:34-36
So be careful. Guard your hearts. They can be made heavy with moral laxity, with drunkenness, with the hassles of daily life. Then the day I’ve been telling you about might catch you unaware and trap you. Because it’s coming—nobody on earth will escape it. So you have to stay alert, praying that you’ll be able to escape the coming trials so you can stand tall in the presence of the Son of Man.
Devotional
Have you ever thought much about that command from Jesus? Guard your hearts.
We aren’t doing very well as a society.
Description of what He said makes it heavy
Moral laxity
Drunkenness
Hassles of life
Drag by day after day with heavy hearts, what does it mean?
Sounds a lot like depression – listless, purposeless, everything hard
Anxiety – worry about everything, anything that can go bad will go bad for you
Frustration – things never work out the way they should according to your plan
Despair – never get there, never succeed, never accomplish your goals
Direct result of some of those warnings.
Think tolerance of all things would improve society, it hasn’t and it won’t
Drunkenness loosens judgment, leads to moral laxity, creates the same problems
Nothing good happens after midnight
Never lose control of mental faculties unless under a doctors care
Rut of daily life underwhelm and make us trudge through life
Military know how to guard things.
Put barriers in place, physical and electronic, to keep the enemy out
Put warriors in place to keep watch on all those barriers to make sure no one and nothing slips through
Trains almost daily, even while in combat, to make sure they are ready to face the enemy and repel him
Do we know how to guard our hearts against the enemy?
Do we even try in these days? Sometimes I’m not sure we do as I look at the state of the world and our society.
Back to Jesus warning – Guard your hearts. They can be made heavy with moral laxity, with drunkenness, with the hassles of daily life.
Moral laxity – rampant
Drunkenness – 20% of all drivers on the road are intoxicated, that means over the legal limits, with drugs or alcohol, but over 65% of all drivers are on the road with a buzz or some sedation from drugs or alcohol. Drunkenness? Here!
Hassles of daily life – road rage, gun sales, violence, hatred spring up everywhere
criticisms instead of complements
petitions instead of praise
complaints instead of thanksgiving
we live in a pessimistic, hate filled time surrounded by evil
How do we guard our hearts?
Spend time with God
Listen to Him from His word, hymns, devotionals,
Pray – a lot
Study His word, don’t just read it
Keep garbage out
Put up barriers to the things Satan would use to fill your mind
Be aware of your weaknesses and watch carefully in those areas
Did I say pray – a lot
By the way – pray – a lot
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Can you tell time without a watch? Jesus tells us how today. Stay tuned to learn how.
Scripture
Luke 21:29-33
(continuing with a parable) Look over there at that fig tree—and all the trees surrounding it. When the leaves break out of their buds, nobody has to tell you that summer is approaching; it’s obvious to you. It’s the same in the larger scheme of things. When you see all these things happening, you can be confident that the kingdom of God is approaching. I’m telling you the truth: this generation will not pass from the scene before everything I’m telling you has occurred.Heaven and earth will cease to exist before My words ever fail.
Devotional
Gretchen and Gilley demonstrations of needs
Gretchen
Paw face for food
Turn head to go outside
Growl and nip at pants to go to bed
Gilley
Paws on seat and stretch for food
Turn circles to go outside
Runs to bed when he wants
Don’t need to talk, understand what they need and what’s coming if I don’t take care of their needs.
Not good with doorknobs
Will eat when they get hungry enough
Will relieve themselves at some point wherever they are
I pay attention to their signs; if you have animals and toddlers you understand
Signs come like clockwork; 7:30, noon, 4:30, 9:00, 10:30 bed
Know what time it is by their behavior
Just like my example, Jesus used the example of the fig tree to let His hearers know things are about to happen
seasons
weather
illness
tragedies
He laid out all the signs that would precede
End of time
Return
Taking His bride home
Judgment
We watch the signs for the things we are interested in, but do we watch for the signs of the truly important things in life
Told us He’s coming
Told us to watch
Told us what to look for
We ignore all the indicators
Will we be able to watch the signs and know what time it is? 2017 might just be a very interesting year for more reasons than you thought when the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve.
