Thursday, March 31, 2016

Divine Appointments - March 31 Readings: Acts 8:4-40


Context

In Acts 1:8 Jesus gave the disciples his final word, telling them that after the Spirit's power came on them they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. The problem was that the disciples stayed in Jerusalem and showed no signs of moving the gospel outside of that city even to Judea and Samaria (the ancient nation of Israel), much less the ends of the earth. That only happened when persecution fell on them in Jerusalem and people like Philip (the star of today's reading) was sent to Samaria and then to the Judean wilderness.

On the Baptism of the Spirit:  The discussion rages about whether the baptism comes at salvation or whether it is subsequent to it - a second blessing. Those who believe in the second blessing point to Acts 8, in which the baptism fell on the Samaritans and to Acts 10 in which the Gentiles experienced it as proof that even after Pentecost the Spirit's baptism was an event subsequent to salvation. A few perspectives here.

  • There is a key authority issue here. The Apostles in Jerusalem were the ones through whom the gospel and truth would be revealed. If the Spirit had been given independently of them, the Samaritans might have felt no need to submit to the Apostles' Teaching and been prone to following other gospels.
  • The three "baptisms" in Acts follow the general outline. In Acts 2, the Jews are baptized in the Spirit. In Acts 8, it is the Samaritans, then in Acts 10 it is the Gentiles. This follows the teaching of Acts 1:8 (Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth). 
  • After Acts 10, the Spirit has come on all peoples and there is no other evidence of a post-salvation baptism. (In Acts 19, it is disciples of John who are converted and receive the Spirit). 
  • In 1 Corinthians 12:13 and other passages, the baptism of the Spirit is viewed as a past experience common to ALL believers. 
  • After Pentecost (all three phases - Jew, Samaritan, Gentile) there is no command in any of the Epistles to seek the baptism of the Spirit. It is assumed that every believer is already baptized and must be obedience to and filled by the Spirit who already indwells him or her. 
There is no evidence to support Spirit baptism as a second-blessing experience and ample evidence to see it as simultaneous with salvation.

Two events happen here in this passage. First, we have the spread of the gospel to the Samaritans, the first non-Jewish evangelistic outreach, and the Samaritan Pentecost. Then Philip is taken to the wilderness where he meets the eunuch who is a God-fearer, possibly a diaspora Jew.

Philip ends the chapter in Caesarea, a Roman town by the sea, one that becomes a key to the later Gentile expansion of the gospel. 

Devotional - Divine Appointments

It was not a call that many preachers would have accepted. Most of the time we tend to want to receive the calls that take us from smaller churches to bigger, from low pay to larger pay, that help us climb the ladder. But Philip got a call that few preachers would want to take.

He was in the middle of a true revival in Samaria. It was so extreme that "Samaria had received the word of God," - a movement of God's Spirit so dramatic none of us have seen its like. People were being healed and freed from evil spirits and these were no charlatans with their parlor tricks but real acts of God's Spirit. Great miracles were being performed - the greatest of them was the salvation of lost Samaritans who were receiving the gospel.

In the middle of that great work, God spoke to Philip and told him to go down from Jerusalem to Gaza (v. 24). That road is pretty barren - a true wilderness. God told him to leave a massive revival to wander a lonely road in a wilderness. Why? Because God puts his people where they need to be. He matches his people with lost people in need. This was a divine appointment in which God was playing eternal, cosmic matchmaker.

On that road, Philip encountered a man from Ethiopia who was spiritually interested. God was at work in his life, the Spirit was moving. And as the Spirit was moving, God made sure there was a man of God there to help. God uses us in his process of evangelism. He matches the person he is working ON with the person he is working THROUGH. That's why we need to be ready to speak when God gives us opportunities.

Philip followed the Spirit's lead, explaining that which the man was reading, telling him that the words of Isaiah pointed to Jesus who had died and risen. He led the man from confusion to Christ. Our goal is always to simply and directly point people to Christ.

Of course, most of our encounters are not as clean as this one, but we must remember that God is at work around us and the Spirit is at work in us. He arranges his servants so that we are available to minister to those in need when his Spirit is dealing with their souls. We must only be praying, be ready, be watchful and available to the God who arranges our appointments!
Lord, thank you for working in us and in this lost and dying world, and bringing us together with those in need. Help me to be sensitive and to have my eyes open to those divine appointments you set for me. 
Think and Pray

Are you watchful during your day for those divine appointments God sets for you, or do you walk through your day oblivious to his workings?
How can you be more sensitive to God's activity and watchful?

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Faithful to Death - March 30 Readings: Acts 6:8-8:3


Context

The brewing trouble between the disciples and the religious leaders spilled out into open war when one of the seven, Stephen, confronted Israel's leaders about their sin. In chapter 4 they were commanded not to preach, in chapter 5 the Apostles were beaten. But here the persecution went to the ultimate extreme and Stephen lost his life.

Ominously, the last view verses introduce us to a character who will become both the greatest enemy of the church and its greatest missionary - Saul of Tarsus. He gave approval to Stephen's death, then later gave his own life for Christ.

Devotional - Faithful to Death

Their anger against Stephen exploded. They plugged their ears (like children) so that they could not hear his words anymore and gnashed their teeth in wrath. Screaming at him, they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. Stephen became the first Christian martyr that day.  

Why? The answer is simple. The religious leaders did not like the sermon he preached. Throughout Acts 7 he reminded them of the faithfulness of God in Israel's history. That was the good part. But he also reminded them of the incessant sin, rebellion and idolatry of Israel and they didn't like that too much. Verses 51-53 record the offending words that sent the leaders into a vengeful lather. 
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

How could anyone get offended by that, right? It's not hard to see that the religious leaders might find those words harsh and react to them with pique. Being called stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts is likely to offend. 

But the words were true. Stephen spoke the truth, even though it was not popular. Israel had been and still was walking contrary to God's revelation. They had created their own system of religion based on human ideas instead of God's revelation. They claimed to follow God's Law but it was actually one of their own creation and their hearts were not right with God. Stephen was in the process of speaking truth and would have no doubt gotten to the story of Jesus and the gospel of salvation through him. He did not make it that far. 

Stephen did what many modern preachers will not do, he forcefully confronted the sin of his hearers and he called them to repent. That is why he died. 

We, perhaps, do not have to be as direct or as confrontational as Stephen was that day every time we share Christ. But we can learn from this story that there is a choice that each of us has to make as we go out into this world. Either we will be faithful to the Word and to the truth, thereby incurring the wrath of the sinful world, or we will compromise the truth and proclaim truths that massage egos, tickle ears and evoke positive emotions but do not accurately reflect the Word of God. You cannot both be faithful to God's truth and preach a popular message to a sinful world. It's one or the other. 

