Jesus Took My Sin

(Matthew 27) What terrible things Jesus suffered and the priest knew what they had done saying to themselves, "It would not be right to put this money in the Temple treasury, since it was payment for murder." (verse 6) but that did not stop them. They continued to push the people to release a "notorious prisoner" named Barabbas so that Jesus would be tortured and killed and the people took the responsibility on themselves and their children (verse 25). If you step back for a moment you see the real ring-leader (the devil) as Jesus is beat with a lead-tipped whip and his head punctured by the crown of thorns they put on him as they hit it with a large stick. To the very end the people pushed Him with mockery and offering bitter wine to drink as if they could find Jesus' breaking point but they never succeeded. Jesus' eyes were on His Father and He remained faithful because He could see beyond what the enemy was doing and He understood our need for a Savior. Is it that love is blind or that love allows us to see what could not be seen any other way?

Mercy, Even at the End

(Matthew 26) Jesus prepared His followers for what was about to take place. He made it clear to them that He must die in order for prophecies to take place but hidden in this message of ultimate despair was a hope beyond their imagination! Soon they would understand but the darkest hour was still ahead. Jesus spent time with His Father in Heaven and with His friends just before the end for this was very important and it tells of His love for us. As He eat with them each one swore their allegiance, even unto death but Jesus knew this road He must travel alone. At that moment I am reminded of a young child making a vow to the father but not understanding what is required and the father's heart filling up with joy because of the belief the child has in the father. Peter promised he would even die with Jesus if it came to that, that's when Jesus told Peter something that he would never forget. Peter did not understand it then but soon he would. At the end of the chapter the Bible said Peter wept bitterly because he could not follow Jesus, as he said he would and Peter must have felt the end had surely come but he did not understand the dawn was coming and soon Jesus himself would remind Peter of this hidden message of hope.

Use Well What You Are Given

(Matthew 25) We have a wonderful Savior that knows us better than we know ourselves. He does not expect more of me than what I am capable of giving. He knows my limits and He is faithful to stretch me so that I meet them. In this way I grow in Him, if I am faithful to follow, even when I feel what is being asked of me is beyond my abilities or unfair. This I know to be true, for to allow fear to hold me where I am and not live the life I've been given is born out of wickedness and laziness in the end I will give an account for everything I have done and maybe more so the things I was suppose to do and never did. So I will be content and make the most of what I have been given, knowing those who have been given more, more will be required and more is required of me then those who have less. Listen as Jesus teaches his disciples about Heaven...

(Matthew 25:19-29 NLT) "After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, 'Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.' The master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together! ' The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.' "The master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, 'Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.' "But the master replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.' Then he ordered, 'Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."

Lord, help me not to compare my situation to others for mine is not to judge how you deal with them but only that I am faithful in what You have given me. Cause me to be silent when everything inside wants to shout, "unfair!" for you have given to me a hidden treasure if I would only learn to keep quiet. Your ways are better than mine but if I continue to go through life with my eyes closed I will never experience your purpose. So keep my feet from stumbling in the dark as I listen to your voice, You are my only hope and everything you place in my life is for my own good, even when it doesn't feel like it. It's in the struggles that my senses become acutely aware of your presence in my life.

Do not follow their example

(Matthew 23) How important is it to live what you believe? After reading this chapter there should be no doubt. Jesus speaks with authority, like no other before or after Him, when He calls out the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They were using God's law to make their own lives comfortable while crushing the people with rules and regulations. They took something God meant for the good of the people and beat them over the head with it, separating and exempting themselves from the requirements they were broadcasting loudly. Jesus did not mix his words when he called them snakes, sons of vipers, and children of hell! He said that generation will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time - from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the alter (verse 35). The teachers of the law of Moses had been given a great responsibility to take care of the Master's estate while He was away but when the Master (Jesus) returned they were found abusing the people and drunk in luxuries they did not earn. (Matthew 24:44-51 NLT) "You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. "A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant is evil and thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Give to Caesar

