Tag: Jesus

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Love

Daily Reading

1Corinthians 12-14

Daily Thought

I started a sermon on 1Corinthians 13 like this, “Dave is patient, Dave is kind. He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. Dave is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs. Dave does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Dave always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Dave never fails.” Then I laughed. Too many of the parts didn’t quite fit. The congregation laughed (a little too much, actually). My wife needed to stop laughing.

They knew what I was doing. 1Corinthians 13 is the love chapter. The Apostle Paul has been dealing with the problems in the Corinthian church for twelve chapters, and finally he stops and says, “now I will show you the most excellent way” (1Corinthians 12:31), and he writes about love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ~1Corinthians 13:4-8

Go ahead, put your name in there. The parts where you cringe highlight the places needing work. Put the name Jesus in there and it reads just fine. This is the way we are to love because this is the way God loves us. 

Paul sculpted this passage, choosing his words carefully, saying it just right, because love is the most important thing to get right. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1Corinthians 13:1-3). Love matters before anything else matters.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am learning to love. Keep teaching me because You are perfect at love and there has been no greater display of love than the cross. Help me to be patient, to be kind. Keep me from envy and boasting and pride. Correct me when I am rude or self seeking or easily angered. Let me keep no record of wrongs. Change my heart so I do not delight in evil, but always rejoice with the truth. Teach me to protect and trust and hope and persevere. May I strive to be someone who never fails, but when I do, to get up and strive again, to do the next right thing, to always love. 

Amen

Daily Question

Which qualities of love make you cringe the most when you try to attach your name to them? Which qualities seem to fit nicely?

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God Bless You

Daily Reading

Acts 4-6

Daily Thought

For those who question whether the cross is the only way to salvation, Jesus wondered as well, praying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me” (Luke 22:42). But there wasn’t another way and there isn’t another Savior, and only Jesus died for our sins. Peter properly proclaimed, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The Jewish religious leaders thought they had silenced Jesus in death, but death didn’t hold him. When he rose from the tomb, his followers rose from despair “and every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching” (Acts 5:42).

Now the leaders sought to silence the disciples, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name” (Acts 5:28).

For 80 years, the graduation ceremonies of Washington Community High School included a prayer, until 2001, when a lawsuit was filed and the court ruled, “No, you may not pray.” That was the year prayer was silenced. Almost. Ryan stood at the podium, the final student speaker. Quiet for a moment, he then opened his mouth to speak, but instead, “Ahh-choo,” he sneezed. From out of the graduating class of 2001 came the response, students united in a simple prayer, “God bless you.”

Peter and John answered then as we must answer now, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). When Jesus rose from the dead, he made it clear, the world cannot cancel the Truth.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~John 14:6

Daily Prayer

Lord God, I shout Your Name because You are worthy of praise. And if I don’t, the rocks will cry out. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Creation itself declares loudly Your wonders, Your wisdom, Your beauty and grace, Your majesty.

Lord, may I be bold, may I say Your Name aloud because it is the Name of salvation, and because the world needs to be saved. How can I not speak of You? You are the good news of salvation to a lost world.

Amen

Daily Question

Why is there no other way to salvation than Jesus?

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The Last Word

Daily Reading

John 11-12

Daily Thought

Home was heaven, but Jesus let go and entered a world of sin and hurt, suffering and injustice, and most of all, death. His friend Lazarus lay dead in a tomb and the sisters suffered and the crowds cried and “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Nevertheless, when Martha asked of her brother’s death, Jesus had the answer, “Your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. Do you believe this?” (John 11:23, 25-26). 

She did believe, but her brother was dead right now, and Jesus did something special. Jesus would show her and her sister and the weeping crowd around them the glory of God. Jesus commanded, “Take away the stone!” (John 11:39). Martha, always the practical one, warned, ““Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days” (John 11:39). That’s just how it is, death stinks. It is foul. Death is the last enemy, but not the last word. 

“Lazarus, come out!” Jesus called in a loud voice. “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” ~John 11:43, 44

In a short time, Jesus would himself be lying in a tomb, but if you were there on this day at the tomb of Lazarus, you know death is not the last word.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” ~John 11:25

Do you believe this?

Daily Prayer

Father, I do not live in despair in this world of sin and death because I have the certainty of heaven, of home, of eternity in Your presence. I live holding the hope of heaven because Your Son beat death and I believe! And that changes everything.

God, I live in a land foreign to my citizenship in Your Kingdom where I will live forever. I serve the King of kings and my hope, when my life here ends, is to hear from You, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” May I live in a manner that delights You and those words sum up my life.