In this election year, as we think about the spiritual condition of the USA, let us remember that compromise and the search for popularity and acceptance by the world will never win the day. That spiritual compromise that we see so much of today, which seeks to gain the favor of man and other the world more that the pleasure of God, will never actually change anything. Only as we put ourselves under God's authority and faithfully call our family, friends, and neighbors to repent and to submit fully to God's Word in all things. 
Father, help me to be faithful to you and your Word, regardless of the cost or consequences. 

Think and Pray

Are you willing to stand for righteousness and truth regardless of its popularity or how people respond?

Or do you hide the truth to avoid offending or having people pest with you?

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Unstoppable! March 29 Readings: Acts 5:1-6:7


NOTE: At the bottom of today's reading is a brief overview of the Book of Acts. 

Context

The resistance of the Pharisees which began in chapters 3 and 4 is ratcheted up in the readings today. The disciples continued to testify to Christ in spite of the obstacles. That is one of the key themes of Acts - overcoming obstacles to proclaim Christ. There are three key obstacles encountered and hurdled here for the cause of Christ. 
  • False Christianity - there will always be some who are inside the church but are not what they seem. Ananias and Sapphira sinned not by holding back part of the money for themselves - giving was voluntary. Their sin was lying and pretending to be what they were not. Faking faith is an affront to the God of truth. 
  • Persecution - t=The resistance from the outside became more aggressive than it was in the first encounter in chapter 4. No mere command was enough. Here the disciples were actually imprisoned and beaten for Christ, but they considered it a privilege to suffer for him and continued to rejoice. 
  • Busyness - the burdens of ministry are the hurdle in chapter 6. In the growing church, the Apostles were being distracted from their spiritual ministry by the day-to-day tasks of food distribution. So the church appointed a group of seven men who would take care of those daily tasks so that the Apostles could minister the word and pray. 

The key here is that the church faced each of these and continued to grow! By the Spirit's power, every obstacle was overcome. 

Devotional - Unstoppable!

You had to feel just a little bit sorry for the Pharisees and other opponents of the work of Jesus Christ in the Early Church.

They seemed to have all the power, or they thought they did. The Temple authorities had arrested the Apostles in an attempt to intimidate them and keep them from preaching about Jesus Christ. But the next day when they got up, thinking the Apostles were where they had placed them, they found that the troublesome followers of Jesus were back out in the Temple courts proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and stirring up more trouble.

There was nothing to do but to tighten the screws a little.  They arrested them again and upped the ante on the threats against them, warning them to stop their evangelistic work. This didn't work any better than their previous efforts had.

In Acts 5:29 the Apostles replied that they had to obey God and could not obey their commands. They continued to tell the world that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead no matter what anyone did to them. If they warned them, they proclaimed Christ. If they arrested them, they proclaimed Christ. If they beat them, they rejoiced and proclaimed Christ. If they killed them, those who were left continued to proclaim Christ.

The Pharisees could hate Jesus and could oppress those who sided with him, those who believed in and served him. But they could not stop the work of God in the church. They grew angrier, more frustrated, more aggressive, but nothing they did worked to stop the gospel story from spreading. Every attempt to stop the church only served to advance the kingdom.

We can rejoice that nothing can stop the work of God in us and in his church. Opposition will come, even perhaps persecution, but the gospel goes forward. Satan can sow lies, but the truth prevails. When we serve Christ we can overcome any obstacle and endure through any hardship that is put in our path.
Father, come what may, I thank you for your power and your victory. 
Think and Pray

What obstacles and trials are you facing in your life? 
Remember that in the power of the Spirit you can overcome them and continue in the work of Christ. do not allow trials to discourage or derail you from the work of God. They are normal, but they are overcome by the power of Christ's Spirit. 


An Overview of Acts: 

For more involved students, here is a chart which shows some of the key elements of the book of Acts. 

It shows the three main divisions: 
Acts 1 - The Promise of the Spirit's Power. 
Acts 2 - The Coming of the Spirit's Power
Acts 3-28 - The Spread of the Spirit's Power

The Spirit's Power was displayed in 5 episodes in Jerusalem in Acts 3-7 (actually 8:3). 
Then the Spirit began to work in Judea and Samaria in four episodes, Acts 8-12. 
Finally, Acts 13-28 record the 4 journeys of Paul that carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. 

In chapters 1-12, Peter is the primary character, while in 13-28, Paul becomes primary. 
The key change in the book, one that drives the entire book, is the transition from a Jewish church to a Gentile Church. At Pentecost, the church was all Jewish and remained that way until God forced the leaders out into the world through persecution and gave Peter a vision. Finally, through Paul, the gospel went to the Gentile world, an action heartily resisted in the Jewish world, even in the Jewish church. 

Acts 1:8 is both the theme verse for the book and the basis for this outline. 


Monday, March 28, 2016

The Sign of the Spirit - March 28 Readings: Acts 3-4


Context

In Acts 3 and 4, the Apostles take up where Jesus left off as they begin their ministry and their conflict with the very people who put Jesus to death. They committed a grievous sin! In the shadow of the Temple they healed a man who had sat there year after year. The religious leader could toss him a coin now and again to assuage their guilt, but in the name of Jesus these unlearned and ignorant men did what the honored leaders could not. They healed him. Having suffered in the name of Christ they continued to proclaim Christ and the church continued to grow rapidly in Jerusalem. 

Devotional - The Sign of the Spirit
Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?
More specifically, how can anyone know that?

Much theological discussion, debate and even disagreement have been devoted to the question of what marks the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Some have asserted, contrary to the observation of this pastor, that those who are full of the Spirit are no longer subject to sin, but attain perfection in this life. Would that it was so, but it is certainly not my experience. Of course, the debate has raged throughout my life as to whether tongues or any other manifestation of the Holy Spirit is a necessary evidence of the fullness of the Spirit. It is not the purpose of a devotional like this to address such a topic

But when we examine the book of Acts, there is one universal evidence of the fullness of the Spirit. Nothing else happens every single time the Spirit shows up in power except this one event.
"...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." 
Throughout Acts, one thing happened universally when the Spirit filled believers - they proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ boldly. At Pentecost, many things happened, but the Word of God was proclaimed in power. In Samaria, in Caesarea, in every place the Spirit's fullness appears, those filled with the Spirit proclaim Christ. 

