The Beauty of Liturgy

 One of the things I discovered in college and seminary is the beauty of liturgy in Christian worship services. If like me, you count yourself among the Baptist family of faith, you may say, we don't have liturgy. That's the stuff those high church people like Episcopalians and Methodists do. Liturgy in one sense means the work of God's people in worship. In this sense, all churches, even free church traditions like Baptists and non-denominational churches have a set liturgy, even if they don't always recognize this fact. Having an order, an expectation of what comes next in worship is helpful for God's people to tune their hearts to sing His praise. Two days ago, Christians observed Ash Wednesday. In our congregation, we held a simple service with singing, prayers, scripture reading, and the imposition of ashes as a way to prepare our hearts for the season of Lent. There is something refreshing for the people of God, when worship is simple yet intentional to direct our hearts to the Lord and to musicians, people, or preachers. Whatever your church's liturgy, may you find space in the next few weeks to be attentive to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, calling you to repentance and renewal through the atoning death of Jesus. 

Lent 2021

Today is February 17, 2021. This is Ash Wednesday. A day that marks the beginning of the season of the Christian calendar as Lent. Lent has been observed by Christians of many different traditions throughout the centuries. Lent is a way of allowing the believer to spend time reflecting on the biblical idea of repentance. Repentance involves a turning from our sin and towards God. In our repentance we identify our sin and rebellion towards God through confession, in order that we might more earnestly seek Him. Lent reminds me of my humanity. It reminds me of my brokenness. Lent reminds me that I cannot live the Christian life apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. As much as I think I am aware of my sinfulness before a holy God, I have only just begun to scratch the surface. Lent beckons me back to the grace of Christ Jesus offered in the cross. I invite you to join me in this journey to the cross, with the anticipation of what is beyond the cross...the resurrection. 

Lent 2020 Day 47 EASTER

Scripture Reading

Matthew 28:1-10

The message of Easter is that out of utter darkness God gave life and light. At Easter we often have Easter lilies in our homes or at church. A lily begins as a flower bulb that is kept in a cool, dark place. Out of this dark place a beautiful flower grows. "Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light things that are now hidden in darkness" (1 Corinthians 4:5). In the same way, God turned the darkness and despair of Christ's death on the cross into something beautiful. This season of Lent that we have committed ourselves to, have been preparation for today. Today is the day we have awaited.  We have touched the ashes in repentance over our sins, we have remembered the Last Supper that Christ had with his disciples, we have been reminded of the servanthood of Christ by seeing his example of washing the disciple's feet. We mourned on Good Friday as we recalled the events of Christ's suffering and death. Finally, today we come to our celebration. It is not about the candy, the baskets, the Easter Bunny, the new clothes or anything else that preoccupies our hearts and minds. It is about the incredible passion of Christ's love for us. Greater than the love of family or friends, it is love that exceeds our expectations, imaginations, or even what we deserve. Grace, God's grace is pouring down from heaven to us. Not because we are worthy of his love, but because he loved us enough to provide a way for us to have a relationship with him. Christ's blood was shed. His resurrection from the dead was the ultimate victory over the death and the grave. Today we celebrate. Let us worship and adore God the Father, Jesus his son, and the Holy Spirit. May our hearts be turned to him alone and our mouths be dripping with thanksgiving and praise. We worship a God that has conquered death. 

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparable great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:18-20). 

This same power that God used to raise Christ from the grave we have inherited as his children. As believers we have this incredible power and strength at work in our lives. God is at work in our lives, the same as he was in Christ's life. This Easter I pray that we will embrace the power of the resurrection. It is already ours. We must claim it as our own and let it infiltrate every part of our soul and body. May Christ's power shine through us a bright light to a dark world. Praise God! Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again!

Prayer: Praise God from who all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above the heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 

Lent 202 Day 46

Scripture Reading

Matthew 27:62-66

The Jewish religious leaders wanted to make sure that Jesus' death was final. They knew the dedication and commitment of the disciples. The religious leaders believed that the disciples would even try to steal Jesus' body so that it looked like he had risen from the dead.

