“Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
Luke 23:46
Hours earlier, before Jesus willingly gave up his spirit he had been at Gethsemane, overwhelmed with sorrow, sweating blood and asking his Father if there was anyway… Let’s rewind, just a bit. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us that Jesus was not alone in the garden that evening – his disciples were with him. He told them to sit here while I go over there to pray and he took Peter, James and John with him. Peter, James and John were asked to “keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). Jesus went a bit further, falls on His face in prayer and in great emotional turmoil prays “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus agonizing with the Father over the act of sacrificial obedience he is about carry out – finds his friends asleep, not able to carry out a simple request.
Throughout scripture God demonstrates is preference of obedience over sacrifice. But I believe those who are willing to be sacrificially obedient, find themselves in closer relationship God. Abraham is a good example. Abraham and Sarah finally have the desire of their hearts a son. Then God tells Abraham to take his beloved Isaac and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Abraham did not hesitate – but what agony must he have felt, was his soul overwhelmed with sorrow? God provides a lamb; Isaac is spared and Abraham walks closely with God all the days of his life.
Jesus’ willingness to act in sacrificial obedience to his Father, to be beaten almost to the point of death, to have the rough wood of the cross dig into his back and to die the torturous death that being crucified was, not only returned Jesus to his rightful place. It freed him from his earthly limitations and enabled Him to create and sustain a life transforming change on our planet – but it also sets everyone who believes in Him free, to be who they were created to be, to fulfill the purpose they were made for, to walk in close relationship with the creator of the universe.
Jesus’ disciples would carry out their commission with sacrificial obedience, all but one dying painful deaths. All being persecuted in one way or another, all facing painful storms. Yet they walked in freedom with the One who made them free and gave them the power they needed. The One who promised a forever life with Him in a forever kingdom.
What is God calling you to that requires sacrificial obedience? Do you trust Him to give you what you need to endure the pain of sacrificial obedience? Do you believe that Jesus will be with you in every storm, until you are filled with His light and the fullness of His kingdom?
With sacrificial obedience comes freedom. Embrace His freedom.
A Prayer
Father – We humans want to live a life that has as little pain as possible, we don’t want to sacrifice what we think we should have. We don’t even like to be obedient to anyone but ourselves. Help us Lord to see the freedom that comes with being sacrificially obedient to the things You are calling us to. Yes, it will be painful possibly very painful. But to be a fully restored image bearers in close relationship with the God who made us and loves us is worth it. In the name of Jesus, who showed us what sacrificial obedience looks like – Amen.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Seasons Come and Go
Greetings to everyone who still checks in on this blog every now and again.
There is a time and a season for everything and that means seasons change. It would seem that the Something Special For You season has come to an end. There are 7 books after all and perhaps that's all of this format there was meant to be.
I feel something new coming, something called Simple Words - maybe?
It appears the winds of change may be a blowing so if you are inclined to pray - I'd appreciate it. Let me know what you think and what would encourage you.
There is a time and a season for everything and that means seasons change. It would seem that the Something Special For You season has come to an end. There are 7 books after all and perhaps that's all of this format there was meant to be.
I feel something new coming, something called Simple Words - maybe?
Something like: If you want to find your place in this world, seek His face.
This blog will remain with its archive of Something Special Devotions for as long as, well as long as Blogger continues to be available.
Monday, October 15, 2018
HE is There Even When You Doubt
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?... But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.”
Psalm 13:1-2, 5-6
Once again someone I love has gotten the dreaded ‘C’ diagnosis. My heart breaks for the battle that must be faced in the midst of other health issues. I am too far away to offer a hug or to be by their side when chemo starts. I cry out in my prayers asking for a miracle that only He can do and for my friend’s comfort and peace. My friend is asking God hard questions – you know the kind – why me? What have I done? Why Lord, do you hate me? These are questions of anguish and doubt. Not unlike the many conversations David has with God.
In the passages above, David is once again crying out to the Lord for relief. He is demanding to know how long it is going to be before the Lord his God acts on his behalf. He feels like God isn’t there, is not listening and apparently doesn’t care that his mind is being ravaged by doubt and fear or that his heart is being crushed by sorrow.
I love how David always expresses his rawest emotions, speaking to God like you would someone you have a deep bond with. Sometimes, demanding that God act on his behalf. Sometimes, falling on his face in total surrender to whatever God’s will is. David doubts – I believe not because he doubts that God exists or that God can do great and mighty things – but because he doubts his own faith, his own understanding and his own identity in God’s plan.
When David finishes his lament – he praises God with equal emotion. Proclaiming that he WILL TRUST and that his heart though currently being crushed by sorrow, fear and doubt will rejoice because the Lord’s salvation is sure. David sings praise to the Lord even in the midst of the struggles he is facing.
