Devotionals

Intro: Humanity just loves to label things and people. We want to decide who we are, who other people are, and then hang a sign on the doorpost of our lives convinced we have the truth. But, friends, God cannot be labeled and we are made in His image or likeness. God alone knows who we are and who He created us to be. When we recognize that as Truth, we will bow and worship Him knowing there is no one with more authority.

In our passage today, king Nebuchadnezzar exalts himself to obtain human worshippers; everyone in his empire has no choice but to honor his demands. Nebuchadnezzar is a pagan worshiper who, along with his kingdom people, serves many false gods, so he just adds himself to the list of these gods. This king is so set on control and homage, he erects a nine-story gilded statue of himself, positions musicians to play, and directs everyone to bow to the statue of his likeness. As the music plays, the people of the empire are all bowed down; all except three brave men who refuse to bow to anyone but Almighty God. Can you image the picture or social pressure of this fiery trial?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will not allow another human to define them or rob their worship of the Most High God. God protects these men [perhaps through the pre-incarnate Christ] while they are in the fiery furnace; the penalty brought against them through the forces of evil. God rescues these three young men and, as a result, the king recognizes the authority of God.

We will face our own fiery trials when we refuse to worship the false gods of this world, but we never face them alone (1 Pet 4:12-13). Christ is there to protect us and deliver us from evil. Aren’t you grateful to have Jesus with you in every fiery trial you face?

Daniel 3:19-30 NLT The Blazing Furnace
19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for rescuing us from evil each day; we never have to face the forces of evil or the fiery trials without you. May our sincere worship of you today bring glory to your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In Psalm 63 it is believed that King David was fleeing from his third born son, Absalom, who was seeking to kill him. We learn of Absalom’s birth in the beginning of 2 Samuel 3, and his name means “father of peace” or “peaceful”. But we also learn about his “not so peaceful” adult life in later chapters of 2 Samuel. “Now Absalom was praised as the most handsome man in all Israel. He was flawless from head to foot;” (2 Sam 14:25) but even though he looked perfect and beautiful on the exterior, the Word of God never points to his interior, his heart, being for the Lord. His father, King David, on the other hand was sought out by God Himself because he was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14).

There is a clear difference with these two men, Absalom’s life is marked with chaos, hatred, and fear. You might be thinking, this “apple didn’t fall far from the tree” because we know that David had his run in with sin through adultery, murder, etc. but the Word of God clearly points to the difference within their hearts. Absalom dies choosing to live a chaotic and hateful life, which was motivated by his heart that was aligned with this world that is ruled by Satan. While it is clear even in today’s passage, that David’s heart was aligned, by his choice of being with the Lord. He repented of his sins, and he was seeking, thirsting, longing, waiting, praising, and clinging to the Lord. His life reflected his eternal loving relationship with the Lord. Even when David was faced with his own son wanting to kill him, he was not paralyzed by fear, rather he searched for the Lord with his entire soul and being, because he knew that the Lord was the only One Who could offer him true peaceful rest and comfort in all the areas of his life.

Friends, God is after the allegiance of our hearts. You and I can do everything to make ourselves look good on the outside and to the earth, but God knows the truth. He knows if our hearts are in alignment with Him or with Satan. You might be thinking I would never align with Satan. But, each time we sin, we are choosing him over Jesus. David knew he was helpless without the Lord. You and I can find ourselves in places like David. Ok…so, maybe we currently don’t have a family member seeking to kill us, but we need Jesus in all areas of our lives. Friends, we need to “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt 7:7-8) Remember, when you feel like life is too much, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’” (Matt 11:28-30)

Psalm 63:1-8 (NLT)

A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.
6 I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
7 Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for always answering my knock. Holy Spirit, help me to keep seeking more and more of a relationship with You. I need Your strength in all areas of my life because my walk with You is everything, and I know I need You even in difficult times. I want others to see You, to hear You, and to grow to know You through me. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: We need to hear the truth everyday, because the human conscience can get seared. Simply stated, people can be guilty before God and not feel guilty. For this reason, we must stay in the Word of God, so our words and actions align. Sin should bring a feeling of shame, but when we choose to ignore the truth we no longer hear the “voice” telling us our behavior is wrong or sinful.

