John 19:17-18 17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own CROSS, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.
DEVOTE:
The cross is the humble hinge of history and humanity – God in human flesh dying for the sins of the whole world – “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross”. (Philippians 2:8)
“He poured Himself out to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)
When we look at the Cross, it is the culmination of the Incarnation – the epitome of humility. Crucified in weakness (2 Cor 13:4) between two thieves, Christ’s intercession for the “losers” of this world is the manifest humility of heaven, and indeed, the hope of all the earth! “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Christ’s identification with weakness, distances those who are the so-called “achievers” or “winners” in life. “How can the cross be a win-win?” they ask. “It just doesn’t make sense.”: 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
If you can choose today to not be ashamed of the cross, then the weakness of God becomes the power for you to live a strong Christian life.
PRAY:
Father, “May it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
THE SUFFERING
John 19:3 and they began to come up to Him and say, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and to give Him slaps in the face. [30] They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to BEAT Him on the head. [31] After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
DEVOTE:
Jesus said, "It was NECESSARY for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" (Luke 24:26)
Why was it necessary for Christ to suffer?
Hebrews 2:10 tells us, “For it was FITTING for God … in bringing many sons to glory, to PERFECT the author of their salvation through sufferings”, and Isaiah 53:10 says, “But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering...”
So, Christ had to suffer as a guilt offering because:
1. It pleased the Father (Is 53:10)
2. It brought many sons to glory (Heb 2:10), and
3. It was patterned for you and I (1 Peter 2:21)
Hebrews 5:8 says, “Although He was a Son, He learned OBEDIENCE from the things which He suffered.” Suffering is like the chisel of a master sculptor being driven into a block of granite. Whereas others see “rough edges”, He sees the polished masterpiece! (Eph 2:10 and Phil 1:6)
Philippians 1:29 says, “For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake”, because “You have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)
Suffering develops the meekness of OBEDIENCE. Suffering chips away at the alabaster jar of our hearts until the fragrance of (and for) Christ is released.
PRAY:
Father, I’ve got some “rough edges”; I yield to Your masterful hands in bringing me through to full, mature obedience.
DEVOTE:
Jesus said, "It was NECESSARY for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" (Luke 24:26)
Why was it necessary for Christ to suffer?
Hebrews 2:10 tells us, “For it was FITTING for God … in bringing many sons to glory, to PERFECT the author of their salvation through sufferings”, and Isaiah 53:10 says, “But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering...”
So, Christ had to suffer as a guilt offering because:
1. It pleased the Father (Is 53:10)
2. It brought many sons to glory (Heb 2:10), and
3. It was patterned for you and I (1 Peter 2:21)
Hebrews 5:8 says, “Although He was a Son, He learned OBEDIENCE from the things which He suffered.” Suffering is like the chisel of a master sculptor being driven into a block of granite. Whereas others see “rough edges”, He sees the polished masterpiece! (Eph 2:10 and Phil 1:6)
Philippians 1:29 says, “For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake”, because “You have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)
Suffering develops the meekness of OBEDIENCE. Suffering chips away at the alabaster jar of our hearts until the fragrance of (and for) Christ is released.
PRAY:
Father, I’ve got some “rough edges”; I yield to Your masterful hands in bringing me through to full, mature obedience.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
THE HEALER
John 19:1 “Pilate then took Jesus and SCOURGED Him”, and Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His SCOURGING we are HEALED.
DEVOTE:
John 19 tells us that Jesus was SCOURGED. This is the whipping post, where a man’s hands are bound above his head, his legs suspended, his body extended. There would be two scourgers, alternating their flogging, using what was a short-handled whip with leather strands, each strand bound off at the tip with a sharp piece of metal or stone. The body of the prisoner would be completely mutilated by the flogging, exposing and lacerating internal organs. It was not uncommon for prisoners to die there. 700 years before Jesus, Isaiah 50:6 foretells, “I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting”.
