Wednesday Holy Week 2018: Judas, You, and Me

John 13:21-32 New International Version (NIV)

²¹ After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” ²² His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. ²³ One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. ²⁴ Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” ²⁵ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” ²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” ²⁸ But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. ²⁹ Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival or to give something to the poor. ³⁰ As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³¹ When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. ³² If God is glorified in him,^[a] God will glorify the Son in himself and will glorify him at once.

Judas You And Me

Have you ever been troubled in your spirit? Have you ever sensed something was about to happen that made you feel uneasy? There are times when GOD allows us to feel when there is a shift in our spiritual atmosphere. We may not know when, where, or why, but we do know something’s up. In times like these, Be alert, for your adversary, the devil is lurking like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

In our text today Jesus feels something is about to happen. After saying “whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”Jesus was troubled in his spirit.” He senses that someone has been giving lip service to following him, but inwardly they are not totally committed to the cause. Jesus senses betrayal is in the air. What follows is a cautionary tale for all of us. I begin by saying, I apologize to Judas. I know he was the one who ultimately betrayed Jesus, however, it could have been any of the disciples, just like it could have been any of us. We like to believe we wouldn’t let the Master down, yet even the disciples paused and wondered who it was. I contend if we could have gone into each of their minds we would have heard each of them playing the blame game. They could have found fault with any one. For Judas it was money, but for Peter, it could have been cussing, or violence. For Thomas, it could have been doubting. What I’m driving at is we are all capable of letting our Savior down. Each of us is guilty of betrayal in one way or another. This scene of betrayal with Judas could have played out with any human of any time in history, for all of us have sinned and fallen short of GOD’S glory. For this reason, I apologize to Judas because that would totally absolve me for any part I have played in the betrayal. I apologize to Judas because he takes the fall for fallen humanity, and we see how he couldn’t handle the stress of it all. Secondly I apologize to Judas because it is possible he truly believed the Jeshua would not allow his demise to come like this. In some wa,ys, he may have been working to force Jeshua to claim his throne as Israel’s new king. Unfortunately the kingdom Jeshua came to introduce was not of this world.

Recognizing the ways that we all have betrayed Jesus is a sobering thought for me. We are all like Judas, impatient, reckless, selfish from time to time.  As we go through today, let us reflect on being more aware of our opportunities to be more forgiving, and loving, for there but by the grace of GOD, We ARE JUDAS. #livebig

PRAYER: LORD too often we have betrayed you. We have been too gullible and receptive to the schemes of the devil. Help us to be more aware of your presence and more patient with your Divine delays.

Point To Ponder: How have you betrayed Yeshua? How have you connected with your weaknesses? What will you do about it?

Lent 2018 Day 36 “Be Strong and Work”

Haggai 2:1-9, 20-23(NIV)

2 ¹ on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: ² “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,^[a] the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, ³ ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? ⁴ But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁵ ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ ⁶ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. ⁷ I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ⁸ ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ⁹ ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LordAlmighty. ‘And in this place, I will grant peace,’ declares the LordAlmighty.”

²⁰ The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: ²¹ “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. ²² I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. ²³ “‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

John 12:34-50  (NIV)

³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” ³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. ³⁷ Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. ³⁸ This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[a] 39, For this reason, they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: ⁴⁰ “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”[b] ⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. ⁴² Yet at the same time, many even among the leaders believed in him.But because of the Pharisees, they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved human praise more than praise from God. ⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. ⁴⁵ The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. ⁴⁷ “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸ There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. ⁴⁹ For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. ⁵⁰ I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Be Strong and Work

Have you ever let your closet get out of hand? Day after day you throw your clothes on what use to be a chair. Every morning you look and say, I need to straighten this up. Every night you add more to it. Finally, when it becomes unbearable and you can’t find your favorite outfit you decide to do something about it. The challenge, however, is You have let it go so long, you become overwhelmed looking at the mess. You become almost paralyzed thinking about how long it will take to get the job done, so, you…? Let is go another day. And let us not talk about the garage. Many of us neglect things in our lives, overlooking details and allowing things to pile up. We do it with our bodies, we do it with our living environments, we even do it in our relationships. If we let it go too long we will find it hard to generate the energy to get it done. If this is you, then let me say, running from it will not save you, see it through. Now is the time, this is the day to be strong and work.

