Love others and try to bring them into the light

“He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening. Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.”

- Matthew 16:2-3

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus demanding He show them a sign from heaven to prove His authority. They had seen many miracles. They were members of the Sanhedrin, interpreting religious and civil law.

They should have known from the scriptures that the Messiah was standing before them. It seems they only studied the scriptures to tell people what they could or couldn’t do. They were spiritually blind.

They could understand the signs of the natural world but not the spiritual world. They knew the scriptures but failed to see their meaning. They could not see what was happening right in front of their eyes. Jesus rebuked them and called them hypocrites.

It is said that approximately 30 percent of the Bible is prophecy. It is there for a purpose. It shows God’s control over the times and the seasons. It shows His plans and His moving of events to accomplish it.

It is there for us to understand the times in which time we are living. We are to understand that God is in control and there is nothing for us to fear. We are to stay on mission and not be paralyzed or silenced.

Knowing prophecy enables us to see things coming to pass exactly the way God has said it would. It allows us to discern where we are on God’s calendar.

So what are we to do as we grow closer and closer to the return of Christ?

Peter said scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. We are to live peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in God’s sight. “So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Paul said we are to have no fellowship with them but expose the error. Things that dishonor God and destroy men’s souls cannot be taken lightly. We are to speak the truth in love.

Darkness is exposed when light shines on it. Speak the truth always to everyone. We do not fight. We do not take revenge. God is able to fight the battles. He is the only one who avenges evil righteously.

Speaking the truth is not popular with many people. It may cost you heartache. But once spoken, the words are in their minds and the Holy Spirit can work in them. What is a little heartache compared to what Christ has done for us?

In the parable of the ten talents, Jesus says to “Occupy until I come.” This means we are to work with whatever talents and gifts He has given us to bring an increase into His kingdom until He returns.

There is no retirement when it comes to loving others and trying to bring them into the light.