Chapter 5:
What were the qualifications to be a priest and did Jesus meet them?
First, you had to be a man.
Second, you had to be sympathetic – able to deal gently with others.
Third, you had to be called by God.
Did Jesus meet these? Absolutely and completely! He became a man so He could sympathize with our weaknesses. He deals graciously and lovingly with all people in offering hope. And He was called by God, “So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest.”
Next we the writers third warning. The first was about ignoring the Gospel (2:1-14). The second was regarding hardening hearts toward the Gospel (3:7-19). And now here the warning is regarding spiritual maturity.
“Slow to learn” = intellectually numb, spiritual dullness. Spiritually slow people are difficult to teach. Until we let go of old ways, we are unteachable. Same was true of the Jews in regard to the Old Covenant. Truth taught over and over again should cause change, but it had not. We are to be doers of the Word, not just hearers!
It’s ok to feed a baby Gerber food with a spoon, but it would be an embarrassing shame to be doing the same with my high school son Drew. The same is true spiritually! Those who act n God’s truth are the “mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
SO WHAT?!
*All of us who know Jesus personally are called to be sympathetic and caring towards others. Who do you know who is going through a lot right now? Make time today to reach out to them and show the love and compassion of Jesus to them!
*Are you spiritually dull or numb? Have you been listening to message after message from God’s Word and doing nothing with it? Ask God right now to take His Word and use it to transform your life (& mine)! Practice Nike Theology and “Just Do It!”
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Hebrews 4 DEVO: Rest, The Word of God & The Great High Priest
Chapter 4:
Finally – a chapter on rest! Sorry to burst your bubble a bit, but we’re not talking sleep here! The “rest” that is spoken of in these first few verses has to do with salvation. Entering god’s rest means no more self-effort in trying to be saved. It’s the end of trying to please God by our own feeble “good works.” It means freedom from worries – Yes – spiritual “Hakunna Matata!”
The Israelites did not have rest because, “…the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.” Why did they reject the Jesus and His Gospel? “Disobedience” and “Hardened hearts” is what we are told. Then we are warned, “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”
Verses 12-13 are two of the first verses I memorized as a young Christian. I still know them and they have taken root in my spiritual DNA! Your words, my word…..they die, but God’s don’t! Because of this, from the get go as a youth pastor, I’ve always tried to saturate my messages with God’s Words more than mine so that it will leave a mark! It’s a sword that penetrates! And as we read it, it humbles us: “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
We end with verses 14-16, which kick off a major theme in Hebrews – Jesus is our High Priest! Priests were appointed to be mediators between God and His people. Only the High Priest could offer sacrifices for the people, once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). And Lev. 16 tells us they had to make an offering for themselves first. Day after day, year after year this process of sacrifices had to be made because the priesthood was not perfect and the sacrifices were not perfect. UNTIL JESUS! He is and was perfect and became our sacrifice once for all!!! What He had to go through in the process allowed Him to “sympathize with our weaknesses.” And “we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”
What does this do? It allows us to approach our gracious God and not be fearful of punishment because Jesus took it for us! WHOOHOO!!!!! In the words of a famous commercial, “It doesn’t get any better than this!”
SO WHAT?!
*When are you tempted most to not believe God’s Word? When trials come? Persecution? God knows and he can be trusted no matter what. Lets pray and ask Him to do that right now!
*How has God’s Word penetrated your heart? Take some time this week to share this with another believer. It’s always encouraging to hear how God is working in another’s life!
*Finally, what an incredible honor & privilege it is to be able to go straight to God with our hurts & needs! He is an AMAZING High Priest and if anyone can understand, it’s God! So go to Him today, go to Him regularly and go to Him always!
Finally – a chapter on rest! Sorry to burst your bubble a bit, but we’re not talking sleep here! The “rest” that is spoken of in these first few verses has to do with salvation. Entering god’s rest means no more self-effort in trying to be saved. It’s the end of trying to please God by our own feeble “good works.” It means freedom from worries – Yes – spiritual “Hakunna Matata!”
The Israelites did not have rest because, “…the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.” Why did they reject the Jesus and His Gospel? “Disobedience” and “Hardened hearts” is what we are told. Then we are warned, “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”
Verses 12-13 are two of the first verses I memorized as a young Christian. I still know them and they have taken root in my spiritual DNA! Your words, my word…..they die, but God’s don’t! Because of this, from the get go as a youth pastor, I’ve always tried to saturate my messages with God’s Words more than mine so that it will leave a mark! It’s a sword that penetrates! And as we read it, it humbles us: “Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
We end with verses 14-16, which kick off a major theme in Hebrews – Jesus is our High Priest! Priests were appointed to be mediators between God and His people. Only the High Priest could offer sacrifices for the people, once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). And Lev. 16 tells us they had to make an offering for themselves first. Day after day, year after year this process of sacrifices had to be made because the priesthood was not perfect and the sacrifices were not perfect. UNTIL JESUS! He is and was perfect and became our sacrifice once for all!!! What He had to go through in the process allowed Him to “sympathize with our weaknesses.” And “we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”
What does this do? It allows us to approach our gracious God and not be fearful of punishment because Jesus took it for us! WHOOHOO!!!!! In the words of a famous commercial, “It doesn’t get any better than this!”
SO WHAT?!
*When are you tempted most to not believe God’s Word? When trials come? Persecution? God knows and he can be trusted no matter what. Lets pray and ask Him to do that right now!
*How has God’s Word penetrated your heart? Take some time this week to share this with another believer. It’s always encouraging to hear how God is working in another’s life!
*Finally, what an incredible honor & privilege it is to be able to go straight to God with our hurts & needs! He is an AMAZING High Priest and if anyone can understand, it’s God! So go to Him today, go to Him regularly and go to Him always!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Hebrews 3 DEVO: Jesus > Moses, Hard Hearts
Chapter 3:
“Therefore…” - on the basis of what the writer just said, that JESUS is supreme over ALL! “…fix your thoughts on Jesus….” Moses was esteemed by the Jews, many felt that he was greater than angels. But here we are reminded that Jesus is the only Great One!
Because the Jews did not want to accept Jesus as the Messiah, the author writes, “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” The sin of unbelief is the greatest sin in the world. It offends God, harms people and it is the only sin that will keep us out of heaven! Most of all, sin DECEIVES! It tricks us into believing things contrary to the Word of God. The author then goes on to use the Israelites as an example of those who hardened their hearts: “Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”
SO WHAT?!
*Who are you tempted to hold higher than you ought? A parent? Sports figure? Actor? Pastor? Teacher? Coach? Never forget, they are all sinners. YES, we are to honor people and thank them for their impact in our lives. But we are to be careful to hold them higher that our Lord!
*How is your heart these days? Do you ever get hardened by stuff in this life? Have you ever been hardened towards the things of God? It is best to regularly go to God, confessing our sins and seeking Him so that our hearts won’t be hardened! Why not take some time right now to do this!?
“Therefore…” - on the basis of what the writer just said, that JESUS is supreme over ALL! “…fix your thoughts on Jesus….” Moses was esteemed by the Jews, many felt that he was greater than angels. But here we are reminded that Jesus is the only Great One!
Because the Jews did not want to accept Jesus as the Messiah, the author writes, “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” The sin of unbelief is the greatest sin in the world. It offends God, harms people and it is the only sin that will keep us out of heaven! Most of all, sin DECEIVES! It tricks us into believing things contrary to the Word of God. The author then goes on to use the Israelites as an example of those who hardened their hearts: “Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”
SO WHAT?!
*Who are you tempted to hold higher than you ought? A parent? Sports figure? Actor? Pastor? Teacher? Coach? Never forget, they are all sinners. YES, we are to honor people and thank them for their impact in our lives. But we are to be careful to hold them higher that our Lord!
*How is your heart these days? Do you ever get hardened by stuff in this life? Have you ever been hardened towards the things of God? It is best to regularly go to God, confessing our sins and seeking Him so that our hearts won’t be hardened! Why not take some time right now to do this!?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Hebrews 2 DEVO: Warning, Destiny & Jesus Made Like Us
Chapter 2:
I’m a pastor to students and I want students to like me. But what I want most is to see all of them someday in heaven! In order to see this happen, it’s not enough that I just teach the Bible to students. I must also warn, exhort and invite! Hell will be (and is) full of people who were never actually opposed to Jesus Christ, but who simply ignored the Gospel. The writer of Hebrews gives warning so that this doesn’t happen to them. The warning in 1-4 is not to believers. We can neglect growth and discipleship but not salvation. It’s also not for those who have never heard, because you can’t neglect what you don’t know. It’s for those “make-believers” who think they are saved but who never have received Christ! They are intellectually convinced but have ignored the Gospel.
The writer then begins to explain destiny, our position and Jesus’ position, in regards to angels. God never intended to give angels rule over the world to come- that is for us! Yet, “What is man” = wowsa! In light of the universe and the speck called earth, I am sooooo small! Yet, some day, as a believer in heaven, I will help rule. Right now, we’re lower than angels, but it’s only temporary!
“We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor…” Want more evidence that Jesus is the greatest? He was born to die (9). He is our substitute (9) and the author of Salvation (10). He makes us holy (11-13). He conquered Satan (14-15). And He also empathizes with us (16-18). If anyone could ever say “been there, done that” it was Jesus!
SO WHAT?!
*Do you & I have a holy obsession for all people to Know Jesus & Make Him Known?!The writer of Hebrews did and I pray that God will move us in the same way!
*A lot of would be “messiahs” have appeared over the years – David Koresh, Joseph Smith, jim Jones, Mohammed, etc…. Yet ALL of them have failed to live up to their claims and NONE of them could ever remove your sin & mine. ONLY JESUS can do these thing. Have you ever put your trust & faith in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins? If you have, then celebrate His greatness today! If you haven’t, why not do that today!?~!
I’m a pastor to students and I want students to like me. But what I want most is to see all of them someday in heaven! In order to see this happen, it’s not enough that I just teach the Bible to students. I must also warn, exhort and invite! Hell will be (and is) full of people who were never actually opposed to Jesus Christ, but who simply ignored the Gospel. The writer of Hebrews gives warning so that this doesn’t happen to them. The warning in 1-4 is not to believers. We can neglect growth and discipleship but not salvation. It’s also not for those who have never heard, because you can’t neglect what you don’t know. It’s for those “make-believers” who think they are saved but who never have received Christ! They are intellectually convinced but have ignored the Gospel.
The writer then begins to explain destiny, our position and Jesus’ position, in regards to angels. God never intended to give angels rule over the world to come- that is for us! Yet, “What is man” = wowsa! In light of the universe and the speck called earth, I am sooooo small! Yet, some day, as a believer in heaven, I will help rule. Right now, we’re lower than angels, but it’s only temporary!