(Matthew 22) Sometimes we get mixed up giving God offerings He does not ask for and giving the things He does require to others. The Pharisees were trying to get Jesus to say something that would cause him to be arrested but Jesus knew their hearts. Then they asked him if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? By the way these series of questions sounds much like the devil's attempt to cause Jesus to stumble in the wilderness (Matthew chapter 4) and so we get insight into where these questions are coming from. Jesus met their challenge by turning their question into a teaching moment. He pointed out that the coin had Caesar's image and name stamped on it and therefore belonged to Caesar but he also mentioned that they should give to God what belongs to God. As Christians do we not have God's image stamped on our hearts? Is His name not our name, for we call ourselves Christians. Too often we give God things that do not cost us much, sometimes that's our money. If we give out of our abundance what have we given? Jesus said the poor widow that gave two small coins (all she had) gave more than all the others (Mark 12:43). Sometimes going to church is more a symbol of goodwill than an act of worship and the list goes on. These are things we all have to be aware of because the devil will try to trap us as well, making us believe we are doing enough but all along keeping us from having life-changing relationship with our Savior.

Lord, help us to know your better and when we feel that tug on our hearts to follow your leading give us strength to do it. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

The Lord is Coming to Town

Though Jesus knew the fate that was to come He was compelled to go anyway. It was because of His great love and compassion for us that moved him without complaint. Gently, humbly, and patiently he rode a donkey into town and all the people said, "Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in the highest heaven!" but no mercy was shown to those who set themselves against God as Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and rebuked the leading priests and elders for their self-serving actions. Though He humbled himself He was still Lord of the heavens!

As a follower of Christ Jesus we are called to live a life that does not belong to us and though times are few I can see down the road to what might come many of those times my flesh resists. Many times the thought of wanting to run enters my mind but a voice from deeper inside tells me, "Stand." For I know not what God has in store but I do know I want to be found faithful and wanting for nothing, except for what my Lord provides. On Christ alone do I stand, for all other ground is sinking sand and what He chooses for me is up to Him alone.

A Fork in the Road

Lord, you have my attention, I recognize your authority in my life and I submit to You. I like my world well controlled and when something outside that control happens I seem to come unglued but I know you use that to teach me where I need more of You. Forgive me for not turning to You first in every situation, like I know I should. Please help me keep the commitments I have made to You including my roll as husband, father, church member and employee and help me invest in real relationship with people around me. Give me discernment so that I may know which things have eternal value, for time is like money in that You have given me a limited supply and help me to resist the enemy when he comes to discourage me, it is those times I know I'm on the right path. Thank You for loving me enough to correct me and for giving me your Holy Spirit that I may know You. Your mercy is great and your grace sufficient for me. In Jesus' name, amen.

To be like a child

(Matthew 18) "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." Jesus. Humility and faith are two things we lose as we grow up to become adults. In becoming adults we are taught to be self-reliant and therefore we sacrifice the very things God says are necessary for us to enter His Kingdom. Before we head off in search of our own life we pass through the gate of accountability and for those who don't live in America where there is a church on every corner God has provided His creation as His first witness, where much is given much is required. For me that time came at the age of nine and apparently the decision was easily seen by those whom God appointed because I remember one of my church youth leaders asking me if I wanted to pray after a youth function. I know it was God directed because he took me out of the crowd and we ended up praying in the restroom, for God knew what I needed to make this important decision, by nature I am a private person. Now since becoming a Christian I have made many decisions out of self-reliance but each time I do God is faithful to bring me back to His side and at the times I am closest to my Savior faith and humility are present. For those who don't accept Jesus they have no other place to turn except to themselves, which only pushes humility and faith further away. No wonder Jesus said in tomorrow's reading, (Matthew 19:23-24 NLT) "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I'll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!'"

Lord, thanks for this life you have given me. May I always be aware of your presence and your gracious love for me. Please keep my heart soft and open before you and teach my children to do the same. I know as teens and pre-teens they begin to think they can do many things better than dear old dad but let that not turn into self-reliance. Lord you know I love them and it's because of this love you placed in me for them I pray that you will allow them to know their own weakness so that they may turn to you and continually have "child-like" hearts for you. In Jesus' name, amen.