I can remember a dear old man in my last church who would come up to me after a particularly stirring or enthusiastic service and say, "You could really feel the Spirit here tonight, couldn't you, Dave?" And I know what he meant. There was a sweet, sweet Spirit in the place. 

But not enthusiastic worship, vibrant music, stirring preaching, or any emotion produced by these is a true marker of the work of the Spirit among the people of God. The primary work of the Spirit is to glorify Christ and if I am filled with the Spirit then that will be my goal. If the Spirit is filling me, my soul will overflow with love for Christ and I will desire to make the gospel known to the entire world. More than that, all my fear - of rejection, of the reactions of people, of ridicule - will be overpowered and I will boldly speak of Christ. 

When the fullness of the Spirit falls, the name of Jesus rises!
Father, may the name of your Son rise on my lips as the Spirit fills every part of my being. May fear fall away in the desire to exalt the Name above all names. 
Think and Pray

Does your life give the one true evidence of the filling of the Spirit?
Do you devote your life to making Jesus Christ known in this world?
Do you tell others about the difference that Jesus has made in your life? 



Sunday, March 27, 2016

The Gap is TOO Big - March 27 Readings: Acts 2


Context

And then it all changed!

Throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus, the disciples understood little and constantly made silly mistakes, but suddenly in Acts 2 the Spirit descended, baptized the believers and initiated the church into existence and from that moment on the disciples were powerful and insightful followers of Christ. 

In this chapter, the disciples were in the upper room when the Spirit descended in power. They were filled with the Spirit (what is called in other places the baptism of the Spirit) and the proclaimed the gospel in the languages of the people visiting Jerusalem. Peter, the former coward, then proclaimed Christ and 3000 souls were saved, establishing the fledgling church. 

In Acts 2:42-47 we have a description of the new church - those things that it was devoted to, the things that marked its existence, and the salvation of the lost that was God's response. 

Devotional - The Gap is TOO Big

As we read about the fire of God falling on the people of God on the day of Pentecost, we can get bogged down in sideline issues like the discussion of tongues and such things. But today's reading in Acts is a powerful one. Acts 2:42-47 describes the Early Church and what life was like in the church that was full of the Spirit of God.

This is not the time for a theological treatise, so please forgive me for simply stating my conclusions. We ought to, in our churches today if we are filled with the Spirit of God, see the kinds of things that are described in Acts 2:42-47. We might not see them to the same degree or with the same intensity that they saw them at the birth of the church - there always seems to be a unique outpouring of God's power at times like that - but we ought to see the things that are described here.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
What are some of the things that happened there?

1. They were devoted to God's word. They didn't have Bibles like we do. All they had was the teaching of the Apostles that was later written down into what we have in our Bibles now, but they were devoted and obedient to all that God spoke to them.

2. They were devoted to one another. The church was not a place they went on Sunday; it was their life. Fellowship was real and powerful. Look at some of the descriptions of the fellowship. They prayed together and worshiped together. They blessed each other with supernatural generosity. Their fellowship was daily.

3. The power of God was evident in them in such a way that there was awe not only in the church but also in the community.

4. As was mentioned above, they shared everything with one another. Holy Spirit empowered generosity.

5. They lived lives of constant praise and thanksgiving, in spite of the suffering and hardship they lived through.

6. Salvation was a regular act of God among them. Daily the Lord added to their number!

No, your church doesn't stack up to this. It was the Jerusalem church just after Pentecost and none of us is likely to ever match up completely. But the gap shouldn't be nearly as big as it is today! We ought not to ignore God's word, treat fellowship as optional and a burden, find the power of God rare, find giving forced, live lives of complaining and find the salvation of the lost a rare occurrence.

If there is a huge gap between the Jerusalem church and my church, the problem isn't God. "He just doesn't do those things anymore." Nonsense. The problem isn't our programs or strategies. The problem is our lack of the one thing that caused them to be what they were.

They were what they were because they were full of the Spirit of God. If we would see more of what they saw we must be full of what filled them!

There can be no better prayer than...
Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me. 
Think and Pray

How's your gap? We all have a gap between what we are and what we ought to be. But it ought not be what it is. How's yours?
Does you life match up with the life of the Spirit-filled Christian of the early church? 


Saturday, March 26, 2016

The Song that Never Ends - March 26 Readings: Acts 1


Context

The story of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ continues as he works in and through his disciples who become the Apostles, taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. Acts is sometimes called the "Gospel of the Holy Spirit" and it tells how the Spirit continued the work of Christ. 

Acts 1:8 is not only a theme verse but also an outline of the book. Acts 1-8:3 tell of the spread of the gospel in Jerusalem, then 8:4 through chapter 12 are about the gospel in Judea and Samaria. The remainder of the book, Acts 13-28, is about the message of Jesus going to the ends of the earth, beyond its Jewish roots. 

In Acts 1 there are three primary events. First, there is the introduction in which Luke explains his purpose in writing to this unknown Theophilus. Then he tells of Jesus' last words and the ascension of Jesus into heaven. Finally, the disciples return to Jerusalem and select a replacement for the betrayer, Judas. 

Devotional - The Song that Never Ends
It is the song that never ends.
It just goes on and on my friends. 
That annoying song has been sung on young people's outings for decades, and truly it never ends, my friends. It has a beginning, but the nerves of the adult sponsors run out long before kids got tired of singing the song.

Just like the song, the story of Jesus goes on and on. When the religious leaders crucified him, they thought they were done with Jesus, but they could not have been more wrong. The end of his life was only the beginning of his work.

Luke opened the book of Acts with these words,

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up.
All that Jesus BEGAN to do. Began. The story of Jesus did not simply continue in his resurrection, but it continued in the lives of the Apostles in the book of Acts, as the Holy Spirit worked through them to spread the gospel. And that story continues today in us.

We do not study Jesus as simply a man from history, a great philosopher, or a religious guru. He is a living Lord, working in and through us today. Our lives are the continuation of the story of Jesus Christ. He walks in this world today, and he talks, and he reaches out and he displays his love. He does it all through "his body" - the church. That's us, folks!

It is our duty to see that we sing that song well, that we bring honor to the Name and not disgrace. We must serve the gospel with our hearts and souls.

It is a song that never ends.
Father, may my life be a fitting and powerful continuation of the story of Jesus
Think and Pray

Your life is meant to be a continuation of the life and work of Christ? Are you continuing that life, that purpose, that work of Christ on a daily basis? 



