Do you know how to analyze this present time? In today’s passage we find Jesus turning from speaking to His disciples, and now speaking to the onlooking crowd. Jesus was imploring them to see the Messiah right in their faces and to submit their lives to Him. As we often see in Scripture, the words also resonate and are applicable for us today. We know how to judge the weather — in fact, we have precise technology now to guide our judgement. But do we know how to analyze this present time? There may be less of an excuse for us as we have access to Christ’s Spirit in us. And as we do with the weather, we also have technology (television and phones) that should help us to analyze this present time and turn to Him.

In yesterday‘s Daily, Michelle quoted Ephesians 6 in saying “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood” but rather “the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”. Too many Christians are not acquainted with the level of darkness in this age. Though Scripture makes it clear that he is, to many the idea that Satan is the ruler and the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4.4) is foreign. We see deep, inhuman darkness (like Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful friends’ twisted behavior, or kids continuing to be exploited at the border) and behave as if what we are seeing is somehow normal. We have seen news over the last handful of years that should shock us into understanding that we are entering into an openly dark age. Do we not know how to analyze the time? And then when we analyze the time, what is our response? Analysis is only the start. Action must follow. But there is good news: we don’t have to play God and the victory does not rely on us.

We have two commands in response.

[Luke 12.54-56]

54 “And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. You hypocrites! 56 You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Do you see the symbiology Christ was employing in saying, “you know how to analyze the ‘earth and sky’”.

+ In v. 56 He asked “why” they didn’t analyze the present age.

+ Why do you think the crowd didn’t?

+ Do you think this problem persists today?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Obedience must consume us (Romans 12.11: “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord”), but it need not overwhelm us. Jesus will do the work. We simply need to draw near to Him and He will draw near to us.

+ This is the sequence from Matthew 22.37-39:

 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

After we draw near, He will give us eyes to see the darkness and the urgency to express love to those who desperately need it (without feeling hopeless).

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ We need not cower at the darkness (though it is dark). Jesus is never asking us to play the role of God. But He is asking us to play our part. Are you walking with others in discipleship? If you’ve had problems starting, are you reaching out to your church elders? Are you praying that Christ’s Spirit would indwell within you to unpack discipleship for you? Are you walking with the hurt and broken in the world, those vulnerable to the darkness? Our Master is coming back. Let us analyze the present time and respond.