We read in Isaiah 53 that we are HEALED by Christ’s SCOURGING. It is interesting to note that in the NT, the word “scourge”, mastix (Gr), is the same word used for “disease”. For example, Luke 7:21: “At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions (“mastix”).” When Jesus was scourged, He took our scourge (disease); when He was afflicted, He took our afflictions (sicknesses). He became our sickness through His suffering. What an incalculable price Christ paid to infect Himself with our DISEASE (“mastix”), and then to pay for it with his SCOURGING (“mastix”)! Oh, thank You, God!
PRAY:
Lord, I believe that, as sure as your blood has forgiven me, and that you desire that none would perish, so too, I believe that the shredded body of my mutilated Messiah has HEALED me, and that You desire that ALL would be HEALED!
DEVOTE:
John 19 tells us that Jesus was SCOURGED. This is the whipping post, where a man’s hands are bound above his head, his legs suspended, his body extended. There would be two scourgers, alternating their flogging, using what was a short-handled whip with leather strands, each strand bound off at the tip with a sharp piece of metal or stone. The body of the prisoner would be completely mutilated by the flogging, exposing and lacerating internal organs. It was not uncommon for prisoners to die there. 700 years before Jesus, Isaiah 50:6 foretells, “I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting”.
We read in Isaiah 53 that we are HEALED by Christ’s SCOURGING. It is interesting to note that in the NT, the word “scourge”, mastix (Gr), is the same word used for “disease”. For example, Luke 7:21: “At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions (“mastix”).” When Jesus was scourged, He took our scourge (disease); when He was afflicted, He took our afflictions (sicknesses). He became our sickness through His suffering. What an incalculable price Christ paid to infect Himself with our DISEASE (“mastix”), and then to pay for it with his SCOURGING (“mastix”)! Oh, thank You, God!
PRAY:
Lord, I believe that, as sure as your blood has forgiven me, and that you desire that none would perish, so too, I believe that the shredded body of my mutilated Messiah has HEALED me, and that You desire that ALL would be HEALED!
Monday, April 11, 2011
THE CROWN
Matt 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. [28] They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. [29] And after twisting together a CROWN of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
DEVOTE:
As He faltered from the flagellum-flogging that shredded His body to within an inch of its life, slipping in the dripping of His own precious blood, hundreds of jeering soldiers mocked His monarchy. In sarcastic tribute, the vicious drama continued as they added insult to injury, and “kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him.” (Mark 15:19) His “royal” robe was stripped; His “ruling” rod used to imbed His derisive “crown” into His head. He was the laughing stock at the end of an escalating frenzy!
But Christ had to become the visual paradox of the frailty of every transient earthly kingdom, so that all powers could bow to the King who’s Kingdom can never be shaken! (Heb 12:28) Someone said, “He who laughs last, laughs longest”, and Psalm 2:4 tells us that “He who sits in the heavens laughs.” Because the day is soon when “the heavens will open, and He who is called Faithful and True, will have on His head many CROWNS; clothed with a ROBE dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God, and He will rule the nations with a ROD of iron; 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11-16)
PRAY
God, You are a confounding genius! You invert to convert! Hasten the day when I get to cast my crown before the One who’s Kingdom is without end! (Rev 4:10; Luke 1:33) I love you, Lord.
DEVOTE:
As He faltered from the flagellum-flogging that shredded His body to within an inch of its life, slipping in the dripping of His own precious blood, hundreds of jeering soldiers mocked His monarchy. In sarcastic tribute, the vicious drama continued as they added insult to injury, and “kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him.” (Mark 15:19) His “royal” robe was stripped; His “ruling” rod used to imbed His derisive “crown” into His head. He was the laughing stock at the end of an escalating frenzy!