One friend is just starting the cancer battle, the daughter of another in the midst of the same battle, one son-in-law dealing with his own serious health issue. What battle are you trying to stare down? What is filling your heart with sorrow?
HE is there in the midst of everything – so trust in His unfailing love and sing praise to Him, and sing loudly – it will make your heart and mind feel better.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for the raw emotion of your servant David’s lament and proclamation of trust even in the midst of the battle. He teaches us that we can be equally raw in our cries of anguish and we reach out to You. Help to rejoice and sing You praise once we have asked our hard questions and poured out our pain at your feet. Bring us peace and comfort and healing. Remind us that you love us with an unfailing love. In the name of Jesus, who is with us even when we doubt. – Amen.
Psalm 13:1-2, 5-6
Once again someone I love has gotten the dreaded ‘C’ diagnosis. My heart breaks for the battle that must be faced in the midst of other health issues. I am too far away to offer a hug or to be by their side when chemo starts. I cry out in my prayers asking for a miracle that only He can do and for my friend’s comfort and peace. My friend is asking God hard questions – you know the kind – why me? What have I done? Why Lord, do you hate me? These are questions of anguish and doubt. Not unlike the many conversations David has with God.
In the passages above, David is once again crying out to the Lord for relief. He is demanding to know how long it is going to be before the Lord his God acts on his behalf. He feels like God isn’t there, is not listening and apparently doesn’t care that his mind is being ravaged by doubt and fear or that his heart is being crushed by sorrow.
I love how David always expresses his rawest emotions, speaking to God like you would someone you have a deep bond with. Sometimes, demanding that God act on his behalf. Sometimes, falling on his face in total surrender to whatever God’s will is. David doubts – I believe not because he doubts that God exists or that God can do great and mighty things – but because he doubts his own faith, his own understanding and his own identity in God’s plan.
When David finishes his lament – he praises God with equal emotion. Proclaiming that he WILL TRUST and that his heart though currently being crushed by sorrow, fear and doubt will rejoice because the Lord’s salvation is sure. David sings praise to the Lord even in the midst of the struggles he is facing.
One friend is just starting the cancer battle, the daughter of another in the midst of the same battle, one son-in-law dealing with his own serious health issue. What battle are you trying to stare down? What is filling your heart with sorrow?
HE is there in the midst of everything – so trust in His unfailing love and sing praise to Him, and sing loudly – it will make your heart and mind feel better.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for the raw emotion of your servant David’s lament and proclamation of trust even in the midst of the battle. He teaches us that we can be equally raw in our cries of anguish and we reach out to You. Help to rejoice and sing You praise once we have asked our hard questions and poured out our pain at your feet. Bring us peace and comfort and healing. Remind us that you love us with an unfailing love. In the name of Jesus, who is with us even when we doubt. – Amen.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Don't Get Too Comfortable
“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
Hebrews 11:39-40
I’d been having a discussion in my heart and mind with God over what helps grow our trust and faith in him. There are of course a number of things – worship, obedience, being in relationship with others who are living life following Jesus and living actively in the world but in a way that is so different that others notice. But I kept coming back to one thing more than all the others, that idea that God grows us by making us uncomfortable.
The passage above comes at the end of a list of Old Testament people who are commended for their faith. Even though things happened in their lives as they followed after God that prevented them from fully experiencing what God had promised them – they had remained faithful. As I looked at this list and thought not only of the people listed but also other Old Testament people and New Testament people whose faith can be commended, I found a common thread of faith building – many, if not all of them had been called out of their places of comfort to be part of God’s bigger and better plan for mankind.
Noah was asked to build a giant ship, a ship that would allow mankind to live on after the flood. Abraham was told to leave his family behind and follow God to a land God would show him and then be asked to sacrifice his beloved son, so that the nation God was going to build would have a place to live and to be an example for what faithful obedience looks like. Joseph must have been comfortable as the bratty younger brother who was “dad’s favorite” until his brothers sold him into slavery, that would eventually allow Joseph to keep them alive in the midst of famine. I am guessing Moses had gotten comfortable with being a shepherd when God spoke to him from a blazing bush and told to go and lead His people – a people that were comfortable in their bondage - out of Egypt. What about Ruth, having left the comfort of her land and family to stay with Naomi and be found in the line of David. How about Esther, was she comfortable in her life, before she was queen and risked her life to save her people? Many of the disciples left the comfort of their trades and families to follow after Jesus and become world changers. Even Jesus – can you imagine what comfort the Father called him out of, so He could come and die for us?
