Thursday Devotional - God is With Us, Continually Teaching Us 4/21/22

 As a family, we read through Matthew 26 and 27 last Good Friday and throughout Easter Weekend. Alexis was very interested to know what happened each day leading up to and right after Jesus’ crucifixion. Sarah wondered how the soldiers could watch Jesus and not believe. She thought several must have believed, but didn’t tell anyone. What amazed me, was how Jesus continually captured all the possible teaching moments even while he was being betrayed, arrested, wrongly accused and abandoned!  

Matthew 26:47-56  While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Wow! Jesus kept calmly teaching, even as they arrested Him!

Like Sarah, I wonder how many people, besides the disciples, thought back to Jesus’s profound words!

In moments of crisis, it is sometimes hard to recognize God’s teaching moments as He walks through the crisis with us. In hindsight, we can often look back and see it, though. Can you think back to a recent crisis in your own life? How did God walk with you through it and what did He teach you?

Alice 

Thursday Devotional - Maundy or Holy Thursday

Do you already have plans made for Easter? Are you planning a big feast at your house or cooking certain items to take to someone else’s?

We do a pot-luck brunch at our church before the Easter service. Joe and I haven’t even talked about what we are taking. We haven’t planned that far out, even though I know it’s only 3 days away!

Well, God and Jesus had everything planned out for Easter well in advance. In fact, Jesus’ “Last Supper” with His disciples was planned out, too.

Luke 22:7-16 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

¹⁰ He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹ and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹² He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

¹³ They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

Wow, what sovereignty, selflessness, love and care! He took the time to give miraculously specific details! He was thorough and orderly even with the greatest weight of death on his shoulders.

None of us will suffer the way Jesus did. However, how will you and I look to ease the preparations and work of others, even while we prepare to suffer or are suffering?   

Alice

Thurs Devo: Final Dinner

If you knew you only had one more meal to share with close family and friends, what would you do?  What would you plan to eat, where would you plan to eat it, and what other activities would you try to squeeze in?   Would you plan a big party at a banquet hall or offer to clean the bathrooms at church?

Let’s see how Jesus spent His last meal with His disciples…

John 13:1-17    ¹It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.  ²The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. ³Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" ⁷Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." ⁸"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." ⁹"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" ¹⁰Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." ¹¹For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. ¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. ¹³"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

This is probably a familiar passage, but did you realize that washing the disciples feet was one of the last things Jesus did the day before His death?  The rest of chapter 13 through chapter 17 include specific instructions, promises, prophecies, prayers, and encouragement Jesus gave to his disciples at this final dinner.  So how are we, today, to do as Jesus did? 

I heard about one believer who decided he would wash the car of those that visited his house.  Even when two couples came to his house just to carpool to a restaurant, he snuck outside and had their car washed while his wife was interacting with them inside.  Amazing!

What fellow believer will you and I humbly serve this Holy week?  How?

Alice

Protection, Blessings, and Love

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever.Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.  Psalm 5:11-12

The other day, my family found that our first house had a major fire.  We were incredibly saddened to learn of it, and we prayed that everyone who currently lived in the house was safe.  Then as I thought more about it, I realized that I would never see my old home again.  The memories that our family built there would be all that remained.  But on the other side of it, I realized God had blessed us allowing our family to move to our new home and change our lives.  Even if we were still in that house, I believe we would have been alright, but I did not want to be unappreciative of the fact that God has loved, blessed, and protected our family.  We are so humbled that He has done so.

All of us as Christians are so incredibly blessed as children of God. We could complain about many things going on in our lives.  We might feel our boss is being tough on us or our children do not want to talk to us anymore.  Some of you might have the struggle of dealing with the loss of a loved one, and others wish they could lose the loved one they have (smile).  Many face difficult decisions about what job to choose.  Even some are struggling to decide whether or not to stay in an abusive relationship with a spouse.  No matter where you are in your life, know there is a God who is with you each and every step of the way.  He loves you, and blesses you infinitely.  He is always there looking out and protecting you from harm.  In placing our trust in Him, there are barriers moved that we would never see, and He sets in motion plans for us days, weeks, and months in advance so that each move we make is in line with His perfect plan for our lives.

When we give praise to our God, we have nothing to fear!  God said through the prophet Isaiah, “I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16)  God is always looking out for us.  Our goal is to rely on Him, give of ourselves to Him, and give thanks to Him for He is indeed worthy of our praises.  What should you be thankful of today?  What small issue can you give to Him in exchange for praising Him for the position He has given you?  My prayer is that we praise God for His protection, blessings, and love.  Amen!

Calm Jesus versus Nervous People

I forgot to post this devotional to this website last Thursday... I'm sorry this is late!

As we look forward to celebrating Easter this Sunday, we can take some time to remember all Jesus endured leading up to His death and resurrection.
Tonight would have been the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested.
Matthew 26:47-56     
 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 
⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

What do you notice about Jesus during this whole interaction?
What do you notice about everyone else?

I see a very calm and confident Jesus who is sure of God's Sovereign power and plan.
I see very nervous priests and disciples who are trying to control situations with their own wisdom and strength.

Who are you and I like?
Are we more like calm and confident Jesus, who trusts completely in God?
Or are we more like the others who are trying to control situations in our own wisdom and strength?

Join me in thanking Jesus for calmly enduring all of this for your sake and mine!

Alice