But Christ had to become the visual paradox of the frailty of every transient earthly kingdom, so that all powers could bow to the King who’s Kingdom can never be shaken! (Heb 12:28) Someone said, “He who laughs last, laughs longest”, and Psalm 2:4 tells us that “He who sits in the heavens laughs.” Because the day is soon when “the heavens will open, and He who is called Faithful and True, will have on His head many CROWNS; clothed with a ROBE dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God, and He will rule the nations with a ROD of iron; 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11-16)
PRAY
God, You are a confounding genius! You invert to convert! Hasten the day when I get to cast my crown before the One who’s Kingdom is without end! (Rev 4:10; Luke 1:33) I love you, Lord.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
THE TRUTH
John 18:37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the TRUTH. Everyone who is of the TRUTH hears My voice." 38 Pilate said to Him, "WHAT IS TRUTH?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.”
DEVOTE:
“What is truth?” Can anyone truthfully answer that? Jesus can. Despite what the soft-sell pundits of tolerance in post-modernity may tell you, truth is not relative – it is ABSOLUTE! For those not knowing which way is up, Jesus said, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) So, Jesus is the Truth; He gives the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17) to lead us into all Truth (John 16:13), and says, "Sanctify them in the truth; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.” (John 17:17) So, Scripture is Truth. It is “God-breathed”, and “profitable” for all of life (2 Tim 3:16):
• The TRUTH about Marriage and Family is in the Bible
• The TRUTH about Sexuality, Manhood and Femininity is in the Bible
• The TRUTH about Children and Discipline and Education is in the Bible
• The TRUTH about Ethics, Morals, Law, right and wrong, is in the Bible
• And, the TRUTH about the only GOD is in the Bible
“THE SUM OF YOUR WORD IS TRUTH”, the Psalmist said (119:160)
It’s the TRUTH that sets us free! (John 8:32) Philosophies and theories that get dressed-up in Scripture, are here today – gone tomorrow. Our fad-driven, Christian-consumerism is baited by tricks, hype, hucksters and trends: “7 Steps to this”, “3 Steps to that”, and “Abracadabra!”, when all you need is the TRUTH! Sola Scriptura.
PRAY:
My Father, my Bible holds the answers to all of life. Please save me from self-help, quick-fix, talk-show syndrome, and renew my mind to think like Your Word. Thank you Lord.
DEVOTE:
“What is truth?” Can anyone truthfully answer that? Jesus can. Despite what the soft-sell pundits of tolerance in post-modernity may tell you, truth is not relative – it is ABSOLUTE! For those not knowing which way is up, Jesus said, “I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) So, Jesus is the Truth; He gives the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17) to lead us into all Truth (John 16:13), and says, "Sanctify them in the truth; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.” (John 17:17) So, Scripture is Truth. It is “God-breathed”, and “profitable” for all of life (2 Tim 3:16):
• The TRUTH about Marriage and Family is in the Bible
• The TRUTH about Sexuality, Manhood and Femininity is in the Bible
• The TRUTH about Children and Discipline and Education is in the Bible
• The TRUTH about Ethics, Morals, Law, right and wrong, is in the Bible
• And, the TRUTH about the only GOD is in the Bible
“THE SUM OF YOUR WORD IS TRUTH”, the Psalmist said (119:160)
It’s the TRUTH that sets us free! (John 8:32) Philosophies and theories that get dressed-up in Scripture, are here today – gone tomorrow. Our fad-driven, Christian-consumerism is baited by tricks, hype, hucksters and trends: “7 Steps to this”, “3 Steps to that”, and “Abracadabra!”, when all you need is the TRUTH! Sola Scriptura.
PRAY:
My Father, my Bible holds the answers to all of life. Please save me from self-help, quick-fix, talk-show syndrome, and renew my mind to think like Your Word. Thank you Lord.
Friday, April 8, 2011
SON OF GOD
Matt 26:63 And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the SON OF GOD." Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, "I AM; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."... [65] Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; [66] what do you think?" They answered, "He deserves death!" John 19:7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the SON OF GOD."
DEVOTE:
Christ’s response to the “Son of God” question, is the definitive, unequivocal declaration of Deity – “I AM” - “Ego Eimi” (Gr) - The self-existent, eternal One! The same name that commissioned Moses in Exodus 3:14! For the Council, this was blasphemy, as confirmed by John 5:18: “The Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He ... was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God”, and in John 10:33 the Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God."
