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Philippians 1:12-14 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
WHAT inspires you? People who overcome great obstacles to become successful and accomplished in their work inspire me. I am also very inspired as I consider friends who prevail for the gospel against great physical and personal challenges. Even more so, I consider and am inspired to know that Jesus’ ministry for my salvation took Him to the cross. My Lord’s great love for me surely inspires me to joy. Through the terror of the cross and the wonder of Jesus’ resurrection, the gospel is inspiring good news that becomes evident to all the world. Jesus’ transforming, loving work certainly inspired Paul. Consider that Paul had been imprisoned for nearly five years when he wrote these confident words. Faithfully, Paul saw his imprisonment as a means to advance the gospel. Remember this: the entire group of prison guards knew why Paul was imprisoned. As he was chained to Roman guards who changed shifts every six hours, Paul was inspired to tell them of Jesus. How is it possible not to tell of the great changes Jesus had brought to Paul’s life? How can anyone be quiet about being born again? The gospel was surely advanced through the prison guards as some came to faith in Jesus. They in turn would have been inspired to tell their families and friends the Good News of salvation. Motivating, isn’t it? Even from a prison house, God’s message will advance with faithful disciples. The gospel truly does proclaim “freedom for the captives” (Luke 4:18) for both literal and physical prisoners. Jesus needs inspired and inspiring leaders in the world right now. Be as Paul. His faithful work stirred the Christians in Rome, Philippi and throughout Asia Minor. Amid persecutions, false teachers and many challenges, Paul led hundreds of determined men and women to fervently advance the good news for Jesus to the world. In the apostle, the church witnessed Paul’s faithful joy amid his suffering and limitations. Inspired with Paul’s example, they became as bold to tell the mystery and the wonder of “Jesus saves.” Since Jesus’ humble birth, servant life, terrible death, glorious resurrection and life-giving ascension, the gospel has inspired billions of people to faith. It is the Lord’s unstoppable message of sure hope to all who believe. Be inspired. Be willing to inspire others as Jesus Christ lives in you. Joy Link: Be inspired in the eternal hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:9-11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
HOW do you make the best decisions to respond to various circumstances? Often, you act on assumptions and feelings. If you have the right information, your response is generally appropriate to the circumstance. If you are misinformed, or your feelings do not match the truth, your response will be hurtful and possibly damaging to yourself or others. Paul wrote to encourage the church in Philippi to grow in knowledge and discernment. To be Jesus’ true disciples and effective church, they must make Christ-like decisions. This is not about what they feel or assume. They must seek what is true and live into Jesus truth. To do so, of course, they must know Jesus. And so must you. This sounds simple, doesn’t it? But you know it’s not. Sin’s great penalty is to cause your mind to seek your own truth first. That’s why it is easy to make excuses and to excuse yourself from Jesus’ wisdom. For example, I was talking with someone who said his desire is to know God more. But I didn’t believe his heart is in it. Why do I say that? He says he’s too busy to read the Bible. He’s too busy to pray and too busy to learn from others. His life, then, stays distant from God. His choice is to do nothing, and no good thing will result. Be alert to prevent this type of undisciplined life. To be too busy for God tells him, “Father in heaven, you’re really not my father. I’m leader and lord of my life. I’ll let you know when I’m ready for you.” Yes, there are many days we assume we can neglect spiritual disciplines. This will only hurt and even destroy your faith. Be strong against the assumption temptation. Submit to the Lord’s leading. That’s why Paul writes to the Philippians, “I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” He is covering their minds in prayer, so they will purposefully seek God’s wisdom. You and I need to pray this for ourselves and each other, so our love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment until the day we meet Jesus. I encourage you to this. Pray, too, that God will empower and sustain your mind to know him more. This is the only way you can properly decide how to live in truth. Remember, Jesus calls you to be his disciple. A disciple is disciplined. A disciple has a daily goal to learn more of Jesus. A disciple desires to live more deeply into God’s great love. A disciple desires to make the right decisions. Joy Link: Discipline leads to true discipleship. April 21
Peter Got Up Luke 24:9-12 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. DO you see it? A glimmer of light begins to break into the darkness of Jesus’ death and burial. Even though the Eleven did not believe the women, someone stepped into Hope. You see him, don’t you? He’s the one we call, “Betrayer. Out-spoken. Impulsive.” He’s Peter. Peter got up and ran to the tomb. See him bending over to see the strips of linen lying by themselves. Observe Peter as he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Did he hear for the first time Jesus’ hard words recorded in Mark 8:31 “Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.” Did Peter remember how he had taken Jesus aside to rebuke him for such words? Was he hoping against hope he would see his Lord again to tell him, “You know I love you!” (John 21:17b) The empty tomb is real to the women, and now it is real to Peter. Other gospels record John went with him. Before this first day of the week is done, the