Devotions

Andrew, mentioned among the disciples of Jesus was first a disciple of John the Baptizer.  John the Baptizer was baptizing at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan. He had two of his disciples with him, one was Andrew, the other unnamed is believed to have been John the Gospel writer.  When the Baptizer identifies Jesus as God’s Lamb, Andrew and the unnamed disciple begin to follow Jesus. They are Jesus’ first disciples. You can read about it in John 1:35-42a.

“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” [Vs 41-42a NIV]

That’s the thing Andrew was good at—bringing people to Jesus.  Whenever Andrew is mentioned as an individual, he’s bringing someone to Jesus. He brought his brother first, then he brought the boy with the fish and loaves to feed the 5000. When Greeks came to Philip seeking an audience with Jesus, it was Andrew who took them to Him.

There is no mention of his death in the NT, but tradition has it that he was crucified at Patrae in Achaea on an X-shaped cross. He had protested that he was unworthy to be executed on a cross that was the same shape on which Jesus died.  It is said he took two agonizing days to die.

Andrew’s legacy is that he was probably the first to follow Christ and that he simply “brought people to Jesus.” Not a bad legacy to have.

At church we have begun a 40-day Pursing His Presence Prayer Gathering. We are praying every night from 6-7 PM MDT, six nights a week at the church, and at home on Saturdays. Our pursuit is not of revival, but of the Reviver.  We want to see the gifts flow, but more importantly we want to flow with the Gift-Giver.  We have seen a few drops of this, but I’m not satisfied with a few drops. I want a mighty flood of Christ’s presence among us.  Wherever Jesus walked, healings, deliverances, and power followed Him.

But more than that, I just want to see Jesus more fully, deeply, up close. A few of us prayed every night from 6-7 PM MDT for 14 days prior to the Easter holiday and it created in me a desire for more. So, we have extended it to Pentecost Sunday. (I wonder what will happen then?)

I am falling in love with the Savior more each time we pray. I am hungry for more of Him. I want to know the anointing that flows through Christ, but even more, I want to know Christ!

In Matthew 22:42, Jesus questioned the religious leaders, “What do you think about the Christ?”  In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter responded, “You are the Christ.”

In Phil 3:10-11, Paul cried out, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” [NIV]

The more I pray for His Presence, the more Paul’s cry resounds in my own soul … I want to know Christ!

I woke up Monday morning tired, sore, too much sugar in my system, facing not only a messy but a dirty house that’s been neglected for a bit, laundry, Walmart, and the beginning of a 40-day prayer gathering (from today through Pentecost, May 20). I think I had more on my to-do list, but my brain was a bit too foggy still from a rough night of sleep.

This year’s Holy Week seemed busier. My first reaction was “Glad that’s done!” Then I realized that, thankfully, it’s not “done.” The Easter holiday may be behind me with all its demands, but Resurrection is still with me in all its joys.

One thought kept resounding on Sunday and was still with me Monday morning. I posted that thought on Facebook … “how wonderful it is to know A Risen Lord – Jesus the Christ. I wonder what those who don’t know Him actually celebrated Easter Sunday? Without Christ, Easter is nothing to celebrate!”

Apart from Christ there is no joy in resurrection. People may carry the mistaken impression that just dying gets you to heaven and into the presence of God; but, without Christ, just dying gets you to judgment and into the presence of the Eternal Judge. There is no joy in that!

The same Jesus who promised that He would rise from the dead after three days, also said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  [John 14:6 NIV]

Rising from the dead brought confirmation to both claims!  Thank you, Lord Jesus!

For the last three decades, I have used the same Bible Reading Plan to read through my Bible each year. Each day there are two chapters from the Old Testament, one Psalm or Proverb, and one chapter from the New Testament. Sometimes how those chapters fall on a given day provide a remarkable contrast.

Recently, I read Ecclesiastes 1 & 2, and Ephesians 1. Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon. The kingdom reached its earthly peak under Solomon. It was rich and powerful. If you have a chance, read Ecclesiastes 1 & 2.  You will notice the reoccurrence of certain words; one the KJV translates as “vanity,” the NIV “meaningless,” and the new Christian Standard, “futility.”

Solomon, wealthy, powerful, must have clearly been depressed by life the day he wrote.  Made me hang my head just reading about it.

But then I read Ephesians 1, written by Paul, who often described himself as “the prisoner of the Lord.” This is the Paul who recounted his numerous trials and tribulations, the beatings and shipwrecks he suffered and said he had learned to be content no matter what the circumstances. If you have time today, also read Ephesians 1 and compare Paul’s language with Solomon.

Paul’s words: “Every spiritual blessing in Christ…adopted as sons (and daughters)…glorious grace which He has freely given us…redemption…forgiveness…God’s grace lavished on us with wisdom and understanding…chosen…praise of His glory…the promised Holy Spirit guaranteeing our inheritance…hope to which He has called you…riches of His glorious inheritance…incomparably great power for us…the fullness of Him who fills everything.”

And that’s just Chapter 1!  Oh, the glorious life we find in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior! Thank you, Lord.

Christ is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!

The redemption of the entire creation rested on this.