“We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor…” Want more evidence that Jesus is the greatest? He was born to die (9). He is our substitute (9) and the author of Salvation (10). He makes us holy (11-13). He conquered Satan (14-15). And He also empathizes with us (16-18). If anyone could ever say “been there, done that” it was Jesus!
SO WHAT?!
*Do you & I have a holy obsession for all people to Know Jesus & Make Him Known?!The writer of Hebrews did and I pray that God will move us in the same way!
*A lot of would be “messiahs” have appeared over the years – David Koresh, Joseph Smith, jim Jones, Mohammed, etc…. Yet ALL of them have failed to live up to their claims and NONE of them could ever remove your sin & mine. ONLY JESUS can do these thing. Have you ever put your trust & faith in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins? If you have, then celebrate His greatness today! If you haven’t, why not do that today!?~!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Hebrews 1 DEVO: God Speaks, Jesus Rules, Angels Serve
Introduction:
This letter was written “To the Hebrews” – Jewish Christians who may have been thinking about going back to Judaism. It has lots of Jewish flavor and it’s more like a sermon than a letter. It was written approximately 68-69 AD. Not sure exactly who the human author is. P{ossibilities include Paul, Apollos, Peter, Barnabas, Clemont, Luke, Phillip, Pricilla…. Whoever it was, they had connections with their readers. The purpose of the letter is to present the Superiority and Sufficiency of Christ – that’s churchy for saying that Jesus is over all and is a all we need, He’s enough! Sacrifice, priestly angels, stuff, maturity, faith and endurance are some of the topics that come up! Chapter 11 if that great chapter in the Bible on faith and then 12:1-3 are those great application verses!
Chapter 1: God Speaks, Jesus Rules, Angels Serve
How does God Speak to us Today? The beginning of this letter explains how God speaks today. “In the past” = before Jesus, God spoke “through the prophets” – and most of it was warning! How? “At many times and in various ways” = visions, parables, symbols, types, etc… “In these last days…” = indicates a change, now there is One Way = JESUS! This was a familiar phrase to Jews indicating that the Messiah had come and spoken the final revelation of God! That means, the New Testament is complete and nothing is to be added (i.e. the book of Mormon, science, etc…). See Revelation 22:18-19!
Who is Jesus? “The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Verse 3 makes it clear that Jesus id Greater, He Is God! And the next verse totally says Jesus is better and best!
Angels: The Bible talks a lot about angels. They are: spirit beings, intelligent, don’t die, don’t have kids, more powerful than people, live in the heavens, are numerous and some of them we have names for. What do they do? They minister to God, announce and inflict His judgment, bring answers to prayer, encourage, minister to believers and proclaim God’s messages. Jews viewed angels as very important to the Old Covenant. They worshipped them and saw them as second in command only to God. This is why the author of Hebrews wrote to persuade his readers that Christ is the mediator of a better covenant!
SO WHAT?
*As Believers in Jesus we are told to “shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves.” The idea is to be careful not to be deceived! I’m always a bit nervous when someone says “God told me” – especially in light of verses 1-4. God today communicates to us through His Son, Jesus, the Word of God (John 1). How much time do you and I spend listening to God’s voice – the Bible? It’s truly the only way we can know Jesus and what He desires in our lives. Lets make it a daily routine to spend time alone with our Creator!
*Jesus IS God. The Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and every religion apart from Christianity have an issue with Jesus! Here’s some help I learned in Bible college. The deity (churchy word for God) of Jesus is clearly given in Hebrews 1, Romans 1, John 1, Colossians 1 and Revelation 1. So if you can remember the first chapte of those books, you can go there as you talk to those who doubt Jesus being God.
*Nowhere are we told to worship or pray to angels (or Mary). God created angels to minister to US – believers! We will read later in Hebrews that JESUS is our mediator between God & man, not angels, or priests, etc…
This letter was written “To the Hebrews” – Jewish Christians who may have been thinking about going back to Judaism. It has lots of Jewish flavor and it’s more like a sermon than a letter. It was written approximately 68-69 AD. Not sure exactly who the human author is. P{ossibilities include Paul, Apollos, Peter, Barnabas, Clemont, Luke, Phillip, Pricilla…. Whoever it was, they had connections with their readers. The purpose of the letter is to present the Superiority and Sufficiency of Christ – that’s churchy for saying that Jesus is over all and is a all we need, He’s enough! Sacrifice, priestly angels, stuff, maturity, faith and endurance are some of the topics that come up! Chapter 11 if that great chapter in the Bible on faith and then 12:1-3 are those great application verses!
Chapter 1: God Speaks, Jesus Rules, Angels Serve
How does God Speak to us Today? The beginning of this letter explains how God speaks today. “In the past” = before Jesus, God spoke “through the prophets” – and most of it was warning! How? “At many times and in various ways” = visions, parables, symbols, types, etc… “In these last days…” = indicates a change, now there is One Way = JESUS! This was a familiar phrase to Jews indicating that the Messiah had come and spoken the final revelation of God! That means, the New Testament is complete and nothing is to be added (i.e. the book of Mormon, science, etc…). See Revelation 22:18-19!
Who is Jesus? “The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Verse 3 makes it clear that Jesus id Greater, He Is God! And the next verse totally says Jesus is better and best!
Angels: The Bible talks a lot about angels. They are: spirit beings, intelligent, don’t die, don’t have kids, more powerful than people, live in the heavens, are numerous and some of them we have names for. What do they do? They minister to God, announce and inflict His judgment, bring answers to prayer, encourage, minister to believers and proclaim God’s messages. Jews viewed angels as very important to the Old Covenant. They worshipped them and saw them as second in command only to God. This is why the author of Hebrews wrote to persuade his readers that Christ is the mediator of a better covenant!
SO WHAT?
*As Believers in Jesus we are told to “shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves.” The idea is to be careful not to be deceived! I’m always a bit nervous when someone says “God told me” – especially in light of verses 1-4. God today communicates to us through His Son, Jesus, the Word of God (John 1). How much time do you and I spend listening to God’s voice – the Bible? It’s truly the only way we can know Jesus and what He desires in our lives. Lets make it a daily routine to spend time alone with our Creator!
*Jesus IS God. The Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses and every religion apart from Christianity have an issue with Jesus! Here’s some help I learned in Bible college. The deity (churchy word for God) of Jesus is clearly given in Hebrews 1, Romans 1, John 1, Colossians 1 and Revelation 1. So if you can remember the first chapte of those books, you can go there as you talk to those who doubt Jesus being God.
*Nowhere are we told to worship or pray to angels (or Mary). God created angels to minister to US – believers! We will read later in Hebrews that JESUS is our mediator between God & man, not angels, or priests, etc…
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
THE Resurrection & THE Cause!
Chapter 28:
Last chapter ended with “Good Friday” and today’s picks up with “Easter Sunday”! I’ve heard it said this way about this historic event, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’!” The resurrection of Jesus is HUGE. Our faith rests on it. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 that if the resurrection is not true, basically we’re all idiots! I agree. But it IS true – and that makes every difference!
Apparently, God likes announcing big things with earthquakes! So it is with the resurrection. An angel of the Lord met them - the guards passed out and the women freaked out! “He has risen” – these three words are the basis for our faith. “Just as He said” – God keeps His promises! Then the angel gives them what Christian living is all about: “Come and see….then go and tell…” This is what Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known is all about!
Then as always, anti-Jesus people will sir things up. So they decide to make up a story (lie), “You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.'” Let’s call this the lie that PROVES the resurrection! First, if all of them were asleep at the same time, how could they say who stole the body. Second, why would they risk their lives for a bribe? The story was self-contradictory! This was no “quick flash, was that really Jesus”, kind of deal. Paul say he was seen by over 500 peeps at the same time and was here for 40 days! It was real - He was alive!
Finally, Jesus gives what has been renamed “THE Cause.” (formerly the great commission) There are a lot of great causes in our world: world hunger, anti-child trafficking, breast cancer, etc… But THE Cause above all causes is THE Cause of Christ to make disciples who make disciples! To Know Jesus and Make Him Known! And this is what Jesus calls us to do with our lives!
SO WHAT?!
*What do you rest your faith on? Your good works? The money your give? Volunteering? What your parents believe? The Bible is clear. Faith alone in Christ alone and what HE accomplished is the only faith that saves! Got Faith?
*What are you doing with your life? Jesus gave us the task of making disciples and one day He’s coming back to see how we did! If I ask my son or daughter to do something while I’m gone and I come back and it’s not done, I’m not happy. Doesn’t matter if they tell me all the other things they may have done, they didn’t do what I asked! Going to church, having Bible studies, praying, etc… are all good things but if we never involve ourselves in THE Cause of making disciples, then we fail at what God has called us to be & do! So, how are you involved in Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known? Ask your pastor or spiritual mentor how you can be!
Last chapter ended with “Good Friday” and today’s picks up with “Easter Sunday”! I’ve heard it said this way about this historic event, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’!” The resurrection of Jesus is HUGE. Our faith rests on it. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 that if the resurrection is not true, basically we’re all idiots! I agree. But it IS true – and that makes every difference!
Apparently, God likes announcing big things with earthquakes! So it is with the resurrection. An angel of the Lord met them - the guards passed out and the women freaked out! “He has risen” – these three words are the basis for our faith. “Just as He said” – God keeps His promises! Then the angel gives them what Christian living is all about: “Come and see….then go and tell…” This is what Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known is all about!
Then as always, anti-Jesus people will sir things up. So they decide to make up a story (lie), “You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.'” Let’s call this the lie that PROVES the resurrection! First, if all of them were asleep at the same time, how could they say who stole the body. Second, why would they risk their lives for a bribe? The story was self-contradictory! This was no “quick flash, was that really Jesus”, kind of deal. Paul say he was seen by over 500 peeps at the same time and was here for 40 days! It was real - He was alive!
Finally, Jesus gives what has been renamed “THE Cause.” (formerly the great commission) There are a lot of great causes in our world: world hunger, anti-child trafficking, breast cancer, etc… But THE Cause above all causes is THE Cause of Christ to make disciples who make disciples! To Know Jesus and Make Him Known! And this is what Jesus calls us to do with our lives!
SO WHAT?!
*What do you rest your faith on? Your good works? The money your give? Volunteering? What your parents believe? The Bible is clear. Faith alone in Christ alone and what HE accomplished is the only faith that saves! Got Faith?
