Devotionals

What does it mean to make the most of every opportunity? If we are going to make the most of a moment, we are going to need to be fully present and engaged in what is going on. This is not a passive position, because engagement requires making a connection with God and others.

“Making the most” takes a decision and desire to experience the transformation God has in mind for us personally and in our relationships with others while we place our faith in Christ’s life, love, and power. If we are truly connected to Christ and we build relationships with others, we will experience personal and relational growth in our lives, learn to operate our lives in the power of God’s wisdom, and bring a passion to serve others as an extension of Christ’s love.

No one in Scripture knew this Truth like the Apostle Paul. He came to that understanding in a very traumatic way, but he had an experience with the resurrected Lord and nothing was ever the same for him. He stepped away from fighting against God’s will and began to live as a powerful disciple and servant of Christ’s love. Therefore, Paul sought every opportunity to carefully live in the wisdom of Christ, because he knew evil was always present (Eph 5:15-16).

In our passage today, Paul retells his story to King Agrippa about meeting the living Lord and how his life was transformed by God. This retelling takes place about twenty-three years after his initial conversion of becoming Christ’s apostle. Paul is on trial for antinomianism—the belief that Christians are freed from all obligations to obey Mosaic Law. This accusation against Paul comes from the religious Jewish Council, but they do not remember Messiah is the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets and Jesus is the Messiah.

Paul basically explains his position this way: the Law teaches valuable principles and gives people guidelines for grateful living in God’s love, yet observing the Law does not bring salvation or eternal life. Paul explains we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Eph 2:8-9). God loves, forgives, and saves us; God’s system is grace-based. Yet, once we receive that precious gift of salvation, the work of Christ in and through us begins. We become God’s Masterpiece, because Christ transforms us by his grace and power (Eph 2:10). Christ is perfect love and the Mosaic Law is about how we love God and others, so as we grow in Christ we find ourselves living more obediently to the Law. Are the commands from God? Absolutely, and Jesus is the Helper we need to obey them while on earth.

Acts 26:1-18 NLT
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.”
So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!

4 “As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. 6 Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors. 7 In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope! 8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
9 “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene [from Nazareth]. 10 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers [God’s holy people] there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse [blaspheme] Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.

12 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will [kick against God’s oxgoads].’
15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.

“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

Prayer: Lord, thank you for every opportunity you bring to us so we can reveal your glorious and loving presence abiding in us. Continue to transform and grow us in your beautiful nature and character, so we live more faithfully to your commands of love. You are the living Vine and we are the branches who live dependently upon what you can do in our behalf to bring eternal life into a fallen world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I enjoy traveling to the mountains of North Carolina in the fall.  My brothers live in Franklin and it’s like a double blessing to see them, as well as enjoy the colorful fall leaves.  Ascending in the mountains can be a challenging drive, but seeing things from a higher perspective is inspiring.  I enjoy the moments of the journey, not only the destination of Franklin.  God has created so many beautiful places for us to enjoy and he goes with us as we experience them.  We can worship him all the time and thank him for his beautiful creation, diligent care of us, and being the helper we need each day.

In our passage today, the people of God are making a journey toward Jerusalem—ascending to the temple to worship is their goal. Perhaps the are gathering to celebrate Passover, Feast of Weeks, or another holy feast.  Whatever the event, the journey is filled with a certain level of danger; encamping at night the people need protection but they do not need to worry.  Their help and protection will not come because they reach the destination of the temple.  The psalmist wants God’s people to know, their help comes from the Lord who watches over them, guides their way, and protects their lives from evil.  So, he sings a song to reassure the people of God’s care as they march forward in worship.

Let this psalm reassure you, as well.  God loves you and watches over your life each day; so remain fixed on God, because you can trust Him.  Look around you, today, and know God is with you.  Worship the Lord your Helper.

Psalm 121 NLT  A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 

I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?

2 

My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!

3 

He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.

4 

Indeed, he who watches over Israel [God’s people]
    never slumbers or sleeps.

5 

The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

6 

The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

7 

The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.