But for others, who were not spat in the eye by the venom of religious tradition, the Son of Man was clearly seen to be the SON OF GOD:- “Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw ... they said, "Truly this was the SON OF GOD!" (Matt 27:54) These, who flogged and mocked and crowned and pierced and plucked and drove nails into His hands and feet, were able to see the Truth of the Great I AM.
For the blind who led the blind, they were looking into the mud and blood crusted face of a carpenter’s boy. But for you and I, we look into the face of the One “who was declared the SON OF GOD with power by the resurrection from the dead … Jesus Christ our Lord”! (Romans 1:4) YES!
PRAY:
Father, I believe in “Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, very God of very God”. (Nicene Creed)
DEVOTE:
Christ’s response to the “Son of God” question, is the definitive, unequivocal declaration of Deity – “I AM” - “Ego Eimi” (Gr) - The self-existent, eternal One! The same name that commissioned Moses in Exodus 3:14! For the Council, this was blasphemy, as confirmed by John 5:18: “The Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He ... was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God”, and in John 10:33 the Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God."
But for others, who were not spat in the eye by the venom of religious tradition, the Son of Man was clearly seen to be the SON OF GOD:- “Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw ... they said, "Truly this was the SON OF GOD!" (Matt 27:54) These, who flogged and mocked and crowned and pierced and plucked and drove nails into His hands and feet, were able to see the Truth of the Great I AM.
For the blind who led the blind, they were looking into the mud and blood crusted face of a carpenter’s boy. But for you and I, we look into the face of the One “who was declared the SON OF GOD with power by the resurrection from the dead … Jesus Christ our Lord”! (Romans 1:4) YES!
PRAY:
Father, I believe in “Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, very God of very God”. (Nicene Creed)
THE KISS
John 18:3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Luke 22:47-48 47 … and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a KISS?"
DEVOTE:
Psalm 55 captures this “kiss” prophetically: “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me. 13 But it is you, … my companion and my familiar friend; 14 we who had sweet fellowship together”. It is a stinging thing to be kissed with deception by a brother, where motives are not pure, where “weapons” rattle in the cohort of the soul, where ambition is concealed, and friendship is not binding. Sincerity and transparency should be the hallmarks of the believer. Proverbs 27:5 says, “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”
There is an “up-kiss” and a “down-kiss”. In Absalom’s conspiracy, “When a man came near to prostrate himself before Absalom, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him” (2 Samuel 15:5) Absalom and Judas are “up-kissers” – their eyes are open when they kiss, looking beyond you to the next opportunity! A “down-kisser” is like the woman “standing behind Jesus at His feet, weeping, who began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with her hair, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.” (Luke 7:38) That’s a down-kisser! That’s sincerity! That’s the mark of a forgiven soul! That’s a HOLY kiss! (Romans 16:16; et al)
PRAY:
Father, please purge my heart of deceit. Impregnate my soul with sincerity. Take away the masks, so that my lips can land a holy kiss!
DEVOTE:
Psalm 55 captures this “kiss” prophetically: “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me. 13 But it is you, … my companion and my familiar friend; 14 we who had sweet fellowship together”. It is a stinging thing to be kissed with deception by a brother, where motives are not pure, where “weapons” rattle in the cohort of the soul, where ambition is concealed, and friendship is not binding. Sincerity and transparency should be the hallmarks of the believer. Proverbs 27:5 says, “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”
There is an “up-kiss” and a “down-kiss”. In Absalom’s conspiracy, “When a man came near to prostrate himself before Absalom, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him” (2 Samuel 15:5) Absalom and Judas are “up-kissers” – their eyes are open when they kiss, looking beyond you to the next opportunity! A “down-kisser” is like the woman “standing behind Jesus at His feet, weeping, who began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with her hair, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.” (Luke 7:38) That’s a down-kisser! That’s sincerity! That’s the mark of a forgiven soul! That’s a HOLY kiss! (Romans 16:16; et al)
PRAY:
Father, please purge my heart of deceit. Impregnate my soul with sincerity. Take away the masks, so that my lips can land a holy kiss!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
TSUNAMI OF SIN
Matt 26:[36] Then Jesus came with them to a place called GETHSEMANE, … [38] Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." Luke 22:44 And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.