*What are you doing with your life? Jesus gave us the task of making disciples and one day He’s coming back to see how we did! If I ask my son or daughter to do something while I’m gone and I come back and it’s not done, I’m not happy. Doesn’t matter if they tell me all the other things they may have done, they didn’t do what I asked! Going to church, having Bible studies, praying, etc… are all good things but if we never involve ourselves in THE Cause of making disciples, then we fail at what God has called us to be & do! So, how are you involved in Knowing Jesus and Making Him Known? Ask your pastor or spiritual mentor how you can be!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Matthew 24 DEVO: The King's Second Coming!
Chapter 24:
This chapter and the next are known as “The Olivet Discourse” – which basically means the answer Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives when the disciples asked "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" This is the longest answer given to any question in the new testament! And we could spend several weeks studying this! Also, because it is future stuff, it can be difficult to understand in the present! But here is my short take on it:
I believe 4-14 describes “birth pains” signs. False christs will deceive (4-5), there will be dissension among nations of the world (6-7), worldwide devastation (7-8), believers being persecuted (9), make-believers defecting (10-13) & the Gospel being declared to the whole world (14). And mark this, the word “will” occurs 17 times in 4-15, 14 times in 26-35 and 13 times in 36-51. So 44 times in the 51 verses of this chapter Jesus uses the word “will.” Why? Because you can bank on it! It’s a fact! Count it as true! These things will and are already happening!
Verse 15 describes the antichrist who will demand that all people worship Him alone. If you don’, you’ll be persecuted and killed.
16-28 describe the horrible times to come! Tons of interpretations but they all agree on one thing – it WILL happen! How bad will it be? “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”
29-31 describes Jesus return. This time, not as an innocent lamb, but as a Warrior King!
32-35 describes the final generation and Jesus states that His words will last – i.e. you can count on it!
36-51 Is then a call to be ready! Jesus IS coming back and we need to be faithful to fulfill our calling to Know Jesus and Make Him Known! “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.”
SO WHAT?!
*As you read the “birth pains” described in 4-14, what comes to your mind? If you’re like me, I felt like I was reading today’s newspaper headlines! This is going on right now! So what are we to be and do? Well, if you’re not yet a believer, I plead with you to believe and receive the Gospel of Jesus today! If you are a believer, let us “stand firm to the end” by being faithful to Know Jesus and Make Him Known more and more each day! That way when Jesus comes He will find us being faithful and wise!
*Future stuff can bring anxiety, because ultimately it shows who is in control – GOD, not us! Admit it, we’re all control freaks, but God wants us to daily to acknowledge to Him the control He already has of our lives. Lord, please help us!
This chapter and the next are known as “The Olivet Discourse” – which basically means the answer Jesus gave on the Mount of Olives when the disciples asked "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" This is the longest answer given to any question in the new testament! And we could spend several weeks studying this! Also, because it is future stuff, it can be difficult to understand in the present! But here is my short take on it:
I believe 4-14 describes “birth pains” signs. False christs will deceive (4-5), there will be dissension among nations of the world (6-7), worldwide devastation (7-8), believers being persecuted (9), make-believers defecting (10-13) & the Gospel being declared to the whole world (14). And mark this, the word “will” occurs 17 times in 4-15, 14 times in 26-35 and 13 times in 36-51. So 44 times in the 51 verses of this chapter Jesus uses the word “will.” Why? Because you can bank on it! It’s a fact! Count it as true! These things will and are already happening!
Verse 15 describes the antichrist who will demand that all people worship Him alone. If you don’, you’ll be persecuted and killed.
16-28 describe the horrible times to come! Tons of interpretations but they all agree on one thing – it WILL happen! How bad will it be? “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”
29-31 describes Jesus return. This time, not as an innocent lamb, but as a Warrior King!
32-35 describes the final generation and Jesus states that His words will last – i.e. you can count on it!
36-51 Is then a call to be ready! Jesus IS coming back and we need to be faithful to fulfill our calling to Know Jesus and Make Him Known! “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.”
SO WHAT?!
*As you read the “birth pains” described in 4-14, what comes to your mind? If you’re like me, I felt like I was reading today’s newspaper headlines! This is going on right now! So what are we to be and do? Well, if you’re not yet a believer, I plead with you to believe and receive the Gospel of Jesus today! If you are a believer, let us “stand firm to the end” by being faithful to Know Jesus and Make Him Known more and more each day! That way when Jesus comes He will find us being faithful and wise!
*Future stuff can bring anxiety, because ultimately it shows who is in control – GOD, not us! Admit it, we’re all control freaks, but God wants us to daily to acknowledge to Him the control He already has of our lives. Lord, please help us!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Matthew 27 DEVO: Crucifixion, Death & Burial of the King
Chapter 27:
The time has come. Jesus predicted His death three times earlier in Matthew and now it is time. The guilt of participating in the killing of Jesus was too much for Judas, so he tossed the 30 coins and hanged himself, all of which was predicted years earlier in the Bible!
Pilate was stuck. He was hoping to release Jesus but underestimated the Jewish leaders and their schemes to get Jesus crucified. He then agreed to have Jesus crucified, yet ironically “washed his hands”, a symbol that he was not responsible for Jesus’ blood – for which he was!
As Jesus hung on the cross the soldiers mocked Him, again predicted.
Then strange things began to happen! For 3 hours during the middle of the day it got dark. At the moment Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn in two (symbolizing we no longer need a priest but that we can now go straight to God ourselves), there was an earthquake, tombs broke open, resurrections took place and those who saw these things said, “Surely he was the Son of God!" Cool God Stuff!
Then they took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him, placed him in a tomb with a huge stone in front, sealed it and put a guard to watch it!
SO WHAT?!
*We live in a culture where a person’s word seems to mean very little any more. People lie all the time. Not so with God! Whatever He says is going to happen, IS going to happen! And believers should have the speak the same – letting our Yes be Yes and our No be No! How is your word? Your trustworthiness? Don’t know? Ask your wife, or kids, or friends, or boss – they know!
*What was the point when you said, “Surely Jesus is God, Lord, Messiah”? When did that occur? 48hr challenge: If you know Jesus, share your personal testimony with someone in the next 48hours. I Double Dog Dare Ya! Then, let me know how it went!
The time has come. Jesus predicted His death three times earlier in Matthew and now it is time. The guilt of participating in the killing of Jesus was too much for Judas, so he tossed the 30 coins and hanged himself, all of which was predicted years earlier in the Bible!
Pilate was stuck. He was hoping to release Jesus but underestimated the Jewish leaders and their schemes to get Jesus crucified. He then agreed to have Jesus crucified, yet ironically “washed his hands”, a symbol that he was not responsible for Jesus’ blood – for which he was!
As Jesus hung on the cross the soldiers mocked Him, again predicted.
Then strange things began to happen! For 3 hours during the middle of the day it got dark. At the moment Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn in two (symbolizing we no longer need a priest but that we can now go straight to God ourselves), there was an earthquake, tombs broke open, resurrections took place and those who saw these things said, “Surely he was the Son of God!" Cool God Stuff!
Then they took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him, placed him in a tomb with a huge stone in front, sealed it and put a guard to watch it!
SO WHAT?!
*We live in a culture where a person’s word seems to mean very little any more. People lie all the time. Not so with God! Whatever He says is going to happen, IS going to happen! And believers should have the speak the same – letting our Yes be Yes and our No be No! How is your word? Your trustworthiness? Don’t know? Ask your wife, or kids, or friends, or boss – they know!
*What was the point when you said, “Surely Jesus is God, Lord, Messiah”? When did that occur? 48hr challenge: If you know Jesus, share your personal testimony with someone in the next 48hours. I Double Dog Dare Ya! Then, let me know how it went!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Matthew 26 DEVO: The Pssion of the King
Chapter 26:
As we read these next two chapters in Matthew, I am reminded of the film “The Passion of the Christ.” When that film came out, our church bought an entire showing and we all prayed and invited our neighbors. My friend Noe came and I’ll never forget it. It was the most graphic rendition of Jesus’ final week I had ever watched. It was not your popcorn eating, laughing and joking kind of movie. And when it was over, everyone just quietly left, including my friend Noe, who was in tears. The price Jesus paid for sin should sober us! Yes, it’s a free gift to all who by grace thru faith believe & receive, but don’t mistake FREE for cheap! It cost Jesus His life!
It began with a plot on His life by the religious peeps who had had enough of this Jesus. A woman falling at Jesus feet, dumping expensive perfume to show us what is truly valuable. One of Jesus’ closest friends turns on Him, yet Jesus wants one last meal with His friends. Another disciple ditches Jesus, actually they all did, but Peter gets the bad rap for it. And when time was so intense for Jesus, his buddies couldn’t even stay awake. Judas then turns Jesus over and He is arrested, appears before the religious “Holy Heavies” and is mocked, spit on and beaten. These were certainly difficult and lonely times for our Lord & Savior!
SO WHAT?!
*Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. The Passion of the King ought to transform how we live! Is it doing that in your life?
*Ever want to give up on people? You pray for them & pray for them and never see any interest in spiritual things? Jesus could have felt that way with Judas, but He loved him to the end. On Easter of this year, my friend Noe visited our church, and again was in tears after the message! I’m not sure if he has believed yet or if he ever will, but I’m not gonna give up on him because Jesus never gave up on me! Is there a friend whom you are getting tired of turning down spiritual things? Don’t give up on them – they’re worth it, Gods knows!
As we read these next two chapters in Matthew, I am reminded of the film “The Passion of the Christ.” When that film came out, our church bought an entire showing and we all prayed and invited our neighbors. My friend Noe came and I’ll never forget it. It was the most graphic rendition of Jesus’ final week I had ever watched. It was not your popcorn eating, laughing and joking kind of movie. And when it was over, everyone just quietly left, including my friend Noe, who was in tears. The price Jesus paid for sin should sober us! Yes, it’s a free gift to all who by grace thru faith believe & receive, but don’t mistake FREE for cheap! It cost Jesus His life!
It began with a plot on His life by the religious peeps who had had enough of this Jesus. A woman falling at Jesus feet, dumping expensive perfume to show us what is truly valuable. One of Jesus’ closest friends turns on Him, yet Jesus wants one last meal with His friends. Another disciple ditches Jesus, actually they all did, but Peter gets the bad rap for it. And when time was so intense for Jesus, his buddies couldn’t even stay awake. Judas then turns Jesus over and He is arrested, appears before the religious “Holy Heavies” and is mocked, spit on and beaten. These were certainly difficult and lonely times for our Lord & Savior!
SO WHAT?!
*Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. The Passion of the King ought to transform how we live! Is it doing that in your life?
