May 13, 2019
Joel 2:28-32               
“And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your old men will dream dreams,
    your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
 I will show wonders in the heavens
    and on the earth,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors
    whom the Lord calls.
New International Version (NIV)
                Do you have the end of the world figured out?  A good friend once asked me if I agreed with a certain chart as I prepared to teach the book of Revelation on a Sunday night.  I told her that I was going to teach the text, not the charts which so many have compiled.  She lovingly said, “I can’t come.  I have it figured out and I don’t want to get confused.”  I appreciated her honesty.   

                The people of ancient Israel often believed they had figured out the end of the world.  They called it “the day of the Lord.”  In nationalistic pride they envisioned God judging all the other nations and exalting them.  Joel told them to repent to get ready for the day of the Lord.  “Rend your hearts and not your garments,” he preached (2:13).  Then he explained that the coming of the day of the Lord would involve an effusion or outpouring the Spirit.  Men and women, young and old would preach and see dreams.  Signs would appear in the skies before the dreadful day.  In the end God will save those who call upon his name.

                Jesus made it clear that he himself did not know the time of the end of the world.  The New Testament writers used these verses from Joel to explain that the coming of Jesus and the Holy Spirit were sure signs of the beginning of the day of the Lord.  At Pentecost, God’s Spirit fell powerfully on the disciples and they proclaimed the wonders of God.  Paul would later explain God’s purpose to the Romans quoting Joel, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

                Like those early disciples we live in the now but not yet.  Christ has come changing everything.  We await his return to set all things right in our world.  While we wait, we live as messengers of the good news.  God will save all who call on his name.  By all means, call on his name.
Pray with me:    
Father, we confess that we don’t understand all the details of Christ’s return.  Many who have claimed and charted and projected have been wrong.  But we know for sure you have sent us your Holy Spirit to complete the work of drawing all people to yourself.  And we know for sure that we have a chance today to invite others to cry out to you for salvation.  Let us not waste a moment trying to figure out dates and times.  Help us to live with expectancy.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.             
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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