8 

The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for keeping guard over the lives of your children.  We do not need to fear, because you never leave us in our ventures.  Thank you for being our Helper, today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

“The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it has established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.”
—-G.K. Chesterton

Day 40: Fasting Wrong Concern for a Righteous Journey
Do you ever get fixated on what is going on in someone else’s life rather than focus on how you are working on your own life? We can all fall into that trap especially with spiritual matters. For example, when the Spirit of God calls us to follow something new, we might start looking at other believers and expect them to get the same Word from God. That might happen occasionally, but not always.

We serve a God who is personally involved with every heart and the plans and instructions he extends to one may not be the same for all. There are those areas of righteousness we must obey and practice. However, there are those specific gifts God wants to reveal in individual hearts and how we receive that revelation may be quite a different journey. So, we need to concern ourselves with our hearts and be excited and grateful for our own special path toward God’s presence.

After Jesus died, his disciples mourned for three days. Then, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to different people. His disciples did not recognize him at first, but then one heard his voice, another saw his wounds, two watched him break bread, and a small group smelled cooking fish. Suddenly, Jesus met them.

We all must take the path that leads to humility before God, by fasting our flesh and the world. John the Baptist said it this way, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30). We have fasted many things these past forty days to help us increase in our love for Jesus through his gift of salvation. Be excited about your relationship with Jesus—the Living Lord—and follow where he leads you, because he will return for those who belong to him. Come Lord, Jesus!

John 21:20-25 NLT 20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 23 So the rumor spread among the community of believers[a] that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
24 This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.
25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

Prayer: Father, please continue to work within our hearts a sense of awe and gratitude for how you have orchestrated our redemption. Take this season—fasting our flesh and the world—and help us to grow closer to you. We desire to walk in your power and strength; the resurrection power that is available by faith and active in the lives of believers. Please continue to transform us in your beautiful image, Lord, and help us to become vessels that can be used for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:2-4).

Day 39: Fasting the Shame of Guarding Dead Tombs

Pilate secured the tomb of Jesus with a seal and with soldiers to separate the living from the dead. Just about the time guarding the tomb seemed uneventful, there was another earthquake and an angel showed up to roll the stone away from the tomb. This wasn’t to let Jesus out of the tomb—he was already gone—it was to allow the women to enter and witness the miracle affirmed by the angel, “He is risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him!” (Mat 28:6-7).

Sometimes when we feel alone and defeated as we visit the dead [spiritually lifeless] tombs of our past and even the present, Jesus has simply gone ahead of us. He waits patiently for us to leave graceless perspectives, passions, and positions, behind and move forward. Jesus unsettles us in order to arrange our lives according to God’s will. Usually, we do not see this unsettling of the Master as a good or even helpful change, but what we do not see is the miraculous and how Jesus uses even our weaknesses to bring the necessary transformation to our lives.

Peter has to let go of the past in order to receive the commission of Christ for his future. He has to leave the dead tombs filled with human reliance and embrace the strength and love of Christ. Three times Peter denied he knew Jesus. Now, three times he will affirm his love. All of this terribly unsettles Peter, but Jesus knows unless he pushes Peter to this crossroad he will not be able to renew his mind in the Truth that no failure on his part changes the love of God.

Today, we fast the shame of guarding dead tombs. Like soldiers, we tend to guard them because if they were opened up to the Truth, it would be obvious God is not in them. They were the craft of the enemy to destroy us. We can and must celebrate the empty tomb. Jesus knows all things and nothing is hidden from him. When all things are confessed, all things are forgiven and we can rejoice in resurrected living.

John 21:15-19 NLT 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many ways you seek to rid us of our wrong perspectives, weaknesses, and wrecked emotions. The enemy is always busy trying to rob, kill, and destroy the God-centered life, but Jesus opened a way for victory. We refused to bow to the work of evil, so we reach for your righteous right hand today and we declare our love for you. Holy Spirit, help us serve our Lord. In Jesus’ name.



From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

“Could it be that a legitimate state of hope is hopelessness?”
—Dr. A.J. Swoboda

Day 38: Fasting Shattered Dreams

Shattered dreams are a part of life; every person experiences them at some level in relationships. Maybe it is because our expectations are too high for ourselves or others; maybe it is simply because we want something Jesus has not designed or planned for us, our loved ones, or our vocational aspirations. Or, maybe God is still working his miraculous redemption and the whole picture hasn’t been revealed. However, we can always find Jesus in the midst of our most difficult experiences and losses. He is eternally good and unfailingly loving; his grace never diminishes and always seeks to restore our sense of well-being—shalom.