Pilate agrees to have extra protection against such a thing from happening. The details of the security of the tomb are included in Matthew to illustrate the supernatural event of the resurrection. Jesus did NOT faint or go into a coma while he was on the cross, he really died. His heart stopped. His life expired. He stopped breathing. Jesus' death was as real as your life. His resurrection wasn't something that humans could have accomplished, it was completely and totally the work of God. How can we do anything but believe it?

Prayer: God, thank you that the resurrection was not a trick by the disciples but was the most real and amazing thing that could ever happen. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 45 Good Friday

Scripture Reading

John 19:23-30

Imagine that you were there. You are one of Christ's followers and you are there at the foot of the cross. Can you hear the crying, the moans of Christ's pain? Can you see him as he gasps for air and struggles to speak? Do you see his mother weeping and the crowds around her cheering his death? The stench of hatred and death are around you and the one that you love and believe to be the Messiah is hanging on a cross before you? Now...someone tells you that this is "good." It seems unreal that anything good could come from what is around you. You want to believe, but how can it be good? 

The Christian life at times is hard for us to understand. Throughout scripture we are told things that on the surface do not make sense. If we give up our lives, we gain life. The poor in spirit will inherit the Kingdom of God. The meek will inherit the earth.  And the death of Christ is good. On that Friday, it must have been unimaginably difficult to believe that what was before their eyes was anything but heinous and painful. How difficult it must have been to try to see beyond the pain. How hopeless they must have felt. It would have been so overwhelming. Surely, it would have been difficult to remember and trust in Christ's words that he would live again. Maybe they didn't believe. Maybe they didn't understand. Oh, how Christ wanted them to know that his suffering was for the good of all mankind.

This day was for us. It is "good" because Christ's sacrifice allowed us to have a relationship with God. It restored what had been broken. For us, it is the single most important act of love that was ever done for us. Out of death, God brought goodness. Out of what was ugly and despicable to the world, God created beauty and hope. Today we grieve over the suffering that Christ experienced for our sake, but we celebrate that God made all things good through him.

Prayer: Father, thank you for sacrificing your Son for me. Thank you for your plan of redemption and the plan you have for my life. I pray that my life would reflect my gratitude. I praise you for your great and matchless gift of Christ. 

Lent 2020 Day 44

Scripture Reading

Matthew 26:26-29

The words of our Lord Jesus as he instituted the Lord's Supper are so precious to my heart. We have all participated in the Lord's Supper many times. The question for each of us is, "How often do we really worship God as we participate in it?" Do we just take it in a ritualistic way not remembering the significance of Jesus' death on the cross? As you reflect on these words remember that the bread and the cup represent the body and blood of our Savior who suffered immeasurable agonies on a hill outside of Jerusalem so that we might have a relationship with God. 

The Lord's Supper is called several different things: The Lord's Supper, Communion, the Eucharist. Whatever we choose to call it, it reminds us fo the love of God stretched across the sky for you and for me. 

There are many theological understandings of how the bread and the cup function as we participate in the Lord's Supper. Some Christian's believe it becomes the actual body and blood of Jesus, others believe that Christ is physically present in the elements (the bread and wine); while some believe that he is only spiritually present in the elements. Still others believe that it is simply a memorial or symbol of the crucified Savior. Regardless of one's theological understanding of the Lord's Supper, whenever we partake of it we should do three things. First, give thanks to God for his love and for sending Jesus to die on the cross to save us. Second, remember the event of the crucifixion and that it was because we were unable to have a restored relationship with God that Jesus had to die. Third, we look forward to Christ's return and his earthly kingdom when we will be able to celebrate the Lord's Supper with him. 