Leaving California and the comfort of family and friends to go to a new place was hard, but the faith building was amazing. Standing on the platform to preach and teach the Word of God – way out of my comfort zone, also great for faith building though. I was asked after having done that several times, if I was getting more comfortable with it. After thinking about the answer to that question, I responded that I wasn’t sure it was a good thing to get comfortable with it, because it is too important a thing to take for granted – which is something we human are inclined to do when we get comfortable in life – take things for granted that is.
A day may come when others will commend us for our faith, recognizing that even we hadn’t fully received the promise yet. That will come some day when all of us who call Jesus Lord, will be in his presence.
Until then - don’t get too comfortable, He wants to build a Christ like character in you and He will make you uncomfortable to do it.
A Prayer
Father – You know how we humans are so inclined to live comfortably, so comfortably that we take each other, our stuff, our faith and You for granted. Saying thank you for the times that you pull us out of our comfort zone, to build our faith and grow our character is hard, but may we thank you with everything in us as your grow us into the people you planned for us to be from the beginning. As we live out our faith outside our comfort zones may those around us recognize You in our lives and allow their hearts to answer Your call to them. In the name of Jesus, who calls us out of our comfort zones – Amen.
Hebrews 11:39-40
I’d been having a discussion in my heart and mind with God over what helps grow our trust and faith in him. There are of course a number of things – worship, obedience, being in relationship with others who are living life following Jesus and living actively in the world but in a way that is so different that others notice. But I kept coming back to one thing more than all the others, that idea that God grows us by making us uncomfortable.
The passage above comes at the end of a list of Old Testament people who are commended for their faith. Even though things happened in their lives as they followed after God that prevented them from fully experiencing what God had promised them – they had remained faithful. As I looked at this list and thought not only of the people listed but also other Old Testament people and New Testament people whose faith can be commended, I found a common thread of faith building – many, if not all of them had been called out of their places of comfort to be part of God’s bigger and better plan for mankind.
Noah was asked to build a giant ship, a ship that would allow mankind to live on after the flood. Abraham was told to leave his family behind and follow God to a land God would show him and then be asked to sacrifice his beloved son, so that the nation God was going to build would have a place to live and to be an example for what faithful obedience looks like. Joseph must have been comfortable as the bratty younger brother who was “dad’s favorite” until his brothers sold him into slavery, that would eventually allow Joseph to keep them alive in the midst of famine. I am guessing Moses had gotten comfortable with being a shepherd when God spoke to him from a blazing bush and told to go and lead His people – a people that were comfortable in their bondage - out of Egypt. What about Ruth, having left the comfort of her land and family to stay with Naomi and be found in the line of David. How about Esther, was she comfortable in her life, before she was queen and risked her life to save her people? Many of the disciples left the comfort of their trades and families to follow after Jesus and become world changers. Even Jesus – can you imagine what comfort the Father called him out of, so He could come and die for us?
Leaving California and the comfort of family and friends to go to a new place was hard, but the faith building was amazing. Standing on the platform to preach and teach the Word of God – way out of my comfort zone, also great for faith building though. I was asked after having done that several times, if I was getting more comfortable with it. After thinking about the answer to that question, I responded that I wasn’t sure it was a good thing to get comfortable with it, because it is too important a thing to take for granted – which is something we human are inclined to do when we get comfortable in life – take things for granted that is.
A day may come when others will commend us for our faith, recognizing that even we hadn’t fully received the promise yet. That will come some day when all of us who call Jesus Lord, will be in his presence.
Until then - don’t get too comfortable, He wants to build a Christ like character in you and He will make you uncomfortable to do it.
A Prayer
Father – You know how we humans are so inclined to live comfortably, so comfortably that we take each other, our stuff, our faith and You for granted. Saying thank you for the times that you pull us out of our comfort zone, to build our faith and grow our character is hard, but may we thank you with everything in us as your grow us into the people you planned for us to be from the beginning. As we live out our faith outside our comfort zones may those around us recognize You in our lives and allow their hearts to answer Your call to them. In the name of Jesus, who calls us out of our comfort zones – Amen.
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Can I Get a Witness?
“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.”
Psalm 57:7-11
In my experience I have found that when things are going well – it is easy to praise the Lord. Can I get a witness? When things start going wrong, when the storm clouds of life begin to gather, when life seems to have lost the plot leading to the happily ever after – praising the Lord gets difficult. More difficult that getting angry, than questioning His faithfulness, than turning away. Can I get a witness?