In our text from the prophet Haggai, we find a word from the LORD being proclaimed to encourage the remnant of recently returned from exile Israelites. The first admonition is to think about the “House in its former glory”. Can you remember a time in your life when you were filled with hope and your dreams were fresh? Can you remember how it felt to get out of bed with pep in your step because you were expecting greatness? Even if you have never experienced this, believe me, it is possible. But once it happens, if we are not careful to cultivate our spiritual disciplines that carried us into the present, we will get overwhelmed by the junk that creeps up on us and in us. Junk of stinking thinking and bad habits. Junk of cutting corners and we will truly need to hear this word from the prophet. Haggai encourages the people and us to, “Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Thinking about cleaning never washed a car or a dish. Thinking about getting your life right never produced anything but more thought. GOD is saying to us, Be strong and work. We gain encouragement because we know we will not be alone in our pursuit. The LORD Almighty will be with us. Alone we will be swamped,  but when we put in the effort we will find the strength to get it done.

This Lent season is drawing to an end, but our disciplines should not. The next level in our life is available to us if we are strong and work. Work is the key. This will take an exertion of energy, but it is worth it. A clean closet, a clean garage, a clean heart. LIVEBIG

Points to Ponder: What junk is there in your life that has piled up? Are you tired of being tired? A world of darkness surrounds us, what does it take to keep shining? Paint a mental picture of life as you desire it to be. Now get to work.

Lent 2018 Day Thirteen Standing on the Promises of GOD

Psalm 105

¹ Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. ² Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. ³ Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. ⁴ Look to the Lord and his strength;  seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, ⁶ you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob. ⁷ He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. ⁸ He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, ⁹ the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.

¹⁰ He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: ¹¹ “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.”

Psalm 105:37-45 (NIV)

³⁷ He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered. ³⁸ Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them.

³⁹ He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. ⁴⁰ They asked, and he brought them quail; he fed them well with the bread of heaven. ⁴¹ He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert. ⁴² For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham. ⁴³ He brought out his people with rejoicing,

    his chosen ones with shouts of joy; ⁴⁴ he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for—  45 that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws.

Praise the Lord.

Genesis 21:1-7  (NIV)

The Birth of Isaac

21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. ² Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. ³ Abraham gave the name Isaac^[a] to the son Sarah bore him.⁴ When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. ⁵ Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. ⁶ Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” ⁷ And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Hebrews 1:8-12  (NIV)

⁸ But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.⁹  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”[a] ¹⁰ He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. ¹² You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

Standing on the Promises of GOD

When I was a child playing little league baseball my dad left me at the field and said, I will be back to get you. As fate would have it, a heavy rain started to fall. All the players took cover and the coaches offered rides to all the kids. As tempting as it was to get out of the rain, I knew my instructions were to wait. The coaches shook their heads and went on. After a while, dad did come. The question all the coaches asked was why didn’t you leave? Were you worried? My answer was no because my dad had never let me down and I trusted in him.

Psalm 105 highlights the faithfulness of GOD in keeping promises. This in fact is the theme for all the scriptures today. How GOD keeps promises no matter how impossible the odds look. Verses 2-5 contain these words, ” let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. ⁴ Look to the Lord and his strength;  seek his face always.  Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,”. I know as we live this life, there are sometimes when the things we see around us defy the things we believe about GOD. There are a myriad of life situations that look out of control. How does a loving GOD allow such vile and disgusting human behavior? How can there be those who squander and those who don’t have enough? How do we deal with mass shootings, poverty, elderly abuse and child abuse? There are no easy answers.

Today as we meditate on our Lent devotion, I write to say, GOD is Still in control. When I say GOD is still I mean still in both connotations. GOD exists even though there is chaos and disarray AND in this chaos, GOD can be still. We may not always see GOD, but I assure you the stillness of GOD is not inaction, but an active stance of steadiness. GOD is not swayed by circumstances that appear out of control. The stillness of GOD is to be celebrated. For this reason, we can be still in the storm. The hurricane as violent as it is has a calmness in its center. Though the winds blow and the odds are stacked against you, remember GOD is still. The storms may be a test and in order to observe our growth the teacher may have to be still. GOD is. When dad says it will happen, rejoice even though the rains may fall. Our Daddy is coming back to get us.

Points to Ponder: In what ways has your patience been tested waiting on GOD? How long is too long to hold on to a dream? How will you share the ways GOD has come through for you with others?

Daily Scripture Readings Lent 2017

March 1 to April 8, 2017

These readings are adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, Daily Readings for Year One.