Friday, March 25, 2016

What Gives You the Right? March 25 Readings: Matthew 28:16-20, (Mark 16:15-20), Luke 24:44-53


Context

We come to the end of the Gospels in today's readings. Matthew's gospel closes with the great commission, our marching orders from the Savior. Mark's story of Jesus closes with a strange verse of that commission, including poisonous snakes and drinking poison. Luke jumps to the story of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven, which is where Luke picks up when he writes his sequel, the Acts of the Apostles.

A note is in order about the textual difficulties about the end of Mark. We already spoke of textual variants when we read John 8, the story of the woman at the well. The earliest manuscripts of the book of Mark end after verse 8 and do not include verses 9-20. Some later manuscripts have verses 9-13 and others include the entire passage. How the original book Mark wrote ended may remain something of a mystery, but it seems likely that it ended in verse 8. On the other hand, everything that is said in verses 9-20 (properly interpreted) is included in other gospels. It is not untrue, it is just not likely that it was part of Mark's gospel. 

Devotional - What Gives You the Right? 

Sharing the gospel is an aggressive act and there is no way that we can make it anything other than that. Paul talked about the offense of the gospel and if we remove the offense of the gospel we have effectively removed the gospel. Consider these truths:

  • You are a sinner. 
  • You deserve eternal hell. 
  • There is nothing you can do to change that. 
  • To be saved, you must repent of your sins, die to self, and give up your life for Christ. 
  • You must give the reins of your life to Christ - he is the absolute Lord of your life. 
  • From that point on your life is no longer yours. You have been bought with a price and you are a servant of Christ - a slave of his kingdom purposes. 

Well, isn't that special!

No one wants to hear that they are hell-deserving sinners, helpless of saving themselves. We want self-affirmation, not self-denial. This message will never be well received in a sinful world.

What gives us the right to preach such a message? What gives us the right to go up to otherwise happy people and demand that they yield everything to Christ? Where do we get the nerve to tell people that they cannot do what makes them happy, that their choices are sinful, that they must let someone else have control of their lives, that their religion is wrong, that Jesus is the only way? Where do we get the right?

We get the right from Matthew 28:18. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me," Jesus said. By his perfect life, by his willingness to die on the cross for our sins, and by his glorious resurrection, Jesus was given the name above every name, before whom every knee would bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!

That Jesus, the one who has all authority over the this world, who has the absolute right to rule over everyone and everything in the universe, told us as his disciples to go and make other disciples, to preach the gospel and call people to follow him in faith and obedience.

We have EVERY right! Yes, people are rebellious and refuse to recognize Christ as the rightful ruler of the world, but that doesn't change the fact that he is. He is the Lord of all and the clear title to every heart and every life in this world. We have not only the right but the command to tell every person in this world that Jesus is Lord, that he died for our sins, and that he lives to save to the uttermost those who come to God in faith. 
Father, may I never apologize for proclaiming Christ as Lord
Think and Pray

Are you intimidated by the sin and rebellion of the world, or do you act with the authority of Jesus Christ as you proclaim the gospel?

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Going Fishing - March 24 Readings: Mark 16:12-14, Luke 24:13-43, John 20:19-21:25


Context

After Jesus' resurrection, he appeared repeatedly to his disciples to encourage them and teach them. There was the initial encounter in the Upper Room, the Emmaus road encounter, and the famous fishing trip on the Sea of Galilee in which Peter was restored. For forty days he met with them, taught them, and prepared them for his departure.

Devotional - Going Fishing

Peter was a fisherman.  He had done it all his life, even when he was a disciple of John the Baptist.  Then, one day, Jesus walked by.  “Follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men.”  And Peter followed him.  He left the nets behind and followed Jesus for more than three years, throughout Galilee, to Jerusalem, to Gethsemane, and to the Sanhedrin.  There, it all ended. 
“I swear to you, I never knew this man.” 
With those words, Peter denied the Lord he had sworn to serve.  And even when the most glorious miracle of history occurred, even when Jesus was raised from the dead, even when Jesus appeared to the disciples, Peter could not forget the fact that he had failed. 

And so, he told the other disciples, “I’m going fishing,” in John 21:3.  The way this verse is constructed gives the idea that he wasn't taking a day off to drown some worms. He wasn't getting away for some rest and relaxation. No, this was not recreation or a vacation. Peter was giving up. He was a fisherman before Jesus came to him beside Galilee. Now, he would be one again. He had failed - miserably and spectacularly - and he was through with this whole disciple thing. 

Ever felt that way?  It happens to me often, usually on a Monday morning.  When I fail, or when the pressures of life pile up, or trials and opposition come, I have the impulse to throw it all in, resign my job, and go fishing.  Metaphorically, at least.  Actual fishing is not a temptation to me. 

I bet sometimes you feel like giving up.  It may be because of your own failure, or because of the hurtful actions of someone else.  You gave your best, and no one recognized it.  You poured yourself into ministry, but nothing came of it.  The pressures of life have snowballed to the point you just can’t take it anymore.  Like Peter, and me, you want to go fishing. 

But Jesus won’t let that happen.  He appeared to Peter by the Sea of Tiberius.  He took Peter back to where it all began.  He renewed the miracle of his provision.  “Cast your net on the other side of the boat.”  Jesus did it all over again.  He took Peter right back to the beginning, and renewed his faith and the wonder of God’s power.  That’s where healing begins with us.  We must return to the presence of the Lord and renew our minds and hearts in him.  The good news is that Jesus always begins the process of healing. 

Jesus did not ignore Peter’s failure, or sweep it under the rug.  He made him face it.  Three times Peter denied Jesus.  Three times Jesus asked him, “Do you love me?”  Jesus renews us by making us deal with the sin and failure that drew us away from him.  When we repent, the blood of Christ covers our sin and brings us renewal. 

Then, Jesus gave his command to Peter.  “Feed my sheep.”  God renewed Peter by giving him an assignment.  Take care of God’s sheep.  Jesus renewed Peter, then sent him out to serve.  The fallen soldier was back on the front lines.

Jesus will never let you give up.  As his child, he won’t let you go fishing.  He will come to you, inviting you back into his presence.  He will help you find forgiveness for your failure, and will restore you to a life of fruitful service. 

No, my friend, it is not time to go fishing.
Father, I thank you that you never give up on me. I fail; you restore. I get discouraged; you renew. When I am ready to quit, you give me strength. Thank you God, for your renewing power. 
Think and Pray

Have you ever felt like giving up because of your failure?
Remember that God's faithfulness extends farther than our failure.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

He is Risen - March 23 Readings: Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-11, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18


Context

This is the day that death died. Sin got beaten badly. Satan took it on the chin. Everything that is evil, awful, horrifying, and destructive in this world was destroyed by the amazing work of Christ when God raised him from the dead. 

