Matthew 26: 26-28 "As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take it and eat it, for this is my body.' And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, 'Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.'"
This passage records the very first communion. Jesus takes a loaf of bread and a glass of wine and tells his followers that these elements represent his body and blood which will be shed for the sins of many. He tells his disciples to eat this bread and drink this wine when they come together to remember his sacrifice for them. This was to be a lasting tradition until he returns again.
I forget things very easily. Pin numbers, pass words, names, birthdays, and sometimes even my anniversary elude me. That is the human condition though. We forget things all the time. We are forgetful people. Jesus knew this. He knew we are prone to forget so he institutes this celebration we call communion. He wants us to not forget about him but instead remember him and remember his sacrifice. How can I remember him today? How can I celebrate the day Jesus died on a cross and bore my sin and shame? I need to remember him more often than at an occasional communion service at church once in awhile! I daily need to think of his great love for me.
Dear Jesus, thank you for dying in my place. Amen.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Mountain Moving
Matthew 17: 20, 21 "He replied 'Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'"
A man came to Jesus with his sick son and asks Jesus to heal him. The boy had a demon and Jesus heals him. The disciples ask why they were not able to heal the boy and Jesus gives them this response. Jesus says even a small amount of faith can do mighty things.
I wrestle with this passage so much. It really makes me feel like a failure when I don't feel like I accomplish much. Do I not have enough faith? Do I not have the right kind of faith? I think maybe the problem lies in the fact that I am overly focused on my faith and my abilities or lack thereof. The whole point Jesus is trying to make is that it is faith in him that does great things. Instead of worrying about my faithfulness and determination, I must trust in him and his ability to do great and mighty things. I will trust him today and expect to see mountains move.
Dear Jesus, help me to have faith and to trust you to do great things. Amen.
A man came to Jesus with his sick son and asks Jesus to heal him. The boy had a demon and Jesus heals him. The disciples ask why they were not able to heal the boy and Jesus gives them this response. Jesus says even a small amount of faith can do mighty things.
I wrestle with this passage so much. It really makes me feel like a failure when I don't feel like I accomplish much. Do I not have enough faith? Do I not have the right kind of faith? I think maybe the problem lies in the fact that I am overly focused on my faith and my abilities or lack thereof. The whole point Jesus is trying to make is that it is faith in him that does great things. Instead of worrying about my faithfulness and determination, I must trust in him and his ability to do great and mighty things. I will trust him today and expect to see mountains move.
Dear Jesus, help me to have faith and to trust you to do great things. Amen.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
A Close Heart
Matthew 15:8 "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
Jesus quotes Isaiah and calls the Pharisees hypocrites. He tells them that they say all the right things but their hearts are not in it and not with God.
These words of Jesus haunt me. I often fear that my words honor Jesus but my heart does not. Each day I want to make sure my heart is right before I even open my mouth. Before I ever try to point someone else to Jesus I need to make sure my heart is directed towards him. It all starts with my heart. I can do this by daily taking the time to read his word and spend time talking with him and getting my heart right.
Dear Jesus, help me take the time to get my heart right each day. Amen.
Jesus quotes Isaiah and calls the Pharisees hypocrites. He tells them that they say all the right things but their hearts are not in it and not with God.
These words of Jesus haunt me. I often fear that my words honor Jesus but my heart does not. Each day I want to make sure my heart is right before I even open my mouth. Before I ever try to point someone else to Jesus I need to make sure my heart is directed towards him. It all starts with my heart. I can do this by daily taking the time to read his word and spend time talking with him and getting my heart right.
Dear Jesus, help me take the time to get my heart right each day. Amen.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Open Doors
Revelation 3: 7, 8 "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true. He is the one who has the key of David. He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can open them. 'I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut.'"
In John's book of Revelation, he includes individual instructions to seven churches. In this passage he addresses the church in Philadelphia. Philadelphia means "brotherly love" and at the time, was an important commercial city. In this address, the Christian Philadelphians are told that God alone opens and shuts doors and in their case, God has opened a door for them that "no one can shut" including Satan himself. This open door most likely refers to an entryway into the kingdom of God for these faithful and patient Christians.
God is in the business of opening doors. He wants to bless me and open an opportunity for me to advance his kingdom. Where is this open door and where does it lead? For me right now, God is opening a door to the city of Cottage Grove. Crossroads is launching a third campus in Cottage Grove and I believe God is specifically calling me to lead this new campus. What other doors does he have for me today? Maybe it's a friend who needs a listening ear, or a neighbor who needs a helping hand? These are the doors God opens most frequently. I can only pass through theses doors if I am awake enough, and have my eyes open enough to see them. Today I need to have my eyes wide open to see the open doors God places before me.
Dear Jesus, help me have the vision to see your open doors and give me the faith I need to walk through them. Amen.
In John's book of Revelation, he includes individual instructions to seven churches. In this passage he addresses the church in Philadelphia. Philadelphia means "brotherly love" and at the time, was an important commercial city. In this address, the Christian Philadelphians are told that God alone opens and shuts doors and in their case, God has opened a door for them that "no one can shut" including Satan himself. This open door most likely refers to an entryway into the kingdom of God for these faithful and patient Christians.
