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Day 5: Mark 13-Luke 6

Kane Killen, Facilities Associate at UPPERROOM

I love the way that this section of text lands.

We open with Mark's account of Jesus’ end times message and end with Luke's account of the Sermon on the Mount. In both writings of this sermon, Jesus systematically establishes that His Kingdom is wholly unlike the kingdom of the world. It's a kingdom of the poor where all men speaking well of you means that you're probably doing something wrong. The way you treat your enemies reveals more about your heart than the way you treat your friends.

All of these good fruits that naturally grow in the lives of the righteous, Jesus says boldly that none of these outward expressions matter when the shaking and the judgment comes (Luke 6:46-49.)

In Luke 6:46, Jesus begs the question, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?" Matthew's more detailed account of this verse reads:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬-‭23‬

So two verses later, when He is establishing that houses built on anything other than the Rock will not stand times of testing, He's directly referring to this kingdom dynamic. Good fruits only survive the shaking when they are birthed from knowing Him and being known by Him. The temptation hasn't changed since the beginning; will you seek the fruit or choose to know and be known by one that made the garden?

Verse 47 gives us three steps on how to build a life on the rock and produce lasting fruit.

Come to Me: In your hour of need, boldly approach the throne of Grace and share everything with Him, especially the things you feel like you can't.

Hear My words: Wait for His response and love the Bible and the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Act on them: Let His Word transform you and produce fruit in its perfect season.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you are the chief cornerstone. In the hour of shaking, let my life be built upon this good foundation. Give me the humility to wait and endure. Reawaken my love for Your voice today.