Devotional - He Is Risen

Consider the sadness the three ladies felt as they made their way to the tomb. Jesus had more than just the Twelve following him; there were several women who had joined his cause and were devoted to him. These were some of that group. The two Marys and Salome headed to the tomb early on Sunday morning, likely to do what they had not been able to do after Jesus' death - clean and prepare Jesus' body for his burial. They had a pure and holy love for him and were determined to perform this one last act of service to the One for whom they grieved.

But they got to the tomb and something was not right. The stone was gone and no one was there guarding it. They walked into the tomb and saw a young man in a white robe sitting on a stone slab to the right.
You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here! (Mark 16:6)
Everything was changed. Jesus had done many wondrous things in his life, and these women had witnessed many of them. But this was the greatest act of all. To conquer sickness and disease is impressive, but to defeat death itself, to break those iron bonds and rise again - that is beyond words!  What glory! What power!

And the fact of the resurrection changed everything. They went to the tomb with broken hearts, but they left rejoicing. They went in defeat and left in victory. Jesus altered everything from history itself to the course of these three women's hearts. 

Everything changed because Jesus rose from the dead. You and I were sinners, condemned before God and awaiting an eternal hell, without hope. But Jesus rose again. Because Jesus rose, you have hope today; an eternal, unending and glorious hope! This world is scary and sinful. But Jesus rose again. One day, Jesus will rule this world in an awesome peace and all will be well. You struggle with sin today and sometimes you feel that it will never change. But Jesus rose from the dead. He will raise you up and utterly redeem you from your sin. If death could not conquer him nothing can stop him. Perhaps your days are hard and sad and joyless, but Jesus rose from the dead. He can sustain you with his joy and power whatever this world throws at you. 

We sometimes forget the second half of the crucifixion equation. Jesus died for our sins. Amen. Glory, hallelujah!  And we were crucified with Christ. We die to self daily. We were buried with Christ by baptism into death. But that is only half of the story. 

Jesus rose from the dead. "He is not here. He is risen!" He was raised to a new life, a glorified body. But do not forget the second half of the baptismal verse. Yes, we were buried with Christ by baptism into death. But we were also "raised to walk a new life in him." We have been crucified with Christ, yes. "Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me." 

When we died with Christ we were born again to a new life. We became new creations. We have not experienced fully the glory that will be ours in heaven one day, but we are the dwelling of God. We display his glory. 

Oh, my friend, things may look bad, but Jesus is alive and you have been raised with him to a life of glory and power. Do not despair. Do not give up. Do not be downcast Do not be stressed out. Jesus is alive!
Father, you raised Jesus from the dead and you raised me with him. I thank you for the life you gave me in Christ, a new life of joy, power, peace and eternal significance. I rejoice in him, in your Son, my Savior. 
Think and Pray

Do you live in the victory won for you in Christ? Do you walk in the new life that Jesus rose again to give  you?
Consider the resurrection of Christ, the victory of Christ over evil, and what it means for you as a follower of Christ.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Three Glorious Words - March 22 Readings: Matthew 27:35-66, Mark 15:25-47, Luke 23:32-56, John 19:18-42


Context

It is the greatest story ever told and the most horrible - the death of Jesus. Today's reading is one of brutality, wickedness, sacrifice, and glory. This is the climactic moment in history.

Devotional - Three Glorious Words

Three words. Simple words. But since the beginning of time, no more glorious words have ever been spoken. In English translations, it is three words. In the Greek translation that our New Testament is written in it is only one word. I do not know whether it is one word or more in the Aramaic that Jesus would have actually spoken on the cross. But those three English words, in whatever language they are spoken, changed everything. John 19:30 records them as the last words that Jesus spoke before he commended his spirit into the hands of the Father.
It is finished.
Since Adam and Eve chose sin over obedience in the Garden, the weight of sin had been growing. Some people, like Ahab, like Manasseh, like Herod, sinned heinously and boldly. Others have sinned in self-righteousness, keeping their sins inward, hidden deeply in their hearts. Some have lived such respectable lives that it is hard for other sinful humans to even believe they have a sinful nature. But we do. We all do. All have sinned. Even at the end of his life, Paul called himself "the chief of sinners." That weight of sin grew throughout time - bigger, heavier, uglier.

It had to be paid for. The holy God of heaven is not one who can wink at sin and say, "don't worry about it. His righteousness demands full payment for every sin ever committed, every violation of his law. And Romans 6:23 makes it clear what that payment is.
"The wages of sin is death."
Someone had to die for my sins, and yours. We faced an eternity separated from God under his judgment because of our waywardness. The debt must be paid. And that is exactly what Jesus was doing on the Cross that day. He was paying the price, paying the wages that our sins demanded. Jesus hung on the cross paying the eternal payment for my sins. Death. He was suffering all the wrath of God for all eternity against all the sins of all the world.

As Jesus was prepared for crucifixion, Jesus experienced the evil of man. But on the Cross, hanging there bearing the sins of the world and standing in our place, Jesus experienced as no man ever had to that point, the eternal wrath of God against sin.

The sun grew dark as Jesus hung there.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
There is an answer to the question. You. And me. Why? Because Jesus was in our place and he was experiencing our hell. He was there for us and experienced all the horrors of hell in the hours he hung there, the full weight of God's wrath for our sins poured out on the sinless Lamb.

And then, when it was done, he uttered the words. "It is finished." It's done. Your sins are paid for. Your atonement is complete. You are washed, cleansed, justified, redeemed, forgiven, and every other word you can imagine. Completely. Infinitely. Eternally. It is finished. Nothing else ever has to be done for  you to be saved forever!

So, when we come to Christ in repentance and faith the debt is paid. Done. I can add nothing to my salvation. I can only believe.

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. It is finished. Jesus paid it all. It is finished. Mercy there is great and grace was free, pardon there was multiplied to me. It is finished. Because Jesus spoke those words, because he paid for our sins, we are free.
Father, I am in awe of your grace and love, that you would punish your beloved Son for my sins. Why would you do that for a sinner like me? But you did, and I glory in Cross on which Jesus finished, completely, my eternal redemption.
Think and Pray

All I can suggest is that you read slowly today. Repeatedly. Think. Pray. Consider what Jesus was doing for you that day.

Monday, March 21, 2016

I Am Barabbas - March 21 Readings: Matthew 27:15-34, Mark 15:6-24, Luke 23:13-31, John 18:39-19:17


Context

They talk about people hitting bottom - supposedly that is when lives turn around and things begin to straighten out. In today's reading mankind hits bottom. The Son of God, perfect and loving, righteous and good, is nailed to a cross. Brutal. Awful. Inexcusable. And glorious beyond words. As it happens, we are reading this at the beginning of "Holy Week." There could be no more appropriate time to remember the work of Christ, his suffering, and the power of his cross.

