Matthew 24:4-14 "Can You Drink this Cup?"

10/23/2009

As I read this scripture this morning it reminded me of breaking bread together, and then lifting the cup the other night and what we are really saying with that:

“Jesus told them, ‘Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won’t follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally the end will come’” (Matthew 24:4:-14).

I was reading from the NLT this morn and it really jumped out at me when it said, “But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.” I thought, “Whoa, Jesus knows exactly what word He chose there and that is a very strong and scary word.” It then goes into what some of those “horrors” are. Just hit me in a different, deeper, more sobering way in light of lifting the cup and knowing that this is what IS going to happen. It’s not a matter of if, but when. If not fully in our lifetime with us, then for our children. We will be arrested, persecuted and killed. We will be hated all over the world for our allegiance to Him. We will be betrayed and hated. Those are not just words on a page. We acknowledge and invite that for His sake when we lift the cup.

I decided to look up that verse in another translation to see how it was worded. The NIV says, “All these are the beginning of birth pains.” The Amplified says, “All this is but the beginning—the early pains of birth pangs—of the intolerable anguish.” While the word horror might not have been in their vocabulary back then, it does seem like it isn’t really a stretch to use it. While all that will be true, the GOOD NEWS of the Kingdom will be going out to the whole world and we already know who wins. We know love will prevail and conquer.

It has been good for me to consider and talk to Father about this this morning in light of lifting the cup the other night. I’m Very thankful to be on this journey with you all.

Love to you,

Donna xoxox