In the course of less than 24 hours I learned that someone I care about had gotten a cancer diagnosis and that another person I care about was waiting to see if that diagnosis was headed their way and then that a new friend’s mother had just gotten the big C battle added to her life. Add to that a faraway friend who had just finished gaining a second victory over that insidious disease and someone I work with is waging all-out war on it. I was doing some questioning of God myself. Can I get a witness?
Then my heart drew my mind to David – Shepherd King and how in the midst of the many battles he found himself in he would find a way to praise God. Oh he would cry out in fear, he would ask God to destroy his enemies in no uncertain terms, he would lie on his face consumed by the guilt of his own failings, his own sin and then he would praise God. That’s what is going on in Psalm 57. David cries out for protections and deliverance and then praises God so that the whole world would know how great his God is. Wonder if David asked – can I get a witness?
Paul is another one who was good at praising God even as he questioned why he couldn’t go where he wanted to go, why God wouldn’t take the thorn from him? It was to remind Paul and us that God’s divine strength give us the greatest power when we are at our weakest, lowest points. It is to remind us that God grace, mercy and love are sufficient for whatever we are facing. I wonder if Paul ever asked – Can I get a witness?
Where are you today? Praising God because the sky is blue and there is nothing but smooth sailing in your life. Can I get a witness? I’ll celebrate that with you. Maybe life isn’t so great right now, and being angry at God is way easier than praising Him is. Can I get a witness? I’ll be praying for you in that. Maybe the storm has passed and you have found Him to be faithful, that His strength was enough and even though you were angry and questioning you have found your heart steadfast and ready to raise the roof singing praise to God. Can I get a witness? I’ll sing with you.
Can I get a witness?
A Prayer
Father – you are so patient with us. You put up with our lack of faith because you love us so much. You let us throw our little tantrums and then you show us that when we are at our weakest Your divine power will make us stronger than we realize. Help us to live our lives in such a way that even in the midst of the worst of life’s storms our hearts will be steadfast and so much so that we are indeed a witness to your power, love, mercy and grace. May our witness show those around us that what you have done for us you will do for them too. In the name of Jesus – Amen.
Psalm 57:7-11
In my experience I have found that when things are going well – it is easy to praise the Lord. Can I get a witness? When things start going wrong, when the storm clouds of life begin to gather, when life seems to have lost the plot leading to the happily ever after – praising the Lord gets difficult. More difficult that getting angry, than questioning His faithfulness, than turning away. Can I get a witness?
In the course of less than 24 hours I learned that someone I care about had gotten a cancer diagnosis and that another person I care about was waiting to see if that diagnosis was headed their way and then that a new friend’s mother had just gotten the big C battle added to her life. Add to that a faraway friend who had just finished gaining a second victory over that insidious disease and someone I work with is waging all-out war on it. I was doing some questioning of God myself. Can I get a witness?
Then my heart drew my mind to David – Shepherd King and how in the midst of the many battles he found himself in he would find a way to praise God. Oh he would cry out in fear, he would ask God to destroy his enemies in no uncertain terms, he would lie on his face consumed by the guilt of his own failings, his own sin and then he would praise God. That’s what is going on in Psalm 57. David cries out for protections and deliverance and then praises God so that the whole world would know how great his God is. Wonder if David asked – can I get a witness?
Paul is another one who was good at praising God even as he questioned why he couldn’t go where he wanted to go, why God wouldn’t take the thorn from him? It was to remind Paul and us that God’s divine strength give us the greatest power when we are at our weakest, lowest points. It is to remind us that God grace, mercy and love are sufficient for whatever we are facing. I wonder if Paul ever asked – Can I get a witness?
Where are you today? Praising God because the sky is blue and there is nothing but smooth sailing in your life. Can I get a witness? I’ll celebrate that with you. Maybe life isn’t so great right now, and being angry at God is way easier than praising Him is. Can I get a witness? I’ll be praying for you in that. Maybe the storm has passed and you have found Him to be faithful, that His strength was enough and even though you were angry and questioning you have found your heart steadfast and ready to raise the roof singing praise to God. Can I get a witness? I’ll sing with you.
Can I get a witness?
A Prayer
Father – you are so patient with us. You put up with our lack of faith because you love us so much. You let us throw our little tantrums and then you show us that when we are at our weakest Your divine power will make us stronger than we realize. Help us to live our lives in such a way that even in the midst of the worst of life’s storms our hearts will be steadfast and so much so that we are indeed a witness to your power, love, mercy and grace. May our witness show those around us that what you have done for us you will do for them too. In the name of Jesus – Amen.
