Led Astray

Daily Reading: Luke 21

Scripture Focus: See that you are not led astray. (Luke 21.8)

Devotional Thought: "Let's stand as we go to the Lord in prayer..." I said it confidently. I said it commandingly. I said it clearly. I said it... wrong. Somehow, I had gotten the wrong service order tucked in my Bible. The worship team sat there frozen. On the screen, a video in honor of our veterans was beginning to play. Oops... I was leading everybody astray!

That's funny - even though it is embarrassing. But, Jesus spoke of a time when to be led astray would be anything but humorous, and embarrassment would be the least of our concerns. He is returning, and we need to be ready.

In Luke 21, we read about some things that could lead us astray:

· Nations (v. 9): History teaches us that nations are always at war and that civilizations rise and fall. To follow a particular party or leader could lead to disaster!

· Earthquakes, famines, pestilences, terrors, and signs in heaven (v. 11): Focus on these things will cause us to fear. Fear leads to bad decisions.

· Persecution (v. 12): Satan brings this pressure to bear upon us to cause us to deny our faith.

· Dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life (v. 34): When we get too attached to "things" they may drag us over a cliff.

It is up to us to "see that we are not led astray.” We can do that by:

· Knowing the Bible.

· Holding loosely to the things of this world.

· Staying connected to the people of God.

· Praying for wisdom and strength.

· Counting the cost.

Keep your eyes on Jesus! He will never lead you astray.

Prayer: Grant me wisdom, O Lord, to know the truth and courage to follow it. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 144.1-8

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; 2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

3 O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke! 6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them! 7 Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of foreigners, 8 whose mouths speak lies and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.