Apr

11

He has risen! Yes, indeed!

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What Jesus endured while on the earth is incredibly stirring because what he suffered on that cruel Roman cross should have been the fate of every one of us. Pierced, bruised, and crushed—an innocent lamb led to slaughter.

The compassion of God is truly greater than anything we’ll ever know. The more we dwell upon the flogging…the stripes upon his back…the nails in his hands…and the crown of thorns on his head, along with all of the mental grief and anguish of being briefly separated from his Father, the more we can appreciate the magnitude of what Jesus endured. Within the selfless act of dying for all of mankind, he also said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” ~ Luke 23:34.

It’s a case for us as human beings to sometimes neglect to forgive someone over an infraction we may have endured—a cross word or a misunderstanding. Maybe we bury the pain and ignore the situation, or perhaps forgive only when it suits us. But Jesus looked beyond the scope of what suited him and fulfilled his Father’s command to die, insufferably. All for you and me.

The greater meaning of it all, we’ll understand in heaven, but for now, we can rest in the truth of God’s word that these things were designed from the beginning for good. The prophet Isaiah tells us:  By His stripes we are healed.

We take medicine for our physical ailments, but the only medicine to cure our sinful souls is the blood of the perfect lamb.

Apr

02

His triumphal entry

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On his way down from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus rode on the back of a donkey. He chose this docile creature rather than a gallant horse because his purpose was not one of a warrior’s grand entrance into battle. No, our humble Lord strode on the back of a gentle beast of burden so as to come in humbly. No pomp and circumstance. No, this was not the time for his coronation—not yet, anyway. Some wondered just who he was among those who waved their palms in the hopes of being liberated that day. But Jesus had other plans—for now.

At seeing the people, Jesus was disheartened to the point of tears because he knew their fate…the imminent suffering that would soon befall the city at the hands of the Romans. While some were excited and shouted, “Hosanna to God in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”; others were not so pleased…namely, the chief priests and Pharisees.

This day was among the last before his crucifixion. Sadly, even the apostles didn’t quite understand the prophecies that were being fulfilled and that this was not an earthy victory march but a heavenly one. Most everyone there did not understand that Jesus was preparing to die for them.

The Lord’s victory march is still to come. Then all will see that he is, indeed, victorious. This will come later when he comes back to earth to receive his own and dwell with us throughout eternity. What an exciting day that will be! Maranatha, Lord.

 

Mar

26

His perfect peace

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Are we consumed by personal struggles and troubles of the day when we try to sleep at night? Or do we let them fester so to rob ourselves of much needed rest? Do we search for peace and comfort in substances, food, or drink to assuage the unrest within? Or do we feast on his word?

The world’s offerings of relief from the cares and burdens are available to us, but they are only a temporary crutch. They don’t solve the problems. There is a better way. For the children of God, the ones Christ calls his brethren, our Lord supplies us with real peace—not as the world gives—and it totally surpasses our understanding of how it works, but it does!

The world is a battlefield for control of our minds. The combat skirmishes will always be there until we’re promoted to heaven, but there is assurance that in Him, our battles are already won. Our deliverance is met in Jesus.

When struggles and trials seem bound to grab our soul and squeeze out our peace, rejoice in the Lord and count it all joy as the book of James states. Why? Because the Lord has overcome the world, and as a believer, you have the spirit of the Lord! Your trials and temptations are the chisel that conforms you to be more like Jesus. Let him do a good work in you by faithfully keeping your focus on him.

Mar

20

The gift of time

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 The Lord lends to all of us a measure of time while on the earth. It’s a precious gift. As stewards of our time, it’s our choice in how we use it. With our gift of a pre-determined number of days, what are we to do with them?

With the 86,400 seconds in each day, the way we prioritize those moments is important to getting the best out of life. We can be distracted with the unimportant, or we can live each day as though it were our last.

“Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” ~ Psalm 90:12

Our time is a God-given gift, and with it we can choose to honor him through what we spend our time on or dishonor him. It’s our choice. For the saved, we’ve come to know that seeking his face in all we do is better than doing things on our own. Let it be our resolution to seek His kingdom rather than possessions and Godliness rather than selfishness. We may aim for the highest; but it’s so easy to fall short.

Some would define God as a great clockmaker, who set the world up and then walked away to let the clock run on its own time. But God is anything but negligent of His creation. No, he’s playing an active role in the world even though he lives outside of time.

Always remember, our days are numbered by God for a purpose. Today could be our last. Make the best use of what he has given, and keep in mind that all of his gifts to us, including our time, are through his grace alone.

Mar

14

He’s our shield and deliverer

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With the forces of good and evil always at play in the battlefield of life, it’s comforting to know we have an advocate on our side. It’s no ordinary comrade or friend who may have our back. It’s the Alpha and the Omega, the Rock of Ages, the Name Above All Names. God is our fortress and our strength and a very present help in times of trouble.

The roads we travel aren’t always smooth, and the rough spots can lead us astray as we navigate our way around life. But God’s word tells us that for those who love him and who are called according to his purpose, everything  will work together for good. He has a plan and purpose for everything. Not everything is good, but…

“All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose” ~ Romans 8:28.

The Almighty God and Creator of the universe wants to have a personal one-on-one with each of us. He wants to be our shield and deliverer. What better way to go than to yield our lives to Him—our creator—to find the ultimate direction. Like a father, he will withhold no good thing from his children. Even above and beyond the most sophisticated GPS system, God knows the better route to go.

Though we may encounter tribulation and trials, one after the other, the wise man sees beyond the storms of life, knowing God is in the midst of every suffering and is not immune to the cares and worries of those who belong to him. His strength will shield and sustain us—always. We serve an awesome God.