April 16-22, 2012 Devotional Tidbits - Be Ready

The Word for You Today

1.  “Vitamins for Spiritual Health”

• Never excuse your own faults if you accuse others
• Never take God for granted
• Never allow the disappointments in life to make you sarcastic or bitter or cynical
• Whatever you sow is what you will reap
• Be a cheerful giver, even in the tough times
• You are still on your journey home…you haven’t arrived yet…the rewards of home are just ahead

Sparkling Gems from the Greek

Matthew 27:2

Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.

Luke 23:6-16

“Oh, is he a Galilean?” Pilate asked. When they said that he was, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas, because Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction, and Herod happened to be in Jerusalem at the time.

Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. He asked Jesus question after question, but Jesus refused to answer. Meanwhile, the leading priests and the teachers of religious law stood there shouting their accusations. Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. (Herod and Pilate, who had been enemies before, became friends that day.)

Then Pilate called together the leading priests and other religious leaders, along with the people, and he announced his verdict. “You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent. Herod came to the same conclusion and sent him back to us. Nothing this man has done calls for the death penalty. So I will have him flogged, and then I will release him.”

Matthew 27:26-29

So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!”

Philippians 2:10-11

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

PERSONAL NOTES: 

During the month of April the author of Sparkling Gems from the Greek is focusing on the last few days and hours of the life of Jesus.  It is difficult for me to read because I am one who visualizes what I read.  The scenes in these last few days of the earthly journey of Jesus are far too gruesome for me to comment on.  I have posted the passages from this past week’s reading, but I am not posting summary statements.  The chapters make me cringe, and my heart cries out for the pain and humiliation my Savior went through.  He even endured all of that for the very ones who were inflicting unbearable torture on him.  It is hard to comprehend that kind of love…divine love.

When I think of those who don’t accept Jesus as their Savior or acknowledge him as the Son of God, I am hurt all over again.  To think he went through all of that humiliation and torture for each and every person so that he could provide a way for them to be free of pain and fear and eternal punishment…and yet they deny him who he is.  I am so sorry, Jesus. 

One day everyone will know who Jesus is and what he went through for them.  They will all bow before him, whether they are already in heaven, alive on earth, or suffering in hell…they will all come before him acknowledging Jesus as Lord, Son of the Almighty God, who ministers through the Holy Spirit.  On that day we children of God can rejoice, but for others their torture has only begun.

Please be in a position to rejoice.  You have no comprehension of hell, or this day you would surrender your pride and fall on your face thanking Jesus for what he did for you, and for his grace and forgiveness.  And you would raise rejoicing.  Please…be ready for that soon coming day Paul told us about in Philippians 2 in the verses above. 

Once again I state my credo as being HOPE:

H – Holy life

O – Obedient will

P – Pure heart

E – Eternal values

Do you have HOPE?

How To Live

From my devotional readings this morning, I have been given some things to think about and put into practice.

Acts 9:31: The believers were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. That's how we should be living in our daily walk with God through this journey of life. Fear in this application is another way of saying "respect" or "honor". If we give our respect to God, and honor Him by our lifestyle, we have no need to "fear", or be afraid, or worry, about the economy and the things facing us as a nation.

Our sermon yesterday was about seeking the kingdom of God first, and all "these things" (the things we need) will be taken care of. There's no reason for Christians to run around like chickens in a flutter over what might come, or how we will survive. When we honor God, we receive our comfort from the Holy Spirit. He gives us peace and assurance that it is well with our souls, and God is in control. What more can we ask for? Any more than that, and perhaps we would be out of the will of God. If we truly want to go it on our own, He will allow us to do that. But why would we want to?

To receive God's best, life is not about investing our money, but rather it is about investing our very lives. We do this by:

1. Making time for family and friends - they are God's gifts to us.
2. Being grateful for God's provision and protection. He is always there for us!
3. Practicing contentment - Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8, NLT) There are plenty of things that could get us down and discouraged, but we need not focus on the negative side of life...God has given us the ability to rise above that and choose to dwell on the beauty of life.

I'm going to visit Bob this morning. He has acute leukemia and has already outlived the number of days his doctor gave him. I can't imagine what it would be like to just wait to die, waking up each morning wondering if this was the day. Well, my last devotional reading this morning talked about "The Dying Words of Christians". Death for the Christian is just a "threshold to the palace of God" (Dr. Billy Graham's words). I can't imagine waiting in anticipation of walking across that threshold!! Especially if it is something I have believed in and waited for my whole life!

I am going to take Bob some chocolate chip/oatmeal/raisin cookies. I can't imagine what his first meal will be like in heaven! The Master Chef will far surpass the culinary skills of the finest of cruise ship chefs. And to dine with the saints of all the ages...the giants of the Bible, like Abraham, Moses, David, Apostle Paul. To have a hearty laugh with Jesus as He slips His arm across my shoulders. Death doesn't need to be a thing to dread or fear. It's like the best looking gift under the Christmas tree, all wrapped up and labeled with our name! We open the gift, and walla! We step across the threshold into eternal life. I'm going to ask Bob to give Mom and Dad a hug for me and tell them I can hardly wait to see them again!

Spending time in God's Word and on my face in His presence and in some good devotional books only inspires me to give to Him this day the best that I have. To serve Him by serving others. To love Him by loving others. To make my life count for something by investing my time and resources for Him. Wow...what an opportunity! Please join me!