Prayer: Father, I thank you for the death of Christ and for the opportunity that I have to remember it especially during the Lord's Supper. I look forward to Christ's return and his reign that will never end. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 43

Scripture Reading

Matthew 26:14-25

Have you ever betrayed someone? Betrayal...even the word evokes horrible images. Betrayal can take the form of unfaithfulness to a spouse or love one, lying or telling partial truth. It can take many different forms. Have you ever spoken cruelly about someone behind their back or have you chosen to not stand up for someone who is the punch line of an ugly joke? Have you ever broken a promise to a friend or family member? I am guilty of all these things. We are quick to cast stones at Judas. Obviously, with good reason, he betrayed Christ into the hands of those who would crucify him. Judas was a part of God's plan for the world's redemption. I have to ask myself, in what ways am I like Judas? What in my life, in words, in heart and in actions, is betraying my devotion and love for God? What am I willing to "sell" my relationship with God in exchange for something else? There is always something that competes for our loyalty to Christ. Somehow we always find ourselves in situations where we are having to choose to stand out and be different for the sake of our beliefs verses betraying our commitment to Christ and his commandments. Even within the church walls, in fellowship with other believers we are tempted to betray Christ. Gossip, slander, judgmental attitudes, hatred, and selfishness disguise themselves in "I shouldn't say this, but..." I have often wondered if Judas really thought thirty pieces of silver was worth it. I also wonder if my few seconds of a laugh at another's expense is worth the pain it causes my Lord. Instead of standing firm, Judas cracked. He fell to temptation and followed his own desires. Forever, in history he is remembered for his heinous sin. What do we want to be remembered for? For the way we stood boldly for Christ or do we want to be remembered for our betrayals to others and towards God. The other apostles and many early Christians had many opportunities to disown Christ. However, they are examples of the ultimate sacrifice. Many were martyrs for their faith. For the sake of the gospel, Paul was killed by a sword to the neck. Peter was crucified (upside down according to tradition). Matthew was speared to death. Andrew was crucified. Mark was burned. Bartholomew was beaten, crucified, skinned, and beheaded. What is your relationship with Christ? Are you willing to betray him and replace him with silver or some other worldly possession or glory? Judas, as scripture writes, came to a point of guilt and shame for his actions. Are we repentant of our lack of boldness as sin? This Easter, I challenge each of us to stand boldly for Christ and live out the example of Christians that sacrificed everything for Christ and remind ourselves that to betray our God only leads to destruction. 

Prayer: Father, thank you for your forgiveness and tenderness. I ask you to forgive me of the many times I have turned my back on you and selfishly believed that something the world offered was more important than you. I pray that I would learn to stand boldly and be a witness for the gospel. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 42

Scripture Reading

Mark 14:1-9

This is an interesting passage because it clearly points out the role of messiah that Jesus had come to fulfill. What would it have been like to be present at the meal when this happened? If you have time read John 12:1-8. In John's account of Jesus being anointed at Bethany we learn the name of the woman, Mary. Evidently Mary truly recognized the significance of Jesus as the long-awaited savior of the Jews. It was customary for people to have servants wash the feet of their guests as a sign of welcome because of how nasty their feet would have been from walking everywhere in sandals. Mary goes a step further and anoints him with expensive perfume. Remember in Israel's history a sign of kingship and leadership was having one's head anointed with oil. John says that she poured the perfume on his feet and wiped them with her hair. In both cases it is symbolic of Jesus' death. The custom of the time was to anoint kings with spices, oils, and perfumes to prepare them for burial (partly to cover up the smell of the decomposing body.) By Mary anointing Jesus and serving him she is making a bold statement that this simple carpenter is truly the King of Kings who is worthy of our honor, attention, and praise. 

Prayer: God, you are King of Kings and Lord of Lord and you desire our praise and devotion. Help us to glorify you with our lives so that you will continue to be exalted and draw more people unto you. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 41

Scripture Reading

John 12:27-38

This passage reminds us of the importance of the death of Christ while at the same time reminding us of the lack of belief in Jesus' day and ours. The crowd had witnessed several miracles, most recently hearing a voice from heaven (vs. 28-29). The crowd still refused to believe in Jesus and his coming kingdom. 