In our passage today, we are introduced to Herod Antipas who was made Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea when his father Herod the Great died in 4 BC. Although he was positioned as a Jewish ruler from 4 BC to 39 AD, Antipas saw himself above Jewish law most of the time. For example, Antipas talked the wife of his brother Phillip into violating the Jewish law by leaving her husband and marrying him (Lev 18:16). He was guilty before God, but he did not feel guilty.

John the Baptist was determined not to let Antipas forget he was to govern God’s people. John was focused on repentance and righteousness, so he condemned Antipas for adultery when he married his brother’s wife. For John, sin was sin, so he did not shy away from warning Antipas or his wife about their sin against the laws of God.

Antipas hated the truth John proclaimed; but his wife, Herodias, took the necessary action to silence John. Because Antipas cared more about his image with people than pleasing God, he order the execution of John. In fact, this ruler was known for his duplicity—the practice of working to people’s disadvantage behind their back. Antipas was a deceiver and liar; even Jesus referred to him as “that fox” (Luke 13:32).

Matthew 14:1-12 NLT The Death of John the Baptist
1 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, 2 he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”
3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip). 4 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.

6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, 7 so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. 8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” 9 Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. 10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.

Prayer: Lord, from the beginning you used human shame to help your people turn away from sin and toward you. Help us, as believers, to never silence your voice in our conscience; we need to hear you everyday in order to live in a way that pleases you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: I deeply love the writings of the psalmists, because they encourage me in managing the emotions of my own soul. Whether the psalmists are lamenting or rejoicing, these writers always find a way to lift up praise and remain focused on the faithfulness of our God. True, they may sound angry or discourage in some writings—even feeling abandoned by God at times—but these writers inspire faith in our soul realm, because we know they sing the truth: God [above all others] is to be praised and honored.

We cannot possess the mind of God, so he allows us to be authentic and learn about his loving nature and the redemption he offers to all. Praise refocuses our attention and some days we definitely need refocusing! Maintaining an attitude of praise brings every child of God to a place of worship—oneness with the only One who can turn our weeping into rejoicing [our sorrow into joy]. Are you lamenting or rejoicing today?

Today in our passage, the psalmist praises the King of creation who inspires awe in human beings, because his love is beyond human comprehension. No other relationship we have in life can compare to the love of God for us. I am convinced human beings, as a whole, have no clue about the depth of God’s love and provision for all creation; otherwise, the nations would universally serve and worship him.

So, let’s be great examples of praisers, today. Let’s praise his wonderful name and allow the Spirit to make us mighty in his power and strength. God knows we are weak, but when we are willing to allow the Spirit to transform us, we are connected to the powerful and saving work of the Lord.

Psalm 96:1-6 NLV A Call to Worship the Lord
1 Sing to the Lord a new song. Let all the earth sing to the Lord. 2 Sing to the Lord. Honor His name. Make His saving power known from day to day. 3 Tell of His shining-greatness among the nations. Tell of His wonderful works among all the people. 4 For the Lord is great and should be given much praise. He is to be honored with fear above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are false gods. But the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honor and great power are with Him. Strength and beauty are in His holy place.

Prayer: Lord, we praise you with the songs of our hearts. May they sing of our love for you and express our gratitude for our salvation. May every beat of our hearts tell of your wonderful works and how you love and provide for us. Please forgive us for our limited faith at times and our failure to praise you even in our trials. Stimulate us to greater faith as we step out to represent and serve you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Eternal life is present both here and now, as well as in every moment we walk into the future. That’s because King Jesus and his Kingdom is within us and living in righteousness reveals them both actively manifesting in our lives. “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17). So, when we allow the Spirit to help us remain in Christ’s righteousness through our right attitudes and actions, we are experiencing miraculous signs of Christ’s presence, as well. Please don’t forget peace and joy are Kingdom experiences. “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another” (John 1:16). Are you enjoying Christ’s abundance?

Just prior to our passage for today, Jesus fed a crowd of people—five thousand men plus women and children—with five barley loaves and two fish. Talk about making an abundant meal for the masses from a snack! Even after experiencing this abundance from the hand of Jesus, people struggled to believe he was the King of Glory. In order to see the Kingdom, a person must be born again of the Spirit (John 3:3). However, even Spirit-filled believers may struggle a bit to see abundance, because everything in the Kingdom is about what the King of Glory does for us, not about what we do.