Devotional - I am Barabbas

The story of the crucifixion of Christ is disgusting, sorrowful, enrapturing and transformational, all at once. But it is sometimes hard to find my place in the story. I've had my moments where I cowered as Peter did, afraid of the consequences of standing for my Lord. I'm not sure I've had a Judas moment, but there are times when my silence may have been a betrayal of sorts. The soldiers and the crowds disgust me, but I also must admit regarding the sin of my own heart that nothing is beyond the reach of my wickedness. One day, I will be like Christ because of the work God has done in my life, but today is not that die. 

So, who am I in the story of the Cross? There is one character most like me, one with whom I identify more than any other. 
I am Barabbas. 
No, I'm not a criminal or a political revolutionary or whatever it is that he was. But there are so many similarities - significant markers that identify me with this wicked man. 

1. I deserved to die. 

No one claimed Barabbas was innocent. He was not falsely accused or wrongly tried as Jesus was. He was not convicted on the basis of lies and false stories. Barabbas deserved the death that faced him. He did nothing to merit the favor he received. 

I am a sinner and I deserve death. As sinners go, perhaps I am not the most vicious or vile (unless you peel a few layers and look into my heart - please don't!). Raised in a Christian home where love abounded, I've not plumbed the depths of sin as some have. But I have no doubt. I am guilty before God. If I were to stand before God, my verdict would be guilty. And the wages of sin is death. 

Like Barabbas, I deserved death. 

2. Jesus took my place. 

The crowd, at the urging of the religious leaders, chose Barabbas over Jesus, so our Savior went to the cross. Barabbas went free. Jesus took his place.

When he hung on the cross, he was there in my place, dying for my sins. "I'm the one to blame, I caused all the pain." It was in place of me (and you) that Jesus bled and died.

3. I am now free. 

We have no idea what happened to Barabbas after Jesus took his place and he went free. Fictional portrayals have his life changing as a result of the grace he experienced. My hope is that this is true and one day I will him on the streets of gold. Perhaps, though, he went back to his life of crime and rebellion. But Barabbas was a free man because Jesus took his place.

I am a free man today because Jesus took my place and died for my sins. I am righteous because Jesus bore my sins.

When I read the story of Jesus's death, I know who I am. I am Barabbas, and by HIS stripes, I am healed.
Father, thank you for your grace. I did not deserve it, but you sent your Son to take my place and free me from my sins. My desire is to live the rest of my life in obedient thanks because of what you did for me!

Think and Pray



Sunday, March 20, 2016

The Illusion of Power - March 20 Readings: Matthew 27:1-14, Mark 15:1-5, Luke 22:66-23:12, John 18:28-38


Context

Jesus' trial continues. The authorities at the temple were ready to put him to death, but they lacked the authority to do that, so they had to parade the now bloody Jesus over to the Romans. First, they took him to Pilate, the Roman governor, who tried to pass the buck to Herod. Herod mocked him and then sent him back to Pilate. That is when one a key encounter took place. Pilate claimed to hold authority over Jesus and Jesus, who wasn't answering his questions, made it clear that the only authority he had was a gift from the real King.

The sad story of Judas' end is also told in Matthew. Sin's self-destructive nature is clear. Judas chose the wrong path and when he realized what he had done, the guilt destroyed him.

Devotional - The Illusion of Power

We live in a world of illusion. Think about Jesus as he stood before Pilate, in Luke 23:1-5, and before Herod in Luke 23:6-13. These were powerful men and Jesus was a prisoner, a pauper, seemingly under their thumb.

Consider what everyone else thought as Jesus stood before Pilate, thinking that Pilate held Jesus' life in his hands. People stood there wondering what Pilate was going to do with Jesus, what decision he would make. Jesus was at the mercy of the Roman governor - so thought everyone who was there that day.

But that was nothing but an illusion. Pilate was not running the show that day. Satan moved in hearts and tried to destroy Jesus, but he was not in charge. Evil men did evil things, but the religious leaders were not dictating the course of events. Despite appearances, nobody was doing anything to Jesus. He was doing as he willed, according to the Father's plan devised in eternity past for the redemption of man. God was doing what he purposed to do.

That is the illusion we live with. It appears that evil men are doing evil things and that the purposes of God are threatened. Nothing could be further from the truth. God is still on the throne. Does it seem like things are so bad that nothing good can come from them? That is an illusion. Do you feel abandoned by God? It's not real. Does it seem certain that evil will prevail and the cause of righteousness be defeated in this world? A mirage in the desert. That is not reality.

God is at work. His purposes are sometimes hidden and his plans are often confusing to us. He works on his own timetable, not ours. But make no mistake, our God is in control. He is still working out his plan in this world and all his promises are still true - no matter how it looks.

Our job as believers is to look at God and his word and hold on to the truth, regardless of what seems to be real in this world. We walk by faith and not by sight. We have to believe what we cannot see.

Father, sometimes I get my eyes on this world and begin to despair. It is so wicked all around. But I thank you that you are in control, completely trustworthy and faithful in every way - regardless of what my eyes see or my heart feels. 

Think and Pray

Do you sometimes fret and worry about elections, about the power and schemes of man? Remember the words of Jesus to Pilate. God is in charge. Meditate on the authority and power of God in all things. 


Saturday, March 19, 2016

A Tale of Four Men - March 19 Readings: Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-65, John 18:25-27

Today's Readings


Context

Today's readings record (with some varying details and perspectives) the denial of Peter. It is another example of the differing perspectives and presentations of the gospels of the same story. John divided the story into two sections, part of which were in yesterday's readings.

Devotional - A Tale of Four Men 

For the last couple of days we have been reading the story of the arrest and trial of Jesus. Matthew 26:47-75 records the story of the night before Jesus' death. This was the turning point of history and the moment that all of God's work in this world had pointed to since the foundation of the world. As always, God used men to accomplish this work. In this story, four men - each one had a part in the outworking of God's plan. One did God's will. Three sinned against God.  

1. One man betrayed the plan of God. (47-50)

Well, he tried to at least! Judas was disappointed in Jesus as he started talking about laying down his life and dying. Judas was in it to get rich, to reach the top. He did not sign up to deny himself, take up his cross and follow Jesus on this mission of self-sacrifice. There was no way he was going to follow Jesus on the way of the Cross! So, he cut his losses, sold Jesus for a few bucks and led the arresting party to find him. 

