Thursday Devotional - Jesus is Truth – Preparing Followers (2/29/24)

Happy Leap Day! Just as leap days help us stay in sync with the seasons, the Holy Spirit helps us stay in sync with God’s truths. Without him, we are left to flounder in life with an incorrect worldview.

Jesus opened the disciple’s eyes to see so many misunderstood truths of God. Just before his death, he promised additional help, through the Holy Spirit, for further understanding about God’s plans.  

 

John 16:7-11 ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin, because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

 

The Advocate (Holy Spirit) convicts people about their sin, rejection of Jesus as God’s Son, inability to earn a right standing before God, and the reality of God’s just condemnation of those who reject Him. There are absolutes – God’s absolutes. We don’t get to choose what is right for us, God does.

 

Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure with new revelations about the Holy Spirit’s work! He also prepares us! Can you think back through your life and recognize how Jesus prepared you for various challenges, situations, relationships and jobs? Will you jot it down in a journal or share it with a close family member or friend, giving glory to God?

The Right Choice

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:13-17

I have so many people in my life where I have deep and close connections with.  No matter when I see or speak to them, it is as if we have never lost a beat even if we haven’t connected in months.  There is higher love I have for them that is a bond that never leaves.  That being said, they are not God.  It is that which I find myself challenged.  Sometimes, I do what I want to appease them and not what God wants.  It is indeed something I have prayed about often.  One should not have to choose between them and God.  To a degree, if they are as good a friend as I claim them to be they would never put me between them and God in the first place.  But what if it happens?  It’s far easier with someone you do not know, but when I know them and my heart strings are tugging, will I remain faithful?  Will I make the right choice?

Building ourselves up in Christ requires that we focus on each aspect of our faith to ensure we are prepared to choose God above all else.  When I was young, I was once told, “Practice makes perfect.”  This was the analogy of doing something continuously making you really good at it.  As I got older, I found a different version of it that said, “Practice makes permanence.”  This implied that you need to be careful because if you are practicing bad habits, you don’t want that to become permanent.  This brings me to today’s verses.  Paul was talking about spiritual warfare and preparing for battle.  This of course is a mental battle, and the things he asked the Ephesians to do was focus on those things that are good for them.

Focusing on truth, God’s righteousness, knowledge of being saved by Christ, and faith to walk on water serves us well in the battle.  These are things we should wake up and use every day.  Some days will seem like they are not used at all, but if we are focused on these things daily giving glory to God for them, we will be ready at the time those skills are most needed.  They will make the choice easier.  To be clear, it is not to say at times it will be an easy choice because as my wife was telling me earlier last night, the heart wants what the heart wants.  This is where God’s word is essential in our preparedness.  God tells us to “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (Proverbs 4:23)  If we instill it with God inspired things, it will drive us in the right direction.  If we fill it with our own wants, we may struggle in the end.

Following Christ while rewarding is not easy.  There is a reason Jesus said, “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:14)  We must focus on preparedness even when not being tested.  Every moment is an opportunity to choose what God wants.  Sometimes it will align with our wants, but each time it does not, it is a moment to gain clarity and vision for what God truly wants for your life.  Let us willingly challenge ourselves to continually grow in the light of Jesus Christ.  What lessons can you learn from past choices where your and God’s wants conflicted?  How can you have intent daily to make decisions for God?  My prayer is we focus on filling our hearts with Christ, so we can make the right choice.  Amen.

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