When we speak of the death of Christ we must understand that Christ's death was the way in which God chose to make peace between us and him. God could have chosen another way to restore our relationship with him but he did not. He chose to offer his son as a sacrifice, so that we might experience the wonder of a relationship with God. 

Jesus promised that through his being lifted up, meaning his death by crucifixion, that he would draw people to himself. The violence of the cross brings peace to all who desire to lose their life for Christ's sake and follow him. God has shown the world how much he loves us by sending his son to die for us. The question for each of us is "Are we going to believe in the miracle of the cross or will we fail to believe in Jesus just like the people of his day did?"

Prayer: Lord, help me to accept the miracle of the cross. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross. I pray that you will continue to perform the miracle of salvation throughout your world. May you be lifted up for all the world to see. Amen.

Lent 2020 Day 40

Scripture Reading

Matthew 21:1-9

Today is Palm Sunday, the day that we prepare for Easter by celebrating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Some churches celebrate Palm Sunday by having children enter the sanctuary waving palm branches as a reminder of this sacred day. Other churches will have people waving palm branches lining the center aisle of the church as someone dressed as Jesus enters the sanctuary. In both instances, what is happening is a visual reminder of the majesty of Jesus Christ who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

The reaction of the crowd represents their acknowledgement of Jesus as the long-expected Messiah. The greeting that Jesus received (vs.9) was used in Psalm 118 to greet pilgrims as they entered Jerusalem during the Feast of the Tabernacles. Hosanna essentially means "save," but was probably used here as an exclamation of praise to Jesus. The phrase Son of David describes Jesus' fulfillment that the Messiah would be a descendant of David. "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" is also a phrase that acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah who had been foretold in the Old Testament. 

Can you imagine being one of the disciples and witnessing this warm welcome that Jesus received and then face what lay ahead of them in just a matter of days? No wonder most of the disciples scattered for fear of their life when Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane.

Prayer: Lord, you are exalted above everyone and everything. I want my life to honor you and serve you just like Jesus' life did. Help me to be faithful to the end of my life. Amen.

Lent 2020 Day 39

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

The fourth and final Servant Song is one that we are most familiar with because it is often quoted in the New Testament. It presents an image of the Servant of God as one who must suffer hardship and persecution and ultimately death. This is contrary to what Israel believed about God and his servant. The Jews were expecting a mighty, majestic Messiah who would come and defeat their enemies and rule with strength and force, but that is not the picture that Isaiah gives us here. 

We learn in this passage that the Servant of the Lord was not really anything special or impressive, he was rejected by men, and he was all too familiar with suffering and pain, and "he poured out his life unto death" (vs. 12). Our Savior suffered and died for us, not just for us, but because of us. Jesus endured the cross because it was the Lord's plan to save the world through the redemptive death of his son. Could God have chosen another way to forgive us and restore us to a right relationship with himself? Yes, but he didn't. He chose to use the cross to point the way home to him. 

The depiction of the servant in Isaiah 53 is also a reminder to us that if we are truly disciples of Christ then we must take up our own cross and follow him. We have believed a lie if we think that living for God is going to be easy, happy, and never have problems. If Christ experienced the things that Isaiah 53 mentions then why do we think that we won't? God is with us when things are good, but he's also with us when things are bad, the same way he was with Jesus. 

Bill Leonard writes, "The life of the living Christ is with us, even in the darkest places of our lives. So let us come once more to the cross and observe with trembling the suffering God-despised, rejected, rejected, wounded, and bruised. And perhaps with him, in the midst of our own suffering, we shall be made whole. Who would ever have believed it? A suffering God! Hallelujah!"

Prayer: Father, thank you for your servant Jesus who suffered and died so that I might have a relationship with you. Help me to see you in the midst of the darkness and suffering of my own life and cry out to you for help. 

Lent 2020 Day 38

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 50:4-11

This is the third Servant Song found in Isaiah. As you read this you probably noticed striking similarities to Jesus' death. Mark reads, "Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him" (Mark 15:15-20). Notice that the servant submits not to the authority of his accusers and oppressors but to the authority of the sovereign Lord. The Servant knew that in spite of the difficulties and trials that he faced, God would strengthen him and sustain him. 