But one thing must be noted here. Judas betrayed Jesus, but his actions only furthered the cause. Jesus was meant to die and Judas' sin took him down the road to Calvary. Though he was culpable for his actions both in history and in eternity, God used even this man's evil to accomplish his purposes. 

2. One man tried to fight in the flesh. (51-54)

Peter was a Galilean fisherman and he had no business wielding a sword, but he did. He tried in his own power to do the heroic thing, to rescue Jesus. I wonder if Jesus smiled sadly, shaking his head? The disciples of Jesus usually make a mess of things when we try to serve him in our own power. He told Peter to put away the sword and let God's plan unfold. 

We cannot accomplish the work of God with our fleshly means. Paul told the Corinthians that their weapons were not worldly, but were spiritual and powerful. When Peter tried to fight the fight with the weapons of the flesh he failed miserably. But Jesus, in his grace, cleaned up Peter's mess and continued on the path to fulfilling God's eternal plan. 

3. One man obeyed God and submitted to his plan.  (57-68)

Of course, we know that he was more than a man; he was the Son of God, God incarnate, the promised Messiah of Israel. But Jesus yielded himself to the Father's plan and accepted what God brought his way. He did not defend himself or declare the injustice of it all. He took the cruelty and lies of sinful men to accomplish the work of God. 

4. One man cowered in fear. (69-75)

Of course, the second man and the fourth are the same man. Having blown it once, he now followed Jesus, perhaps hoping that there was some way he could undo the damage he had done earlier. Just a few hours earlier he had proclaimed his willingness to die with Jesus, but now he cowered in fear. If he claimed to be a follower of Christ his life might end as Jesus' was about to. So, instead of standing for Christ he trembled before man (and woman). It was a sad moment. We often criticize Peter as the coward of the bunch, but as best we can tell he was the only one who even had the courage to get this far. But his courage failed and he shrunk back in fear. 

But we must remember the end of that story. At the shore of the Sea of Galiliee, Jesus came to him and restored him. The coward became a courageous man of God. Failure is never final in the Kingdom of God. 

Four men. Four reactions to the plan and purpose of God. One betrayed Jesus and sought his own glory and good. Another tried to do the work of God in the power of the flesh - and caused only greater pain. Another (well, the same guy, just later) cowered because he feared what people could do to him. One served the purposes of God and he was the one who changed the world. 

Do not live your life for self - that is a betrayal of the Kingdom of God. Do not try to accomplish God's work in the flesh - that is futile. Do not be afraid of men and what they can do - fear God, not man. Let us be like our Savior, giving our lives over to the purposes of God - no matter what.
Lord, I give my life to your purposes. No selfish purpose, no fleshly strategies, no fear of man. By your help, I pray that commitment will be a reality.
Think and Pray

It is likely that you have dabbled in each of these at times, but which marks your life most commonly?

  • Do you cower in fear of others opinions, of the future, of the world, of the circumstances of life?
  • Do you try to fight the fight of faith in the power of the flesh? 
  • Have you betrayed the plan of God by seeking the things of the world? 
  • Or are you following Jesus on the way of the cross?


Friday, March 18, 2016

Jesus on Trial - March 18 Readings: John 18:12-24, Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:53-65


Context

Jesus is now in custody, being questioned by the high priest and the temple leaders. Their interrogation violates their own rules and lacks integrity of any kind. But it proceeds through the night after Jesus' arrest.

During this time, Peter has his moment of crisis. "I never knew him." Solemn oaths. The Jesus he swore he would never deny, the Lord he committed to follow to hell and back, he abandoned in the face of the questions of a servant girl. Fear.

Before the council, Jesus was judged to be guilty and deserving of death. This is where the abuse began. He was struck and mocked and the bloodlust of the temple leaders is at a fever pitch.

The crucifixion has begun.

Devotional - Jesus on Trial

May make some brief observations today? Because of my headaches, I find concentration difficult these days and I procrastinated doing this until very late. So, permit me to just post some thoughts for you to ponder today. Just think about it, though. They put Jesus on trial. JESUS. Perfect, sinless, the Lamb of God - and they put him on trial. This is one messed up world we live in, isn't it?

1. Fear is the enemy of the work of God. When we are afraid of the opinions of others, or of the future, or of what can happen to us, we shrink back from the work of God. Faith energizes us to go forward, even to embrace hardship and pain to accomplish the Father's work.

2. The judgment of man can be skewed. Here were religious leaders gathering in their approved forum, with all the power of the government behind them - and they were deciding to put the Son of God to death! Just because someone has power, money, or influence doesn't make them right!

3. Remember that you are what God says about you, not what others say about you. They looked at Jesus and they said, "he is worthy of death." He was perfect and they manufactured flaws in him. You are a sinner and people will certainly (and rightly) find flaws in you. But find your identity in what Jesus says about you - that you are eternally loved in Christ, that you are forgiven, that you are destined for glory, that God is remaking you into the image of Christ, that you will one day be perfected in Christ. The critics may have ample cause to pick you apart, but their words are not the ultimate truth, the work of God in you is!

4. People can be mean, cruel and awful - remember how horrible they were to the Son of God - but that suffering is part of God's plan in this world and has a redemptive purpose if it is for righteousness sake.

5. The story of the Cross, from beginning to end, shows mankind at our absolute worst (arrogant, dishonest, cruel, violent...) and Jesus at his absolute best (loving, self-sacrificing, giving, patient).

Father, this story is hard to read, because I realize that what Jesus suffered, he suffered for me. I thank you that the cross covered my sins, my failings - me, the chief of sinners. I thank you for this story, the story of the Cross, of Easter, of the death and resurrection of Christ which changes my life and all of eternity. 

Think and Pray

Today, just read and think through my points above.
I'll try to do better tomorrow if I'm not in a fog of headaches and migraine meds!!


Thursday, March 17, 2016

As Jesus Prayed - March 17 Readings: Matthew 26:30-56, Mark 14:26-52, Luke 22:39-53, John 18:1-11


Context

After the prediction of the Peter's betrayal (which is placed differently in gospels), Jesus leaves the Upper Room to head down into the valley between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives to pray in a beautiful garden called Gethsemane. There, Jesus battles his own heart in prayer while his disciples sleep. It is there in the garden the Judas leads temple guard to arrest Jesus, thus committing the most heinous act of betrayal in this world's history.