Date	Psalm	OT	Epistle	Gospel
Wed Mar 1	am: 95, 32, 143 pm: 102, 130	Jon 3:1-4:11	Heb 12:1-14	Luke 18:9-14
Thur Mar 2	am: 37:1-18 pm: 37:19-42	Deut 7:6-11	Titus 1:1-16	John 1:29-34
Fri Mar 3	am: 95, 31 pm: 35	Deut 7:12-16	Titus 2:1-15	John 1:35-42
Sat Mar 4	am: 30, 32 pm: 42, 43	Deut 7:17-26	Titus 3:1-15	John 1:43-51
Sun 1 Mar 5	am: 63, 98 pm: 103	Deut 8:1-10	1 Cor 1:17-31	Mark 2:18-22
Mon Mar 6	am: 41, 52 pm: 44	Deut 8:11-18	Heb 2:11-18	John 2:1-12
Tues Mar 7	am: 45 pm: 47, 48	Deut 9:4-12	Heb 3:1-11	John 2:13-22
Wed Mar 8	am: 119:49-72 pm: 49, 53	Deut 9:13-21	Heb 3:12-19	John 2:23-3:15
Thur Mar 8	am:  50, 59, 60 pm:  19, 46	Deut 9:23-10:5	Heb 4:1-10	John 3:16-21
Fri Mar 10	am: 40, 54 pm: 51	Deut 10:12-22	Heb 4:11-16	John 3:22-36
Sat Mar 11	am: 55 pm: 138, 139	Deut 11:18-28	Heb 5:1-10	John 4:1-26
Sun 2 Mar 12	am: 24, 29 pm: 8, 84	Jere 1:1-10	1 Cor 3:11-23	Mark 3:31-4:9
Mon Mar 13	am: 56, 57, 58 pm: 64, 65	Jere 1:11-19	Rom 1:1-15	John 4:27-42
Tues Mar 14	am: 61, 62 pm: 68	Jere 2:1-13	Rom 1:16-25	John 4:43-54
Wed Mar 15	am: 72 pm: 119:73-96	Jere 3:6-18	Rom 1:28-2:11	John 5:1-18
Thur Mar 16	am: 70, 71 pm: 74	Jere 4:9-10, 19-28	Rom 2:12-24	John 5:19-29
Fri Mar 17	am: 69 pm: 73	Jere 5:1-9	Rom 2:25-3:18	John 5:30-47
Sat Mar 18	am: 75, 76 pm: 23, 27	Jere 5:20-31	Rom 3:19-31	John 7:1-13
Sun 3 Mar 19	am: 93, 96 pm: 34	Jere 6:9-15	1 Cor 6:12-20	Mark 5:1-20
Mon Mar 20	am: 80 pm: 77, 79	Jere 7:1-15	Rom 4:1-12	John 7:14-36
Tue Mar 21	am: 78:1-39 pm: 78:40-72	Jere 7:21-34	Rom 4:13-25	John 7:37-52
Wed Mar 22	am: 119:97-120 pm: 81, 82	Jere 8:18-9:6	Rom 5:1-11	John 8:12-20
Thur Mar 23	am: 42, 43 pm: 85, 86	Jere 10:11-24	Rom 5:12-21	John 8:21-32
Fri Mar 24	am: 88 pm: 91, 92	Jere 11:1-8, 14-20	Rom 6:1-11	John 8:33-47
Sat Mar 25	am: 87, 90 pm: 136	Jere 13:1-11	Rom 6:12-23	John 8:47-59
Sun 4 Mar 26	am: 66, 67 pm: 19, 46	Jere 14:1-9, 17-22	Gal 4:21-5:1	Mark 8:11-21
Mon Mar 27	am: 89:1-18 pm: 89:19-52	Jere 16:10-21	Rom 7:1-12	John 6:1-15
Tue Mar 28	am: 97, 99, 100 pm: 94, 95	Jere 17:19-27	Rom 7:13-25	John 6:16-27
Wed Mar 29	am: 101, 109 pm: 119:121-144	Jere 18:1-11	Rom 8:1-11	John 6:27-40
Thur Mar 30	am: 69 pm: 73	Jere 22:13-23	Rom 8:12-27	John 6:41-51
Fri Mar 31	am: 107:1-32 pm: 107:33-43	Jere 23:1-8	Rom 8:28-39	John 6:52-59
Sat Aor 1	am:  102, 108 pm: 33	Jere 23:9-15	Rom 9:1-18	John 6:60-71
Sun 5 Apr 2	am: 118 pm: 145	Jere 23:16-32	1 Cor 9:19-27	Mark 8:31-9:1
Mon Apr 3	am: 31 pm: 35	Jere 24:1-10	Rom 9:19-33	John 9:1-17
Tues Apr 4	am:121,122,123 pm: 124, 125, 126	Jere 25:8-17	Rom 10:1-13	John 9:18-41
Wed Apr 5	am:119:145-176 pm: 128, 129, 130	Jere 25:30-38	Rom 10:14-21	John 10:1-18
Thur Apr 6	am: 131, 132, 133 pm: 140, 142	Jere 26:1-16	Rom 11:1-12	John 10:19-42
Fri Apr 7	am: 22 pm: 141, 143	Jere 29:1, 4-13	Rom 11:13-24	John 11:1-27 or 12:1-10
Sat Apr 8	am: 137, 144 pm: 42, 43	Jere 31:27-34	Rom 11:25-36	John 11:28-44 or 12:37-50