Too Familiar

Have you ever thought you could know someone too well and your own misconceptions kept you from really know them? Jesus' own disciples eat, walked, worked, ministered along side the Savior but like everyone else saw all that was done with a slant on it. When forced to think about it they knew Jesus was the Son of God (Mat. 14:33) but somehow that kept getting pushed to the sidelines and each time something miraculous was done they were astonished. Even more important some reverence was lost as they did life together, that's why Jesus said, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family." (Mat. 13:57). Today I read that Jesus was transformed before Peter, James, and John and a glimpse of His glory was shown to them as He stood with Moses and Elijah. Peter was quick, like always, to speak and wanted to make three tabernacles for each of them but then a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice from heaven began to speak. With great fear they fell on their faces, realizing they were in a holy place and something was happening that they did not understand but what I got out of it was that even though they heard the Father speak from heaven that day they had been living with God since the day they decided to follow Jesus. One thing I've learned from reading the Bible is that many times it seems, at first glance, chapters and verses seem to talk about many different things and we read them as if they are all separate but in fact when looked at closer the chapters and verses are placed as they are because there is one main idea and that is true in Matthew chapter 17. We see the disciples become too familiar with the person of Jesus but forget that He is God and at the end of the chapter we see their faith is lacking. No wonder Jesus said in verse 17, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?" Jesus loved them but He wanted them to see more than they were willing to believe. The disciples and the people lacked faith when they saw that the boy was not healed, not realizing that God was with them whether it was Jesus praying or His disciples.

Pressing In

Today I read about a woman who cried for help but Jesus "did not answer her a word" (Mat. 15:23). Seems strange doesn't it? There must be something deeper than what appears to be happening on the surface. The Bible said Jesus "withdrew" to parts of Tyre and Sidon after healing, teaching, and feeding a large crowd of people. No one knew what He had in mind but only one encounter was recorded, as if that was His main purpose for going there. So why did he seem to look the other way when this woman asked for her daughter to be healed? Jesus' disciples saw that the woman was persistent and that Jesus seemed to be bothered by her begging but I think Jesus used this situation to shape his disciples hearts for He knew their thoughts. How many times have actions spoke louder to us than words? I believe Jesus wanted His followers to understand that He came not only to deliver Israel but the world and that others needed a Savior also, He was increasing their vision! Not only that but Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit of God when He tested the faith of this mother. He knew that if He pushed too hard she might walk away but He also saw her desperation and determination. Even still had she not pressed in this great opportunity would be lost. It was her faith that compelled her to continue even though it looked as if her Savior had other plans.

I Know You Are Here

Lord, we need you tonight. Come Holy Spirit and meet us in our desperation for we know you are the only real hope we have. Lord capture our anxieties and replace them with your peace. It's in the silence, after the crowds have gone home, that we can feel you near and the remaining stillness reveals your presence and our fears also but you are with us and you've been here all along. You make us to lie down in green pastures and you lead us beside still waters. So Lord be with those who weep tonight and make sure their feet so they don't fall, remind them of the foundation on which they stand and cause your light within to push back all fear so that you may be in the forefront of our minds and we see you clearly once again so that we might worship you O, Lord not because of what you have done but because of who your are.

You are loved

You who belong to Jesus have been adopted by a great King, the King of Kings and you are loved more than you could ever imagine! When Jesus heard about John the Baptist being beheaded, in sadness, he left the people to go be alone and pray but when the people heard where He was going they met him there and as He got out of the boat He could have turned them away but instead He had compassion on them. Jesus laid down His needs for the needs of the people and today He does the same for us. Does that mean we no longer feel pain? No, we all have known pain but He is with us when we do, for He will not leave us in our hour of need. There are many questions why that we cannot answer, it is simply not for us to know but ours is to only trust and obey Him. He is the Good Father and we are but His children. I know one day this race will be ran and we will see Him face to face and our ears will hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Take courage traveler for God is with you and one day the race will be ran. So run withholding nothing because this is your time to know the depth of your Savior’s love. Soon there will be a homecoming feast beyond comprehension! (Luke 13:29 MKJV) And they will come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and will recline in the kingdom of God.

Backslide?

