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.