DEVOTE:
What Christ experienced here was intense, mortifying grief. A score needed to be settled, and He had come for that very purpose: "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.” (John 12:27) That score was the tsunami of humanity’s sin against our Holy Creator that demanded the inevitable wrath of Justice! So, “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:21), and Jesus put Himself in harm’s way for you and I!
We have no idea what that must have felt like for Him, simply because we are not pure. But Purity was about to be defiled, and executed in judgment! Sweating blood? No surprise! Hebrews 5:7 says, “He offered up prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.” Isaiah 53:11 says, “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied”.
Gethsemane is a pattern-principle for the believer - a will-definer. The place(s) in our walk where we resign to God’s will, and pray, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39) We don’t short-circuit suffering in this life – we fellowship with it! (Phil 3:10)
PRAY
Father, “Although Jesus was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8) Please translate my suffering into obedience.
DEVOTE:
What Christ experienced here was intense, mortifying grief. A score needed to be settled, and He had come for that very purpose: "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I came to this hour.” (John 12:27) That score was the tsunami of humanity’s sin against our Holy Creator that demanded the inevitable wrath of Justice! So, “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:21), and Jesus put Himself in harm’s way for you and I!
We have no idea what that must have felt like for Him, simply because we are not pure. But Purity was about to be defiled, and executed in judgment! Sweating blood? No surprise! Hebrews 5:7 says, “He offered up prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.” Isaiah 53:11 says, “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied”.
Gethsemane is a pattern-principle for the believer - a will-definer. The place(s) in our walk where we resign to God’s will, and pray, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39) We don’t short-circuit suffering in this life – we fellowship with it! (Phil 3:10)
PRAY
Father, “Although Jesus was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8) Please translate my suffering into obedience.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
THE DENIAL
Matt 26:[33] But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." [34] Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will DENY Me three times." [35] Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not DENY You." All the disciples said the same thing too.
DEVOTE:
… And I’ve said the same thing – “I will never fall away”, and “I will not deny You”. But, when the crosses of hardship, failure, pain and shortage walk into our world, we find that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”, and we ask things like, “God, where are you?” But that’s not the right question, is it? The real question is, “Where are YOU?” It’s the same question God asked Adam in the garden when he was hiding! God’s not the one “missing in action” – Adam was, Peter was, and so are we!
In the face of our crosses in life, it is not Christ that we must deny – it is ourselves! Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must DENY HIMSELF, and take up his CROSS and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) The cross gives us the power to deny ourselves, so that we have the power to witness for Jesus! Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation” (Rom 1:16) Jesus said in Luke 9:26 "Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him”, The cross gives us the power to deny ourselves, so that we will not deny Him, and be denied by Him! (Matthew 10:33)
PRAY:
Lord God, please help me to unashamedly identify with your Cross, so that my cowardice is not confirmed by the “rooster crows” of lost souls that have slipped through the cracks of my weak witness! (Matthew 26:75)
DEVOTE:
… And I’ve said the same thing – “I will never fall away”, and “I will not deny You”. But, when the crosses of hardship, failure, pain and shortage walk into our world, we find that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”, and we ask things like, “God, where are you?” But that’s not the right question, is it? The real question is, “Where are YOU?” It’s the same question God asked Adam in the garden when he was hiding! God’s not the one “missing in action” – Adam was, Peter was, and so are we!