To backslide is to lose ground, a falling away from what was once known. To know what that means in terms of being a Christian we have to ask ourselves what being a Christian means. In the first twelve chapters of Matthew it is clear that we must forsake the life we live apart from Christ (Mat 10:38) and turn to follow Him. Not only that but as followers of Christ we believe that He is the Son of God, not just a teacher or prophet sent by God but Jesus said when we look at Him we see the Father! Today I read about a parable Jesus told about a farmer who planted seed and the different types of soil the seed landed on as he scattered it. Two of the places that seed landed shows examples of a backward sliding. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts (Mat 13:19). Although brief take note that Jesus said the "seed" was planted in their hearts, which indicates that they did receive Jesus into their hearts but because they did not understand what they had the evil one snatched it away. Next we see something even more revealing, the seed on the rocky soil. This ground represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word (Mat 13:20-21). Jesus' own words "They fall away..." describes this backwards movement. Let me say after years of consideration I believe we have people on both sides of this ideal of backsliding that are simply wrong, although intending good but in fact causing harm. Some say of these two types, well they were never saved in the first place but they cannot determine the happenings inside someone else's heart. Others say we have to earn our salvation and be careful for one wrong move and what we were given will be taken from us but both ideals are misguided. When we come to Jesus and accept Him as Savior and Lord absolutely nothing or no one can take away what He gives us - we are secure. But at any point in the journey we can choose to leave behind what we once knew, meaning we can accept Him and be accepted ourselves by Him but because of a lack of understanding or problems or persecution we are free to walk away and leave behind all that Jesus gave us. If that offends I am sorry but my burning desire is that people are not blinded by a belief that this salvation offered by God is not costly, for it cost God His only Son and He asks of us to give up everything to follow Him.

(Matthew 10:38-40 NLT) "If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it. Anyone who receives you receives Me, and anyone who receives Me receives the Father who sent Me."

A prayer of rejoicing

Lord, thanks for the music I find in you. For you saturate my life and you lead me on to your purpose. You make my life worth living, for all it's ups and downs, ins and outs one thing remains and it is because of you I can dance. I read your Word and you tell me that you delight in me and my heart wells up with delight in you too! Nothing I could ever do or say would even begin to express what you've done - you have separated me from fear and despair, you have set my feet to dancing and I will raise my voice in praises to your holy name. Now all the days of my life I will dwell in your temple for I cannot leave your presence. King David said, "If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there! If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me." You have taken my inner most being and woven it with your gladness therefore I rejoice in You! O, Lord I shout because you make me to stand in your victory and triumph.

Do You Dance?

Jesus gave warning to the people who came to expect miracles but took no action to move towards true, lasting change. (Matthew 11:16-17 NLT) "To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, 'We played wedding songs, and you didn't dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn't mourn.'" How often do we seek God's blessings in our own lives but are frozen with indifference when He gives us the opportunity to bless someone else? If you are ready to be completely honest test yourself this way, when you catch someone doing wrong is your first reaction to criticize or pray for them? Too many times I have criticized. See we are not given God's light for our own purpose but it is to move us, as He moves. We are to show compassion as He has shown us compassion. Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables or stories so the people might understand what the Kingdom of God is like. Luke records one such story in chapter 12. There Jesus tells of a master who leaves a servant in charge of his household and this servant was tested by the way he cared for those under him. As you can imagine he would be rewarded for doing good or punished for doing bad when his master returned. "And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn't prepared and doesn't carry out those instructions, will be severely punished." (verse 47). (Luke 12:48 NLT) "But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." So you've been asking for music in your life - God has given you the music but will you dance? When someone rejoices do you rejoice with them or do you sit and stare? When someone mourns do you come along side them and mourn too or do you turn and walk away?