Amen

Daily Question

Why should someone believe Jesus rose from the dead?

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Jesus of Nazareth

Daily Reading

Mark 6-7

Daily Thought

His miracles, his teaching, his kindness, and his confidence set Jesus apart and above the typical celebrity and left people astonished and in awe, and then Jesus went home. You would never know of Nazareth had Jesus not grown up there. Population 500, it was a little place, 25 miles southwest of Capernaum, in the middle of nowhere. Jesus came home “and they took offense at him” (Mark 6:3). They knew Jesus and his brothers and sisters and his mom, and they do not mention his dad because it is a small town and there were rumors about his birth. He was not what they expected of a prophet, let alone a Savior. They sought majesty, he was ordinary, too ordinary to be extraordinary. They deserved better, “and he could do no mighty work there” (Mark 6:5).

He had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, ~Isaiah 53:2-3

Later, far from home, outside Israel, a woman fell at his feet. “Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter” (Mark 7:26). Jesus is Israel’s Messiah, the Savior of God’s children, and he rebuffs this foreign woman, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Mark 7:27). I do not know how to make that not sound rude, yet the woman accepts her role as dog, and still insists on her food, “she answered him, ‘Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs’” (Mark 7:28). She is not allowed at the table, she is not of the tribe of Israel, she does not worship Israel’s God, she does not read the Bible, she does not follow the Law. She knows she is unclean and unworthy in the eyes of Israel, and so she does not ask Jesus of Nazareth to give her what she deserves because she is good; she asks Jesus to give her what she does not deserve because he is good. “And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone” (Mark 7:30).

One of the disciples, when he was first told of Jesus, asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Another answered, “Come and see.” (John 1:46).

Daily Prayer

My God, You are righteous and good, but more than that, You are full of grace. I do not deserve Your favor, I am neither righteous nor good, and yet You looked upon me with love, and sent Your Son to bring me back into Your family. Thank You.

May I look at others as You look at me. May I see each person as a special creation, lovingly made by You, and give them the grace and the goodness You have shown me.

Amen

Daily Question

What is your favorite Jesus story? Why?

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Thy Kingdom Come

Daily Reading

Matthew 24-25

Daily Thought

A theologian named Harold Camping was setting dates and making all sorts of noise about the second coming of Jesus. It would on May 21, 2011, he announced. Those who listen to Jesus rather than Harold went on with life as usual that day, not because they do not believe Jesus is coming back, but because they do not believe Harold knows when; “See that no one leads you astray, concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Matthew 24:4, 36).

Followers of Jesus do not expect Jesus to return on a certain day, they expect him any day and that makes anticipation a part of every day, which makes a difference in life as usual. Life as usual, then, for those always prepared for the second coming of the King of kings includes giving food to the hungry, drinks to the thirsty, welcoming strangers and clothing naked people, and visiting the sick and those in prison. 

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” ~Matthew 25:35-36

This is the true surprise about the return of Jesus, not that he is coming back or when he is coming back, but that he has been here the whole time.

“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” ~Matthew 25:37-40

More important than anticipating Jesus could return at any time is knowing Jesus is already here all the time.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, You came to save the world, and You told the world You will return. God, may all find Your salvation so that all will be prepared when You come back. Even though I don’t know the day, may I live everyday anticipating your coming, that great day of the Lord.

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen

Daily Question

Are you ready for Jesus to return?

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Let Go and Hold On

Daily Reading

Matthew 15-17

Daily Thought

The disciples travelled closely behind Jesus after he challenged them to “follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:22; see also 8:22; 9:9). It was time now to clarify why Jesus was worth following. Jesus asked the twelve men who have watched him heal the sick, feed the hungry, raise the dead, challenge those in power, and speak with the authority of heaven, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13). That question demands an answer from every person who has ever lived, and those who believe will respond as Peter did, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

Peter gave the correct answer, but he failed to grasp the full meaning of why Jesus came to our world and called his disciples to follow. “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21)  Jesus is God, but Jesus said he was going to die, and Peter rebuked him, “This shall never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22). God does not die, thought Peter, but if the man you just called God says he is going to die, you do not tell God, “No,” but Peter did.

Peter did not yet understand that death is how you are saved. A lifeguard knows the most difficult people to save are those trying to save themselves. They need to let go, let themselves be saved. “Whoever would save his life will lose it,” Jesus warns. On the cross, Jesus would show Peter how to live, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” (Luke 23:46). When we give up ourselves and place our lives in the hands of the Savior, we can only then be carried to the safety of the shore. 