other Eleven, too, will know the tomb is truly, eternally empty. Throughout the day, Jesus’ Light of life will burn brighter and brighter as he begins to reveal himself to the world. These events are a good look at evangelism. We who know of the empty tomb must be faithful, excited, joyful and willing to tell the world. Even if many people say, “I don’t believe you.” we must remember some will get up to seek Jesus. As the women had no control over Peter, we have no control to force people to the empty tomb. But we do have the truth. We must tell the truth as if we have seen the stone rolled away and the resurrected Lord before us. In faith, we have. In faith, we know Jesus is alive. In faith, our lips must speak the good news. God will move his chosen disciples to run to the tomb, prepared to see what God has done. Prayer: Thank you, Holy Spirit, for getting me up to go to Jesus. Amen. Joy to the World! The Lord is Come! Luke 23:44-45 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
THE closest I’ve been to total darkness during the daytime was about 93% dark during a solar eclipse. The sun’s light was less, but there was still ample light from the sun. We needed no artificial light to see. In the eclipse, we knew the sun was still shining. Even those who experienced the total eclipse could still see a ring of the sun’s light. Darkness came and left quickly. No one said, “The sun stopped shining.” But at Jesus’ death, Luke records that for three hours “the sun stopped shining”. Because the Passover happened near the time of the full moon, it was not possible for an eclipse to occur that day. Instead, the one who said, “Let there be light.” (Genesis 1:3) had demonstrated his sovereign hand was on this day. This darkness is a sign of God’s judgment on the earth. But let’s rejoice that the darkness also pointed to God’s future promise to draw his people to himself. See this in God’s promise to Abram (soon to be renamed Abraham): Genesis 15:12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then in the darkness God came to affirm his promise to Abram: Genesis 15:17 When the sun had set, and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces (of cut animals). God walked into the darkness he had set. With fire amid the sacrificed animals, the Lord assured Abram his descendants would see the light of God’s promise. Genesis 15:5 “Look up at the heavens and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” In Jesus’ death, God’s judgment passed over the Son and over the Jews. Then God’s light began to shine when “the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” This curtain covered the Holy of Holies. Only a priest properly prepared through God’s worship laws could enter this temple’s inner sanctuary. He was the one who would speak for the Jews on the Day of Atonement to remove the people’s sins for one year. As Jesus died, the Day of Atonement has come to all the world. The Lamb has been slain. The darkness had come. Now Jesus is the great High Priest. He is the fiery, blazing Light of the World. He opens the way for all mankind to be a spiritual child of Abraham – a child of God. There is often some level of darkness in our lives, isn’t there? Sometimes our trouble can overwhelm us, and we wonder if God is keeping his covenant promise to guard and to guide our lives. But know in Jesus his light is always ablaze with his promise: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Keep your eyes to the Lod. He will come and light your way to him. Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for bringing me out of the darkness and into your light. Amen. Luke 22:61-62 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
WE have seen Peter’s forceful denials of his Lord. Now we see his emphatic sorrow. Seeing his Lord face-to-face, Peter remembered all Jesus had said. He heard in his mind his relentless assurance, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Matthew 26:35) Then he heard his fearful words, “Woman I don’t know him.” Now Peter is face-to-face with his sin. And what can he do but bitterly weep? He loves Jesus. He is willing to even suffer and die for his Lord. But for a few moments, fear rose up and transformed the emphatic disciple into a shamed sinner. Self-focused denial is the reason for many sins, isn’t it? Think what happens when one spouse denies the other, a parent denies a child, a worker denies a boss, a church member denies his vows, a motorist denies the rules, or we disciples deny Jesus. The list is long. It is troubled with broken promises and sudden reactions. We act to preserve our desires while denying another’s needs. Our allegiances become shallow when trouble threatens our comfort. To be Jesus’ disciple commands an unwavering allegiance to the Lord. Disciples are emphatic to hold fast to each command Jesus has so passionately delivered to our hearts. Such passion in return is necessary to be effectively persistent for our Lord and his people on earth. Listen closely to the apostle Paul emphasize faith’s power: Romans 8:36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In his bitter shame, Peter was for a moment, separated from Jesus. But Jesus did not stop loving him. Peter did not stop loving Jesus. Emphatically, Jesus had given Peter and his disciples the gospel of salvation. Peter was about to personally learn how strong Jesus’ truth is for his own life and the world. I pray you know, this, too. Are you shamed with sin? It’s easy to be if you dwell on it. But emphatically focus on the gospel. Know Jesus loves you. Be willing to show him your love. Go to him and look into his loving face. He has conquered the cross, so you can confidently conquer sin. Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for the passion of Jesus to the cross. Amen. Luke 22:54-60 Then seizing Jesus, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. 58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. 59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.
