On Wednesday, in the Passion Week of Jesus, the scriptures are silent. Because nothing is recorded, today’s devotion will not come from passion texts like the other days. It is often called “Dark Wednesday.” It seems that Jesus did nothing significant this day. It was a day after the day of controversy with the religious leaders and is possibly the day that Judas made the deal with the religious leaders to betray Jesus. Imagine Jesus for a moment in his humanity on this day. He knows the fate that awaits Him. He knows one of his best friends had betrayed him. This is a day of sorrow for him.
Read Isaiah 52:13-53:12.
This is an ancient prophecy of Christ’s life, character, and work. He was a man of sorrows (53:3).
He knows. He has suffered. Just like you….more than you.
Think about your Savior’s grief today. In your grief will you follow him to the cross?
Prepare to meet Him there today, everyday, and profoundly at Living Stones Good Friday services.
Friday April 10- 6:00p & 7:30p (Robb Campus)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Holy Week Day 2- Tuesday
Day of Controversy and Parables
Read Matthew 21:23-24:51
On Tuesday of that first Holy Week Jesus was challenged and opposed by many who were threatened by His ministry. For today’s devotional there is a lot of Bible reading. Meditate on Christ and His responses to these religious leaders.
Read Matt. 21:23-46
How do these parables apply to you? Who are you in these stories?
Read Mathew 22:1-33
Just meditate on the wisdom of Christ and how he handles opposition.
Read Matthew 22:34-46
Today is a day to evaluate your obedience to Christ’s command to love. Who do you say Christ is? What are the areas where your life is not submitted to His Lordship?
Read Matthew 23-24
Meditate on Jesus’ disgust with Religion.
Prepare your heat for His return.
Read Matthew 21:23-24:51
On Tuesday of that first Holy Week Jesus was challenged and opposed by many who were threatened by His ministry. For today’s devotional there is a lot of Bible reading. Meditate on Christ and His responses to these religious leaders.
Read Matt. 21:23-46
How do these parables apply to you? Who are you in these stories?
Read Mathew 22:1-33
Just meditate on the wisdom of Christ and how he handles opposition.
Read Matthew 22:34-46
Today is a day to evaluate your obedience to Christ’s command to love. Who do you say Christ is? What are the areas where your life is not submitted to His Lordship?
Read Matthew 23-24
Meditate on Jesus’ disgust with Religion.
Prepare your heat for His return.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Holy Week Monday
This is the first in the series of blogs/devotionals for Holy Week. Throughout Holy Week in the Living Stones community we are going to spend each day with Jesus looking at what he did nearly 2,000 years ago on this same day of the week.
Read Mark 11:12-19
Mark 11:12-14
The fig tree is a metaphor for the nation of Israel. Jesus has come to his people, the nation of Israel, and looked for fruit, but has found none. Jesus came to the tree looking and was disappointed. It looked as though it were a good tree because it had leaves, but it had no fruit. If this tree represented your life would Jesus find fruit? Take a moment to examine yourself. Repent where appropriate and thank God for his forgiveness in Jesus.
Mark 11:15-19
As was customary, each Passover, the nation of Israel would make the trek to Jerusalem for the celebration in which they would bring a sacrifice for their sins. Upon arriving at the temple, the religious leaders would examine their sacrifice and deem it unworthy. They would then sell you a “worthy” sacrifice. And if you didn’t have a sacrifice, the religious crooks would jack the prices up and charge you an exorbitant amount to buy an animal. Imagine God’s thoughts about these practices as people are trying to worship God according to the Law and other people are taking advantage and hustling them for cash in their worship. We see in this passage, Jesus’ reaction to the blatant sin in God’s temple.
Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Now you are the temple. If Jesus were to enter the temple courts of your life, what would he find? What would he drive out? What would infuriate him? Would he find in your life that your temple is a house of prayer or a robbers’ den?
Read Isaiah 56:1-7 Jesus quotes this Old Testament passage about the true salvation to come. This salvation has it’s fulfillment in Christ and leads to true worship of all nations.
Today is about integrity. Is your life integrated? Or are there areas that Jesus needs to flip over tables and whip things out of you?