It is also there that the one of the silliest acts of fleshly effort takes place. Peter picks up a sword and attempts to defend Jesus. Yes, that Peter - the one who was about to deny him in fear and flee in shame. But at this moment, his impulsiveness took over and he lashed out. But being a fisherman his ability to fight was minimal. the best he could do was cut off a servant's ear! Jesus picked up the ear and healed the man.

Here's the irony of the whole thing. With his fleshly act, what was it that Peter was trying to accomplish? He was trying to stop the CRUCIFIXION! Had he succeeded he would have damned his own soul to eternal hell. Think about that. Jesus was submitting to the Father's plan and the flesh was fighting what the Father was planning. Our flesh never understands and it always resists. Better just to submit to the Father's will. 

Devotional - As Jesus Prayed

Long ago I read an essay by CS Lewis about prayer in which he defined two styles of prayer - "A Pattern" and "B Pattern" prayers. He showed that both are found in the Bible, frequently, but that they seem to be diametrically opposed to each other and admitted that he had no solution to the problem presented by these divergent prayer styles.

"A Pattern" prayers call for the will of God to be done, for his glory to be revealed and his sovereign plan to be carried out on the earth. "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," Jesus prayed in Matthew 6. When we pray "A Pattern" prayers, we seek the will of God and submit ourselves to that will. The goal of these prayers is to align ourselves with the divine will.

In "B Pattern" prayers, we make bold requests, in which we petition God for that which we need or want. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus sanctioned this type of prayer when he said to his disciples, "Ask and it will be given to you." We all to God for the desires of our hearts!

Which kind of prayer is right? Ought we pray to ask God to give us our desires or ought we pray to seek to align our hearts with the will of God? The answer to that would seem, from the example of Jesus in Luke 22:42, to be YES. As Lewis said, this is a quandary with no easy solution. We don't choose one or the other, but like Jesus, we engage in both.
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
In one short prayer, Jesus prayed both styles of prayer. He made a bold request, perhaps the boldest ever made. Think about it. In eternity past, the Godhead devised this glorious plan of redemption then the night before the plan went into effect, Jesus says, "Let's find another way. I don't want to go through with it." What is bolder than that? There is nothing wrong with asking big things from God. Bold things. That which only God can do, which requires the miraculous release of God's power. Do it. Pray big. Pray bold. Pray audacious and aggressive prayers.

But Jesus did not demand his own way. He asked God for his request, then he returned to A Pattern prayer. "Your will be done." Do you really want your will to be done instead of God's? Do you really want that thing you ask for if God has something different for you? Don't you trust God enough to believe that his way, even if it requires suffering, sacrifice, and hardship (as it certainly did for Jesus) may lead to a greater blessing in the end that what you THINK you want or you THINK you need.

So pray big prayers. I stood beside a woman who was about to die knowing she would probably die. I asked God to heal her and raise her up. He didn't. But that didn't stop me from asking. Ask God to save sinners and bring revival and turn the darkness to light and do what only he can do!

But don't be a petulant child demanding that God yields to you. Don't forget which one of your is God! It is his will that ought to be done, not yours. His will is best, his ways are right and our default position ought to always be to yield to his will. Ask God audacious requests then fall into his arms of grace and trust him to do what is right.
Father, I thank you for the privilege of praying and asking you for big things. But I also pray that your will, not mine, will always be done. There is comfort in knowing that you are in charge, not me
Think and Pray

Do you balance both bold and humble prayer?
Which of CS Lewis' styles of prayers do you pray more often - the type A or type B? Do you pray bold prayers or do you pray, "not my will but yours be done?"
Consider how you can balance those kinds of prayers. 


Wednesday, March 16, 2016

He Prayed for Me! March 16 Readings: John 17


Context

John 17 is truly "The Lord's Prayer." This is the prayer that the Lord prayed the night before he died, pouring out his heart to the Father on behalf not only of his disciples, but for all of us who would follow.

Devotional - He Prayed for ME!

The night before Jesus died, just before he agonized in the Garden, before he was arrested and put on trial, Jesus prayed - he prayed for YOU! Yes, my friend, he prayed for you and he prayed for me. Think about that. In his hour of agony, of pain and of stress, when the most awful moment of history awaited him, he interceded with the Father on our behalf.

John 17 is the real "Lord's Prayer." The prayer to which we've assigned that name is the one he gave to his disciples to pray. It is the "Disciples' Prayer." But the prayer that reveals the heart of Jesus is John 17 - it shows what he really thought and felt. Verse 20 makes it clear that this prayer was not just for the men who were with him in the Upper Room.
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”
He prayed for you and for me. Whatever you are going through today, whatever your pain, you can rest assured that you are infinitely loved by one who when hell marshaled all its forces against him and when the entire world was crashing around him, still his thought was to pray for you. That is an eternal and unshakable love. 

The list of blessings in this passage is long and wonderful, but there are two in particular that I would point out. There are two things that Jesus prayed that sometimes stand in slight contrast, even conflict with one another. First, in verse 17 he prayed, 
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 
Jesus prayed that we would be made holy, conformed to the image of Christ, that our sins would not dominate and control us but that we would become like Christ. What is the primary tool that God uses in that process? The Word - the truth of God that the Spirit uses to accomplish that work. The Word can be harsh and convicting as it calls us to repentance, to change, to abandon our sin and to become like Christ. But that we must do. The Christian life is a daily process of the Spirit working in us, through the Word, to make us more like Jesus. 

Along the way, there is something else that God wants for us. This is seem in verse 21. 
...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Jesus wanted his disciples to walk in unity and in oneness. In fact, the unity of the Body of Christ was meant to reflect and demonstrate the unity that existed among the members of the Trinity.

To my shame, I have failed often in walking in the holiness of Christ, in the process of sanctification by the Word. But just as often I've failed in my relationships to reflect the divine oneness that Jesus Christ called us to demonstrate. I've failed more than I've succeeded.

But here's the good news. Jesus prayed for me! I know his prayers will not fail. The process may be slow and the answer may not be complete, but I know that God will answer and I will be all that God wants me to be, all that Jesus prayed that I would become! Jesus' prayer will be answered!

Father, I thank you for the confidence I have in Christ that one day I will be fully sanctified in Christ and that I will experience perfect unity in the Body of Christ. I thank you that this depends on the work of Christ in me!
Think and Pray

Jesus prayed for two things for us. It is certain that if Jesus prayed for these things, they will occur. He prayed that we would be sanctified - set apart and made holy for the purposes of God. He prayed that we would be united as one. What we know is that the prayers of Jesu will be answered! You will be holy and the church will be unified.

But how is it going today? How are you doing?

Are you walking in holiness and purity before the Lord?
Are you walking in unity or in broken relationships, grudges, and division?