God is in the business of opening doors. He wants to bless me and open an opportunity for me to advance his kingdom. Where is this open door and where does it lead? For me right now, God is opening a door to the city of Cottage Grove. Crossroads is launching a third campus in Cottage Grove and I believe God is specifically calling me to lead this new campus. What other doors does he have for me today? Maybe it's a friend who needs a listening ear, or a neighbor who needs a helping hand? These are the doors God opens most frequently. I can only pass through theses doors if I am awake enough, and have my eyes open enough to see them. Today I need to have my eyes wide open to see the open doors God places before me.
Dear Jesus, help me have the vision to see your open doors and give me the faith I need to walk through them. Amen.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Rest
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Jesus is speaking to his followers and tells them that if they are weary and burdened they should come to him to find rest. This may have been a contrast to the heavy and burdensome demands the Pharisees laid on the people.
I have found myself a bit weary and burdened lately. In fact I have not used any of my PTO this year! That's not good. I need to rest. I need to find my rest in Jesus. Today, and this week I am going to be intentional about resting. I will take a day off and spend time alone and time with my family. I will rest!
Dear Jesus, help me slow down and rest this week. Amen.
Jesus is speaking to his followers and tells them that if they are weary and burdened they should come to him to find rest. This may have been a contrast to the heavy and burdensome demands the Pharisees laid on the people.
I have found myself a bit weary and burdened lately. In fact I have not used any of my PTO this year! That's not good. I need to rest. I need to find my rest in Jesus. Today, and this week I am going to be intentional about resting. I will take a day off and spend time alone and time with my family. I will rest!
Dear Jesus, help me slow down and rest this week. Amen.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Perfection
Matthew 7:28, 29 "When he had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not ass their teachers of the law."
Jesus has just given his "Sermon on the Mount" the most famous sermon in history. He covers such topics as murder, adultery, divorce, love for one's enemies, prayer and worry. As he concludes the message the crowd was in awe of the things he said and were amazed at his teaching.
2,000 years later and I am still amazed at his teaching. Here is what I am amazed at-I don't obey his teaching and I don't think I could. The standard Jesus sets here in Matthew 5-7 is extremely high and I know of no one who actually achieves this. At one point in 5:48 Jesus says "Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly father is perfect." Um, perfect? Can't do it if I tried. So what is the point? I think Jesus sets the standard here, but also points to the fact that we cannot be perfect-but he can and was. My hope and trust is not in my ability to do good, but in Jesus' ability to be perfect. I trust in him not myself.
Dear Jesus, help to me to trust you today and help me become more perfect like the father. Amen.
Jesus has just given his "Sermon on the Mount" the most famous sermon in history. He covers such topics as murder, adultery, divorce, love for one's enemies, prayer and worry. As he concludes the message the crowd was in awe of the things he said and were amazed at his teaching.
2,000 years later and I am still amazed at his teaching. Here is what I am amazed at-I don't obey his teaching and I don't think I could. The standard Jesus sets here in Matthew 5-7 is extremely high and I know of no one who actually achieves this. At one point in 5:48 Jesus says "Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly father is perfect." Um, perfect? Can't do it if I tried. So what is the point? I think Jesus sets the standard here, but also points to the fact that we cannot be perfect-but he can and was. My hope and trust is not in my ability to do good, but in Jesus' ability to be perfect. I trust in him not myself.
Dear Jesus, help to me to trust you today and help me become more perfect like the father. Amen.
Friday, May 03, 2013
Thankful for Snow
Psalm 100:5 "For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation."
The psalmist declares that the Lord is good and his unfailing love and faithfulness continue forever touching each generation. This phrase is repeated several times throughout scripture and is somewhat of a mantra for the people of God. God is good and loves his people. He always loves his people and the appropriate response to this is to be glad and thankful. Psalm 100 was written and sung precisely to give thanks to the Lord because he is good.
It's hard to actually believe God is good on May 3 when it is snowing! His unfailing love and faithfulness are a bit cold and wet today! The truth is God is good. He does love me and I need to be glad about that and thank him for that. I so often take God and the good things in my life for granted. Today, despite the snow, I need to give thanks. If I can't bring myself to thank him for the weather, I can thank him I am alive to see the weather! God is good and his love for me continues forever. That is awesome all on it's own and I am thankful for that today!
Dear Jesus, thank you for the snow. Thank you more for your love and goodness! Amen.
The psalmist declares that the Lord is good and his unfailing love and faithfulness continue forever touching each generation. This phrase is repeated several times throughout scripture and is somewhat of a mantra for the people of God. God is good and loves his people. He always loves his people and the appropriate response to this is to be glad and thankful. Psalm 100 was written and sung precisely to give thanks to the Lord because he is good.
It's hard to actually believe God is good on May 3 when it is snowing! His unfailing love and faithfulness are a bit cold and wet today! The truth is God is good. He does love me and I need to be glad about that and thank him for that. I so often take God and the good things in my life for granted. Today, despite the snow, I need to give thanks. If I can't bring myself to thank him for the weather, I can thank him I am alive to see the weather! God is good and his love for me continues forever. That is awesome all on it's own and I am thankful for that today!
Dear Jesus, thank you for the snow. Thank you more for your love and goodness! Amen.
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