ACTION STEP: Focus on your integrity today. Everywhere you go seek to tell the truth. Everywhere you drive, drive WITHIN the speed limit. Meditate on the salvation you need in Jesus for your lack of integrity. Meditate on the integrity you receive from Jesus in his salvation.
Read Mark 11:12-19
Mark 11:12-14
The fig tree is a metaphor for the nation of Israel. Jesus has come to his people, the nation of Israel, and looked for fruit, but has found none. Jesus came to the tree looking and was disappointed. It looked as though it were a good tree because it had leaves, but it had no fruit. If this tree represented your life would Jesus find fruit? Take a moment to examine yourself. Repent where appropriate and thank God for his forgiveness in Jesus.
Mark 11:15-19
As was customary, each Passover, the nation of Israel would make the trek to Jerusalem for the celebration in which they would bring a sacrifice for their sins. Upon arriving at the temple, the religious leaders would examine their sacrifice and deem it unworthy. They would then sell you a “worthy” sacrifice. And if you didn’t have a sacrifice, the religious crooks would jack the prices up and charge you an exorbitant amount to buy an animal. Imagine God’s thoughts about these practices as people are trying to worship God according to the Law and other people are taking advantage and hustling them for cash in their worship. We see in this passage, Jesus’ reaction to the blatant sin in God’s temple.
Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Now you are the temple. If Jesus were to enter the temple courts of your life, what would he find? What would he drive out? What would infuriate him? Would he find in your life that your temple is a house of prayer or a robbers’ den?
Read Isaiah 56:1-7 Jesus quotes this Old Testament passage about the true salvation to come. This salvation has it’s fulfillment in Christ and leads to true worship of all nations.
Today is about integrity. Is your life integrated? Or are there areas that Jesus needs to flip over tables and whip things out of you?
ACTION STEP: Focus on your integrity today. Everywhere you go seek to tell the truth. Everywhere you drive, drive WITHIN the speed limit. Meditate on the salvation you need in Jesus for your lack of integrity. Meditate on the integrity you receive from Jesus in his salvation.
Holy Week
Today is Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of Holy Week -- the observance of the week (and all its events) leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. It is a celebration that has been observed for the bulk of church history and is typically marked by a lot of special attention and reflection. I know what a lot of you may be thinking: "Don't we celebrate those things all year round? Shouldn't we be doing that already?" Well, if you tell me that you take copious amounts of time to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus all of the other 51 weeks of the year, then let me be blunt -- you're probably lying. I love you, but it's the truth. We all need a kick in the pants now and then (or all the time) and participating in Holy Week -- by consistently and intentionally focusing on Jesus -- is a good way to accomplish that task.
So... I'm going to post a blog EVERY DAY of Holy Week in order to help us reflect on Christ together. Each blog will include some insights and some personal action steps for you to take on your own. Please come back EVERY DAY this week and consider Jesus with me.
So... I'm going to post a blog EVERY DAY of Holy Week in order to help us reflect on Christ together. Each blog will include some insights and some personal action steps for you to take on your own. Please come back EVERY DAY this week and consider Jesus with me.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Surprised By Him
Do you ever find yourself surprised by God? Does he ever come to you when you least expect it? This morning -- like most mornings -- I got up, grabbed some coffee, my Bible and my prayer book and engaged in my devotional time. It was sweet. The Lord spoke to me and I went about my day. Much of the rest of the morning was frustrating and hurried. Then, I got to the office. For some reason (I’ll call it God’s leading) I felt strongly impressed to read Psalm 16 and then Psalm 22. Then He came. His presence came with such joy I almost wanted Him to stop lest I be reduced to tears. In Psalm 22, I saw such glory in the Son’s death on the cross and the Father's perspective of His Son’s death that I was transferred to another place. Even now, a half hour later, I am stunned by Him. Oh, that this could happen more. It seems so many of my times with the Lord are normally encouraging, other times are deeply refreshing but this -- this was glory. All I can conclude is that this is what Jesus meant when he said “the wind blows where it wishes, and you hear it’s sound but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). So I will wait patiently with expectation 'til he comes like this again; and even if he never does, I will seek him as for treasure. Join me.
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