*Ever want to give up on people? You pray for them & pray for them and never see any interest in spiritual things? Jesus could have felt that way with Judas, but He loved him to the end. On Easter of this year, my friend Noe visited our church, and again was in tears after the message! I’m not sure if he has believed yet or if he ever will, but I’m not gonna give up on him because Jesus never gave up on me! Is there a friend whom you are getting tired of turning down spiritual things? Don’t give up on them – they’re worth it, Gods knows!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Matthew 25 DEVO: The King’s Second Coming – Part 2
Chapter 25:
Jesus continues with His answer to the disciples question in 24:3 by telling three parables that describe Readiness, Responsibility and Judgment.
1 – The Ten Virgins This Parable, like much of chapter 24, speaks of readiness. It is foolish to know Jesus is coming back and to not prepare. There were two phases to Jewish weddings. First you’d party at the bride’s home, then you’d take her to the grooms home to celebrate. I believe Jesus will take His bride (the church, believers) to heaven (rapture), then He will return with his bride at his second coming. It could be that the virgins represent the professing Jewish believers on earth at His return.
2- The Talents This Parable is about responsibility and faithfulness. God gives differently to each of us. This issue is not that someone else has been given more or less (5,2,1) – that happens all the time. The real issue is what are we doing with what God gives to each of us!
3 – The Sheep & The Goats This Parable describes judgment upon those whom did not know Jesus! Remember chapter 22? How does a loving relationship with God show itself? By loving Him and loving people! We must show love to God’s people!
SO WHAT?!
*Are you ready for Jesus to come back today? Seriously, He could at any moment! Have you prepared? If Jesus were to come to you today and ask you if you’d rather stay here or go to be with Him, which would you choose? Jean, Drew, Jessica and everyone else – I love ya’, but I’m outta’ here! I mean really, if heaven is as great as the Bible says it is, and if I’m planning my whole life to get there, I’m not going to be disappointed when the time comes! How about you?
*What has God given you? I think we often look more at what we haven’t been given. I’m a youth pastor who can’t play guitar, is terrible with drama, has less finances than those around him, can’t sport a nifty hair do and has never had the spiritual gift of cool! (Can you tell I can get bothered buy these things sometimes?!) But I have to remind myself that what I haven’t been given doesn’t matter! I’ll never have to answer to what I didn’t have. God DID make me an encourager, He DID make me real with students, He DID give me the ability to understand & apply the Bible and He DID give me a passion for students and for the lost! It’s these things I need to be faithful with. How about you? Why not take a few minutes and write down the things God has given you and ask Him to help you be more faithful!
Jesus continues with His answer to the disciples question in 24:3 by telling three parables that describe Readiness, Responsibility and Judgment.
1 – The Ten Virgins This Parable, like much of chapter 24, speaks of readiness. It is foolish to know Jesus is coming back and to not prepare. There were two phases to Jewish weddings. First you’d party at the bride’s home, then you’d take her to the grooms home to celebrate. I believe Jesus will take His bride (the church, believers) to heaven (rapture), then He will return with his bride at his second coming. It could be that the virgins represent the professing Jewish believers on earth at His return.
2- The Talents This Parable is about responsibility and faithfulness. God gives differently to each of us. This issue is not that someone else has been given more or less (5,2,1) – that happens all the time. The real issue is what are we doing with what God gives to each of us!
3 – The Sheep & The Goats This Parable describes judgment upon those whom did not know Jesus! Remember chapter 22? How does a loving relationship with God show itself? By loving Him and loving people! We must show love to God’s people!
SO WHAT?!
*Are you ready for Jesus to come back today? Seriously, He could at any moment! Have you prepared? If Jesus were to come to you today and ask you if you’d rather stay here or go to be with Him, which would you choose? Jean, Drew, Jessica and everyone else – I love ya’, but I’m outta’ here! I mean really, if heaven is as great as the Bible says it is, and if I’m planning my whole life to get there, I’m not going to be disappointed when the time comes! How about you?
*What has God given you? I think we often look more at what we haven’t been given. I’m a youth pastor who can’t play guitar, is terrible with drama, has less finances than those around him, can’t sport a nifty hair do and has never had the spiritual gift of cool! (Can you tell I can get bothered buy these things sometimes?!) But I have to remind myself that what I haven’t been given doesn’t matter! I’ll never have to answer to what I didn’t have. God DID make me an encourager, He DID make me real with students, He DID give me the ability to understand & apply the Bible and He DID give me a passion for students and for the lost! It’s these things I need to be faithful with. How about you? Why not take a few minutes and write down the things God has given you and ask Him to help you be more faithful!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Matthew 23: False Spiritual Leaders
Chapter 23:
The Pharisees were the “spiritual leaders” of their day and Jesus was not pleased with them! This scares me because today it’s pastors, of which I am one, and I do not want Jesus to be displeased with me!
In the first 12 verses, Jesus reveals the heart and character of these false spiritual leaders. He lays it out right from the beginning, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Honor their position, but not their practice! Why? It’s all a joke! They ask you to do stuff they don’t do, they show off and they love recognition & titles. And what will this get them? “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus then condemns them (13-33) with “7 Woes”! Each woe is a condemnation for a specific way they were being hypocrites! As I mentioned in a previous devotion, the word for hypocrite means “actor” someone who pretends to be someone else and is only acting. God Hates this!
In 34-36 we read the judgment that these false spiritual leaders will receive – God will hold them responsible for their blood! This is serious stuff!
In a final plea (37-39), Jesus explains how He longed for the nation of Israel to recognize and receive Him as Savior & Lord “but you were not willing.”
SO WHAT?!
*Are you a spiritual leader? As believers, we have the answer to eternal life and are therefore makes us all spiritual leaders. Is this an incredible privilege? Absolutely! And a huge responsibility as well (James 3:1). So how are you doing? Lord, help us not to be hypocrites who pretend and just act, but help us to be the real deal!
*Which of the woes that Jesus gave do you wrestle with most? Ask God today to help you in that area!
The Pharisees were the “spiritual leaders” of their day and Jesus was not pleased with them! This scares me because today it’s pastors, of which I am one, and I do not want Jesus to be displeased with me!
In the first 12 verses, Jesus reveals the heart and character of these false spiritual leaders. He lays it out right from the beginning, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Honor their position, but not their practice! Why? It’s all a joke! They ask you to do stuff they don’t do, they show off and they love recognition & titles. And what will this get them? “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus then condemns them (13-33) with “7 Woes”! Each woe is a condemnation for a specific way they were being hypocrites! As I mentioned in a previous devotion, the word for hypocrite means “actor” someone who pretends to be someone else and is only acting. God Hates this!
In 34-36 we read the judgment that these false spiritual leaders will receive – God will hold them responsible for their blood! This is serious stuff!
In a final plea (37-39), Jesus explains how He longed for the nation of Israel to recognize and receive Him as Savior & Lord “but you were not willing.”
SO WHAT?!
*Are you a spiritual leader? As believers, we have the answer to eternal life and are therefore makes us all spiritual leaders. Is this an incredible privilege? Absolutely! And a huge responsibility as well (James 3:1). So how are you doing? Lord, help us not to be hypocrites who pretend and just act, but help us to be the real deal!
*Which of the woes that Jesus gave do you wrestle with most? Ask God today to help you in that area!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Matthew 22 DEVO: A Royal Invitation, Obligations, Resurrection, The Greatest Command, Who Jesus IS & a Really Long Title!
Chapter 22:
Wow – a lot in this Chapter! Here we go…
1-14: This parable predicts and describes the rejection of Jesus by the nation of Israel. The Jews were God’s chosen people and they would not accept Jesus as the Messiah, the promised Savior. The last verse explains: “For many are invited, but few are chosen." God’s offer of salvation is open to all, but each of us has to choose to receive this free gift. Rejection occurs when either we are indifferent (5), rebellious (6) or when we try to be self-righteous (12).
15-22: Don’t ya’ just love the wisdom of Jesus! The Pharisees were constantly trying to catch Him and they constantly failed. “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" You and I have an obligation to both God and government. To live in a society run by the people for the people costs money, so we are obligated to pay our dues. To our Creator God………well………..we owe everything else!
23-33: Because we only know life as we have it on earth, we often assume things to be true elsewhere. For instance, if you’ve ever traveled out of the USA you know things are not the same in other countries. The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection (that’s why they’re sad-you-see…hehe….) were comparing the protocol on earth to heaven in regards to marriage. Jesus corrected them by going to the Scriptures and explaining that “at the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage…”
34-40: Again the Pharisees test Jesus by asking Him which commandment is the greatest. He responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, part of the “Shema”, used by all Jews in their daily prayers. Basically Jesus says here’s what matters most: Love God, Love People!
41-46: The greatest discovery a person can make is to know the truth about who Jesus IS! As CS Lewis put it, “He’s either a liar, a lunatic or He is Lord” – those are the only choices we have. Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees that Christ was not just the son of David but truly the Son of God, Messiah and Savior – David even knew it! And the Pharisees’ response? “No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.”
SO WHAT?!
*Are you one of God’s kids? He invites all to join His family! “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” Have you gone from death to life yet? If so, you are a chosen one! If not, why not today?!~
*My guess is that we all pay our taxes or we’d face consequences! But how are you and I doing in giving to God what is God’s? If I was given sideline tickets to this year’s Super Bowl, I’d find a way to make it there! Why? Because I’ve learned over the years that we all MAKE time for what we WANT to do! The same is true with God. We can “say” we owe Him everything, but does our schedule, our checkbook, and what we do with our energies prove it? Let’s MAKE time for Jesus! Love God, Love People!
Wow – a lot in this Chapter! Here we go…
1-14: This parable predicts and describes the rejection of Jesus by the nation of Israel. The Jews were God’s chosen people and they would not accept Jesus as the Messiah, the promised Savior. The last verse explains: “For many are invited, but few are chosen." God’s offer of salvation is open to all, but each of us has to choose to receive this free gift. Rejection occurs when either we are indifferent (5), rebellious (6) or when we try to be self-righteous (12).
15-22: Don’t ya’ just love the wisdom of Jesus! The Pharisees were constantly trying to catch Him and they constantly failed. “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" You and I have an obligation to both God and government. To live in a society run by the people for the people costs money, so we are obligated to pay our dues. To our Creator God………well………..we owe everything else!
23-33: Because we only know life as we have it on earth, we often assume things to be true elsewhere. For instance, if you’ve ever traveled out of the USA you know things are not the same in other countries. The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection (that’s why they’re sad-you-see…hehe….) were comparing the protocol on earth to heaven in regards to marriage. Jesus corrected them by going to the Scriptures and explaining that “at the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage…”
34-40: Again the Pharisees test Jesus by asking Him which commandment is the greatest. He responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, part of the “Shema”, used by all Jews in their daily prayers. Basically Jesus says here’s what matters most: Love God, Love People!