“But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” ~Matthew 16:25

Peter rightly recognizing Jesus is God, must now lose himself and place his life in the hands of his Savior. Do that completely, and you are ready for anything that follows.

Daily Prayer

Eternal God, no beginning, no end, you are all in all. I chase things that I want, things that get used up or rust or fall apart, things that cannot and do not last, and will not save me. 

Change my heart, Jesus, to seek what matters, to love what lasts, to love You, to love Your Word, and to love all the people You have created, which is all people. My most difficult, but greatest ambition is to release my hold on everything else, and hold tightly to the one who matters most, Jesus.

Amen

Daily Question

Do you and God typically agree on how things should be done?

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The Good Shepherd

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 34-36

Daily Thought

“Thus says the Lord God: ‘Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?’” ~Ezekiel 34:2

Sheep are dumb. They follow whomever, then wander off and get lost often. It is not a flattering metaphor, but worse are the shepherds who should care for the sheep. Ezekiel condemns the fat leaders of Israel: “You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep” (Ezekiel 34:3). That a nation’s leaders neglect their sheep in pursuit of profit and power was as true then as it is now. 

If you want something done right, do it yourself–and God does–“For thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out’” (Ezekiel 34:11). God’s future is proclaimed for his people, “I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd” (Ezekiel 34:23). 

Except David, the King, is long dead and gone. Ezekiel could only be speaking of another. 

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” ~Matthew 21:9

This Son of David is Jesus, and it is he of whom Ezekiel spoke. Hosanna means save us and Jesus would do just that. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). The sheep would, at last, have a good shepherd watching over them. 

Daily Prayer

Oh Lord, You are my Shepherd, the good Shepherd who rescues me from slaughter of my own making. I am prone to wander, and You are forever watchful. You prod me and nudge me, and sometimes You just have to pick me up and set me aright. Thank You for caring for me more than I care for myself.

God, may I learn Your ways. May I pick up Your staff, as well, and guide others toward the good Shepherd. May I be ever watchful and care enough to sacrifice myself for the sake of Your sheep.

Amen

Daily Question

Why do people put leaders in place who are bad for them?

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Standing in the Gap

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 21-22

Daily Thought

“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries.’” ~Ezekiel 21:1-2 

Ezekiel has spoken God’s word to Israel, words of warning unheeded, and now it is time to act. “You have despised the rod, my son, with everything of wood. So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer” (Ezekiel 21:10-11). The rod is God’s discipline, made of wood like a shepherd’s crook, meant to guide sheep along the right path. But these sheep are lost, they have despised the shepherd, and now the sword.

There was one last word of hope, “‘I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done,’ declares the Sovereign Lord” (Ezekiel 22:30-31). The last word of hope, but none was found to stand in the gap between God and the people.

Hope is lost, but the story is not over. God will restore Israel, raising her from the dead (see Ezekiel 37), but still missing is the one who will stand in the gap. 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~John 1:14

None could stand so One was sent, Jesus Christ, who “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). 

We no longer need fear the sword, because the One who will stand in the gap has been found.

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” ~1John 2:1-2

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You and lift up Your Name. All that You do is wonderful and marvelous. All of creation reflects the artistry of my Creator. Because of Jesus Christ, I am now a citizen of heaven. May I live here on earth with the mindset of eternity. May I live a life that reflects Your kingdom. I serve You, God, which means I serve everyone. May I be one who stands in the gap beside Your Son and bring others to You.

Amen

Daily Question

Is there any other hope in this world beside Jesus? Why or why not?

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More Than Justice

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 18-20

Daily Thought

Justice is matter-of-fact: “the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4), or if “he is righteous; he shall surely live” (Ezekiel 18:9). Plain and simple, and just. 

This is a problem, however–a problem for us. 

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.
They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one. ~Psalm 14:2-3

Do we really want justice? Ezekiel began listing Israel’s sins, “defiles his neighbor’s wife, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, lends at interest, and takes profit” (Ezekiel 18:11-13). He could keep going, and he is listing our sins, as well.

God saw Israel’s sin and ruled rightly, “I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them” (Ezekiel 20:8, 13, 21), yet, time and again, God gave mercy, “I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name” (Ezekiel 20:22). When Moses asked God his name, God told him, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). God defines justice but justice does not define God. God is who he is, and while he is just, he is far beyond. When God looks down from heaven and sees our sin, justice is due, but God came down from heaven and, for the sake of his name, brought more than justice, and that is the Gospel, that is Jesus, that is “the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

In Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, Jean Valjean took shelter in the Bishop’s home. He also took the silver. When he was caught by the Constable, Valjean was returned to the Bishop for justice. “He claimed that you gave the silver to him,” mocked the Constable. “Yes, of course I gave him the silverware,” replied the Bishop. “Thank you for bringing him back. Release him.” Then turning to Valjean, the Bishop handed him more, “You forgot the candlesticks, Jean Valjean. They are worth 2,000 francs. Why did you leave them?”

