Seventy-Two Thousand for the Asking
Father, as my head hit the pillow I realized we had not sat down together today. I know You were with me as a road along my route – good conversation with the driver and the kids. I know You were by my side as I continued to work on Sunday’s service. But now, it is important that we sit and I write. Help me to garner what I need from You this night. Amen.
Matthew 26:50-56 (<<click to read the passage)
Lord, as I read through this passage I realize that though there may be all kinds of things happening from numerous sources of authority, ultimately You are in charge. Judas thought he had the upper hand. We are told in John 18:10 that it was Peter who lashed out in his own power, slashing off the ear of the priest’s slave. The “crowd of men armed with sword and clubs” under the authority of the “leading priests and elders of the people” knew they would get what they were after. But again ultimately You, and You alone, are in charge.
When Peter attempted to step forward Your reply was to the point.
“Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” v53AMP
A legion consisted of 6,000 troops. In the blink of an eye Lord, You could have had 72,000 angels for the asking! …but You didn’t…
Your own answer to Your question was,
“How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?” v54AMP
You knew what needed to be done. You would have done it another way but this way was the only way and You resolutely moved forward – for You knew that our salvation depended upon it.
Lord, thank You for not opting out. You could have…but You didn’t. Your love for us overruled it all. And thank You doesn’t begin to cover it…
Nov 29th, 2018, Thurs, 9:25 pm
A Kiss
Today has not gone as planned, Father, in that there are a few more hurdles to clear before being a full-time bus driver. But…I am not anxious, Father, for it is all Your hands as it has been from the beginning. You are the Lord of my life and Your will will be done regardless of the motives of any outside source!
Matthew 26:45-50 (<<click to read the passage)
Of all things – a kiss! When we think of kisses they are always a positive thing. Just this morning, a little one was waiting with her father to board the bus and when we pulled up and stopped, she took a step away and then without the slightest hesitation she turned and looked up and he bent, giving her a gentle kiss as he did. Simple…loving…caring… expressing a multitude of emotions and feelings in such a small gesture.
A note from the Amplified Bible states,
A kiss on either the hand or cheek was usually an act of homage and a common gesture of greeting and reverence given to a rabbi by his disciples, but done here to identify Jesus.
But Judas’ kiss was neither a kiss of love or of homage. It was a formality that pointed Jesus out, not because Jesus was hard to recognize, but because Judas had agreed to be the formal accuser in case a trial was called.*
Yes, it was a kiss but it was one of betrayal. Satan twists so many beautiful, meaningful things perverting them, distorting them.
Lord, what does this mean for me today? You call us to be the real deal, no deception, no masks, and no twists. May I be the genuine article in all – not just some – of my interactions with everyone with whom I come in contact. That’s what You did and what I must do as well. Amen!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Nov 28th, 2018, Tues, 7:16 pm
Attune My Heart
With my new schedule, I need to get some new habits in place and one of them is the priority of my time with You. Direct me in the way that would benefit me most. Bless this time we have together. Amen.
Matthew 26:36-46 (<<click to read the passage)
Lord, it’s easy for us to pass judgment on Peter, James, and John. It wasn’t like they didn’t know You – they had been with You for three years. It wasn’t as if You were keeping Your heart-wrenching struggle from them – You very clearly stated, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” v38
Yes, it would be easy to join the bandwagon and berate them for their insensitivity towards Your obvious need but…we are no better…
Lord, I know there are many times when You would speak to me but I am distracted or I am weary and You quickly fall into the background. It’s not because I don’t love You. It’s not because I don’t care. Unfortunately, the fact is, I am self-absorbed – my world often controls my mind. Things that in my mind seem so urgent take over – I realize that in view of eternity, they are nothing but in the here and now they consume me.
All I can do is ask for Your forgiveness and strive each day to draw closer to You. I need to spend as much time with You as possible. It won’t be at my desk or in my recliner where we have met so many times but it will be in all the highways and byways of my life – all my comings and goings. Attune my heart to resonate with Yours. I welcome Your full reign in my life. There is no better way!
Nov 27th, 2018, 10:24 am
Favoritism
(A couple of years ago a dear friend gave me a book of Puritan prayers entitled The Valley of Vision. It had a great impact on my devotional life.)
O my Father, as I read these Puritan prayers each morning they resonate deep within my soul. I read through it once, then I just read it again, then I read over what spoke most pointedly to me, then I am compelled to read the whole thing again. Thank You for the brothers in Christ who so long ago penned what was in their heart, for it speaks to mine today.
Today’s reading has several quotable portions. Here is one:
Let the mighty tide of his everlasting love
cover the rocks of my sin and care;
Then let my spirit float above those things
which had else wrecked my life.
James 2:1-9 (<<click here)
Lord Jesus, as I read this passage James is clearly speaking against the evils of showing favoritism. The example he uses addresses one of our great tendencies – favoring those with much over those with little. And unfortunately that’s how our mind works, we want to side with those whom we are most comfortable, either because we can relate more readily with them or maybe because we hope to benefit from that association.
Whichever way, we lean, whomever we favor, should give us all pause to ask ourselves, “Why?” In reading through the Gospels, You did not respond to bias. You loved and interacted with people from all walks of life. Substance or look thereof did not sway You. You saw who people were on the inside and interacted with them there. You loved the rich, young ruler and the man born blind. You loved Zacchaeus and Nicodemus both. You meet us at our need and go from there. You go right for the heart.
Lord, may I see past the exterior. Enable me to love as You love.
Aug 23rd, 2016, Tues, 6:07 am
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Father, the week of Thanksgiving is always crazy busy – especially in retail! There’s not been much time to sit with You but I am thankful that You were by my side through every moment of it. And I am thankful that You have opened doors that will allow me to transition out of retail into a new area of adventure. May Your guiding hand be upon my shoulder as I wrap up the one and dive into the other. Amen!
Matthew 26:31-35 (<<click to read the passage)
Peter and his compatriots never dreamed they would do what they ended up doing…but they did. And even though Jesus himself said they would do it they still couldn’t believe it…until they were in the middle of it.
So…where would I land? I would say the same as they, as I am sure most of us would, but where the rubber meets the road, would I stand faithfully by the Lord’s side or would I run…would I balk…would I hide?
There are examples upon examples of those who have stood and those who have fallen. And in all honesty, I would hope, with all that is within me, that I would be amongst the ranks of those who stood.
Lord, You know my heart better than I. You alone know what is ahead of me in life. I would pray that You would guide me, that You would strengthen me, that You would fortify me to stand and not fall. May I be true to You. May I not yield to fear and doubt. May I be a man after Your own heart. Amen.
Nov 25th, 2018, Sun, 6:44 am