Can’t handle the truth?
This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Shadows: A Glimpse of a Snake! (WATCH HERE)
John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
The journey to the cross continues with the trials before the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of the Jews) and the denial of Peter. Jesus was on the path to be lifted up on the cross…for you!
Matthew 26:57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Prayer: Lord, the leaders of the Jews couldn’t handle the truth that you are the Son of God. Let me stand with conviction, even under threat of persecution and confidently testify to you, not deny you. AMEN.
Jesus lifted up…to fulfill the Scripture.
This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Shadows: A Glimpse of a Snake! (WATCH HERE)
Good morning devotion reader!
Our family is taking a spring break, so this week’s devotions will be reflections on this week’s Shadow: a snake. As Jesus references Moses lifting up the bronze snake in the wilderness, so he would be lifted up for us on the cross, I commend to you readings of Jesus’ crucifixion from the Gospels. May this time of reflection heighten your appreciation of the work Jesus did for you to deliver you from the consequence of death.
John 3:14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for being willing to carry out your Father’s plan for my salvation. May I never desert you, but always walk with you. AMEN
Do I trust enough to rest?
This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Shadows: A Glimpse of the Sabbath! (WATCH HERE)
Do I trust enough to rest?
A value of our culture is productivity. Online or in bookstores, you can find 100s of books that teach you how to get more done in less time more effectively. Podcasts speak of organization and efficiency. Businesses look to get more done in less time and for less money. All around us our culture is screaming, “GET THINGS DONE!”
I hear it too. In fact, when people ask me if I’ve watched a certain series on Netflix or even taken in “The Chosen” my first reaction is (which I don’t say outloud), “When do people have time to sit down and watch TV?” Sure I am getting ready to watch March Madness basketball, but usually sitting and “doing nothing” is a rare thing.
But should it be? Especially when it means taking the rest that the Lord encourages by establishing a pattern of the Sabbath.
Behind every behavior is a belief system. Jesus said, “Out of the heart proceeds…” So it is with the rhythms of my life. There is a heart issue behind every behavior…including being busy.
So what is it? What is potentially a belief system that keeps us busy?
First let me try ego.
Ego wants to be recognized and recognition comes from accomplishment (at least that is what I believe). Tangible results are rewarded. Items off the “to-do” list are celebrated. You can rest when you are seen as productive. So is this true? Perhaps to some degree in our culture it is true, but what is also true is that my ego and pride can prevent me from stopping long enough to find rest in Jesus. I need to repent of finding recognition in what I do rather than rest in the reality that Jesus himself has called me his dear child. My daily efforts are not to earn his favor, but rather a reflection of who he has made me to be.
Second let me try trust.
Being busy can be a symptom of lack of trust. Sure we have responsibilities at work, at home, at our church that need to get done and we committed to doing them. But where trust comes into play is when I feel like I too must be part of the 24/7 economy to make sure that I have what I and my family need. If I pause for too long, I may run out. If I don’t work on Sundays, I will lose my job. You probably have your own list of thoughts that really boil down to the belief that I trust myself more than others…including God…to take care of me.
So, do you think I can experience the rest God wants to bless me with if I am chasing the approval of my ego or trying to control every aspect of my life? No. No I can’t.
Rather just the opposite.
When I can let go of the drive of my ego and the doubts of my heart, I can rest in the security that Jesus gives as my Sabbath rest. I can trust I have his approval and his provision to ensure, even when I take a rest to be with him, I will still be loved and still have all I need.
Let these promises give your rest this weekend!
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Apply: What promises of God can fill your heart’s desire to be busy?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for your love, grace, forgiveness and peace that allows me to rest in you and not always be busy! AMEN.
Sabbath…a gift of grace!
This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Shadows: A Glimpse of the Sabbath! (WATCH HERE)
Mark 2:27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
The car was made for man, not man for the car.
Perhaps when we insert anything that we use that was created or made for our benefit, Jesus’ statement makes more sense. Our history of inventions by in large have made life better and easier for humanity. From the abacus to make math easier to a computer in our phone to make life easier, they were all made for mankind, not the other way around. In fact, when you think about it when other humanity think that people were made for them, it turns that relationship into one that is not very pleasant or enjoyable. Consider the era of slavery or the time when business tycoons took advantage of the workers in their factories. If one tries to GET something out of people, that relationship is often not a blessing. If one tries to GIVE something to another person, the person receiving is the one who is blessed.
So it is with the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not trying to GET anything out of people. People were not made FOR the Sabbath. Rather the Sabbath is trying to GIVE something to people. The Sabbath was made FOR people.