Isaiah 50:6 points out the horrors of Jesus' crucifixion, while verse 9 points out the source of Christ's strength, the Lord. This Servant Song seems dark and hopeless much like it was for Jesus' followers on that Friday he was crucified. Their leader had been killed, what were they going to do now? But we see the bigger picture and the hope that is to come from the hand of the Lord. Those who are in the dark are encouraged to trust in God who is the ultimate source of light. Jesus knew this truth, that's why he could endure the cross. Today we must cling to God's promise of light and life even in the darkest times of our lives. 

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, you who brought hope out of despair, you who brought light out of dark, you who brought good out of evil. I praise you, for you alone are worthy to be praised. Help me to remember that you are faithful when I doubt, get discouraged, and become angry. Help me to rely on you when it seems like there is nothing good that can happen in my life because I know that you are with me just as you were with Jesus in his darkest hour. Amen.

Lent 2020 Day 37

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 49:1-6

Yesterday we looked at the first of four "Servant Songs" found int Isaiah 40-66. The first one introduced the servant, and we stated that as Christians we have come to understand the Servant of the Lord to be Jesus Christ. The second Servant Song, found in Isaiah 49 captures the thoughts of the servant and Yahweh's response. 

As one reads verses 1-4, it is easy to identify with the words of the servant. We feel that we as servants of the Lord were called before we were born (vs. 1), that the Lord has protected us and kept us in the palm of his hand (vs.2), and that at times we feel we have labored in vain for the Lord (vs.4). However, that is where our identification with these verses stops. We must remind ourselves that this is about the Servant of the Lord-Jesus. 

The Servant's words have been heard and now Yahweh responds in verses 5-6. In verse 5 there is a description of the Lord-Yahweh that is essentially a summary of verses 1-4. It is also a reminder that the original role of the Servant of the Lord was to bring Israel back into a right relationship with God. Then God speaks in verse 6. Basically God says, "Bringing Israel back is easy, let's make it a real challenge, go save the Gentiles (everyone else in the world besides the Jews) as well. So we see in this second Servant Song a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. God's purpose has always been to save both Jews and Gentiles because they are all part of the sacred human race that God created to bear his image. The Servant of the Lord was supposed to bring salvation to all the earth and that is exactly what Jesus did. 

Prayer: God, may your salvation be proclaimed throughout all the earth as you call men, women, boys, and girls into a relationship with you. Thank you for including me as part of your people. Thank you for expanding your salvation to include Jew and Gentile. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 36

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 42:1-4

The second half of Isaiah (chapters 40-66) focuses on the Servant of the Lord. This recurring image has been interpreted in various ways throughout the years. The two main interpretations are to see the Servant of the Lord as a collective group (such as the nation of Israel or a remnant of faithful Israelites) or as individuals (such as Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, or Jesus). Some scholars suggest that the best way to understand this theme is to interpret it both as a group and an individual. 

An important theme found in Isaiah is the idea of a remnant. This represented a group from the nation of Israel that God was preserving even though he was bringing judgment of sin through battles with other nations and eventually defeat and slavery in Babylon. Through all of these difficulties, God was preserving a chosen group for himself. So in one sense, these verses represent the faithfulness of God to use Israel to bring justice and to be faithful to living for God in the world. the remnant of Israel was going to be used to accomplish God's purposes. What were those purposes? To call a people to himself. To call a people to live in relationship with himself. This began with the call of Abraham in Genesis 12 but was fully realized through Jesus. Therefore, Jesus is the individual interpretation of the Servant of the Lord. Jesus' life and ministry embodied all the descriptions found in Isaiah of the servant of the Lord. 