If it were possible to question every disciple of Jesus throughout the ages, I am sure each one of them would confirm having buried a dream or two. Actually, I am positive the remaining disciples in Jerusalem who witnessed the capture, trial, scourging, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus would describe the entire event as shattered dreams. No one expected things to go the way they did.

Momentarily, their dreams for abundant and victorious life with God were buried with Jesus. How do they pick up the pieces of losing this loved One? Certainly, denying it happened is not an option. So, the disciples choose to stay together which is a wise thing as when we are hurting deeply we need other believers ministering to us.

Today, we will fast our dreams and losses, because our faith in God must be planted even in the painful times; maybe especially in those moments. God knows how to resurrect a dream; better yet, God knows how to impart a bigger dream than we had originally. God knows how to heal a heart that is broken by loss. God knows how to bless us and satisfy our greatest needs.

In our passage today, after the burial of Jesus, the disciples go back to doing what is comfortable; they go fishing. Yet, the resurrected Jesus is there waiting for them on the shore with breakfast. Can you imagine how that moment with Jesus changed everything that had happened days before? The mighty power of Jesus brought the disciples more than they could ask or think (Eph 3:20). If you are hurting, don’t just try to escape your feelings through busyness. God is not dead; he is present and we must remain present for his help, too.

John 21:10-14 NLT 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being present in our lives through the good times and in the mosts difficult times for our souls. Instead of trying to escape the difficulties, disappointments, or shattered dreams, please help us to be still and press in for more of you and your grace and strength. Help us plant the seeds of faith and look for healing and wholeness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

“If the enemy forces us to give up our quietness, we must not listen to him. For nothing is like quietness and abstinence from food. They combine to fight together against him. For they give keen insight to the inner eyes.” —-Abba Doulas

Day 37: Fasting Chatter
Jesus was tried, convicted, crucified and buried on the Day of Preparation; the day before the Sabbath. This preparation is a time of urgency, because there is so much to do before entering into a time of rest when the sun goes down. Friends, it really mirrors the urgency of repentance.

There is an ever-present race against time, isn’t there? We race to get one thing done only to find another urgent thing waiting to be done. When we race to get things done hoping to find rest waiting for us; it is a bit of a foretaste of how we race in the world in order to one day enjoy the rest of Christ’s Kingdom.

The Jewish calendar—which is based on the cycle of the moon for 354 days—is different from our Gregorian calendar for 365—which is based on the cycle of the sun. Yet, neither of these calendars totally match their perspective cycles; therefore, an extra month (Adar II) is added every two to three years to the Jewish calendar and an extra day (February 29) is added every four years to the Gregorian calendar.

Think about it, in the culture in which Jesus lived, a day was counted as sunrise to sunset. In our present culture, we start a day at midnight. Many theologians and scholars move Preparation Day up by a day declaring Passion Week had two Sabbaths due to Passover [the Great Shabbat] landing that year in proximity to the regular weekly Shabbat. Most faith communities remember or honor Jesus’ death on Good Friday. They spend the next days contemplating what the crucifixion of Jesus meant to individual hearts—much like I’m sure Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, Mary, and the rest of the disciples were doing.

Today, we will fast chatter, because it is time to focus on increasing disciples for Christ’s Kingdom. Chatter can come in the form of talking, texting, typing, web-surfing, or mental gymnastics [fear, torment, anxiety]. Be deliberate about setting aside time to just rest your whole being in Messiah and gain guidance for his work. Time will one day be an unlimited resource, but for now, let’s protect our time for the necessary preparation of our hearts, for the good deeds of Christ, and the witness this world requires for a miraculous harvest of believers.

John 21:1-9 NLT Epilogue: Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
21 Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”
“No,” they replied.
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for promising to use us as a Kingdom of priests for your work of redemption. Today, we fast our voice of chatter in order to focus on your work of salvation. We ask you to use us in powerful ways to proclaim the Good News and give you our time in order to prepare us for your glorious harvest. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied.

