Thursday Devotional - Sin and Death or Victory and Life?

We just remembered Jesus death on the cross this past Friday and celebrated His resurrection on Sunday!

After a Good Friday service, we came home and got baths and then had our evening Bible reading and prayer time in a dark bedroom (instead of in the well-lit den). I used a flashlight as we read the crucifixion story together from the book of Luke. It’s a new tradition we started last year, remembering the utter darkness God sent while Jesus hung on the cross to pay for our sins. The kids had clear memories from a year ago (when we read the account from John)!

It’s hard for us to grasp all Jesus did in those dark hours on the cross. His death freed us from the penalty of sin and His resurrection freed us from the power of sin.  

Romans 6:1-5                     What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Are you and I truly living in the new life Jesus provided and looking forward to our resurrection someday?  Or, is there some habitual sin that reflects a lack of union with Jesus’ death? Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us overcome those sins, living in the victory Jesus has already won!

Alice

A Father's Love

Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?”

Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!”  Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time.  His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.  Genesis 37:31-35

I remember when my youngest daughter was growing up, and she struggled to enunciate words.  She had a speech impediment, and it made it very difficult for us to understand her.  It also had to be frustrating to her because we often struggled to get her what she needed.  As a father, you struggle because you see how your older children were able to easily do things, and this young adorable child would cry as you fought to get her to that same understanding.  It saddened me because at times I feel I was too hard on her.  I still can see the pained look on her little face and her tears when she felt I disappointed her.

Today, I can’t get her to shut up.  Now I have to fight her about keeping her room clean and why she got put out of Social Studies class.  “I was in the right, Dad,” she would explain.  She’s taller than me, and she loves to wrestle with her Dad.  Not because she’s fragile.  She’s a base for a cheer team and arguably the strongest of them.  But in a way, it reminds her how her Dad will always fight for her.  It may be just a small reminder that I love her.  And I do.  I would be so incredibly sad without her.

God loves us such that He too would grieve if He lost us to the world.  In the story of Joseph in Genesis, he is sold into slavery by his own brothers.  The focus is not on Joseph in these verses.  It is on Jacob, his father.  As his children deceive him about his favorite son, Joseph, we see the level of sorrow with Jacob.  This is incredibly sad, and one might wonder how to endure such grief.  As we look at our relationship with God, we are right to focus how we should better serve Him.  Loving Him above all things, loving others as ourselves, and breathing life into His word through our actions are just some of the many things we do as proof of our servitude.  But what if we reflect not on our own actions but also how God would feel?  What if our actions disappoint Him?  What if we chose not to follow Him?  Yes, God punishes us for our failings, but as our Heavenly Father, we must realize our failings disappoint Him as well.  When making decisions, we should take time to reflect on what impact it has on our relationship with God for He loves us more than we can ever imagine.

You are a precious gift of God.  Jesus in the ‘Parable of the Lost Sheep’ said, “… it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:14b)  Our relationship with God hinges heavily on our willingness to submit to His will.  Our successes brings us toward a more rewarding relationships.  Our failures bring us opportunities to grow.  But whether we succeed or fail, let our understanding of the depths of our Heavenly Father’s love be a driving force in our actions.  How can you meditate on the love God has for you?  How can what breaks God’s heart be motivation in your life?  My prayer is that we never forget what it means to have a Father’s love.

Tues Devo: The effect

Hello,

This Easter weekend got me thinking about something a little different. The start of the church service I was at began by talking about creation, and how our world today was not as it was designed. There is an effect of sin – and it leads to death and destruction. We see it with the garden of Eden, we saw it with Cain & Abel, we see it with the death of Jesus – in fact, we even see it with Judas who was so overwhelmed with what he had done he killed himself.

Even our “small stuff” has an effect. We tell a small lie, and lose trust. We get angry quickly and damage a relationship. We are selfish, and lose impactful time with our children.  