At Jesus' baptism the gospels tell us that the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove (Isaiah 42:1). Jesus brought justice to the world in that he righted all of our wrongs by making peace with God available to everyone through his death. Unlike some other prophets and religious leaders, Jesus didn't come shouting and hollering, but he came bringing hope, faith, and love in a gentle spirit (Isaiah 42:2-3). Jesus' work in the world is not complete yet because there are still people groups who have yet to be reached with the message of the gospel (vs. 4). 

For us as Christians, we cannot read the passages from Isaiah about the Servant of the Lord without equating Jesus with this role of servant. Jesus himself said that he came to serve not to be served. The message of Isaiah for us is really a challenge to be more like our Lord and Savior who was concerned about bringing justice to the world. This includes things like decent housing (Habitat for Humanity), eliminating racism (in our own hearts and the world), and treating others like Jesus treated them with love and compassion. Bringing justice to the world also means telling everyone we meet about Jesus through our words and our actions. Will you accept Isaiah's challenge? 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have worked in the world to bring peace and justice through Israel and through Jesus. Work through me to bring peace and justice to the people around me. Burden my heart for people all over the world who have never experienced your love and never had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Provide people to go to the unreached peoples of the world so that they might have a chance to be saved. Call me to go, and help me to follow. Amen.

Lent 2020 Day 35

Scripture Reading

Matthew 28:18-20

What do you do when you find out good news? What is your reaction when something great happens? You tell somebody! Usually the first person you see is the one that gets an earful about that great deal on shoes, the healing of a relative, or the birth of a baby. Can you imagine holding it in? It feels like your going to burst and it is impossible to sit still because you are so anxious to tell people so they can celebrate with you. Celebration...how would you like to celebrate alone? What a horrible birthday party it would be if it was only you. Easter is all about celebration. It is when we rejoice that he lives! We are created to have a relationship with God and with each other. We are created to tell and celebrate the good news of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. 

The Great Commission was given to the eleven disciples and it is given to us as well. Tell others! The irony in the lives of so many Christians is that they proclaim that Christ is Lord of all and that he has changed their lives, but they would rather talk about the weather with someone than about what God is doing in their lives and the world around them. If we are celebrating this Easter, shouldn't we also be sharing this celebration with others? If we are truly excited and really believe that Christ's resurrection is the best news the world ever received, why are we not about to burst to tell someone? During this season of Lent, I challenge each of us to look at ourselves and see what it is that is preventing us from sharing Christ's love with others? Whatever it is that is holding us back, God is capable of helping us work through it and wants to see us carry out his calling to tell the world about Christ. God is with us, and he has called us to go out and make disciples. Are you ready and willing?
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord" (2 Timothy 1:7-8, NLT). 

Prayer: God, I pray that you would show me what is preventing me from sharing the good news of Christ with others. Help me to boldly proclaim Christ to those around me. May I invite others to come and share in the celebration of Christ's resurrection. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 34

Scripture Reading

Matthew 7:21-27

The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who do the will of God the Father. It's interesting that Jesus says that there will be some who will have done miracles, cast out demons, and preached in his name who will not enter heaven because they didn't have a relationship with God. It seems that there are some who will appear to be followers of Jesus but really aren't. Perhaps it is also possible that there are some who by most standards one would not consider a Christian but who are actually busy doing the will of God and thus will be allowed entrance into the kingdom of heaven. It is not left up to us to make those decisions, our responsibility is to be doing God's will as we serve him on this earth. 

Jesus illustrates his point by telling the story of the wise and foolish builders. Do you remember the children's song about this story? "The wise man built his house upon the rock/the foolish man built his house upon the sand/the rain came down and the waters rose up/and the walls come tumbling down." What Jesus wants us to see is that the foundations of our faith must be built upon him alone. Just as when you build a house, you don't want to build it on swamp land, because it will eventually begin to sink. The same is true with our faith in God. If our faith is based upon our good works (telling others about Jesus, doing miracles, casting out demons, church attendance, tithing, and reading our Bibles) then we are building on sand. None of those things will ever save us or make God love us anymore than he already does. Our faith must be built on the saving work of Christ! This means we accept God's free gift of salvation that Christ made possible through his life, death, and resurrection so that we as sinners might have a relationship with the holy God who created us. Because of God's holiness and our sinfulness we needed a mediator who would connect us to God, that mediator is Jesus Christ. It is only as our faith is based on the acceptance of what Christ did for us that we can say that we are like the wise builder. 