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
* Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk With God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
* Do you want to face the new year with your head up or with fear and foreboding? Jesus gives us a clue.
* music intro
* You can subscribe to the podcast, send me comments to let me know what you think of the devotional, and listen to past devotionals at richardagee.com. That’s richardagee.com.
* music intro
* Scripture
* In Luke 21:20-28, Jesus said, “Here’s how you will know that the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple is imminent: Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies. When that happens, there’s only one thing to do: if you’re in Judea, flee to the mountains; and if you’re inside the city, escape; and if you’re outside the city, stay there—don’t enter— because the time has come for the promised judgment to fall. How sad it will be for all the pregnant women, for all the nursing mothers in those days! All the land of Israel and all her people will feel the distress, the anger, falling on them like rain. The sword will cut some down, the outsider nations will take others captive, and this holy city, this Jerusalem, will be trampled upon by the outsiders until their times are fulfilled.
* There will be earth-shattering events—the heavens themselves will seem to be shaken with signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. And across the earth the outsider nations will feel powerless and terrified in the face of a roaring flood of fear and foreboding, crashing like tidal waves upon them. “What’s happening to the world?” people will wonder. The cosmic order will be destabilized. And then, at that point, they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and blazing glory. So when the troubles begin, don’t be afraid. Look up—raise your head high, because the truth is that your liberation is fast approaching.
* Devotional
* Jesus could see what would happen to Jerusalem forty years away.
* Roman siege
* destruction of temple
* killing of innocents
* Jerusalem destroyed
* Gives warning to His disciples to avoid the city to save their lives
* Gives warning about the end of times, too
* Son of Man returning in a cloud with power and blazing glory
* heavens shaken
* signs in celestial bodies
* overwhelming sense of fear and foreboding
* Signs point to the end of time
* Liberation is coming fast
* Don’t be afraid
* Hold heads high
* Victory is near
* Look around
* signs are everywhere
* fear and foreboding seem to cloud the thinking of the whole world
* Syria
* ISIS
* terrorists
* US election
* Son of Man’s return is on the horizon
* Hold your head up, don’t be afraid, He’s coming soon
* music exit
* If you want to know more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
* music exit
* Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk With God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
* Have you ever thought about this question, “If Jesus promised not a single hair of your heads will be harmed. Why are there so many martyrs and so much persecution for His followers?”
* music intro
* You can follow along in a year long Bible reading program at richardagee.com where you can also subscribe to the podcast, send me comments to let me know what you think of the devotional, and listen to past devotionals. That’s richardagee.com.
* music intro
* Devotional
* In Luke 21:18–19 Jesus said: But whatever happens, not a single hair of your heads will be harmed. By enduring all of these things, you will find not loss but gain—not death but authentic life.
* Promise of no
* persecution
* beating
* imprisonment
* execution
* More – gain instead of loss; authentic life instead of death
* Never more than today
* Middle east
* Africa
* Russia
* China
* India
* Even in United States beginnings of rights removed, persecution evident, followers hated
* All the same problems as everyone else plus persecution
* What does Jesus mean? Contradiction?
* We take out of context
* Forget what comes before and after these verses
* Want to use part of a discourse to our benefit
* Like to twist promises to suit our wants
* What does Jesus mean?
* Verses in the middle of end times discourse
* Signs
* Events
* Interlude to comfort disciples
* Picture scene
* surrounded by disciples
* listening intently
* growing fear of description
* Jesus sees fear
* Calms with promise of what happens for His followers during the end times
* Put verses back into context
* We have nothing to worry about
* Still hated by the world
* Still face persecution until He comes
* Still suffer as followers
* Notice He says “if we endure all these things”, means we go through them
* After the signs have come
* earthquakes, floods, drought, famine, disease
* wars, nations fighting against each other and fighting within themselves
* Then we enjoy the promises He gives
* Jesus comes again
* Returns victoriously
* No more suffering
* No more martyrdom
* No more persecution
* No more loss
* No more death
* Today’s words from Jesus:
* Encouragement that the end brings relief from the evil of this world
* …life everlasting
* …indescribable joy
* …eternal praise and worship of the King of kings in His presence
* Disciples needed that interlude of encouragement
* We need it today, too.