6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

Prayer:   Lord, thank you for promising to use us as a Kingdom of priests for your work of redemption.  Today, we fast our voice of chatter in order to focus on your work of salvation.  We ask you to use us in powerful ways to proclaim the Good News and give you our time in order to prepare us for your glorious harvest.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

“When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” —Mark 15:39 NLT

The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. —Mark 15:45 NLT
Day 36: Fasting Suppression

Joseph is a beautiful name and it means “Increaser.” Two men both named Joseph held the human body of Jesus: Joseph of Nazareth [Heb. branch] held Jesus’ new life at birth and Joseph of Arimathea [Heb. high place] a member of the Jewish Council held Jesus’ lifeless body at his death. Much like Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea was a “private” disciple of Jesus, but neither of these religious leaders agreed with the decision to condemn Jesus to crucifixion. Following the confirmation of Jesus’ death, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus in order to prepare it and bury him. Nicodemus accompanied Joseph and participated in this process.

For these two men, this was a VERY bold move; they could also be labeled enemies and blasphemers, but they were done suppressing their commitment to Messiah. So, they wrapped the body of Jesus with linen and 75 pounds of spices and placed Jesus in a new tomb owned by Joseph. Whatever was necessary to honor Jesus, Joseph and Nicodemus were now ready to do.

Today, we will fast suppression—stop hiding our commitment to Jesus by acting boldly and loving him deeply. We all need a change of heart when it comes to our present level of commitment. God’s love for us and our reciprocal love for God will always take us deeper and help us grow in our devotion and boldness. Whatever holds us back from wholehearted commitment, we must face it and begin to believe.

John 20:24-31 NLT Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),[a] was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Purpose of the Book
30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this lesson from Joseph and Nicodemus. We know they loved you, but they needed to grow in their commitment as disciples of our Christ. Fear cannot stop a genuine disciple. Thomas had to begin to believe by letting go of his doubts. We need to grow, too. So, Holy Spirit, help us as we seek to fast suppression and help us stop hiding or spiritually compartmentalizing our devotion to the Truth. Make us bold! We know our love for Jesus must be obvious every single day, or we have not stepped into wholehearted commitment. Jesus please take leadership of every aspect of our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

“I know of three classes of people among those who are being saved: slaves, employees, and sons. If you are a slave, fear punishment; if you are an employee, look only for wages; if you are more than these—if you are a son—then revere God as Father. Do what is good because it is good to obey a Father. And even if there will be no reward for you, it is reward enough to have pleased your Father. Let us then take care not to despise these things.” —-Gregory of Nazianzus

Day 35: Fasting Performance

The disciple John, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the base of the cross and witnessed their loving Savior’s death. No one wanted to be there, but nothing would keep them away. From the cross, Jesus instructed John to love, protect, and care for his mother, Mary, now. It must have all seemed so surreal and traumatic to them.

Two other unlikely witnesses to Christ’s crucifixion were there; the criminals on either side of Jesus. He addressed one of them who asked to be remembered. How much did this one seeking thief know about Jesus? We do not know, but Jesus knew his heart and was ready to welcome him into paradise.

A group of Roman soldiers were there to witness the struggle for breath, but brought no compassion or empathy. In fact, they continued to mock the Lord and cast lots for his garments. Crucifying Jesus and the thieves was their assignment, so they did as they were told without making it personal. Oh, and there were other “watchers” and “rulers” who came to make sure justice was served.

At around the sixth hour, darkness filled the sky until the ninth hour. At that point, Jesus breathed his last breath and asked the Father to receive his spirit. The earth shook, the veil in the Temple tore from the top to the bottom [old covenant no longer needed], the graves of holy people opened and were brought to life (Mat 27:51-52). How in the world did anyone present miss the fact this was God’s Son?

Today, we will fast performance. We do not need to perform or be paid to be close to Jesus; we simply need to love him and believe he is the Messiah—the Truth. We need to be honest and hungry for what Jesus offers; to be willing to listen to his voice and obey his commands. Only then can we move beyond fear into liberating peace with God.