The people of Jesus’ day and before had turned the Sabbath into an entity that was trying to GET something out of people. The religious rabbis and Pharisees were the ones who parsed out the do’s and don’ts of the Sabbath to make sure the Sabbath got all it could from people. It was as if the Sabbath needed to be served by people by the steps they took or didn’t take, the effort they made or didn’t make to eat, the activities they did or didn’t do. The Sabbath had become in many people’s mind a crushing, demanding, obligation that people had to give to.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth of what the Sabbath really was.
God made the Sabbath for mankind. The observation of the Sabbath was to GIVE blessings to the people who observed it. The Sabbath loved to give rest physically so one’s body could recuperate and recharge. The Sabbath loved to give rest mentally and emotionally so one’s mind and heart could relax and reset. The Sabbath especially loved to give to all who would observe it, time in the love and grace of God to give rest to souls. The Sabbath loved to UNBURDEN people by allowing them to place their burdens on the Lord. The Sabbath loved to give peace to unsettled hearts by giving people the promises of the LORD to calm their souls. The Sabbath loved to give goodness to people as people reflected the grace and mercy of God.
How could it do this? The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. The Son of Man…not man… is the one who made the Sabbath for mankind. So like an engineer who designs an implement with a purpose to bless people, so Jesus gives us the blessing of the Sabbath to be a specific blessing of rest to our bodies, minds, and souls.
So when man started being the “owner” of the Sabbath and burdening people with laws that they couldn’t follow, the meaning and blessing of the Sabbath was lost. Jesus came to fulfill the Sabbath by being the one who would give ultimate rest for our souls. So it is he who loves to give us Sabbath rest, not as an obligation of the law, but as a true gift of grace.
Enjoy it as such!
Apply: What gifts does God desire to give you when you practice Sabbath rest?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for making the Sabbath for me. In a way that honors you and blesses my soul, help me to observe Sabbath rest today! AMEN.
Find rest in God!
This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Shadows: A Glimpse of the Sabbath! (WATCH HERE)
Psalm 62: 1 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. 2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
It’s hard to sleep when life is in chaos around you. Sleep is elusive when stress is high. Projects at work, relationship strain, financial concerns, worry about your children, medical issues, and more can lead one to spend hours awake at night. Dosing off may close your eyelids, but your mind races in dreams of panic and danger.
We’ve all had nights like this for one reason or another. We wake up in the morning only to find ourselves physically exhausted and we’re just starting the day.
When our soul is not at rest, it is hard for our bodies and mind to rest. Have you found this to be true?
At times the lack of physical rest can be symptomatic of the lack of spiritual rest. Just think through the above examples…Is the project at work that you are losing sleep over really the concern for your reputation and recognition with your coworkers? Could it be that your work project is a struggle for acceptance by people who you think are important to be accepted by? Could the relationship strain be caused by guilt that is lurking in your heart for things that you said, an unwillingness to accept responsibility, or anger at how you have been treated? Could it be that the real issue in your heart is the lack of humility or forgiveness? How about financial concerns. Sure the bills are due and the bank account is lacking, but is the worry about finances connected to a heart that is discontent or a heart that is struggling to trust how the Lord will provide?
We could go on. The examples aren’t to minimize any situation in which you find yourself, but simply to say that the presenting physical or emotional challenge that is burdening you perhaps is manifesting because there is lack of rest in your soul.
King David wrote Psalm 62. He had lots of reason for worry and stress in his life due to sin, relationship strain, wars, leadership and more. But he starts this Psalm which he gives to his worship leader Jeduthun and recognizes that amidst the challenges of life, ones soul must find rest in God. He is my rock and fortress. Nothing can shake him.
For this reason Jesus himself invites us:
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus doesn’t promise that all the things that can cause us sleepless nights will disappear, but when our soul is at rest in Jesus, our soul can be at rest. When our soul is at rest in Jesus, the challenges and worries of life become lighter and easier to carry…and we might just be able to sleep better.
Finding rest in Jesus isn’t just a “once a week” thing, but it is at the heart of the Sabbath rhythm. God wanted his people to set aside the normal routine and business of life and pause for a day not just to rest physically, but to find rest in him and him alone. The Sabbath was not the only place and time for the soul to recharge, but it was a set and regular time where one’s soul could intentionally plug into one’s Savior. It was a day to let go of the worries of life and rest in the confidence that the Lord is your fortress and nothing could shake him and therefore you.
So next time you find yourself not able to sleep, perhaps the question is, “How can my soul find rest in Jesus?” What promise will he bring to mind? When your soul is at rest and your burden is light…I bet your eyelids get a lot heavier.
Apply: What rhythms can you begin to form, including weekly time in worship, to give your soul an opportunity to find rest in God, your Savior, your fortress, your rest?
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for a secure place for my soul to rest. Forgive me when I forget and remind me and direct me to find regular rhythms of rest for my soul in you and you alone. AMEN.