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Restored
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
Psalm 51:10-12
As someone who has walked after Jesus for a long time, making something so familiar as Easter, even though it is an awe inspiring, life changing event – fresh can and filled with a new sense of wonder and gratitude can be hard sometimes. As I listened to a powerful resurrection message from our pastor and jotted down some possible titles for some post Easter encouragement. I thought I had landed on one, but the words just wouldn’t come, even as I studied and reflected on the cross and the risen Jesus. Then as is often the case inspiration came from an unexpected source.
I don’t know how many of you watch Grey’s Anatomy, but Dan and I do regularly and the inspiration for this word of encouragement comes from an episode that aired on March 29, just days before Easter.
There is a character on the show whose name is April Kepner. April is a doctor and since she first arrived on the scene (years ago), it was no secret that she was a woman of faith, a Christian. Now like all of us who follow after Christ, she was not perfect but she was doing her best to live out what she believed. A number of episodes before this one just before Easter – April had a really bad day at work – so bad that by the end of it she is having a full blown crisis of faith. April goes completely off the rails – drinking, sleeping with any man that was interested, being mean to people she cares about, treating the interns harshly – the only thing she hadn’t done was curse God. Oh she was plenty mad, shaking her fists and wanting to know what good is it to believe something and live something. In one episode following the start of the crisis one of the men she’s been with shares his own struggles with God following the death of his son, but also shares that he still managed to find comfort in church. Some of the pain, a little of the pain April is feeling starts to break away. Then in the episode the aired before Easter – April is at the bedside of a man dying an incredibly painful death, the result of a rare reaction to antibiotics. The man is a Rabbi. At first April is angry at the doctor who originally treated the man and she is trying to focus on keeping him comfortable.
But then there is a fierce conversation between the Rabbi and April - about God, about how this dying man can see that April is trying to hide her own pain and in doing so is acting like a child. He questions why she thinks that she was ever meant to understand everything or to think that there wouldn’t be unfair suffering in the world. This Rabbi whose skin is basically just falling apart asks April to tell the other doctor that he forgives her. At the end of the show it turns out that, that fierce conversation with a dying rabbi restores April’s faith. Oh, April’s heart will still have some healing to do and she’ll have to mend the wounds that she inflicted on others but you could see that the weight had been lifted and she could once again see Jesus as her Savior.
In the passage above, King David had been confronted with his sin and cries out for his God to restore him, so that he would once again feel the joy of his salvation. That's really what Jesus’ journey to the cross was for, so that by His death, He could take away the sins of all had and would believe in him and in so doing restore us to a right relationship with the God who made us and loves us more than we can ever truly understand. And on that day when the tomb was empty, because Jesus had defeated death - what joy the disciples had. A joy that continues to ripple out from that moment and fills all of us who call Jesus – Savior and Lord.
Maybe you are not having a faith crisis – but your faith is feeling a little dry, spend some time with Jesus ask him to restore the joy of your salvation and breathe new life into your faith.
Maybe you are in full crisis mode wondering if it's even worth trying to live the way Jesus wants you to – with all the pain, suffering and unanswered questions. Cry out to Him and then seek out someone of faith you trust and respect and have a fierce conversation, maybe have more than one.
Maybe you don’t know Jesus or don’t believe He is who said he is, or that He died for you and your sins. Seek Him and you will find Him. Chances are He is very near to you already, just waiting for you to want to know Him.
No matter where you are in life or what you are facing, remember that Jesus is a Rabbi who died to take away your sins and then rose victorious from the grave - to give you a new and more abundant life in this moment and into eternity.
I am glad to be restored. What about you?
A Prayer
Father – thank you for your Son, thank you that He surrendered himself to the cross to take away our sins, bring us healing and restore our relationship with You. Thank you for raising Him to life again, that we too might live, not just in the here and now but forever. Help those of us who call Jesus Lord, to live our lives in such a way as to attract others to the cross and the empty and into the very presence of the savior. Give us eyes to see hurting hearts around us. In the name of Jesus, who restores all who believe – Amen.
Psalm 51:10-12
As someone who has walked after Jesus for a long time, making something so familiar as Easter, even though it is an awe inspiring, life changing event – fresh can and filled with a new sense of wonder and gratitude can be hard sometimes. As I listened to a powerful resurrection message from our pastor and jotted down some possible titles for some post Easter encouragement. I thought I had landed on one, but the words just wouldn’t come, even as I studied and reflected on the cross and the risen Jesus. Then as is often the case inspiration came from an unexpected source.
I don’t know how many of you watch Grey’s Anatomy, but Dan and I do regularly and the inspiration for this word of encouragement comes from an episode that aired on March 29, just days before Easter.