41-46: The greatest discovery a person can make is to know the truth about who Jesus IS! As CS Lewis put it, “He’s either a liar, a lunatic or He is Lord” – those are the only choices we have. Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees that Christ was not just the son of David but truly the Son of God, Messiah and Savior – David even knew it! And the Pharisees’ response? “No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.”
SO WHAT?!
*Are you one of God’s kids? He invites all to join His family! “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” Have you gone from death to life yet? If so, you are a chosen one! If not, why not today?!~
*My guess is that we all pay our taxes or we’d face consequences! But how are you and I doing in giving to God what is God’s? If I was given sideline tickets to this year’s Super Bowl, I’d find a way to make it there! Why? Because I’ve learned over the years that we all MAKE time for what we WANT to do! The same is true with God. We can “say” we owe Him everything, but does our schedule, our checkbook, and what we do with our energies prove it? Let’s MAKE time for Jesus! Love God, Love People!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Matthew 21 DEVO: Triumphal Entry & a Whole Lot More…
Chapter 21:
This marks the beginning of the final week of Jesus’ life. This entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is cool, amazing and sad. COOL in the way He got the donkey – tells them exactly where to go and exactly what to do. AMAZING in what the crowds do – Shouting “Hosanna” which means “save us.” They may not have totally known who this Jesus was, but they knew He was from God and He could save! SAD in that only a few days later the very people who were crying out “save us” would be the same ones crying out “crucify him.”
So, first thing Jesus does is enters the temple and sees it being abused. Ok……”WWJD”? And, as usual, not what I would have guessed. He was ticked off – a holy ticked off – and He let ‘em know the sin that they were involved in! Then he healed the blind and lame which, which brought praise and ticked off the religious peeps because they wanted the praise!
Jesus then spends the night in Bethany and on his way back to Jerusalem the next morning He sees a fig tree without figs (worthless), curses it and it immediately shrivels up & dies. I believe this was illustrative of Israel rejecting Jesus, they were unfruitful in spite of all the advantages they were given. The disciples watching were amazed and Jesus told them that if they have faith they could do even greater stuff.
Learn something from the next story – questioning Jesus is never good! He caught them because He is ultimate wisdom! Result – didn’t have to answer their question.
The next parable had to hit the religious peeps like a knife in the heart. He gets them to see that they rejected Him but tax collectors & prostitutes (scum of their time) were accepting Him and being given eternal life! So He added another parable to show that they not only rejected Him but also the OT prophets and would soon crucify Him! None of this set well with the religious peeps: “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.”
SO WHAT?!
*Is your response to Jesus dependant upon circumstances? Things going good – Praise the Lord! Life stinks – What is your problem God?!~! This is how the people of Jesus’ day were responding and yet James warns us “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” Lord help us to see You in both the blessings and the trials of life and to praise you for both. When this happens, we’d know it was a supernatural response from your Spirit in us!
*Are you producing fruit? God has chose us to bear fruit for Him (John 15:8,16). When was the last time you encouraged a discouraged friend or helped a widow or shared Jesus with someone? Let’s Bear Fruit TODAY – it’s our calling!
This marks the beginning of the final week of Jesus’ life. This entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is cool, amazing and sad. COOL in the way He got the donkey – tells them exactly where to go and exactly what to do. AMAZING in what the crowds do – Shouting “Hosanna” which means “save us.” They may not have totally known who this Jesus was, but they knew He was from God and He could save! SAD in that only a few days later the very people who were crying out “save us” would be the same ones crying out “crucify him.”
So, first thing Jesus does is enters the temple and sees it being abused. Ok……”WWJD”? And, as usual, not what I would have guessed. He was ticked off – a holy ticked off – and He let ‘em know the sin that they were involved in! Then he healed the blind and lame which, which brought praise and ticked off the religious peeps because they wanted the praise!
Jesus then spends the night in Bethany and on his way back to Jerusalem the next morning He sees a fig tree without figs (worthless), curses it and it immediately shrivels up & dies. I believe this was illustrative of Israel rejecting Jesus, they were unfruitful in spite of all the advantages they were given. The disciples watching were amazed and Jesus told them that if they have faith they could do even greater stuff.
Learn something from the next story – questioning Jesus is never good! He caught them because He is ultimate wisdom! Result – didn’t have to answer their question.
The next parable had to hit the religious peeps like a knife in the heart. He gets them to see that they rejected Him but tax collectors & prostitutes (scum of their time) were accepting Him and being given eternal life! So He added another parable to show that they not only rejected Him but also the OT prophets and would soon crucify Him! None of this set well with the religious peeps: “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.”
SO WHAT?!
*Is your response to Jesus dependant upon circumstances? Things going good – Praise the Lord! Life stinks – What is your problem God?!~! This is how the people of Jesus’ day were responding and yet James warns us “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” Lord help us to see You in both the blessings and the trials of life and to praise you for both. When this happens, we’d know it was a supernatural response from your Spirit in us!
*Are you producing fruit? God has chose us to bear fruit for Him (John 15:8,16). When was the last time you encouraged a discouraged friend or helped a widow or shared Jesus with someone? Let’s Bear Fruit TODAY – it’s our calling!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Matthew 20 DEVO: Parable, Pain, Position
Chapter 20:
GUILTY! Yep - raise your hand with me if you can relate to how the workers who were hired first felt!~ If my parents had done this on our farm with me & my brothers, there would have been a huge fight. Yet this story wreaks of the generosity, grace and equality of God’s love! I believe it’s an Allegory – a story with two meanings. The Vineyard is the Kingdom of God, the Landowner is God the Father, the Foreman is Jesus, the laborers are believers, the denarius is eternal life, the workday represents a lifetime of service to god and evening represents eternity. And all of this teaches us much about salvation. First, GOD initiates it and accomplishes it. It was He who went looking for workers and He asked them. Second, God sets the terms of How someone is saved (by grace thru faith). He set the price. Third, God continually is calling people to Him, even up to the final hour! Fourth, everyone has to choose to accept this offer, the workers gladly did! Fifth, God gives what He promises and more! ALL received the same, the last workers more than they deserved! Finally, workers were rewarded for their FAITHFULNESS with what was given them, not on how much was given them!
In verses 17-19 Jesus, for the third time, predicts His death and the sufferings he would go through. By now the disciples had to be getting weary of this report from Jesus.
The next story cracks me up. Just like a mom trying to look after her boys! “Hey Jesus, can you do me a favor? My boys are pretty sharp, can they be head honchos with you for eternity?!~!” She wanted them to have “position” and Jesus makes it very clear that greatness is not ruling over others but serving them! And oh, by the way James, you’ll be the first one killed for me! Ha – be careful what you (or your mommy) ask for!
The chapter wraps up with another healing by Jesus. 2 Blind men are crying out to Jesus for mercy. He asks them what they want, “we want our sight” they reply. Jesus gives it to them and they follow Him.
SO WHAT?!
*Has God’s generosity to others ever seemed “unfair” to you? How do you respond when God blesses others? Periodically in college my roommates would come in from the mailbox (yes, an actual place with actual letters) excited about a check for $500 they just got, while I would stir my 10 or $1 ramen, thinking where’s mine? YET – after attending 4 years at a private Christian college (which I had saved no money up for) I came away with only a $4000 loan – God totally paid the rest! God is certainly not fair. But He IS more than fair! He’s just, He’s merciful, He’s gracious, He’s loving and He is Jehovah Jira, our provider. Never forget it!
*How are you and I being faithful with what God has given us? Talents? Spiritual gifts? Money? Resources? The key is not how much of what God has given us but it is faithfulness to use those things for HIM! So, are you?
*Finally, always remember that God loves it when we come to Him, helpless and crying out for mercy! I don’t know what you’re going through today, but God would love to have you cry out to Him. He is the best listener and best helper we could ever have!
GUILTY! Yep - raise your hand with me if you can relate to how the workers who were hired first felt!~ If my parents had done this on our farm with me & my brothers, there would have been a huge fight. Yet this story wreaks of the generosity, grace and equality of God’s love! I believe it’s an Allegory – a story with two meanings. The Vineyard is the Kingdom of God, the Landowner is God the Father, the Foreman is Jesus, the laborers are believers, the denarius is eternal life, the workday represents a lifetime of service to god and evening represents eternity. And all of this teaches us much about salvation. First, GOD initiates it and accomplishes it. It was He who went looking for workers and He asked them. Second, God sets the terms of How someone is saved (by grace thru faith). He set the price. Third, God continually is calling people to Him, even up to the final hour! Fourth, everyone has to choose to accept this offer, the workers gladly did! Fifth, God gives what He promises and more! ALL received the same, the last workers more than they deserved! Finally, workers were rewarded for their FAITHFULNESS with what was given them, not on how much was given them!
In verses 17-19 Jesus, for the third time, predicts His death and the sufferings he would go through. By now the disciples had to be getting weary of this report from Jesus.
The next story cracks me up. Just like a mom trying to look after her boys! “Hey Jesus, can you do me a favor? My boys are pretty sharp, can they be head honchos with you for eternity?!~!” She wanted them to have “position” and Jesus makes it very clear that greatness is not ruling over others but serving them! And oh, by the way James, you’ll be the first one killed for me! Ha – be careful what you (or your mommy) ask for!
The chapter wraps up with another healing by Jesus. 2 Blind men are crying out to Jesus for mercy. He asks them what they want, “we want our sight” they reply. Jesus gives it to them and they follow Him.
SO WHAT?!
*Has God’s generosity to others ever seemed “unfair” to you? How do you respond when God blesses others? Periodically in college my roommates would come in from the mailbox (yes, an actual place with actual letters) excited about a check for $500 they just got, while I would stir my 10 or $1 ramen, thinking where’s mine? YET – after attending 4 years at a private Christian college (which I had saved no money up for) I came away with only a $4000 loan – God totally paid the rest! God is certainly not fair. But He IS more than fair! He’s just, He’s merciful, He’s gracious, He’s loving and He is Jehovah Jira, our provider. Never forget it!
*How are you and I being faithful with what God has given us? Talents? Spiritual gifts? Money? Resources? The key is not how much of what God has given us but it is faithfulness to use those things for HIM! So, are you?
*Finally, always remember that God loves it when we come to Him, helpless and crying out for mercy! I don’t know what you’re going through today, but God would love to have you cry out to Him. He is the best listener and best helper we could ever have!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Matthew 19 DEVO: Divorce, Children & Riches
Chapter 19:
Three topics like this, written about nearly 2000 years ago, and people say the Bible doesn’t relate to today. I think the real issue is people don’t like HOW the Bible relates to today! I mean hey, we live in America, we can do what we want, right? Wrong! Well apparently the Pharisees may have felt this way as well.