Wednesday Holy Week: Judas, You, and Me

Our scripture today is John 13:21-32

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+13%3A21-32&version=NIV

Have you ever been troubled in your spirit? Have you ever sensed something was about to happen that made you feel uneasy? There are times when GOD allows us to feel when there is a shift in our spiritual atmosphere. We may not know when, where, or why, but we do know something’s up. In times like these, Be alert, for your adversary, the devil is lurking like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

In our text today Jesus feels something is about to happen. After saying “whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”Jesus was troubled in his spirit.” He senses that someone has been giving lip service to following him, but inwardly they are not totally committed to the cause. Jesus senses betrayal is in the air. What follows is a cautionary tale for all of us. I begin by saying, I apologize to Judas. I know he was the one who ultimately betrayed Jesus, however it could have been any of the disciples, just like it could have been any of us. We like to believe we wouldn’t let the Master down, yet even the disciples paused and wondered who it was. I contend if we could have gone into each of their minds we would have heard each of them playing the blame game. They could have found fault with any one. For Judas it was money, but for Peter it could have been cussing, or violence. For Thomas it could have been doubting. What i’m driving at is we are all capable of letting our Savior down. Each of us is guilty of betrayal in one way or another. This scene of betrayal with Judas could have played out with any human of any time in history, for all of us have sinned and fallen short of GOD’S glory. For this reason I apologize to Judas because that would totally absolve me for any part I have played in the betrayal. I apologize to Judas because he takes the fall for fallen humanity, and we see how he couldn’t handle the stress of it all. Secondly I apologize to Judas because it is possible he truly believed the Jeshua would not allow his demise to come like this. In some ways he may have been working to force Jeshua to claim his throne as Israels new king. Unfortunately the kingdom Jeshua came to introduce was not of this world.

Recognizing the ways that we all have betrayed Jesus is a sobering thought for me. We are all like Judas, impatient, reckless, selfish from time to time.  As we go through today, let us reflect on being more aware of our opportunities to be more forgiving, and loving, for there but by the grace of GOD, We ARE JUDAS. #livebig

PRAYER: LORD too often we have betrayed you. We have been too gullible and receptive to the schemes of the devil. Help us to be more aware of your presence and more patient with your Divine delays.

Point To Ponder: How have you betrayed Jeshua? How have you connected with your weaknesses? What will you do about it?

Holy Week Tuesday: Living to Die, Dying to Live

        

Death is life’s common denominator. At some point in the life of every living creature, death comes. Instinctively all life forms pursue what it takes to perpetuate life until the moment the pursuit of life ends. In essence life ends in pursuit of life. This being said, it sounds peculiar to hear that this is a good day to die. Why would anyone say that or believe that? We tend to run from death, so how is it possible to be a good day to die? Jesus gives us a response to this query.

