April 06 2025

Sunday April 06

Beware of Spiritual Dullness

Luke 12:54-59

54 Then He also said to the multitudes, "Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming'; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, 'There will be hot weather'; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? 57 "Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? 58 When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite."

Welcome to today’s pastor’s chat as we conclude Luke 12. Throughout this chapter, Jesus has issued powerful warnings—to the multitudes, the Pharisees, His disciples, and us. He’s cautioned against hypocrisy (vv. 1-12), covetousness (vv. 13-21), worry and fear (vv. 22-34). In verses 35-53, Jesus warns us of carelessness and is urging us to be faithful stewards of God’s resources and reminds us to be watching, waiting, and working, even as we face spiritual warfare, knowing that His coming and judgment is just around the corner. Now, in verses 54-59, Jesus closes with a sobering call: beware of spiritual dullness. Using two simple illustrations—the weather and a lawsuit—Jesus presses us to cultivate discernment and diligence in matters of eternal weight.

First, let’s consider discernment (Luke 12:54-57). Jesus turns to the crowd and says, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower’s coming,’ and so it is. And when you see a south wind blow, you say, ‘There’ll be hot weather,’ and there it is.” The people could read the sky like a book, predicting storms or heat with ease. Yet, Jesus calls them hypocrites: “You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?” The Jewish nation had centuries of prophetic Scriptures pointing to the Messiah, yet they missed Him standing right in front of them. Their religious leaders led them astray, blinding them to the signs of the times.

Isn’t this a mirror for us today? We live in an age of incredible knowledge—humans can predict planetary movements, split atoms, and land on the moon. We’ve mastered getting to the stars, but so many are clueless about getting to heaven. Our world boasts scientific brilliance but often lacks spiritual wisdom. Jesus challenges us: if we’re so quick to prepare for a storm we see coming, why aren’t we discerning the spiritual reality around us? The King has come, and He’s coming again. Are we awake to what God is doing?

Next, Jesus calls for diligence (Luke 12:58-59). He paints a picture of a lawsuit: “When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge delivers you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.” The message is clear—if someone sues you, you’d hustle to settle out of court, hiring a lawyer to avoid jail. You’d do whatever it takes to escape that fate. But how much more urgent is it to prepare for the ultimate Judge—Almighty God?

Jesus knew Israel was marching toward judgment. He wept over Jerusalem, foreseeing the Roman armies that would destroy the city and temple (Luke 19:41-44), yet the people wouldn’t repent. Their debt to God was piling up, and they’d pay the price. Today, the stakes are just as high for us. The storm of God’s wrath is coming, and as James 5:9 warns, “The Judge is standing at the door.” If we’d prepare for a physical storm or fight a lawsuit with all we’ve got, shouldn’t we be even more diligent about our souls? “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). The time to act is now.

So, what does this mean for us personally? Spiritual dullness creeps in when we get caught up in the busyness of life, relying on science, philosophy, or worldly answers to fill the deepest need of our hearts—a need only Jesus can meet. He alone offers salvation, a new heart, and eternal hope. We can’t afford to be like the crowd, sharp about the weather but blind to eternity. As stewards in these last days, we must stay alert, discerning God’s work and diligently preparing for His return.

Closing Challenge

Take a moment this week to examine your spiritual sharpness. Are you discerning the signs of the times, or are you distracted by the world’s noise? Pick one practical step—maybe a focused prayer time, a Scripture reading, or a conversation about faith—to sharpen your focus on what’s eternal. Act now, trusting Jesus to guide you.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that wakes us up. Forgive us for the times we’ve been spiritually dull, chasing worldly answers instead of You. Open our eyes to discern Your work in our lives and the world. Give us diligence to prepare our hearts for Your return, settling our debt through faith in Jesus. Help us live for what lasts, not what fades. Bless us with Your wisdom and peace today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God bless!