Nearly 1½ Million divorces occur each year in the US – an alarming number, “for any and every reason.” Apparently the Pharisees wanted Jesus to give them the go ahead on divorce as well. (Don’t they ever realize this is Jesus they are asking?!~!) He first corrected them, Moses never commanded divorce, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” Then Jesus laid out the consequences, “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." Not the answer they were looking for!
Then some kids were brought to Jesus, but the disciples rebuked the people who brought them, thinking Jesus shouldn’t be bothered. Of course, Jesus then rebuked the disciples, again placing high value on the young!
The chapter ends with a story that could be called “The Poverty of Riches and the Riches of Poverty.” It’s one of those stories that starts off good but has a sad ending. The rich young ruler seemed to be asking all the right questions and living an honorable life, but Jesus saw right to his heart! “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." If he had treasured Jesus more than riches, then his heart would have followed what Jesus asked – “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (6:21). But instead, this was his response, “When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Jesus then used this as a teaching opportunity for His disciples on money and what to value.
SO WHAT?!
*Most of you reading this probably have divorce in your family. My parents divorced. My wife’s parents divorced. It’s not God’s plan. But regardless of wherever we are, God accepts us and wants us to move forward toward Christ-like holiness. We do not have to repeat the damage divorce has played in our lives. Jean & I are living proof. We celebrated our 19th anniversary last month. How? Certainly not because we’re both so sweet! It’s because Jesus is the center of our marriage and we made a promise to God & each other to stay together no matter what. So here’s a rather simple challenge: How about just keeping your promise?! And don’t enter marriage lightly. It’s better to be single wishing you were married than to be married wishing you were single!
*Importance of youth – round 3! Yep – invest and get involved in kids ministry & youth ministry!
*Finally, the money issue. It’s an issue that none of us is immune to. Many a night I have shed tears with my wife over finances: Lack of them, what are we doing wrong….no car payments, no 401K’s, no memberships, no eye bills or vet bills, we do our own lawn, cooking, cleaning, our house loan was for less than ½ of it’s value and yet each month we barely make it! So in the midst of those tears we have to remind each other that we choose what we value, and we have chosen to value God & people over money & stuff! Pastors don’t choose to be pastors (I hope) because of the money. And youth pastors even worse, at least senior pastors can “move up” – no such rankings in the student ministry world. NO – we feel called and we choose these things because this life on earth is not our eternal home. How about you? What does your life say that you value?
Three topics like this, written about nearly 2000 years ago, and people say the Bible doesn’t relate to today. I think the real issue is people don’t like HOW the Bible relates to today! I mean hey, we live in America, we can do what we want, right? Wrong! Well apparently the Pharisees may have felt this way as well.
Nearly 1½ Million divorces occur each year in the US – an alarming number, “for any and every reason.” Apparently the Pharisees wanted Jesus to give them the go ahead on divorce as well. (Don’t they ever realize this is Jesus they are asking?!~!) He first corrected them, Moses never commanded divorce, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.” Then Jesus laid out the consequences, “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." Not the answer they were looking for!
Then some kids were brought to Jesus, but the disciples rebuked the people who brought them, thinking Jesus shouldn’t be bothered. Of course, Jesus then rebuked the disciples, again placing high value on the young!
The chapter ends with a story that could be called “The Poverty of Riches and the Riches of Poverty.” It’s one of those stories that starts off good but has a sad ending. The rich young ruler seemed to be asking all the right questions and living an honorable life, but Jesus saw right to his heart! “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." If he had treasured Jesus more than riches, then his heart would have followed what Jesus asked – “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (6:21). But instead, this was his response, “When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Jesus then used this as a teaching opportunity for His disciples on money and what to value.
SO WHAT?!
*Most of you reading this probably have divorce in your family. My parents divorced. My wife’s parents divorced. It’s not God’s plan. But regardless of wherever we are, God accepts us and wants us to move forward toward Christ-like holiness. We do not have to repeat the damage divorce has played in our lives. Jean & I are living proof. We celebrated our 19th anniversary last month. How? Certainly not because we’re both so sweet! It’s because Jesus is the center of our marriage and we made a promise to God & each other to stay together no matter what. So here’s a rather simple challenge: How about just keeping your promise?! And don’t enter marriage lightly. It’s better to be single wishing you were married than to be married wishing you were single!
*Importance of youth – round 3! Yep – invest and get involved in kids ministry & youth ministry!
*Finally, the money issue. It’s an issue that none of us is immune to. Many a night I have shed tears with my wife over finances: Lack of them, what are we doing wrong….no car payments, no 401K’s, no memberships, no eye bills or vet bills, we do our own lawn, cooking, cleaning, our house loan was for less than ½ of it’s value and yet each month we barely make it! So in the midst of those tears we have to remind each other that we choose what we value, and we have chosen to value God & people over money & stuff! Pastors don’t choose to be pastors (I hope) because of the money. And youth pastors even worse, at least senior pastors can “move up” – no such rankings in the student ministry world. NO – we feel called and we choose these things because this life on earth is not our eternal home. How about you? What does your life say that you value?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Matthew 18 DEVO: Greatness, Value, Restoration & Mercy
Chapter 18:
Yep - at least four messages can be applied from this chapter:
1 – Wanna’ Be Great? Be child-like! Not childish, 1 Corinthians 13:11 tells us that has to go. But we are to forever be like a child - dependent, innocent and simply believe. Not what our culture, that is more & more farming out our children, would tell us huh?! But Jesus did and that works for me! What is worse than not being child-like? Causing a little kid to sin!
2 – Where Do We Place Value? Sheep are of great value in a subsistence oriented culture. Animals were used for wool, milk, leather, food, etc… So to have one wander off & become lost was a big deal. But a bigger deal is to have friends who wander through life lost without Jesus! Find a lost sheep = whoohoo! Lead a lost friend to Jesus = priceless!
3 – How to Get Right with Others: If you’ve ever wondered what to do when you have an issue with a Christian friend, then wonder no more. Listed here is a step by step process. Go straight to them by yourself. If that doesn’t work, take another friend with. If that doesn’t work, tell the church. If that doesn’t work, disassociate with them. We must do this ALL THE TIME in humility & love, praying and hoping (love hopes all things) for things to be made right. This can be controversial but, if done properly, brings the reconciliation God desires in His family.
4 – Why Should I Show Mercy? Ok, I’ll say the obvious, because God’s mercy toward us is unending and invaluable! We often want mercy to be dished out to us while we crank out judgment to others – just like this passage! Don’t do it! Read this story and don’t do it!
So What?!
*What do you value most in life? Ok, this may sound like day 2 of my youth bias, but here goes anyway: Value kids ministry & student ministry! Both in your home and outside your home. If Jesus said placed value on the young, then so should we. 85% of all of those who put their trust & faith in Jesus Christ alone do so by age 18. And 85% of those who don’t, never do! Which generation are you living for? This one or the next? How about both!~ Invest in this one for the sake of the next one! Volunteer to work with kids and students. I rarely hear of any church that doesn’t need help in these areas!
*Is there anyone whom you need to make things right with today? Apply a little Nike Theology and “Just Do it!” Do it with humility. Do it in love. Do it with grace. But do it.
*With whom do you need to be more merciful with? You know, that person who pushes your buttons or rubs you the wrong way. Ask God to help you see them as He does!
Yep - at least four messages can be applied from this chapter:
1 – Wanna’ Be Great? Be child-like! Not childish, 1 Corinthians 13:11 tells us that has to go. But we are to forever be like a child - dependent, innocent and simply believe. Not what our culture, that is more & more farming out our children, would tell us huh?! But Jesus did and that works for me! What is worse than not being child-like? Causing a little kid to sin!
2 – Where Do We Place Value? Sheep are of great value in a subsistence oriented culture. Animals were used for wool, milk, leather, food, etc… So to have one wander off & become lost was a big deal. But a bigger deal is to have friends who wander through life lost without Jesus! Find a lost sheep = whoohoo! Lead a lost friend to Jesus = priceless!
3 – How to Get Right with Others: If you’ve ever wondered what to do when you have an issue with a Christian friend, then wonder no more. Listed here is a step by step process. Go straight to them by yourself. If that doesn’t work, take another friend with. If that doesn’t work, tell the church. If that doesn’t work, disassociate with them. We must do this ALL THE TIME in humility & love, praying and hoping (love hopes all things) for things to be made right. This can be controversial but, if done properly, brings the reconciliation God desires in His family.
4 – Why Should I Show Mercy? Ok, I’ll say the obvious, because God’s mercy toward us is unending and invaluable! We often want mercy to be dished out to us while we crank out judgment to others – just like this passage! Don’t do it! Read this story and don’t do it!
So What?!
*What do you value most in life? Ok, this may sound like day 2 of my youth bias, but here goes anyway: Value kids ministry & student ministry! Both in your home and outside your home. If Jesus said placed value on the young, then so should we. 85% of all of those who put their trust & faith in Jesus Christ alone do so by age 18. And 85% of those who don’t, never do! Which generation are you living for? This one or the next? How about both!~ Invest in this one for the sake of the next one! Volunteer to work with kids and students. I rarely hear of any church that doesn’t need help in these areas!
*Is there anyone whom you need to make things right with today? Apply a little Nike Theology and “Just Do it!” Do it with humility. Do it in love. Do it with grace. But do it.
*With whom do you need to be more merciful with? You know, that person who pushes your buttons or rubs you the wrong way. Ask God to help you see them as He does!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Matthew 17 DEVO: Transfiguration, Great Faith and a Fishing Story
Chapter 17:
Another amazing chapter in Matthew! Don’t ya’ just love the Word o God?!~!
First off, Jesus takes His three closest buddies on mountain hike they’d never forget. Peter, James & John got to see Jesus “transfigured” = Metamorphoo = changed! In human form, Jesus was veiled, but not when He returns and these 3 disciples got a glimpse of that! And Moses & Elijah show up to! Why them? Possibly because they were examples of men of God and they represented the law & the prophets. Regardless, this was an invitation only view of the exalted Jesus!
Next up, we see Jesus heal a demon-possessed boy. Apparently the disciples has botched up trying to heal the boy – rookies – so Jesus rebukes the demon and it comes out of him. The disciples ask why they couldn’t and Jesus relates it to their faith. Some versions include fasting and prayer as the reason they couldn’t get this kind of demon out. As they continued in ministry with Jesus, He again predicts His death, which grieves his disciples.