This was the Father’s certification that the work done by His Son on the Cross was accepted.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

The cry resounds throughout the cosmos. “He is not here! He is Risen” The cry resounds in the heart of every man, woman and child that has by faith appropriated the work of Christ Jesus for them.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

He’s alive! Now I am a new creation. No longer bound by sin, guilt, and death. I live because Christ lives in me.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

The quietness of the Saturday between the cross and resurrection always touches my soul. I’ve experienced many a day following a death and funeral. After the shock of the death and all the busyness work to get things ready for a burial, suddenly there is nothing to do but think and grieve.

We don’t know much about what went on this day because even the scriptures are quiet about what it held. We do know that Pilate placed a guard on the tomb. “’Take a guard,’ Pilate answered. ‘Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.” [Matt 27:65-66 NIV]

We also know that it was the Sabbath, so nothing could be done. “But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” [Luke 23:56 NIV]

I always wonder if they talked or just sat in stony silence. I think there must have been plenty of tears and a plethora of regrets for those who abandoned Him in His final hours. I wonder if any remembered Jesus’ words that He would rise after three days, and if they did remember, did they speak them out loud?

For me this Saturday is unlike what they experienced. I know that Jesus rose from the dead!  I know that I am alive because of His cross and resurrection. I grieve my part in His death; but I glory as I remember that tomorrow we will celebrate the fact that death could not hold Him – and because it could not hold Him, it cannot hold me! Praise His Wonderful Name! Jesus the Christ, Redeemer, Savior, Friend.

Redeemer, Savior, Friend:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxSxsd6xVBs

Good Friday. The six trials, the mockery, the tortures, the crucifixion, the burial. There is so much I could, perhaps should, meditate on. Each Good Friday it seems God opens to me a different aspect. I see something I never saw before, or one event touches my soul deeper than ever before. For me, this year, it is two words, “Remember me.”

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” [Luke 23:42 NIV]

Those were the words spoken by one of the thieves crucified beside Jesus. “Remember me.” And Jesus’ promised that He would remember. “Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’”  [Luke 23:43 NIV]

My sins demand my punishment, death under God’s glorious standards, just as that thief’s sins demanded his death under Rome’s harsh standards. He was crucified by Rome next to God’s sinless Lamb. His crucifixion may have satisfied Rome’s law but did nothing to satisfy God’s holy standards.  There was still another death, an eternal separation from the God of Glory awaiting him on the other side.  That is, until he spoke those two words.  “Remember me.”

From that moment on, everything changed for that thief. The death Jesus’ was dying, the separation He would experience from the Father, would that day change a thief from a sinner to a child of God.  “Remember me” changes everything for us also because of Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection.

Jesus, remember me. Amen.

Thursday’s events in Jesus’ last week before the cross begin with a meal and a pledge of loyalty. They end with a betrayal and abandonment. In between is Gethsemane. Just the name evokes strong emotions in me.

There is something about the agony in Gethsemane that always breaks my heart. Perhaps it is the loneliness as Jesus prayed to His Father while the disciples slept. Perhaps it is the depth of His agony. “’My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them.”  [Mark 14:34 NIV]

Maybe it is the image of the Son of God sweating great drops of blood. “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” [Luke 22:44 NIV]

I think, however, what truly breaks my heart is Jesus’ plea … “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” [Matt 26:39 NIV]

Yes, I think it is that plea to His Father. “If there is any other way,” and it is here that I hear my name. “Father, if there is any other way that Terry Lema may be saved, other than by my going to the cross for her, may that be. But if not, then, not as I will, but as you will.”

For me, for you. Jesus took the wrath that should have been ours.

 God had mercy on our souls. Amen.

Busy Tuesday in the last week of Jesus’ life before the cross was followed by what some call “Silent Wednesday.”  We don’t know too much about what happened on this day. Perhaps Jesus rested for what He knew the end of the week would bring. The Gospel writers detail a few events that more than likely happened just prior to this last week. Mark 14 recounts these events back to back, and in doing so, they could not be more startling.  (Read verses 1-11)

First was the anointing of Jesus.  “A woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.” [NIV]

The fragrance would have filled the room. It may have lingered for a long time on her hands. Jesus called it a beautiful thing and told us that “wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”  [NIV]

What follows is the ugliest event in the history of mankind—the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. Judas approached the High Priests and asked what he could get for handing the Son of God over to them. Matthew tells us exactly how much he received. “So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” [Matt 26:15-16 NIV]

One, gave a very expensive perfume to anoint the Son of God; another received 30 pieces of silver to betray Him.  Could any two events be more astounding?

 Precious Jesus, may we never betray You by anything we do! Amen.

The last couple weeks have been busy, this week even more so. This is probably the most important and busiest week in the Church calendar. Resurrection Sunday is just ahead.

Some scholars label this day in the life of our Lord as “Busy Tuesday.” Reading through the Gospels you will see Jesus giving the lesson of the withered fig tree, facing a challenge to His authority and debating with the Jewish leaders. He gave many parables of warning as well as a discourse on the last days.  Busy Tuesday!

Perhaps my favorite event on Busy Tuesday is found in Luke 21, the story of the widow’s mite. “As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’”  [v 1-4 NIV]

I like the way it is in the NLT: “For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

 A tiny part of our surplus – which could amount to quite a bit depending upon the size of our wealth; or, everything we have—no matter how little or how much that is.  Jesus knew the cross was just ahead. He knew that very soon He would be giving everything He had. He would hold nothing back. Can you imagine how lost we would be if Jesus had not given “everything?”

His great love for us inspires us to give our ‘everything’ in return. PTL.