In our passage for today, Jesus tells the people following him to spend their energy seeking the Kingdom of eternal life. It’s as if Jesus is saying, “You thought the fish dinner was great, but press in deeper because you ain’t seen nothing yet!” So, please, “Seek first the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously and he will give you everything you need” (Mat 6:33).

John 6:26-35 NLT 26 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do? “

29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while the journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat’”

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the abundance you came to bring us; we certainly need everything you have promised to provide. Thank you for being our daily Bread and for quenching our dry thirsty souls with your vibrant eternal life. This world drains us, but you fill us up to running over. We love you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: In 2013, Peter, our Board of Directors, and myself created a five year business plan and set a goal that accompanied our bank loan to purchase our present building. This business plan was built on mature faith in Christ’s provision; we decided we would ask the Lord to help us pay the building off in five years. God miraculously honored that goal through some amazing and generous people…because they kept their focus on the work of the Kingdom as we served the King.

Establishing and setting financial goals is always an essential part of wise living, because it keeps the important things in focus. Maintaining a budget these days is a must! If all we do, today, is blindly focus on our wants as we spend money, we will find ourselves unprepared tomorrow. Believers do not worry about tomorrow like God will in some way neglect to care for us, but we certainly should not live foolishly or beyond our means, because every decision we make, today, in some way affects tomorrow.

Another part of wise living is setting spiritual goals. For the believer, our first goal should be to die to sin and diligently live new life in Christ’s power. Our new life will be filled with new desires that bring new actions as we seek to reflect the character of Christ.

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul shares his spiritual goal with the church in Philippi and believers from every generation to follow. Do you have difficulty forgiving and forgetting the pain from your past? Paul understands. For Paul, he had to trust God to help him forget his spiritually ignorant and murderous actions against Christ’s followers. As we each press toward the goal of becoming more like Christ, let’s help and encourage one another to move beyond the past, as well. Let achieving your spiritual goal consume your energy, instead.

Philippians 3:12-14 NLT Pressing toward the Goal
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for teaching us how to live wisely by setting goals. Our spiritual goal, like the Apostle Paul, is to radiate your amazing character and trust in your provision to see us through. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In the verses that precede today’s passage, Jude has been explaining why it is so important that we, as Christ’s Church, do not accept false teachings. Friends, we should not be surprised that there are false teachers. Jesus warned us time and time again, through His Word, that in the last days hearts will grow cold and there will be many false teachers. Luke recorded Jesus saying, “I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.” (Acts 20:29) Peter reminded us that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the Truth, and following their own desires. (2 Peter 3:3) Finally, Matthew told us that in the last days “sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12) Friends, you and I need to remember that we do not want to get caught up with the “many”, and so our love for Jesus must remain on fire in the Spirit, because we do not want our love for Him to grow cold. We also must be prepared, because false teachers are not a maybe thing, they are a definite thing, they are here and more will come. So, instead of being unprepared and surprised because we were living too comfortably within this world, we must be fully prepared and armed with the Word of God within our hearts so that we can allow the Spirit to discern what is Truth and what is false.

Jude, who is Jesus’ half-brother, tells us exactly what we are to do as the Church for one another: 1. build each other up 2. pray by the power of the Holy Spirit for one another 3. have mercy for each other 4. hate sin and then we will be keeping ourselves safe in God’s love. Friends, you and I rest within God’s Truth, it is the only place to find the shalom of God, His peace and wholeness. No devil working through any false teacher can steer us wrong when our relationship with Jesus is real, solid, not fake, and growing. Our relationship with Jesus is ours and it can NOT be taken.

Jude 1:17-25 (NLT)

A Call to Remain Faithful

17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. 18 They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. 19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, 21 and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

A Prayer of Praise

24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for today’s reminder through Jude about how our hearts need to be in oneness with You, because You are calling each one of us to not only remain in faith, but to grow more deep within our love for You and within our faith. I ask all of this in Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Intro: Merriam-Webster defines divided loyalty as ‘a feeling of strong support for opposing groups.’ It’s like a person staggering; struggling to get balanced. At times, we can find ourselves questioning where to place our loyalty, because we may desire to love and serve God, but we also want to make ourselves and everyone else around us happy, too. I hope we can all agree that finding oneness with God while at the same time trying to find oneness with this worldly culture will never happen and we must be all right with it. “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions” (Gal 5:17). We cannot serve two masters (Mat 6:24).