In the face of our crosses in life, it is not Christ that we must deny – it is ourselves! Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must DENY HIMSELF, and take up his CROSS and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) The cross gives us the power to deny ourselves, so that we have the power to witness for Jesus! Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation” (Rom 1:16) Jesus said in Luke 9:26 "Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him”, The cross gives us the power to deny ourselves, so that we will not deny Him, and be denied by Him! (Matthew 10:33)
PRAY:
Lord God, please help me to unashamedly identify with your Cross, so that my cowardice is not confirmed by the “rooster crows” of lost souls that have slipped through the cracks of my weak witness! (Matthew 26:75)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
THE BETRAYAL
Matthew 26:15 Judas said, "What are you willing to give me to BETRAY Him to you?" And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. 16 From then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus... [23] And He answered, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me... And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself."
DEVOTE:
Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. And today Jesus is still being betrayed for money. One would almost think that there is no other “gospel” than the “prosperity gospel”. Yet the Bible strongly cautions us about the “deceitfulness of riches” (Mark 4:19); Timothy is warned to flee the “love of money as the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10); Jesus warns that money is a master, a god, an object of worship, that we can’t serve Him and money, and that loyalty to one betrays the other (Matt 6:24). And Judas loved money. He stole from the treasury (John 12:6), like non-givers do today (Mal 3:8 and Acts 5:1-11), and that became the root of his betrayal. Scripture warns us that in these closing days, “men will be lovers of money, having a form of godliness, although they have denied its power (i.e. the cross; Christ [1 Cor 1:18, 24]; and the Gospel [Rom 1:16]), and we are “to avoid such men as these”! (2 Tim 3:6)
Greed is idolatry (Col 3:5) Money is a substitute god, and Eccl 10:19 tells us that “money is the answer to everything”! Hence Judas could betray Jesus – Christ wasn’t his answer, and therefore Christ wasn’t his God. Are you content with Christ alone?
PRAY:
Father, please extract “Lord Lotto” from my heart, and put a loyal spirit within me. Please save me from betraying you to the “highest bidder”. Help me to be content with what I have, so that I can be generous to those who do not have. Amen
DEVOTE:
Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. And today Jesus is still being betrayed for money. One would almost think that there is no other “gospel” than the “prosperity gospel”. Yet the Bible strongly cautions us about the “deceitfulness of riches” (Mark 4:19); Timothy is warned to flee the “love of money as the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10); Jesus warns that money is a master, a god, an object of worship, that we can’t serve Him and money, and that loyalty to one betrays the other (Matt 6:24). And Judas loved money. He stole from the treasury (John 12:6), like non-givers do today (Mal 3:8 and Acts 5:1-11), and that became the root of his betrayal. Scripture warns us that in these closing days, “men will be lovers of money, having a form of godliness, although they have denied its power (i.e. the cross; Christ [1 Cor 1:18, 24]; and the Gospel [Rom 1:16]), and we are “to avoid such men as these”! (2 Tim 3:6)
Greed is idolatry (Col 3:5) Money is a substitute god, and Eccl 10:19 tells us that “money is the answer to everything”! Hence Judas could betray Jesus – Christ wasn’t his answer, and therefore Christ wasn’t his God. Are you content with Christ alone?
PRAY:
Father, please extract “Lord Lotto” from my heart, and put a loyal spirit within me. Please save me from betraying you to the “highest bidder”. Help me to be content with what I have, so that I can be generous to those who do not have. Amen
Saturday, April 2, 2011
THE COVENANT
Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." (which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. {1 Cor 11:24}) Luke 22:20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the NEW COVENANT in My blood (which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” {Matt 26:28})
DEVOTE:
When we think of “covenant”, we think of an agreement or contract between two parties, but that is not the Biblical meaning of this word. In Scripture it refers to a unilateral and irrevocable WILL from a testator, requiring no human cooperation, springing singularly from the volition of God himself, to designate his heirs, and invest them with the rights of inheritance as a free gift!
The enforcing of any Will requires the confirmed death of the testator (John 19:33 “But coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.”) The NIV accurately captures “covenant” in Hebrews 9:16-18 as “In the case of a WILL, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a WILL is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first (covenant) was not put into effect without blood.”
