April 26, 2015
Peter was overcome with grief when he denied Christ three times just as Christ had predicted. Peter, the “Rock,” had crumbled. And to make matters worse, he had made eye contact with Jesus in the moment the rooster crowed. This was the last time Peter saw Jesus until His resurrection. He did not witness His trial before Pilate, nor His crucifixion. Peter was a castaway, drowning in his own misery, beyond comfort. Yet, Jesus had prayed for Peter. He knew that Peter was about to enter a dark night of the soul. “When you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Jesus had said (32). And Peter did return. “Do you love Me?” Jesus asked three times, restoring him to Himself. “Yes Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You.” Peter responded (John 21:17).
Have you strayed from the Lord? Return to Him. For Jesus has already prayed for you.
April 25, 2015
While Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples fell asleep. He had told them to watch and pray while He pulled away to pray alone. But they were exhausted with “sorrow” (v.45). Jesus was trying to prepare them for a difficult trial, but their human frailty was too much. I wonder how many times the Spirit of Christ urges us to pray, yet our flesh is too weak? Instead, we sleep. Christ followers still hear the Spirit say, “Rise and pray.” Rise up from your sleep and lift your heartfelt prayers to the Father. There is a rest that comes from prayer that is better than that from sleep.
April 22, 2015
Jesus concluded His description of the signs of the age of the end times with the above verse. Jesus didn’t tell His disciples to be anxious or discouraged when the world seemed to be declining into chaos and becoming more wicked. Instead, He told them to “look up,” essentially to set their minds on heavenly things all the more, as earthly things must pass away. He told them to “lift up your heads,” in other words, don’t be afraid or discouraged, chin up! Because the “redemption” of your bodies “draws near.” The redemption of our souls has already come when we believed that Christ died for our sins, was buried and raised again on the third day. Yet, we await the redemption of our bodies (Rom. 8:23) on that Day when Christ returns.
April 21, 2015
The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection and only accepted the five books of Moses, came to Jesus presenting a case that they thought would make the idea of the resurrection seem ridiculous. However, Christ’s response made their doubt seem ridiculous instead. After dismissing their multiple wives premise in only a few words, He used the burning bush story from the book of Exodus (one of the few books they accepted) to show them proof of the resurrection; namely, that God identified Himself as the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Jesus demolished their anti-resurrection argument and left them silent. Yet, Jesus wasn’t finished. He backed up His words with action, becoming the firstborn from among the dead and guaranteeing the resurrection of all those who believe.
April 18, 2015
After Jesus visited Zacchaeus’ house, the short man stood and declared his intent to give away half of his wealth to the poor. This was not a confession of faith, but an evidence of heart change. Zacchaeus had already received Jesus into his house. And this was the result: Riches no longer held his heart, Christ did. Christ Himself was the Salvation that had come to his house. The gospel still moves from house to house. Has Salvation come to your house yet?
April 17, 2015
When a blind man begging on the roadside near Jericho heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:35). So, Jesus stopped and asked him the above question. Why would Jesus ask this? Couldn’t He tell that the man was blind? Wasn’t the blind man’s need obvious? Yet, Jesus insisted on him making a specific request. When the blind man responded that he wanted to receive his sight, the Lord healed him, commending his faith. The currency of the kingdom is asking. “Ask, seek, knock” (Matt. 7:7-12), this is the teaching of Jesus. Do you have the faith to ask God for help? Get specific with God. Ask.
April 15, 2015
Where is the kingdom of God? And when will it come? The Pharisees asked Jesus to show them the kingdom. But He warned them that it was not yet something they could observe. They were looking for the outward evidence of pomp and power from a conquering king, while the King of Glory stood in their midst unrecognized. For the kingdom was already coming to those who recognized Jesus as King and would be ultimately fulfilled at His return. Where is the kingdom? Wherever Christ is king! When will it come? Whenever we invite Him to be our Lord and Savior! Have you done this? Then, the kingdom of God has come “within you.”
April 13, 2015
Many have started out loving God, but when resulting blessings come, switch allegiance. Rare is the rich man who holds wealth with an open hand, serving God with it. However, one doesn’t have to be rich to love money. The poor man can struggle as severely with the covetous love for the riches he does not have, as the rich man struggles with his unquenchable desire for more. Serving mammon never satisfies. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). Yet, those who serve and love God are fully satisfied. Who have you chosen to serve: God or mammon?
April 12, 2015
Luke 15 has three “lost” parables in a row: The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. The verse above is from the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus taught the importance of seeking the lost, which Israel had forgotten. They had become inward focused and self-absorbed. Today’s church can be like this. The focus tends to be on keeping the “ninety-nine” members happy and meeting their needs. But the mission of the church should be to help rescue the one. If we want our churches to experience the “joy of heaven,” we will get out of our comfort zones, take our eyes off ourselves, and put them on seeking the lost.
April 7, 2015
The gospel moves us from a religious response to a relational one. The question it asks is not ‘have you been a good person,’ but ‘have you acknowledged Jesus as the Christ?’ This acknowledgement is not only internal, but external, causing us to confess Christ as Lord and Savior before men. How we decide to treat Jesus on earth affects His response to us in eternity.