John 20:19-23 NLT Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 That Sunday evening [first day of the week] the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for dying in our place and providing salvation; for opening the way for us to draw near and to enjoy fellowship, wisdom, and power in you. You are not looking for us to be performers who function based on duty, but for us to bow as worshipers who do all things in love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

“Lord, make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring your love; where there is injury your pardon; where there is doubt, true faith in you. Where there is despair in life, let me bring hope; where there is darkness only light; where there is sadness, ever joy. Grant that I may never cease so much to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand, to be loved, as to love with all my soul. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, in giving to all men what we receive, and in dying that we are born to eternal life.” —St. Francis of Assisi

Day 34: Fasting Criticism

Not always, but many times faultfinding or criticism takes place in secret conversations without the person present; it’s rather cowardly. Most of these conversations are not about helping a person improve in any area or to be helpful. Rather, this really exemplifies a critical spirit—when a person expects and finds disappointment wherever he or she looks. A critical spirit sets him or herself up as a judge and arrogantly takes account of every wrong done believing there is no hope of being pleased.

When Jesus was on the cross, he was criticized and insulted by those who stood far off; they did not draw near the cross coming to share something that would benefit Jesus. People passing by mocked and shouted, “Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (Mat 27:40). The leading priests scoffed, “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” (Mat 27:42). Bystanders yelled, “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him!” (Mat 27:49). As Jesus was dying to save the world, the Creator was criticized. What kind of a creation treats the Creator in such a way? The answer: A sinful one.

Today, we will fast criticism. We do not know everything and we assume a great deal. Like the religious leaders, we can judge falsely, but with conviction. May we seek to know more Truth and share it, assume much less, and pray for all hearts! That’s what Jesus did! In our passage today, Mary gets a bigger picture at the tomb and runs to share it with others. Share Good News…not criticism. When we criticize others, we just make ourselves look small.

John 20:10-18 NLT
10 Then they went home.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
16 “Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

Prayer: Lord, today we fast a critical spirit, because we know it is all too easy for us to enter into secret conversations that bring no value. Help us look at other believers with the awareness that you live in them. Constructive criticism, Lord, is helpful and even loving to others. Yet, we must keep ourselves in check, by making sure what we say is benefiting another’s well-being and wholeness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From Sticky Souls to Transformed Hearts
God’s command—from the glorious clouds overshadowing the Transfiguration of Jesus in the gospels—reminds us: when we listen and do whatever the Son of God says he will lead us from barrenness due to selfish living into righteous fruit-producing living for the glory of God.  Self cannot satisfy self.  We must hunger for God.

This is basically our journey for Lent, because sinful attitudes and actions try to stick to our souls and destroy our Life with God.  Jesus wants us to produce righteous fruit that bring glory to our King’s rule and reign.

“‘It’s God who ought to suffer, not you and me,’ say those who bear a grudge against God for the unfairness of life. The curse word expresses it well: God be damned. And on that day, God was damned. The cross that held Jesus’ body, naked and marked with scars, exposed all the violence and injustice of this world. At once, the Cross revealed what kind of world we have and what kind of God we have: a world of gross unfairness, a God of sacrificial love.” —-Philip Yancey

Day 33: Will-driven Sin

Jesus walked the Via Dolorosa from the place of his flogging to Golgotha—the place where he would be crucified and take his last human breath. The details of his physical abuse are just too terrible to even think about; our innocent Savior being mocked, beaten, and crucified for the sins of the world—a deceived people and a world that does not recognize or know their Maker.

The very breath that filled the lungs of Adam at Creation, chose to die for his sin and all of ours that day at Calvary.

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Jesus died for our sins, so it is unthinkable to continue willfully sinning. We must start loving, because the lack of love for the Lord and his Word is our greatest sin of all. So, today, we fast our will-driven sin by asking God to help us love more deeply and more like Jesus loves us. If we are really filled with Christ’s pure love, we will repent and walk away from the sin that grieves his heart. We must never forget the cost of the cross he bore for us.

John 20:1-9 NLT The Resurrection
1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed— 9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.

Prayer: Lord, please forgive us for the times we have been indifferent to your suffering for us. When we willfully sin, we must pray for mercy, turn to you and confess what has come from our hearts and through our actions has dishonored you. We are sorry, Lord, please forgive us. We pray and ask to be given a hunger for your love. Help us to love you and others more deeply the way you love us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.