Prayer: Lord, I pray that I will be like the wise builder and make my foundation the gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't want to be turned away and told that you never knew me, I want to be a faithful servant who knows you in the most personal and intimate way possible. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 33

Scripture Reading

Matthew 13:44-46; 6:33

Have you ever wanted something so badly that you were willing to give up anything in order to get it? I believe we have all at one time or another used our bargaining powers to get what we want. "You don't have to buy me anything else all year, if I can have this jacket." "I promise these are the only shoes I will ever need." "If I can have a car you don't have to buy me anymore Christmas or birthday presents!" I can vividly remember searching my room to try to figure out what I could sell in order to make money to buy whatever it was that week I just had to have. I was willing to give up everything to get what I saw as something more valuable. But what about eternal things, am I as passionate about them as I am materialistic things? What do we value? What are we willing to do to gain eternal riches? 

The characters in this parable went to drastic measures to keep what they found to be the most valuable thing they had. For both it involved giving all they had to keep what was more valuable. Jesus is not asking us to sell all of our material items to show our love for him, but he is asking us to give up our own desires and let God's desires be ours. We have to give all of ourselves to God. He does not want bits and parts. He wants all of us! He wants to be in control of who our friends are, what career we choose, what we wear, what we eat, where we go...there is not one part of our life that God does not want us to hand over to him. Are we willing to do that? Have you ever been irritated with someone for doing something "halfway?" They did the job, but by the skin of their teeth. This is bothersome with everyday things like school projects, cleaning rooms, running errands. Why would we let these things bother us; yet, we approach our faith in the same manner. Our spiritual life and relationship with God is the most valuable part of our existence, but we approach God "halfway." Seek him first and everything else will fall into place. It seems too simple doesn't it? God's grace is unbelievable sometimes. We give him our lives and he does everything else. 

Prayer: Let the words of a song by Keith Green be your prayer today. "Make my life a prayer to you you. I wanna do what you want me to. No empty words and no white lies, no token prayers, no compromise." Amen.

Lent 2020 Day 32

Scripture Reading

Matthew 13:31-32

Jesus loved to use parables to teach people the truth of the kingdom of God. When Jesus taught using parables he was taking an example from the everyday life of his followers and using it to explain something about heaven or what it means to be a Christ follower. 

In this very short parable, which is followed by an even shorter one, Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed. As Jesus says in the parable, the mustard seed was the smallest seed used by farmers during that time. The amazing thing about it was that it would grow and become quite large. The comparison that Jesus is making is that the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven starts out small but grows into something very large. 

Think about it this way, the kingdom of heaven began with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, but through God's plan of redemption through Jesus' death on the cross it has grown to include millions of people throughout the centuries. The neat thing is that it hasn't stopped growing, the kingdom of heaven gets larger and larger as more and more people come to know God and experience his love. Just as the old hymn says, "Though millions have come, there's still room for one, yes there's room at the cross for you." The kingdom of heaven doesn't have a maximum seating capacity so we need to make sure that we are doing our part to tell others about the kingdom of heaven. Ask God to give you the boldness to tell someone about him today or tomorrow. 

Prayer: God, thank you for your kingdom that doesn't turn anybody away or ever get full. Help me to live for you today by sharing with someone the love that you have given us. Help me to be faithful to the work of the kingdom by living for you each day. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 31

Scripture Reading

Matthew 2:1-6

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,though small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times." Micah 5:2

The prophet Micah prophesied the coming of the Messiah, from Bethlehem out of the land of Judah, seven centuries prior to Jesus' birth. Again scripture is fulfilled and Jesus' Davidic background is brought to our attention. The Jews, although blind to the servant king that the Messiah would be, were very well versed with the prophet Micah's words which said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem from the lineage of David. King Herod, appointed by the Roman government to rule Judea, Galilee, and other territories, was distraught over this question the magi from the east asked, "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?" To the reigning king, this must have been quite alarming. he asked the chief priests and teachers of the law what they knew about this king. The fulfillment of Micah's words shook Herod. He was a man known for his ruthlessness and vengeance. It is known that he murdered his wife, sons, and other family members. Out of his fear and anger he sought out this child the Magi claimed to be king and wanted him dead. 