There is a character on the show whose name is April Kepner. April is a doctor and since she first arrived on the scene (years ago), it was no secret that she was a woman of faith, a Christian. Now like all of us who follow after Christ, she was not perfect but she was doing her best to live out what she believed. A number of episodes before this one just before Easter – April had a really bad day at work – so bad that by the end of it she is having a full blown crisis of faith. April goes completely off the rails – drinking, sleeping with any man that was interested, being mean to people she cares about, treating the interns harshly – the only thing she hadn’t done was curse God. Oh she was plenty mad, shaking her fists and wanting to know what good is it to believe something and live something. In one episode following the start of the crisis one of the men she’s been with shares his own struggles with God following the death of his son, but also shares that he still managed to find comfort in church. Some of the pain, a little of the pain April is feeling starts to break away. Then in the episode the aired before Easter – April is at the bedside of a man dying an incredibly painful death, the result of a rare reaction to antibiotics. The man is a Rabbi. At first April is angry at the doctor who originally treated the man and she is trying to focus on keeping him comfortable.
But then there is a fierce conversation between the Rabbi and April - about God, about how this dying man can see that April is trying to hide her own pain and in doing so is acting like a child. He questions why she thinks that she was ever meant to understand everything or to think that there wouldn’t be unfair suffering in the world. This Rabbi whose skin is basically just falling apart asks April to tell the other doctor that he forgives her. At the end of the show it turns out that, that fierce conversation with a dying rabbi restores April’s faith. Oh, April’s heart will still have some healing to do and she’ll have to mend the wounds that she inflicted on others but you could see that the weight had been lifted and she could once again see Jesus as her Savior.
In the passage above, King David had been confronted with his sin and cries out for his God to restore him, so that he would once again feel the joy of his salvation. That's really what Jesus’ journey to the cross was for, so that by His death, He could take away the sins of all had and would believe in him and in so doing restore us to a right relationship with the God who made us and loves us more than we can ever truly understand. And on that day when the tomb was empty, because Jesus had defeated death - what joy the disciples had. A joy that continues to ripple out from that moment and fills all of us who call Jesus – Savior and Lord.
Maybe you are not having a faith crisis – but your faith is feeling a little dry, spend some time with Jesus ask him to restore the joy of your salvation and breathe new life into your faith.
Maybe you are in full crisis mode wondering if it's even worth trying to live the way Jesus wants you to – with all the pain, suffering and unanswered questions. Cry out to Him and then seek out someone of faith you trust and respect and have a fierce conversation, maybe have more than one.
Maybe you don’t know Jesus or don’t believe He is who said he is, or that He died for you and your sins. Seek Him and you will find Him. Chances are He is very near to you already, just waiting for you to want to know Him.
No matter where you are in life or what you are facing, remember that Jesus is a Rabbi who died to take away your sins and then rose victorious from the grave - to give you a new and more abundant life in this moment and into eternity.
I am glad to be restored. What about you?
A Prayer
Father – thank you for your Son, thank you that He surrendered himself to the cross to take away our sins, bring us healing and restore our relationship with You. Thank you for raising Him to life again, that we too might live, not just in the here and now but forever. Help those of us who call Jesus Lord, to live our lives in such a way as to attract others to the cross and the empty and into the very presence of the savior. Give us eyes to see hurting hearts around us. In the name of Jesus, who restores all who believe – Amen.
Monday, March 26, 2018
The Cross: More Than Dead Wood
“For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Luke 23:31
This Good Friday devotion has been excerpted from a sermon I gave on March 18, 2018.
The truth of it is that sometimes what Jesus said is hard to swallow. Hard enough that people turn away from Him.
I need to confess that preparing message was hard, because what Jesus says in the above verse is hard. Then just a week or so before I was to take the platform to deliver a Lenten message, something happened that left me feeling a bit battered. That battered feeling helped me get past Jesus’ difficult words and recognize the importance of following His agenda.
In Luke 23:26-30 We see Simon of Cyrene pressed into service to carry the cross that had become too heavy for the severely beaten Jesus to carry all the way to Golgotha. Relieved of that mortal burden, Jesus then turns his attention to the women who were mourning and wailing for Him as they followed with the rest of the crowd. He tells them “don’t cry for me, you still don’t understand what’s happening, I know fully what is going to happen and what is coming – so cry for yourselves instead, cry for your children – there is a day coming when the people will cry for the mountains to fall on them.” Remember that their beloved Jerusalem with its beautiful temple would be destroyed and many would lose their lives to the sword or be once again exiles as they fled the destruction. Then He say something really dark and hard – we are gonna soak in those words for a bit to see how The Cross is more than dead wood.