In our passage today, the Apostle James [brother of Jesus] reminds 1st Century Jewish Christians that divided loyalty is like ‘adultery’ and ‘idolatry.’ Very simply, God commands our loyalty: We must not have any other god but the Lord (Ex 20:2-3). We cannot be divided in our loyalty to the Lord, because to do so is to be unfaithful to him and his rule over our lives. We cannot love our desires, others, or this world more than God. To love the Lord is to love him with our whole being regardless of what Satan serves up on the silver platter of this world. We need the Lord to deliver us from evil. To remain faithful or undivided to God is to humble ourselves and exalt the Lord as our Rescuer.

James 4:4-10 NLT
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Intro: God has the authority or freedom to decide or act without explanation or hindrance [e.g. He answers to no one]. God has the authority or power and ability to complete an action [e.g. only Jesus can forgive sin]. God can delegate authority to his ambassadors to perform ministry which builds up the Body of Christ [e.g. the apostles]. Lastly, God has established spheres of authority in the world [e.g. civil government, home, and church] and has instructed believers to honor those holding authority. Yet, God has created EVERY human being to live by conviction under His rule and authority.

In our passage for today, Peter writes to elders [spiritual leaders who serve as examples], young people [who are learning to emulate Christ], and the Church Body [believers who are committed to serving Christ]. He encourages each group to accept the responsibility to care for one another—to stop seeking positions of power—because authority and leadership is granted to those who emulate Christ’s humble servant heart.

Spiritual authority is something Christ took back from Satan. Believers—new creations—have authority because Christ lives in us and flows through the spiritual gifts we have been given. We simply need to stay or abide in Christ and honor His humble way of ministering to lost, hurting, and broken people. Be an example of Christ for someone, today.

1 Peter 5:1-5 NLT
1 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

Prayer: Creator Lord, as your children, sons, and daughters, we honor Your authority and the spheres of authority you have put into place. As well, we welcome the conviction of the Holy Spirit to shape us for your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Breaking news travels rapidly these days through live news feeds. The Pew Research Center reports eight-in-ten Americans get their news from digital devices. Staying informed with news is important, because we need to base our point of view and understanding of the world around us on the truth. The Spirit bears witness with our spirits when we hear the truth, so believers can discern the truth from lies. Our ability to stay informed is almost instantaneous, but that was certainly not always the case.

In the first century, a healthy person could travel three to four miles an hour over flat terrain to deliver news. So a person might be able to walk twenty-five to thirty miles a day unless motivated to run part of the way. Augustus Caesar developed a horse mail system for conveying military or political instruction; however, private letters were carried by servants or by travelers. Water travel was based on rowing or sail power, so depending on the weather a boat could travel six to seven miles per hour. Certainly, it would take a while to get news from one town to another.

In our passage today, the news about the resurrection of Lazarus, for its culture and time, traveled rapidly through Bethany and to the city of Jerusalem [two miles away]. The truth was apparent; Jesus performed a miracle to bring this man who was dead [four days] back to life. But, even though the information about the miracle was the truth, the religious leaders were frightened the work of Jesus would escalate the long standing conflict between the Jews and the Romans. They failed to see the salvation the Jews and the world needed had very little to do with Rome.

Caiaphas—ruler of the high council who worked with Pontius Pilate—was unaware of his mouth passing along news from heaven. God used what Caiaphas said to get His plan for salvation moving forward in the appointed time. What Caiaphas meant with his words was that it was better for one “revolutionary” to die than for the whole nation of Israel to live through a crushing assault from Rome. So, in response to this fear, the high council set a trap for Jesus when he returned to Jerusalem for Passover.

John 11:45-57 NLT The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Many of the people who were with Mary [sister of Lazarus] believed in Jesus when they saw this [resurrection of Lazarus] happen. 46 But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving your life, so believers do not have to face the crushing effects of sin and death. By faith, we can know and be assured of enteral life just by trusting in your work on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Thank you for orchestrating our salvation by using the words of Caiaphas to set things into motion. Thank you for using the words and actions of your sons and daughters worldwide to reveal the work of grace. May how we live for your glory be the news that travels rapidly. You truly are the Great Director of all and your plan for salvation is perfect. In Jesus’ name. Amen.