“You shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.” ~Ezekiel 20:44

The Bishop glared with terrifying love, “Jean Valjean, you no longer belong to evil. With this silver I’ve bought your soul. I’ve ransomed you from fear and hatred. Now I give you back to God.” More than justice, this is mercy. This is love.

Daily Prayer

My Lord, my God, You have shown a love unimaginable. You bought me with Your love, a love that sacrificed what is most precious to You. You made Your Son sin, not sin of His own doing, but my sin and the world’s sin. He bore it all, sin and the just consequence. He died, separated and forsaken by You, because You cannot look upon sin. But sin could not hold Him, and He rose again, the first of more to come, of which I am one, I will be raised again to eternity.

I am Yours, God, bought fully by the blood of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. I welcome the rain of justice upon me because I have the reign of Jesus over me. I am, therefore, a living sacrifice to You, showing the world Your good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Amen

Daily Question

Which do you prefer to receive: justice or mercy? Which do you prefer to give: justice or mercy?

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The Alpha and the Omega

Daily Reading

Revelation 20-22

Daily Thought

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” ~Revelation 22:13 

In Genesis, Jesus is the Ram at Abraham’s altar. In Exodus, he is the Passover Lamb. In Leviticus, he is the High Priest. In Numbers, he is the Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire at night. In Deuteronomy, he is the Cities of Refuge. In Joshua, he is the Scarlet Cord in Rahab’s window and the Commander of the Lord’s army. In Judges, he is the true and final Judge of the living and the dead. In Ruth, he is our Kinsman Redeemer. In 1st and 2nd Samuel, he is our Trusted Prophet. In Kings and Chronicles, he is our Reigning King. In Ezra, he is our Faithful Scribe. In Nehemiah, he is the Rebuilder of everything that is broken. In Esther, he is Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate. In Job, he is our Redeemer. In Psalms. he is our Shepherd and I shall not want. In Proverbs, he is the Wisdom from above. In Ecclesiastes, he is the Meaning of life. In the Song of Songs, he is our Lover and Bridegroom. In Isaiah, he is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. In Jeremiah, he is the New Covenant. In Lamentations, it is Jesus who Weeps over His people. In Ezekiel, he is the Fearful and Wonderful Four-Faced Man. In Daniel, he is the Fourth Man in the fiery furnace. In Hosea, he is my Lover, forever faithful. In Joel, he is the Giver of the Holy Spirit. In Amos, he is our Burden Bearer. In Obadiah, he is Mighty to Save. In Jonah, he is the gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. In Micah, he is the Messenger with beautiful feet. In Nahum, he is the Avenger. In Habakkuk, he is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival. In Zephaniah, he is the Lord mighty to save. In Haggai, he is the Restorer of our lost heritage. In Zechariah, he is our Fountain. In Malachi, he is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings. 

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. ~Luke 24:27

In Matthew, he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. In Mark, he is the ServantSavior. In Luke, he is the Son of Man. In John, he is the Living Word. In Acts, he is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus. In Romans, he is our Justifier. In 1st Corinthians, he is our Resurrection. In 2nd Corinthians, Jesus is our Sin Bearer. In Galatians, he is Liberty. In Ephesians, he is Head of the Church. In Philippians, he supplies our every need. In Colossians, he is the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily. In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, he is our Soon Coming King. In 1st and 2nd Timothy, he is the One Mediator between God and man. In Titus, he is our Blessed Hope. In Philemon, he is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. In Hebrews, he is the Author and Finisher of our faith In James, he is the Lord that heals the sick. In 1st and 2nd Peter, he is the Chief Shepherd. In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, He is love. In Jude, he is God our Savior, the one who keeps us from stumbling and presents us blameless in his presence with great joy.. And in Revelation, he is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. ~Revelation 22:20-21

Daily Prayer

Jesus, may I start my day with You as my first thought and end my day with you as my last. You are my beginning and end, my first thought and last word, my Lord and Savior forever. 

Thank You for coming for me, for loving me, for dying for me, and for conquering death. I look forward to Your coming again and wish it was soon! I love You with all my heart and soul and mind and strength,

Amen