* music exit
* If you want to know more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”
* music exit
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Luke 21:6-17 Jesus: Go ahead, look around, and be impressed; but days are coming when one stone will not be left standing on another. Everything here will be demolished. Crowd: When will this happen, Teacher? What signs will tell us this is about to occur? Jesus: Be careful. It’s easy to be deceived. Many people will come claiming to have My authority. They’ll shout, “I’m the One!” or “The time is now!” Don’t take a step in their direction. You’ll hear about wars and conflicts, but don’t be frightened at all because these things must surely come, although they don’t signify the immediate coming of the end. You can count on this: nation will attack nation, and kingdom will make war on kingdom. There will be disturbances around the world—from great earthquakes to famines to epidemics. Terrifying things will happen, and there will be shocking signs from heaven. But before any of this happens, they will capture you and persecute you. They’ll send you to synagogues for trial and to prisons for punishment; you’ll stand before kings and government officials for the sake of My name. This will be your opportunity—your opportunity to tell your story. Make up your mind in advance not to plan your strategy for answering their questions, for when the time comes, I will give you the words to say—wise words—which none of your adversaries will be able to answer or argue against. Your own parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn on you and turn you in. Some of you will be killed, and all of you will be hated by everyone for the sake of My name.
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
It seems like the topic of the end times comes up a lot in Jesus’ words. As I looked back over the year I noticed a lot of podcasts that mentioned those earthquakes and famines, wars and rumors of wars. Signs that Jesus talked about that will point to the end of this age and the beginning of the next when we will stand before Him at God’s judgment seat.
So why does Jesus say so much about the end of time and the judgment? Why does He talk about the signs that lead up to those terrible days for those that will face them? Why does He give us so much information about His coming again to take His church to be with Him?
It must be important or He wouldn’t say so much about it. I think He also wants to make sure we are not surprised by His coming. He gives us all the signs. He tells us all the things that will precede His return. All of them have happened. We have had wars ever since He left. I can’t remember a time of peace around the world since He left. There are more than 70 conflicts going on around the world today between nations. He tells us about earthquakes and if you look at the statistics on earthquakes they are intensifying and coming at a much higher frequency than ever before. The world is literally coming apart at its seams.
We are seeing strange weather patterns, odd tides, jet streams, creating unusual weather. We see droughts lasting longer and flooding in 500 year flood plains. All the signs are there. He could come at any time and not do disservice to any of the prophecies about His return.
What does all of that mean? Be ready. I’m releasing this podcast on the last day of 2016. It could be the last day. We might never see 2017. It could happen. I’m hopeful that God will give the church a chance to introduce Him to more people so that His kingdom will grow. I’m hopeful that in this new year Christians will recognize how short time is and take a stand for God. That we will really stand out as followers of Jesus the Messiah. I’m hopeful that the persecutions around the world will be such that those that sully the name of Christ by carrying His name but have no relationship with Him will stop identifying themselves as Christians so that the real bride of Christ can be recognized as the spiritual warriors they really are.
I’m hopeful that real revival will break out and people will understand their broken condition and fall to their knees and seek mercy and forgiveness from the living God who created them and longs to save them from their sins. I’m hopeful for a lot of things in this coming year.
But it all starts with me. Am I willing to be that person who, like the psalmist, falls to my knees and asks God to inspect my heart to see if there is any unclean thing in me. And whatever He might find, remove it at whatever cost so that there is nothing between me and my Savior. Are you willing to be that same kind of person this coming year? If all of us who claim Christ as our Savior will do the same, imagine what a year 2017 can be.