The chapter finishes with a lesson on submission to authority. Apparently some tax collectors were miffed that Jesus hadn’t paid his taxes. Jesus asks Simon, “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?" Ummm….others – the idea being Jesus is the King of Kings’ Son and should have to pay! “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." This has to be the best fish story ever?! So he gets the coins and pays for Jesus & himself. Take note, nothing was paid for the other 11 disciples, indicating that they were below the tax paying age because they were TEENS! So here you had the first ever youth group: Jesus as leader, one adult volunteer in Peter and 11 students, one of which was really bad! Ha!~!
SO WHAT?!
*Some day we will truly see Jesus for all of who He is. Until then , we only get a “foretaste of glory divine.” (Blessed Assurance Hymn). What do you look forward to most in seeing Jesus?
*In what ways are you growing in your faith? God always accepts us where we are but never wants us to remain there. If you need help, talk with your pastor or spiritual mentor. I’m sure they’d love to help!
*I believe Jesus was a youth pastor – of sorts. I also believe it’s the best job in the world – bias. So, want to stay young in heart and affect lives for eternity? Volunteer in the student ministry at your church!!!!
Another amazing chapter in Matthew! Don’t ya’ just love the Word o God?!~!
First off, Jesus takes His three closest buddies on mountain hike they’d never forget. Peter, James & John got to see Jesus “transfigured” = Metamorphoo = changed! In human form, Jesus was veiled, but not when He returns and these 3 disciples got a glimpse of that! And Moses & Elijah show up to! Why them? Possibly because they were examples of men of God and they represented the law & the prophets. Regardless, this was an invitation only view of the exalted Jesus!
Next up, we see Jesus heal a demon-possessed boy. Apparently the disciples has botched up trying to heal the boy – rookies – so Jesus rebukes the demon and it comes out of him. The disciples ask why they couldn’t and Jesus relates it to their faith. Some versions include fasting and prayer as the reason they couldn’t get this kind of demon out. As they continued in ministry with Jesus, He again predicts His death, which grieves his disciples.
The chapter finishes with a lesson on submission to authority. Apparently some tax collectors were miffed that Jesus hadn’t paid his taxes. Jesus asks Simon, “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?" Ummm….others – the idea being Jesus is the King of Kings’ Son and should have to pay! “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." This has to be the best fish story ever?! So he gets the coins and pays for Jesus & himself. Take note, nothing was paid for the other 11 disciples, indicating that they were below the tax paying age because they were TEENS! So here you had the first ever youth group: Jesus as leader, one adult volunteer in Peter and 11 students, one of which was really bad! Ha!~!
SO WHAT?!
*Some day we will truly see Jesus for all of who He is. Until then , we only get a “foretaste of glory divine.” (Blessed Assurance Hymn). What do you look forward to most in seeing Jesus?
*In what ways are you growing in your faith? God always accepts us where we are but never wants us to remain there. If you need help, talk with your pastor or spiritual mentor. I’m sure they’d love to help!
*I believe Jesus was a youth pastor – of sorts. I also believe it’s the best job in the world – bias. So, want to stay young in heart and affect lives for eternity? Volunteer in the student ministry at your church!!!!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Matthew 16 DEVO: Blindness, Peter & Losers for Jesus
Chapter 16:
“The problem with blind people is they just can’t see.” Yes, I said this to my students a while back and they haven’t let me forget it. Real deep huh?! I meant it spiritually, but I’d have given me a hard time too! Regardless, this is the issue in the first 12 verses. If a person is spiritually dead, the best they can do is make up rules & ways to be a good person – precisely what the Pharisees did (1-4) and what many people still do today! This is a false teaching that, like yeast, can spread throughout! Whenever we buy into a “works” philosophy of being made right with God, we have allowed a false teaching to spread.
Because of that, Jesus decides to get feedback from His disciples as to who people say He is: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then he pointedly asks them, “Who do YOU say I am?” For others to be wrong was one thing, but His disciples needed to be right about who He was & is. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” YES – way to go Peter! And where did he get that answer? The Lord!
Jesus then predicts His suffering and death for the first time, to which Peter says “no way”, resulting in Jesus calling him Satan! Ha – totally like Peter. When God is leading him – awesome stuff, when he speaks on his own - not really so good. I can sooooo relate to Peter! This is discipleship at it’s best: teaching, correcting, rebuking and training!
The chapter wraps up with a paradox: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Live for ourselves now and that’s all we’ve got, live & give our lives to Jesus now and get eternity with God in exchange. It’s a choice!
SO WHAT?!
*What truth(s) of God have you been blind to lately? There are certainly precepts & principles on the Bible that guide how we are to live as believers. But when those become the focus of our acceptance in our relationship with Jesus, we’ve missed it. Always remember this – our acceptance before God is never based on our performance. It’s based on trusting in what Jesus did for us in our place. Period.
*Who is Jesus? He is God, in the flesh, who came to earth to pay for your sins & mine with His life, rose again and is coming back some day to take all of us who believe to be with him forever – whoooohoooo!!!!
*So, according to verse 25, we are to be “losers” for Jesus! I have a t-shirt that has “LOSER” across the front and has this same verse from Luke on the back. I know, it’s off the cuff, but I get a lot of spiritual conversations going when I wear it! Be a loser today for Jesus…….…which, by the way, makes you a winner!
“The problem with blind people is they just can’t see.” Yes, I said this to my students a while back and they haven’t let me forget it. Real deep huh?! I meant it spiritually, but I’d have given me a hard time too! Regardless, this is the issue in the first 12 verses. If a person is spiritually dead, the best they can do is make up rules & ways to be a good person – precisely what the Pharisees did (1-4) and what many people still do today! This is a false teaching that, like yeast, can spread throughout! Whenever we buy into a “works” philosophy of being made right with God, we have allowed a false teaching to spread.
Because of that, Jesus decides to get feedback from His disciples as to who people say He is: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then he pointedly asks them, “Who do YOU say I am?” For others to be wrong was one thing, but His disciples needed to be right about who He was & is. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” YES – way to go Peter! And where did he get that answer? The Lord!
Jesus then predicts His suffering and death for the first time, to which Peter says “no way”, resulting in Jesus calling him Satan! Ha – totally like Peter. When God is leading him – awesome stuff, when he speaks on his own - not really so good. I can sooooo relate to Peter! This is discipleship at it’s best: teaching, correcting, rebuking and training!
The chapter wraps up with a paradox: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Live for ourselves now and that’s all we’ve got, live & give our lives to Jesus now and get eternity with God in exchange. It’s a choice!
SO WHAT?!
*What truth(s) of God have you been blind to lately? There are certainly precepts & principles on the Bible that guide how we are to live as believers. But when those become the focus of our acceptance in our relationship with Jesus, we’ve missed it. Always remember this – our acceptance before God is never based on our performance. It’s based on trusting in what Jesus did for us in our place. Period.
*Who is Jesus? He is God, in the flesh, who came to earth to pay for your sins & mine with His life, rose again and is coming back some day to take all of us who believe to be with him forever – whoooohoooo!!!!
*So, according to verse 25, we are to be “losers” for Jesus! I have a t-shirt that has “LOSER” across the front and has this same verse from Luke on the back. I know, it’s off the cuff, but I get a lot of spiritual conversations going when I wear it! Be a loser today for Jesus…….…which, by the way, makes you a winner!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Matthew 15 DEVO: Lips vs. Hearts and Another Feeding
Chapter 15:
Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” You have to both profess (confess) and possess (believe in heart) Jesus to be truly saved. The Pharisees only professed. It was all about the “rules” with them: "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus’ reply? “Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” It was rules not relationship with them.
The example Jesus states in 5-6 is this. A person could call all his possessions “korban”, meaning they were dedicated to the Lord. But if they decided to use them for their own purposes, all they had to do was to simply say “korban” over them again. So here’s what people were doing. If a family member was in need they would say, “oops, sorry, can’t help ya’, all my stuff is korban.” And this supposedly made them look spiritual was well! How selfish is that?!~! That’s why Jesus quoted Isaiah, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” Ya gotta love what the disciples told Jesus as this all went down…………. ummm Jesus, I don’t think they liked what you said!~ Ha!
As always, Jesus then addresses the heart! It’s not what goes into us that makes us unclean. Can things that go in damage us? Yes. But that is not near as damaging as a cold, sin-seeking heart. This is the very heart that each of us has until we believe in Jesus and get a new one!
Next up is Jesus’ second reference to great faith (8:10). Because she kept asking, seeking and knocking Jesus granted her request.
Finally, Jesus does another large buffet, probably only like 15,000+ peeps to feed this time, certainly a wimpier miracle (just kidding). Tidbit – It’s interesting that Jesus ended each phase of His ministry with a feeding: In Galilee – fed the 5,000, here in a Gentile area – fed the 4,000 and in Judea (before His death on the cross) he fed His disciples (last supper).
SO WHAT?!
*When it comes to faith in Jesus, what are you all about? Do you like to play judge & jury regarding the “rules”? It’s about RELATIONSHIP! Let’s allow God to work on each of our own lives. I’ve learned that as I do that, I don’t have much time to be checking on everyone else’s life!
*Ever honor God with your lips and not your heart? When I hear this I think of Sunday morning worship. How often do we sing songs we don’t mean or be singing them and have my heart be totally in some other place!~ Ouch! This Sunday we worship, Lord please help us to be in tune with YOU!
Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” You have to both profess (confess) and possess (believe in heart) Jesus to be truly saved. The Pharisees only professed. It was all about the “rules” with them: "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" Jesus’ reply? “Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” It was rules not relationship with them.
The example Jesus states in 5-6 is this. A person could call all his possessions “korban”, meaning they were dedicated to the Lord. But if they decided to use them for their own purposes, all they had to do was to simply say “korban” over them again. So here’s what people were doing. If a family member was in need they would say, “oops, sorry, can’t help ya’, all my stuff is korban.” And this supposedly made them look spiritual was well! How selfish is that?!~! That’s why Jesus quoted Isaiah, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” Ya gotta love what the disciples told Jesus as this all went down…………. ummm Jesus, I don’t think they liked what you said!~ Ha!
As always, Jesus then addresses the heart! It’s not what goes into us that makes us unclean. Can things that go in damage us? Yes. But that is not near as damaging as a cold, sin-seeking heart. This is the very heart that each of us has until we believe in Jesus and get a new one!
Next up is Jesus’ second reference to great faith (8:10). Because she kept asking, seeking and knocking Jesus granted her request.
Finally, Jesus does another large buffet, probably only like 15,000+ peeps to feed this time, certainly a wimpier miracle (just kidding). Tidbit – It’s interesting that Jesus ended each phase of His ministry with a feeding: In Galilee – fed the 5,000, here in a Gentile area – fed the 4,000 and in Judea (before His death on the cross) he fed His disciples (last supper).
SO WHAT?!