JESUS has specifically prophesied this. “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” But Peter denied the Lord’s prophecy: “But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Mark 14:30) Even emphatic human emotions are inadequate to withstand the Lord’s purpose. Do you cringe at Peter’s insistent denials? He emphatically declares: “Woman, I don’t know him. Man, I am not! Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” The emphatic disciple who said, “I’ll never deny you.” became equally forceful to deny his relationship with Jesus. Satan was, indeed, vigorously sifting the passionate Peter to turn his faith into chaff. Be aware of evil’s emphatic attacks on your faith. The devil and his demons are relentless to turn our gifts into guilt. Each of us in the church have likely heard some affirmation of a gift you have to glorify God. When we faithfully respond to such encouragements, something may occur to frustrate or hurt us. We make a mistake and are embarrassed. Perfection is desired and expected but never reached. Evil emphatically points an accusing finger to say, “You have failed!” Yes, we see sin’s emphatic hold on Peter for that moment. Too often, it has the same hold on our spiritual lives for years. We live afraid of what we might do wrong, when we should focus on what we can do right. Our eyes dimly see God while sharply focusing on our faults. We forget “ God has given me this gift. God will guide me to glorify him. If I error, even sin in the gift, he will pick me up to take me forward. This is about God.” Fear, complacency and distractions of all sorts can cause us to emphatically deny Jesus. But know this: emphatic Peter denied; yet, Jesus passionately forgave and anointed him (John 21) to be an unrelenting emphatic apostle. God will do the same for you. If for some reason you feel, “I’ve failed. I’ve emphatically denied Jesus too many times. I don’t measure up.” Then measure, instead, the Lord’s emphatic grace, power and love for you. Believe in his strength. Live for him. Live with him. Live in him. You will emphatically demonstrate to the world how great is the Father’s love that he would call you, “My child.” Prayer: Forgive me, Father, for emphatically denying your gifts. I pray for faith and healing to move my mind, heart and body more humbly to serve you. Amen. Luke 22:63-65 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
ONE reason conflict rages within the human race is self-righteousness. We are eager to hold fast to our beliefs. Anyone who acts outside of our approval seems to suddenly become an “enemy”. Our tendency too often is to condemn, criticize and even actively seek to silence people with whom we disagree. What is a better way? Perhaps we can discover a better way as we examine our view of the mocking guards. How dare they mock the Lord! Easily we see these soldiers outside of our beliefs. We would never mock the Lord. Or would we? Do we? I know I am too often prone to mock God’s faithfulness. Today I proclaim his miracles when he answers my prayers the way I desire. But what happens tomorrow? What do I say when he is silent to my pleas? Am I so quick to forget the miracle of salvation and many other blessings he has delivered to me throughout my life? Does my mind forget why he stood in silence and allowed the soldiers to mock him that dark morning? When the Lord is silent, do I mock him with impatience and unbelief as the soldiers? Or is my heart willing to trust, to even hear, “Wait.” and “No.” from the Lord? Yes, we can look at the guards through self-righteous eyes. “What’s wrong with them? Why are they so cruel to mock him? I hope they get what they deserve.” Or we can stop to first look at our own lives through God’s righteous eyes. How would he describe our lives? Remember Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:4 “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Our Lord sees us as sinners in need of him. How different our world would be if we agreed. Yes, we must correct and condemn sin. Clearly the guards sinned against Jesus. But let’s more quickly examine our own lives in light of Jesus’ life-transforming teachings and his soul transforming suffering. Do not self-righteously dwell on, “I am right.” In humility, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33a) Perhaps you will discover some way you are mocking your Lord. Or maybe you will see how you mock others. The guards were sinners in need of repentance. Their souls were in danger of eternal destruction. We see people everyday who need Jesus as much as they did, even when we look in the mirror. Prayer: Lord God, open my mind to know your righteousness. Help me to put away self-thinking, so I will love others. Amen. Luke 22:7-13 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