Your faith has made you well

"Your faith has made you well." Jesus says this time and again after healing someone but where did they get such faith? Was it not given to them by God's Holy Spirit? God used the miracle of healing to draw people to Jesus so that the world would know who God was and the extreme measures He would go to in order to have relationship them. Before Jesus came there were many things that kept people from God such as, rules and requirements from the Pharisees and religious teachers, sickness and disease, a life of bad decisions, and oppression from an enemy of God who was set on destroying the thing He loved most. People knew God was holy and because of that He separated Himself from them. Because of their knowledge of the Old Testament they knew about Israel wondering in the desert for forty years because of their inability to surrender to God's leading, they were taught to offer sacrifices for their sins and failures but a better way was coming. It was not through a great army marching into the camp of their oppressors and wiping them out but it would come through sacrifice, similar to the sacrifices they themselves have been offering for so many years. You see their history and even their present situation pointed to Jesus and what He was preparing to do! Even though it was all coming to this one point in time no one could see it because God had not revealed it to the people yet. Let's read Matthew 9:8. Jesus just forgave a paralyzed man of his sins and of course the teachers of religious law had a problem with that. Jesus knew their hearts, which only God can know but somehow they missed that and he asked them is it easier to say "Your sins are forgiven, or stand up and walk?" So Jesus told the man to stand up and go home, when he did it this is what happened. (Matthew 9:8 NLT) "Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority." Even after all of this God covered the eye of their hearts so that they would still believe this is a man that God had given great authority but not the Son of God. Soon a faith even greater would be required of them...

Sending Him away

Matthew chapter 8 tells of Jesus healing many people and fulfilling prophecy but when he came to a town with two demon possessed men and healed them the entire town asked him to leave. It is hard to imagine but sometimes there are situations where we would rather put up with something that is not right than deal with it. As we saw earlier in the chapter there were people coming to Jesus asking him for miracles who had never met him before, yet they knew of him either from hearing others talk or by seeing people be made whole or by God's Spirit speaking to them. Many signs pointed to Jesus as the answer, he represented freedom from this life of physical and spiritual sickness they had been living. I believe this town knew of Jesus also either by what he did for these two men or maybe even before he reached their shore but it is the condition of their hearts and how easily they missed what their very souls were crying out for that concerns me this morning.

Lord, I welcome you to enter my heart for God's Holy Spirit has revealed that you are the Truth and the Way. Don't let my heart grow cold or my flesh become comfortable with the current state of my situation, causing me to miss out on the deliverance you bring even in my darkest hour may I turn to you.

Forgiveness

(Matthew 6:14-15) "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." Jesus did not mix words, he spoke clearly and with authority yet he allows us to make our own decisions. This scripture is one that stays in the forefront of my mind. Many times I find myself reluctant to offer forgiveness when I have been done wrong but just as often I am reminded of all the things I need to be forgiven for. While Jesus was talking about meeting our needs in the same breath he also talked about integrity, trust in God, motive, and forgiveness as they are all connected. So when I find myself struggling to make ends meet these items are good things to monitor.

Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven

What does God expect of his children? Though we are weak we are to be strong, though our site is dim we are to see that which cannot be seen, and though we are poor we are to give out of our riches. "God blesses those who are poor and realizes their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter five. We have a Father in heaven who knows us intimately, He sees our pain and He knows just how much we need Him yet Jesus is telling us who we are and as He speaks He not only reminds us of who we are but He opens our eyes to what our part is in His plan for all humanity. We must see beyond our own needs and understand that God has a divine purpose in our brokenness and the healing of the same. It's through our brokenness that we are training to be warriors of the spirit. Because of the healing God brings we learn to trust Him and because of this intimate trust we will follow Him. By following Him we become like Him. "But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Jesus (Matthew 5:48). Failure does not equate to quitting because God knows we will fall yet He calls us to more, we have a Father with high expectations and those high expectations requires us to reach outside of our own strengths, which is the heart's cry of the One who loves us most but Jesus warns us against religion, "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. But I warn you - unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!" Religion is man trying to control the means by which he is saved and God says NO! If God has the ability to save us He also has the ability to lead us!

Come Follow

Jesus saw the needs of the many "...in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who have lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined." (Matthew 4:15-16). As Jesus began to preach to the many he sent out a call to the few to come and follow. When I read how Peter, Andrew, James, and John dropped everything to fulfill the call on their lives it caught me by surprise, no I've read it before but it caught me off guard because I know how easy it is to hold onto that which we know and how uncertain feels. Would I do the same, listen he is calling now - what will my answer be? Do I consider myself among the many or the few...