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NASB)

God took sin seriously, and paid a seriously painful price for us – let us take it seriously too.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

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

The Great Physician

Matthew 9:20-22

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.  She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Starting next week, you will notice that Erin will be writing Friday’s devotion for a while.  The reason for this is I will be out on medical leave.  During Lent I have been writing about how Jesus has done extraordinary things while he was an ordinary man here on earth.  Today’s devotion is no different really. 

You see, throughout Christ’s time here on earth, we read of numerous times where he performed miracles and healed the sick.  We now call him the great physician for a reason.  Of all of these miracles, today I chose the story of this woman as it really aligns with what I am going through.  When people hear that I am going to be having surgery, I hear a lot of people respond with, “I’m sorry”.  What they don’t know is that I have been dealing with issues for almost 17 years.  So really, I’m not sorry, I am ecstatic.  Just like this woman, I feel like I have been just trying to get close enough to touch the edge of Christ’s cloak. 

As I go through the next month or so of healing, I know that through it all, I have the great physician taking care of me.  So, while I covet your prayers, I do not fear as my faith will heal me.

What miracle in the Bible do you most relate with? 

Open Space

Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water.  But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”).  Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”).  Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”  Genesis 26:19-22

How many times in your life have you dealt with a seemingly ‘no win’ situation only to find out there was an option not previously considered?  Not too long ago, I had a conflict where a colleague and I seemingly could not see eye to eye on a situation.  We both had the right objective but differing motives.  We were so caught up in our own views that neither of us could see past it.  After taking a step back and getting some good guidance, we sat down again, and still seemed to be at warring sides of the equation.  Then, an open space for compromise occurred to me.  I asked what is it that they needed, which was the right to manage the situation within their team.  My goal was to ensure the situation fit within the framework of the bigger group’s standards.  Once I was able to get assurances their management of the goal fit within those parameters, we were able to agree.  Without patience and persistence to meet the objectives of both sides, we never would have been able to achieve success.

Sometimes, God wants to test your patience and persistence to help you realize there is something better.  In this story of Isaac, he can never seem to find a place for his group to settle.  One place created an argument, and in another, hostility was found.  How often do we face situations where we encounter arguments and hostility?  Perhaps Esek and Sitnah could be names of a conference room at your location in the near future  J  Back to the point.  Isaac could have very well fought for the land, and in fact because the land was promised to his father Abraham, he was entitled to it.  Yet, Isaac showed restraint and patience having faith God would deliver as He had numerous times before.  Of course, Isaac persistence was rewarded as they not only found space to prosper but later another space where God would appear and bless him to build a great nation.  In reading these verses, you do not hear God promising anything to Isaac that would have guided him to move as many times as they did.  But what we can pull from this is through patience and persistence, God will show up and provide as He did for Isaac.

God always delivers without fail.  It may not be at a time we either expect or want, but we should have faith it will always be on time and usually better than what we can see.  So if you are dealing with a situation where things are not quite working out or there is outright hostility, step back, and look for the open space where God lies.  Then, watch as He allows for you and those connected to you to prosper.   What conflict is troubling you that may require more patience and persistence from you?  How can you trust God to be your provider at all times?  My prayer is that we apply a practice of patience and persistence knowing that God will always find us ‘open space.’  Amen.

Thursday Devotional - Born Good or Bad?

Are people born good, but become bad? Or are all people born bad and some become good?

Romans 5:17-21 ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, ²¹ so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adam’s sin brought death while Jesus’ obedience brought life. Sin and death entered the world through Adam. Everyone is born a sinner. We aren’t born good and don’t become good. Only God is Good. However, as we’ve been talking about being credited with Christ’s righteousness, we can receive God’s gracious gift of righteousness (vs. 17) because of Jesus’ one “good” act (vs. 18).

Watching children, it doesn’t take long to realize they enter the world sinful and selfish. As caring as James can be, he and Sarah both wanted to go first when we played Candy Land last night (and since they argued about it, I went first!).

Have you accepted the fact that everyone is born a sinner? How does that change the way you and I view others or situations around us?