You can imagine how Herod must have felt. He was the king and all of a sudden your subjects, wise men from another place and the religious leaders are claiming that a new king is born. He was threatened and afraid that his rule as King of Judah would be ending. He most likely believed that this king would try to overthrow him and leave him with nothing. He did not know that this king was not a king of military might or government power. He was not seeking war or tyranny. He was a servant. One whose very voice sparked peace and hope. Jesus was not the king Herod was expecting. The Jews also did not expect a Messiah that would come into the world in such a lowly manner. They wanted to see Herod overthrown. They wanted a savior that would restore Israel with military might and glory. 

As we know, Jesus was not at all what the world expected. But yet, God had a plan that exceeded the expectations of Jews and Gentiles. The Jews must have been disappointed that this messiah would wash the feet of others, eat meals with prostitutes and not even have a place to lay his head. How could a man like this save anybody? Herod and the people of Israel are not any different than we are today. We find it hard to believe that being a servant is the key to true peace and joy. It is our nature to want to choose the mighty warrior to save us, rather than the meek servant. The Israelites were focused on their earthly lives, the tangible. Wouldn't you say we struggle with this as well? However, Jesus came to restore what was far more important, our eternal lives. God knew exactly the kind of king that the Israelites needed. He knew that a political leader, military power, or a new government was only temporary. His plan for his people was to care for them eternally. The Jews questioned God's plan. Do you question God's plan for your life? Ever wonder why things are not working out at all the way you want or the way you have prayed for them to? Do you know that God has a plan? Often we, like the Jews, only see the present, but God has our entire life in mind. Yes, for us, he has a plan that far exceeds our expectations. All we have to do is trust.

Prayer: Father, help me to trust you with my life. Thank you for the plan you have for me. I know that it might not be what I imagine, but your will is what I want for my life. Give me the patience to wait and see how you will work your plan out in my life and give me peace for the answers I may never know while here on earth. Amen. 

Lent 2020 Day 30

Scripture Reading

Isaiah 9:6-7

Isaiah is one of my favorite prophets. His life and ministry have always been sources of encouragement for me. The first part of chapter 9 foretells the birth of a child who will bring change to Israel and the world. We could spend a day talking about each of the four names of Jesus mentioned in verse 6 but we don't have the time. Wonderful Counselor, Jesus is our counselor through all the things that we go through. When we have a really bad day at school or a fight with our parents or brother or sister he is there. When we have a really great day, Jesus is still with us. He longs for us to share our thoughts with him when things are going great in our lives and when things are not so great. Jesus is the might God. We can never over-emphasize the divine nature of Jesus, He is God the Son. He is strong and mighty and able to do anything if he wants to. He is also the Everlasting Father. Jesus wasn't alive for just 33 years, he was the beginning of all creation. The Prince of Peace is another name of Jesus. This means that he will one day bring ultimate peace to the world he created. Part of this means that as believers we can experience the peace of God in the midst of difficult circumstances like failing a test, losing a loved one, or feeling rejected by friends. 

These two verses give us hope in the person of Jesus. We, like Isaiah's audience, can anticipate the ultimate ruler of God over all the earth. This began when Jesus suffered and died for the sin of the world, but it will be fully realized when Christ comes back to establish the new heaven and the new earth to reign forever. 

Prayer: Father, thank you for sending the Prince of Peace into a world of turmoil for my sake. I ask that you would help me to be an instrument of your peace that others might see the difference that you have made in my life. Amen.