For this reason, we are told in 1 Corinthians 11:26, “As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.” The Last Will of God is put into effect by the death of His Son, and the Bible documents your unmerited legal inheritance!
PRAY:
Thank you Jesus for making all your promises “Yes” and “Amen” to me through your death. Teach my heart to say “Yes” and “Amen” to all that you ask, and please let my life exhibit the reality of my inheritance that you have secured at such great cost.
DEVOTE:
When we think of “covenant”, we think of an agreement or contract between two parties, but that is not the Biblical meaning of this word. In Scripture it refers to a unilateral and irrevocable WILL from a testator, requiring no human cooperation, springing singularly from the volition of God himself, to designate his heirs, and invest them with the rights of inheritance as a free gift!
The enforcing of any Will requires the confirmed death of the testator (John 19:33 “But coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.”) The NIV accurately captures “covenant” in Hebrews 9:16-18 as “In the case of a WILL, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a WILL is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first (covenant) was not put into effect without blood.”
For this reason, we are told in 1 Corinthians 11:26, “As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.” The Last Will of God is put into effect by the death of His Son, and the Bible documents your unmerited legal inheritance!
PRAY:
Thank you Jesus for making all your promises “Yes” and “Amen” to me through your death. Teach my heart to say “Yes” and “Amen” to all that you ask, and please let my life exhibit the reality of my inheritance that you have secured at such great cost.
Friday, April 1, 2011
THE PASSOVER LAMB
Luke 22:7 Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the PASSOVER LAMB had to be sacrificed…15 And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”
DEVOTE:
The significance of the interplay of this historic Jewish Feast with the death of Jesus Christ cannot be overstated. The Israelites were instructed to slaughter a spotless lamb, sprinkle its blood on the doorposts of their homes, and eat its roasted flesh. In so doing, the angel of death would pass over their homes, and they would be safe, while every firstborn son in Egypt died. God’s action that first Passover night was the final stroke that shattered the chains of slavery, and ushered in the annual commemoration of what is known as the “Festival of Freedom”.
In John 1:29, John the baptiser describes Jesus as, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”; 1 Corinthians 5:7 tells us that “Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed”, and Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as the “Lamb who has been slain”.
Our sacrificed Saviour is the once-for-all fulfilment of the Passover Feast! As the Passover Lamb, Christ has freed us from the slavery of sin! The Last Supper is our “Festival of Freedom”! When we eat the bread of His broken body, and when we drink the wine of His sprinkled blood, let’s lift up high the cup of our salvation as a toast to our liberating Lamb!
PRAY:
Lord Jesus, thank you that I am saved from death because of your blood; thank you for not only taking away my sin, but for destroying sin’s enslaving power! When I commune with you in our Love Feast, I want to remember your “earnest desire” to become the Slain Saviour.
DEVOTE:
The significance of the interplay of this historic Jewish Feast with the death of Jesus Christ cannot be overstated. The Israelites were instructed to slaughter a spotless lamb, sprinkle its blood on the doorposts of their homes, and eat its roasted flesh. In so doing, the angel of death would pass over their homes, and they would be safe, while every firstborn son in Egypt died. God’s action that first Passover night was the final stroke that shattered the chains of slavery, and ushered in the annual commemoration of what is known as the “Festival of Freedom”.
In John 1:29, John the baptiser describes Jesus as, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”; 1 Corinthians 5:7 tells us that “Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed”, and Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as the “Lamb who has been slain”.
Our sacrificed Saviour is the once-for-all fulfilment of the Passover Feast! As the Passover Lamb, Christ has freed us from the slavery of sin! The Last Supper is our “Festival of Freedom”! When we eat the bread of His broken body, and when we drink the wine of His sprinkled blood, let’s lift up high the cup of our salvation as a toast to our liberating Lamb!
PRAY:
Lord Jesus, thank you that I am saved from death because of your blood; thank you for not only taking away my sin, but for destroying sin’s enslaving power! When I commune with you in our Love Feast, I want to remember your “earnest desire” to become the Slain Saviour.
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