Have you accepted God’s gift of righteousness? If so, how are you and I enjoying His gift and experiencing life now?

We’re born sinners, but we can accept God’s gift of righteousness!

Alice

Tues Devo: Return on investment

Matthew 25: 24-28 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seek. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who  has the ten talents.’” (NASB)

Hello,

All of us have been given skills and abilities, in addition to varying amounts of material resources. Similar to the challenge from last week about being engaged – I think a challenge for all of us about investing ourselves is warranted. Are we multiplying our abilities through generosity? Are we building into others, so they can do the same?

When Christ returns, and we stand before God – what account will we give for His investments to us of skills/abilities/resources?

I hope this challenges all of us!

Have a blessed day,       

Will Hill

An extraordinary feast

Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

 “Bring them here to me,” he said.  And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.  The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Not too long ago, my small group served a meal for a group that meets at our church.  This group tends to be more people that have been unchurched, who have faced a lot of challenges in life.  We were told we would be feeding about 70 people.  We spent time planning the menu, what it would take to feed that many people, how much food we would need and everything that goes into an event like this. 

In Matthew, we read about how Jesus had gone off in a boat to be by himself.  Yet when he came back to land, he found that this huge crowd had followed him.  Instead of pushing them away, he welcomed them, healed the sick and fed them.  It was not a small group either.  This what a huge group with five thousand men, besides women and children.  He didn’t have to take time to plan a menu, shop or anything else.  He took five loaves of bread and two fish.  The same amount that would barely feed many families these days.  With that he fed all of them and had left overs! 

The acts that Jesus did on earth as an ordinary man were not at all ordinary.  Each day he still does extraordinary things in our lives.  Do you take the time to think about these things?  Today I want to encourage you to think about the extraordinary things that Christ puts in your life.  How can you take and multiple that to do something extraordinary for someone else?

Confidence Of Ali

Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.  It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.  2 Corinthians 3:3-5

Confidence can at times be a fragile thing.  For example, an undefeated fighter will have supreme confidence.  However after numerous successes, they finally taste defeat, and then there comes a lack of confidence.  Thoughts like, “Can this happen again,” or “How do I recover,” become questions that float around in their head.  Now I was never a fighter, but I have been a fan of boxing since I was a small child watching Muhammad Ali.  There was no one who was more confident than him.  Yet when I became a fan, Ali had not only lost once but also been knocked down.  The latter is usually detrimental to a fighter’s career because that is when they really lose that aura of confidence.  Nonetheless, Ali always remained supremely confident, and thus would be considered arguably the greatest fighter in the world.

This aura of confidence is a reminder of how we should view our faith.  We should be supremely confident in Jesus Christ because He not only died for our sins but also overcame death.  This is not something we think of.  It is something we know deep in our hearts with a high degree of confidence.  Furthermore, it is through this level of confidence that we are empowered to be lights for Christ here on earth.  This was what Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians.  When Jesus left, He said that we will receive the power from the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:7-9).  With this power, we can endure any challenge or trial knowing that through Christ anything is possible.  This is a source of endless strength that is available to us.  The trick is to remind ourselves of its existence.  We are often blinded by worldly distractions that may inhibit us from tapping into this, and life will at times knock you down.  However if we are prayerful and deliberate in our outreach humbling ourselves to realize we can not make it without Him, we are assured of our connection to this power, and thus can remain confident in Him.  We can get up off the canvas, and weather the storm knowing in the end we will raise our arms in victory.

We are indeed made perfect through Jesus Christ.  As such, we should be confident in every step we make.  It’s not that we will be perfect with each step.  Instead no matter what step we make, Jesus is with us, and through Him, all wrong steps will be made right.  So let us move forward knowing that if we have love for Him, the Spirit of God will dwell within our hearts for all to see.  What doubts do you have today that Jesus Christ can bring surety to?  How can maintain greater boldness through this heightened level of confidence? My prayer is that when we have doubts in this world, we look to Jesus with the confidence of Ali.  Amen.