In our text, recorded in the Gospel of John 12 we find Jesus in the last week of his earthly ministry. He has arrived in Jerusalem to a crowd and this crowd continue to gather around him. Yesterday we said “Don’t believe the hype”. Even though crowds may gather people are fickle and the mood of a crowd can change like the weather. I mean, snow in April??? Knowing this Jesus senses a mood shift in the atmosphere and knows the praises of men and women are Not a foundation to build upon. Jesus responds to an inquiry of his presence by Greeks in the crowd by saying, “24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Reading these words knowing the end of the story makes it difficult to imagine how the disciples must have heard them. My sense is they heard Jesus in essence say “it’s a good day to die.” It is clear that Jesus sees that life has no meaning when all one is doing is avoiding death. Jesus begins to unlock a door in the hearts and minds of people that had long been a fear inducing mystery. Death! nobody likes talking about or even hearing about it, yet the Master Jesus uses nature to teach, There can be no forest or fruit unless a seed is willing to sacrifice it’s life. As long as a seed holds on to it’s “seedness”, it misses its life giving purpose. Inside the seed is life. This life however cannot be experienced without the death of what has been familiar. As long as we stick to the familiar spaces of our comfort zones, there may be no new life coming from us. As long as we fight for the status quo we ultimately refuse to live. Jesus challenges us by giving us a broader vision of life. Jesus offers eternal life to those who value the Spirit over the flesh. Those who love their life in this world which is temporary will lose it. Those who hate their life in this world will gain eternity. It’s a good day to die. It’s a good day to die to the pursuit of this worlds delusive dreams. It’s a good day to die to selfishness. It’s a good day to die to petty arguments and foolish pride. It’s a good day to die to greed and fear. It’s a good day to die to any ideas of scarcity when we deal with a GOD of abundance.

This week reminds us as we follow the steps of Jesus that Death is not to be feared as an ending but embraced as a new beginning. I encourage you to no longer be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. If anyone be in Christ they are a new creature. If you want to live you must die. #livebig

PRAYER: LORD, teach us to value your presence, more than your presents. Enable us to die to the things that compromise your glory from shining through. We surrender as our big brother Jeshua did, aware of the risk, help us to say yes to your will. AMEN

Point to Ponder: What death needs to occur in your life in order for you to be fully alive? How often have you gone through the motions of your faith journey, devoid of passion and vitality? Do you have the courage to say, “Not my will, but thy will be done”?

Holy Week Monday :The Hype

Our scripture today is Matthew 21:19-46
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+21%3A18-46&version=NIV

Building upon 40 Days of Devotion we begin Holy Week. After 40 days of sacrifice, and repentance we are now faced with the prospect of an even more difficult task. Some might say we come out of the frying pan and jump right into the skillet. Yesterday we had a moment to exhale, to celebrate. Palm Sunday reminded us that every now and then people get it right. Jesus enters humbly into Jerusalem but he is welcomed like the King he is. The people greet him with shouts of save us and blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. For just a moment it seems like things are going to get better. Still Jesus did not get caught up in the hype. Instead of relying on the emotions of the people to dictate his future actions, Jesus continue his pursuit to the cross.

Our text begins the next morning. After the hoopla of yesterday Jesus is on his way back to the city and sees a fig tree. Upon seeing the tree there is the expectation there would be figs on the tree. Jesus is hungry and is anticipating a breakfast of figs and fellowship. What he finds is an empty tree. Looks good but producing nothing. How often are we like this fig tree. We look good on the outside, we have our bibles, and we have memorized some key verses. We know “church talk” and can be seen in some of the “right” places. But upon closer inspection, we are full of sound and fury signifying nothing. There is no substance to us. Far too often we focus on our shell and neglect our soul. Jesus expects fruit and finds fakery. He then utters what I sense to be a scary utterance. Jesus says “may you never bear fruit again”. Wow and owww. The first law GOD gave creation was be fruitful and multiple. For Jesus to say be no more fruitful is to take away its purpose. Immediately the tree withers. Life without purpose is death. When I read this I can imagine what it would be like if all hope were gone. Even further when i read this I sense Jesus challenging us on being true to fulfilling our purpose. We are called to do more than look good and talk the talk. When we are fig trees in a world that is hungry, we are intended to bear fruit. Not just leaves, but fruit.

Jesus challenges us on bearing fruit and also uses this experience as a teaching moment for the disciples. Jesus replied to the disciples amazement by saying, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” When we pray we unlock are exposed to an unlimited supply of power. Jesus helps us to unlock a treasure of incalculable value. Faith without doubt. The power is not in the praise of people but in the presence of GOD.

Today I am encouraged to be intentional about bearing fruit. The hype of should should not dictate the life we live. Beyond the hype, the work for the kingdom must still be done. Do not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap a harvest if we faint not. #livebig

PRAYER: Eternal GOD help us to bridge the gap between what we say we believe and what we do about it. Help us to increase our faith to make more of ourselves available to you, not swayed by public opinion.

Point To Ponder: What have others said about you that you have taken personal? What has it cost you? Share the most powerful memory you have of the presence of Yahweh.