As I read the about verse over and over I thought – wow, that is really tough – I knew what I thought is meant after I had sat with it for a bit and let it roll around in my head. A Bible translation called The Voice speaks this verse more plainly by saying “For if they treat Me like this when I’m like green unseasoned wood, what will they do to a nation that’s ready to burn like seasoned firewood?”
Let’s talk about green and dry trees.
Green trees, they can be young, but regardless of their age if sap is flowing through them and no pests or diseases are harming them - they are vibrant, they bear fruit. Green wood is hard to cut and hard to burn. Jesus is the green tree – He is relatively young, being a 30 something at the time, He was certainly vibrant and His life had been very fruitful. He was also innocent, pure and holy. He had done nothing to deserve the punishment He was about to endure – nothing except to love the people who in his context were responsible –
The Jewish leaders – whose fear of change and pride blinded them to the truth they should have known. The Jewish people who turn against Him as their leaders incited the mob - despite the fact that he had fed them, healed them, welcomed them into fellowship with Him. The women whom He tells not to cry for him but instead for themselves and their children – that they should be weeping for their sin worn souls - that we should weep for our own sin worn souls. That they should weep for the judgement that was coming - that we should weep for the judgement that is coming.
Peter had denied Him when the going got tough, even though he had recognized that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
Even Pilate – who recognized that Jesus was an innocent man – going so far as to wash his hands of the matter so that they would not be stained by the blood of an innocent man, had not the courage or the strength to put down the mob in his courtyard and so surrendered Jesus to be brutally beaten and nailed to some dead wood.
If this was how the Romans would treat the innocent – how would they treat the guilty?
If God would cause His own innocent Son to suffer on our behalf. What will HE do to us if we fail to live lives that reflect the love of Jesus Christ?
Now let’s look at dry trees – they are fruitless, dead, no life giving sap runs through them, the wood from them burns easily. The dry tree is guilty, corrupt, wicked and ready for judgement good for nothing but the fire.
If Jesus is the green tree – then in His context it was the Jewish nation and to some extent the Romans who were the dry trees – Jerusalem would be destroyed and eventually the Roman empire would fall. Today – If we like the disciples of old turn our backs on Jesus because of His hard teaching or if we fail to take on Jesus’ agenda; allowing our pride, our fear or whatever to keep us from becoming the people, the nation, the kingdom he has purposed us to be - we too risk becoming dry trees as our sin worn souls suck the life out of us. Because we are all sinners – yes, some of us, many who are reading this have been saved by grace - but we all fall short sometimes, because our humanness gets in the way.
Has it gotten dark enough for you?
Let’s try to bring the light back in.
In Mark chapter 10 we encounter the rich young man, who walks away sad because Jesus’ words were too hard. The disciples where so amazed at the severity of Jesus saying it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God that they asked “Who can be saved?” Jesus was honest in his response “With man – with us this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – There is hope.
Both Mark and Luke call our attention to the poor widow who put all she had into the treasury and how Jesus commended her. He commended her not for her money but for her total surrender to God. It is in our total surrender that we find our real reward.
In John Jesus talks of being the vine and of believers being the branches – we when abide in Him we find a fruitful life.
Following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension Peter and the others faced persecution, they were arrested and commanded to stop talking about Jesus – They responded they had no choice but to obey God. You (Peter said) speaking to the religious leaders - hung him on piece of dead wood to die, but he had been raised to life and exalted to His rightful place by the God of our fathers – HIS FATHER. Because this is true - when we repent we are forgiven.
What good news for us – Amen!
So here’s the bottom line – here is the amazing grace filled light that shines for this dark world,
Jesus’ Sacrifice – on that cross made of dead wood - Plus - Our belief, because we are saved by grace through faith in the Son that was given – Equals – Eternal Life! That makes the Cross way more than dead wood!
A Prayer
Father – thank you for your words – even when they are difficult to hear. Send your Holy Spirit to be with us as we soak in the Words of Your Son Jesus – grant us eyes that see, ears that hear and hearts ready to be filled with all you have for us. In the name of Jesus, who make the cross more than dead wood – Amen.
Luke 23:31
This Good Friday devotion has been excerpted from a sermon I gave on March 18, 2018.
The truth of it is that sometimes what Jesus said is hard to swallow. Hard enough that people turn away from Him.
I need to confess that preparing message was hard, because what Jesus says in the above verse is hard. Then just a week or so before I was to take the platform to deliver a Lenten message, something happened that left me feeling a bit battered. That battered feeling helped me get past Jesus’ difficult words and recognize the importance of following His agenda.
