'devotion' Tagged Posts
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS – SATURDAY APRIL 20, 2019
John 19:38 After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body. If the video above does not play, click/tap: https://youtu.be/pBQ42AAacCE Faith In the Silence We call it Silent Saturday. We sit and wait and hope. Of course, we know that Sunday is coming; but the disciples didn’t know that. All…
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS – FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019
Mark 15:34 Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi Eloi, lema sabachthani” which means, “My God, my God why have you abandoned me?” If the video above does not play, click/tap: https://youtu.be/Ks6X16n2pI0 A Shared Suffering Have you ever felt abandoned by God? Maybe you didn’t say that out loud, but in your heart you felt it. There are times when we go through periods of deep and profound need but God doesn’t seem to be…
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS – THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2019
Mark 14:61b-62 (MSG) Then the high priest asked (Jesus), “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated I the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” If the video above does not play, click/tap: https://youtu.be/aToyEptr8fI Confident in His Strength Throughout the second half of Jesus’ ministry, He taught the disciples that they would face opposition just as He…
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS – WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 2019
John 15:11; 16:1, 4, 33 (MSG) I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy…so that you won’t abandon your faith…so that when they happen, you will remember my warning…so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, I have overcome the world. If the video above does not play, click/tap: https://youtu.be/m1ZjxiUzlQ0 Surrender to Peace As Jesus walked with His disciples from…
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS – TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2019
John 12:1-9 (NLT) Then Mary took a 12 oz. jar of expensive perfume…and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray Him said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages…Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial.” If the video above does not play, click/tap: https://youtu.be/IPoiiuntid8 To Give Our Purest Worship Mary and Martha gave…
HOLY WEEK DEVOTIONS – MONDAY APRIL 15, 2019
John 11:45-53 (NLT) Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw (the raising of Lazarus from the dead). But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “If we allow Him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in Him. Then the Roman army will come and…
Devotion – Mon. March 4, 2019
John 11:5-6 (The Message) Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but oddly, when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed on where He was for two more days. “Jesus’ delay was not a matter of indifference; rather, it was a matter of purposeful timing that would strengthen the faith of His disciples (v. 15) and bring glory to God (v. 4). The sickness would not end in death (v. 4) because Jesus would restore physical life” (Kuzmic).…
Devotion – Sat. Mar. 2, 2019
(Jesus) pressed them. “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:13-17 (verse 15 shown) By this time the disciples had seen many miracles. They had heard many sermons and had plenty of time to reflect on Christ’s words and works and process all of it against the reality of their own lives. People all around us listen to the claims of Christianity and try to process it against the realities of their own lives. Ultimately, it…
Devotion – Fri. Mar. 1, 2019
…I hurt for these people. For three days now they’ve been with me, and now they have nothing to eat. I can’t send them away without a meal—they’d probably collapse on the road. Matthew 15:32 The Message Christ’s ministry was holistic. He cared not only for the peoples’ spiritual needs but also for their practical needs. He cared about their hunger and their sicknesses. He knew these listeners had arranged their lives so they could hear Him teach for three…
Devotion – Thu. Feb. 28, 2019
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed (Peter). “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” What happened to the faith that Peter initially felt as he began to walk on the water to Jesus? For a few steps he walked in a miracle; but when his focus shifted to the waves, fear caused him to begin to sink. Faith has much to do with sustained focus. Sometimes the object of focus can determine the strength of…
Devotion – Wed. Feb. 27, 2019
When Jesus got the news (about John the Baptist’s murder), He slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by Himself. Matthew 14:6-14 (verse 13 shown) When Jesus heard of John’s beheading, He withdrew to be alone and process the grief. He lost a beloved partner in ministry. Did His heart sink at the injustice of it all: a drunken king, a lustful dance, a manipulative mother, and a murderous demand for the head of a prophet? Jesus would continue…
Devotion – Sat. Feb. 23, 2019 – Home
Home God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You…
Devotion – Fri. Feb. 22, 2019 – Leader
Leader …His sheep follow Him because they know his voice. (Vs. 3b) – He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:4 The Lord’s people hear His voice and follow His lead. They refuse to follow others. This is John’s picture of belief in action. Just as a baby learns to discern its mother’s voice, so new followers of Jesus learn to discern His voice. Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus knows your name? Mary wept at…
Devotion – Thu. Feb. 21, 2019 – New Life
New Life The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 Jesus started His “Good Shepherd” discourse with a reference to the thief and the robber. Thieves are sneaky and get their booty through subtlety. A robber obtains his booty by violence. Either way, Jesus refers to those who illegally gain access to His flock, try to take them away from the Good…
Devotion – Wed. Feb. 20, 2019 – Solid Faith
Solid Faith “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.” John 10:16 Embedded in this Good Shepherd discourse is the prophecy that Gentiles would come to Jesus and become a part of His “flock.” (That includes you and me.) In fact, many believers in the first-century Gentile church most likely came from paganism to Christ through the intermediate step of becoming converts to Judaism. The Greek culture worshiped many false gods, but…
Devotion – Tue. Feb. 19, 2019 – All Authority
All Authority “I have authority to lay it (my life) down and authority to take it up again.” John 10:18b The story of Jesus does not end tragically in a gruesome death on a cross. It leads to an open tomb—but it doesn’t end there. It winds down through the centuries, all the way to today, through the lives of millions of transformed followers of Jesus who have experienced resurrection life. Ours is the only religion that points to an…
Devotion – Mon. Feb. 18, 2019 – Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 The discourse on the Good Shepherd was most likely a continuation of Jesus’ conversation with the Jews following the healing of the blind man (chapter 9). Because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the Pharisees were called in to investigate; and that led to this discourse. Jesus’ purpose was to illustrate the spiritual principles that governed His ministry and to contrast…
Devotion – Sat. Feb. 16, 2019 – Crown of Life
Crown of Life Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 What would you include if you were constructing a “Survival Kit for Life”? Perseverance would be high on my list. Without it, one doesn’t get far. Perseverance finds it strength in faith. Knowing that there is more to life than the current difficult moment…