JESUS instructs his disciples to “Make preparations there (for the Passover).” The Son of God was about to sit down at the Feast the Father had been preparing for centuries. In God’s sovereign plan to redeem mankind, the LORD God began to prepare for this feast at the dawn of time in the Garden of Eden. God spoke the first invitation to the meal when he said to Satan. Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” God began to record his guest list when he called Abraham into a blood-sealed covenant. Genesis 17:10 “This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.” God then set the table at the first Passover. Exodus 12:12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn – both men and animals – and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 14 This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord – a lasting ordinance.” Now the meal is prepared. The Guest of Honor – Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Man – steps through the threshold of an upper room in a middle-class Jerusalem neighborhood. The Promise presides at the head of the table. The Feast will fulfill the covenants in Eden, with Abraham and to the Jews. Satan will wound the Passover Lamb. But the Lamb of God will destroy Satan’s headship – his authority. Jesus’ body will soon be the Unleavened Bread broken. His blood will mark the wooden cross. From that dark day into eternity, sin will pass over those who eat the Feast of Salvation: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:54) Yes, the meal is ready. Centuries of preparations are about to be fulfilled. God has come to the earth. John 1:29 “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” The Son of God is about to speak a new testament of grace. Prayer: Thank you, God, for your eternal preparations to draw me into your eternal home. In Jesus’ name I express my joy! Amen. Luke 22:1-2 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
A different way to describe the authorities’ actions is they “were plotting how to kill Jesus.” (NLT) Luke records several reasons why the ruling Jews would consider this hateful act. Pride ruled their lives. Love of money, power and prestige shaped their cold, callous hearts. Self-focus easily binds our souls to cast away those who dare to warm and soften us. Sin’s trappings are deadly bonds. Psalms 10:4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Such is the authorities’ motivation to kill Jesus. But why were the priests and teachers afraid of the people? After all, if one disobeyed their rules, he could be separated from temple worship. They held the power. Did they not have the power to do with Jesus as they pleased? They did. But then they realized they didn’t. Something bigger than their rules and structures was building in Judea and Jerusalem. The authorities could see that many Jews and even Gentiles expressed a growing passion for Jesus’ soul-building teachings. His life transforming healings, teachings and love awakened hearts from sin’s darkness. Huge crowds came early to hear and see the Maser at work. To continue to publicly accuse Jesus and then to even arrest him could cause people to rebel and riot. In Jesus, the Jews were beginning to see the light of hope break through centuries of despair. The prophet’s words were coming true: Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Fear for themselves, their own authority and position ruled their lives. They had not love, compassion, mercy, kindness, or gentleness for their people. No Jewish ruler was humble to serve and love his people as Jesus was. How sad are the lives of all who fear Jesus. How blessed are the lives all who love Jesus. Prayer: Lord God, I pray I, Show proper respect to everyone: I love the brotherhood of believers, I fear God, and I honor the king. (from 1 Peter 2:17) Amen. Psalms 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. 3 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — he is the King of glory.
PSALM 23 expresses the comforting, assuring presence of our Good Shepherd. Psalm 24 confesses our Lord is King of Heaven and earth. The Shepherd leads us. The King opens the very gates of heaven to welcome you home. As we consider today that King Jesus rode humbly into Jerusalem, let us remember he is about to enter into victory. Through the dark and tragic week that unfolded before the Son of God, the Christ’s eternal victory will transform the world. Against the opposition, the lies, the fears and denials the stricken Shepherd will rise from death to become the King of Glory. Do you praise Jesus he has come? Do you confess he is the LORD of your life? Do you believe with a sure faith you are saved by the blood that has poured from his body? Then rejoice and be glad the Spirit has opened your heart’s door, so the King of Glory has come in. Praise the Lord. Psalms 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Indeed, let us rejoice every day heaven’s gates are opened and the King has come. Praise: You are my King of Glory, Lord Jesus! I praise your name you have come in. Amen. |
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November 2024
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