In Luke 23:26-30 We see Simon of Cyrene pressed into service to carry the cross that had become too heavy for the severely beaten Jesus to carry all the way to Golgotha. Relieved of that mortal burden, Jesus then turns his attention to the women who were mourning and wailing for Him as they followed with the rest of the crowd. He tells them “don’t cry for me, you still don’t understand what’s happening, I know fully what is going to happen and what is coming – so cry for yourselves instead, cry for your children – there is a day coming when the people will cry for the mountains to fall on them.” Remember that their beloved Jerusalem with its beautiful temple would be destroyed and many would lose their lives to the sword or be once again exiles as they fled the destruction. Then He say something really dark and hard – we are gonna soak in those words for a bit to see how The Cross is more than dead wood.
As I read the about verse over and over I thought – wow, that is really tough – I knew what I thought is meant after I had sat with it for a bit and let it roll around in my head. A Bible translation called The Voice speaks this verse more plainly by saying “For if they treat Me like this when I’m like green unseasoned wood, what will they do to a nation that’s ready to burn like seasoned firewood?”
Let’s talk about green and dry trees.
Green trees, they can be young, but regardless of their age if sap is flowing through them and no pests or diseases are harming them - they are vibrant, they bear fruit. Green wood is hard to cut and hard to burn. Jesus is the green tree – He is relatively young, being a 30 something at the time, He was certainly vibrant and His life had been very fruitful. He was also innocent, pure and holy. He had done nothing to deserve the punishment He was about to endure – nothing except to love the people who in his context were responsible –
The Jewish leaders – whose fear of change and pride blinded them to the truth they should have known. The Jewish people who turn against Him as their leaders incited the mob - despite the fact that he had fed them, healed them, welcomed them into fellowship with Him. The women whom He tells not to cry for him but instead for themselves and their children – that they should be weeping for their sin worn souls - that we should weep for our own sin worn souls. That they should weep for the judgement that was coming - that we should weep for the judgement that is coming.
Peter had denied Him when the going got tough, even though he had recognized that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
Even Pilate – who recognized that Jesus was an innocent man – going so far as to wash his hands of the matter so that they would not be stained by the blood of an innocent man, had not the courage or the strength to put down the mob in his courtyard and so surrendered Jesus to be brutally beaten and nailed to some dead wood.
If this was how the Romans would treat the innocent – how would they treat the guilty?
If God would cause His own innocent Son to suffer on our behalf. What will HE do to us if we fail to live lives that reflect the love of Jesus Christ?
Now let’s look at dry trees – they are fruitless, dead, no life giving sap runs through them, the wood from them burns easily. The dry tree is guilty, corrupt, wicked and ready for judgement good for nothing but the fire.
If Jesus is the green tree – then in His context it was the Jewish nation and to some extent the Romans who were the dry trees – Jerusalem would be destroyed and eventually the Roman empire would fall. Today – If we like the disciples of old turn our backs on Jesus because of His hard teaching or if we fail to take on Jesus’ agenda; allowing our pride, our fear or whatever to keep us from becoming the people, the nation, the kingdom he has purposed us to be - we too risk becoming dry trees as our sin worn souls suck the life out of us. Because we are all sinners – yes, some of us, many who are reading this have been saved by grace - but we all fall short sometimes, because our humanness gets in the way.
Has it gotten dark enough for you?
Let’s try to bring the light back in.
In Mark chapter 10 we encounter the rich young man, who walks away sad because Jesus’ words were too hard. The disciples where so amazed at the severity of Jesus saying it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God that they asked “Who can be saved?” Jesus was honest in his response “With man – with us this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – There is hope.
Both Mark and Luke call our attention to the poor widow who put all she had into the treasury and how Jesus commended her. He commended her not for her money but for her total surrender to God. It is in our total surrender that we find our real reward.
In John Jesus talks of being the vine and of believers being the branches – we when abide in Him we find a fruitful life.
Following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension Peter and the others faced persecution, they were arrested and commanded to stop talking about Jesus – They responded they had no choice but to obey God. You (Peter said) speaking to the religious leaders - hung him on piece of dead wood to die, but he had been raised to life and exalted to His rightful place by the God of our fathers – HIS FATHER. Because this is true - when we repent we are forgiven.
What good news for us – Amen!
So here’s the bottom line – here is the amazing grace filled light that shines for this dark world,
Jesus’ Sacrifice – on that cross made of dead wood - Plus - Our belief, because we are saved by grace through faith in the Son that was given – Equals – Eternal Life! That makes the Cross way more than dead wood!
A Prayer
Father – thank you for your words – even when they are difficult to hear. Send your Holy Spirit to be with us as we soak in the Words of Your Son Jesus – grant us eyes that see, ears that hear and hearts ready to be filled with all you have for us. In the name of Jesus, who make the cross more than dead wood – Amen.
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