*When it comes to faith in Jesus, what are you all about? Do you like to play judge & jury regarding the “rules”? It’s about RELATIONSHIP! Let’s allow God to work on each of our own lives. I’ve learned that as I do that, I don’t have much time to be checking on everyone else’s life!
*Ever honor God with your lips and not your heart? When I hear this I think of Sunday morning worship. How often do we sing songs we don’t mean or be singing them and have my heart be totally in some other place!~ Ouch! This Sunday we worship, Lord please help us to be in tune with YOU!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Matgthew 14 DEVO: The First Martyr & 2 Cool Miracles
Chapter 14:
Stephen was the first recorded person to lose his life for Jesus during the church age, but John the Baptizer was the first to do so while Jesus was here on earth.
Herod didn’t like John, especially because John called him on the carpet for marrying his brother’s former wife. Marrying family was wrong then and still is. Obviously Herodias didn’t like John either, thus the scheme to have John killed. Most likely it was a sexually lewd dance. Jesus loved John and when He heard the news went away to grieve & spend time with His Father in prayer.
Then came the feeding of the 20,000+ That’s right, it was 5000 men PLUS women & children, so this is a more realistic number! Regardless, Jesus wanted to let His disciples know that He is Jehovah JIRA = the Lord provides. Jesus had been doing all kinds of healings, now he wanted them to know that He is the One who provides for people needs, down to the basics. There is no explaining the fish & chips that kept popping up as they handed out food to everyone – it was a miracle! But I’d love to have seen it!
Next up, the disciples are out in a boat at night being rocked by the waves and up walks Jesus. They freak out, “…they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.” Jesus tells them it’s Him and to chill and then Peter wants to try it. And he too walks on water, until he takes His eyes off Jesus. Jesus & Peter climb back in the boat and the wind & waves cease – whoah! Yeah, it caused them to say, “Truly you are the Son of God."
SO WHAT?!
*When it comes to confronting someone on sin, how do you respond? In their face? Compassionately? Chicken out? These things are never hard. Pray first, remove any planks in our own eyes and do it in love! But do it – for the sake of Jesus and truth!
*When is it hardest top trust God? In trials? When we don’t like His answer? When things seem impossible? The disciples we all left holding a basket of leftovers, a grim reminder that we can trust God to do the impossible!
*Ever take your eyes off Jesus? Yeah, me too. And when I do I fall, just like Peter sank. Lord, please help us to fix our eyes on YOU – not our circumstances! The song goes, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
Stephen was the first recorded person to lose his life for Jesus during the church age, but John the Baptizer was the first to do so while Jesus was here on earth.
Herod didn’t like John, especially because John called him on the carpet for marrying his brother’s former wife. Marrying family was wrong then and still is. Obviously Herodias didn’t like John either, thus the scheme to have John killed. Most likely it was a sexually lewd dance. Jesus loved John and when He heard the news went away to grieve & spend time with His Father in prayer.
Then came the feeding of the 20,000+ That’s right, it was 5000 men PLUS women & children, so this is a more realistic number! Regardless, Jesus wanted to let His disciples know that He is Jehovah JIRA = the Lord provides. Jesus had been doing all kinds of healings, now he wanted them to know that He is the One who provides for people needs, down to the basics. There is no explaining the fish & chips that kept popping up as they handed out food to everyone – it was a miracle! But I’d love to have seen it!
Next up, the disciples are out in a boat at night being rocked by the waves and up walks Jesus. They freak out, “…they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.” Jesus tells them it’s Him and to chill and then Peter wants to try it. And he too walks on water, until he takes His eyes off Jesus. Jesus & Peter climb back in the boat and the wind & waves cease – whoah! Yeah, it caused them to say, “Truly you are the Son of God."
SO WHAT?!
*When it comes to confronting someone on sin, how do you respond? In their face? Compassionately? Chicken out? These things are never hard. Pray first, remove any planks in our own eyes and do it in love! But do it – for the sake of Jesus and truth!
*When is it hardest top trust God? In trials? When we don’t like His answer? When things seem impossible? The disciples we all left holding a basket of leftovers, a grim reminder that we can trust God to do the impossible!
*Ever take your eyes off Jesus? Yeah, me too. And when I do I fall, just like Peter sank. Lord, please help us to fix our eyes on YOU – not our circumstances! The song goes, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Matthew 13 DEVO: Parables
Chapter 13:
Parables are stories that Jesus told that present spiritual truths. God rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) but He does not give to dogs - those not seeking, what is sacred - the Gospel (Matthew 7:6). This is why he spoke in stories that seekers would get but those not seeking wouldn’t. So here we go…
The Sower – Being a former farm boy, I get this one. AND I love it when Jesus literally tells us what it means! He describes 4 different hearers: unresponsive, superficial, worldly & receptive. It’s been argued that only the last one is saved, could be. Only problem with that is I’ve done all four and I’m saved. Regardless, the truth is that we are to be genuinely receptive towards God’s Word.
The Weeds – Again, Jesus tells us exactly what this one means. Believers, unbelievers and make-believers dwell together and often times you can’t tell them apart. But in the end there will be a separating and a judgment!
Mustard Seed – These next two are stories on influence. The tiniest of seed becomes a large, strong plant. The kingdom of God will come quickly. We may not think our witness for Jesus is much, but God sees it vey differently.
Yeast – It only takes a little amount of yeast to make the entire batch puff up! This has to do with purity. The sins of pride, gossip, etc… are impurities that infect and affect everyone!
Hidden Treasure & Pearl – These next two indicate the incomparable value of the kingdom. It will cause a person to sacrifice and do everything possible to possess it!
Net – This one is similar to the weeds & wheat one. Both believers & make-believers coexist but will be separated in the end!
SO WHAT?!
*When you hear a sermon or Bible study, how do you receive it? With question? Offended? Our receptivity says a lot about who we are!
*Ever feel like your role in God’s plan is miniscule? It’s not! 1 Corinthians 12 is clear on that. We just need to be faithful to fulfill our role.
*What have you sacrificed in being a believer? Friends? Family? Finances? Even King David said he would not give to God that which costs him nothing!
Parables are stories that Jesus told that present spiritual truths. God rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) but He does not give to dogs - those not seeking, what is sacred - the Gospel (Matthew 7:6). This is why he spoke in stories that seekers would get but those not seeking wouldn’t. So here we go…
The Sower – Being a former farm boy, I get this one. AND I love it when Jesus literally tells us what it means! He describes 4 different hearers: unresponsive, superficial, worldly & receptive. It’s been argued that only the last one is saved, could be. Only problem with that is I’ve done all four and I’m saved. Regardless, the truth is that we are to be genuinely receptive towards God’s Word.
The Weeds – Again, Jesus tells us exactly what this one means. Believers, unbelievers and make-believers dwell together and often times you can’t tell them apart. But in the end there will be a separating and a judgment!
Mustard Seed – These next two are stories on influence. The tiniest of seed becomes a large, strong plant. The kingdom of God will come quickly. We may not think our witness for Jesus is much, but God sees it vey differently.
Yeast – It only takes a little amount of yeast to make the entire batch puff up! This has to do with purity. The sins of pride, gossip, etc… are impurities that infect and affect everyone!
Hidden Treasure & Pearl – These next two indicate the incomparable value of the kingdom. It will cause a person to sacrifice and do everything possible to possess it!
Net – This one is similar to the weeds & wheat one. Both believers & make-believers coexist but will be separated in the end!
SO WHAT?!
*When you hear a sermon or Bible study, how do you receive it? With question? Offended? Our receptivity says a lot about who we are!
*Ever feel like your role in God’s plan is miniscule? It’s not! 1 Corinthians 12 is clear on that. We just need to be faithful to fulfill our role.
*What have you sacrificed in being a believer? Friends? Family? Finances? Even King David said he would not give to God that which costs him nothing!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Matthew 12 DEVO: More Responses to Jesus’ Ministry
Chapter 12:
In this chapter we not only continue to see reactions to Jesus’ ministry, but now for the first time we see the rejection of Jesus by His own Jewish people. In the first half we see the growing unbelief (1-21) and in the remainder we see the blasphemy that follows.
1-14: The disciples were not reaping on the Sabbath (which was forbidden) they were only eating! The Sabbath does not restrict us from deeds of necessity, service to God or acts of mercy. The Pharisees had become legalistic about it.
15-21: What a great description of servant Jesus!
22-32: Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit – what is it? Whatever it is, it is the only unforgivable sin. And the only unforgiveable sin is not believing in Jesus! So it’s unbelief! What a wonderful thing to know that no matter what I’ve done I can come to Jesus and receive forgiveness!
33-37: Want to expose the truth of a person’s heart? Listen to their speech over time!
38-42: Judgment WILL come on those who reject Jesus.
43-50: Relationship is supreme with Jesus. Physical family is important, but not near as important as being born again into the spiritual family of God!
SO WHAT?!
*How do you & I respond to the ministry of Jesus? Do we have a hard time with miracles? The supernatural? Hard teachings? How we respond to Jesus makes an eternity of difference! Believe today!
*How would you describe your relationship with Jesus? Apathetic? Interested? Excited? Passionate? In what ways are you knowing Jesus and making Him known? God always accepts us where we are but never wants us to remain there. Lets ask Him to grow us deeper with Him and wider in our witness to others!
In this chapter we not only continue to see reactions to Jesus’ ministry, but now for the first time we see the rejection of Jesus by His own Jewish people. In the first half we see the growing unbelief (1-21) and in the remainder we see the blasphemy that follows.
1-14: The disciples were not reaping on the Sabbath (which was forbidden) they were only eating! The Sabbath does not restrict us from deeds of necessity, service to God or acts of mercy. The Pharisees had become legalistic about it.
15-21: What a great description of servant Jesus!
22-32: Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit – what is it? Whatever it is, it is the only unforgivable sin. And the only unforgiveable sin is not believing in Jesus! So it’s unbelief! What a wonderful thing to know that no matter what I’ve done I can come to Jesus and receive forgiveness!
33-37: Want to expose the truth of a person’s heart? Listen to their speech over time!
38-42: Judgment WILL come on those who reject Jesus.
43-50: Relationship is supreme with Jesus. Physical family is important, but not near as important as being born again into the spiritual family of God!
SO WHAT?!
*How do you & I respond to the ministry of Jesus? Do we have a hard time with miracles? The supernatural? Hard teachings? How we respond to Jesus makes an eternity of difference! Believe today!
*How would you describe your relationship with Jesus? Apathetic? Interested? Excited? Passionate? In what ways are you knowing Jesus and making Him known? God always accepts us where we are but never wants us to remain there. Lets ask Him to grow us deeper with Him and wider in our witness to others!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)