Monthly Archives: March 2013

Good Friday 2013

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Today is Good Friday. It is the day that our Lord died for our sins.  I talk a lot about grace and love and mercy. Anyone that’s known me for any length of time knows that. Today, we must stop. And remember. Remember what it cost our Lord so that we could know His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

I want to share a quote with you from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book The Cost of Discipleship that talks about how grace is free, but never cheap. Read this, with your heart attuned to what Jesus has done for us.

6a00d8341d03e653ef01538e09382a970b-800wi“Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks’ wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?…

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: “ye were bought at a price,” and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”

May we never, ever, ever forget what our Lord has done for us.To understand the miracle of Easter we must stop. And pause. And consider the cross. And bow our heads for our sin that drove Him there.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Maundy Thursday 2013

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Today is a day that is called Maundy Thursday. This is a day set aside to remember the betrayal of Jesus and to remember the night when He gave us the gift of Holy Communion. It begins the darkness that is Good Friday.

Before the dawn and light of Easter Sunday, we must go through the darkness of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

And, if you happen to be in the Petal, MS area tonight, and you’ve never experienced a Maundy Thursday service, I hope you’ll be able to come out and be with us tonight at Asbury.

Before Jesus is betrayed, He left this disciples, and us, with some words to remember. Before He was handed over, He wanted them, and us, to know what was most important.  Listen to what He tells them, and us, in John today:

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

They will know you are my disciples not by your theology.  Or by your denomination.  Or by your beliefs.  Or by what you wear.  Or by what you listen to.  Or any of these things.

We try to make Christianity about so many different things that is not about.

Before Jesus was handed over, He told us what was most important.  He told us what mattered the most.  He told us what we must do to prove to the world that we are His disciples.

They will know you are my disciples by your love.

Today, do “they” – your friends, your family, your co workers, your neighbors, the people in your life – do they know you are His disciple?

Are you living a life of love in front of them?

Before He was handed over, he told us what is most important.  He told us what matters most.  Love.

They will know you are my disciples by your love. Today, may all the world know that we are His disciples.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Wednesday of Holy Week 2013

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The closer we get to Thursday and Friday during Holy Week, the more the reality of what is come starts setting in. We have seen Jesus teaching His disciples, we have seen Him teaching the crowds.

Today, on Wednesday, we see something happen, that isn’t about His teaching.

It’s about what is going to happen.

Listen to what happens in Matthew 26:14-16 today:

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

urlWe see that Judas is moving towards betraying Jesus. We see that the this horrible event (which buys our redemption) is coming closer.

And of all the things that are painful about cross, this may be the one that heart Him the most, that we don’t think about. He was betrayed. By a close friend. One of His disciples. One that He has trusted. One that He has taught.

He knew betrayal. He knew hurt. He knew what it was like to have someone who He loves hurt Him in a painful, painful way.

He knew betrayal.

So, remember, He can sympathize with whatever it is that we are going through. No matter what pain, hurt, or disappointment we are facing, He faced it.

For our sake.

In this Holy Week, let us not forget what Jesus went through.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Tuesday of Holy Week 2013

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Today on this Tuesday of Holy Week, we draw a day closer to the cross. We also draw a day closer to the joy of Easter. And that, perhaps, is the thing that we can learn in Holy Week. We see that the pain (the cross) is followed by the hope (Easter and resurrection).

As Christians, we are not promised a pain-free experience. There is pain and hurt and suffering. There will be tears and loss. But, we are promised that these tears are not without a purpose and this hurt is not in vain.

And that God will use, even that, for something amazing.

Listen to what Jesus teaches on Tuesday of Holy Week, in John 12:23-26:

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

urlJesus tells them that the time for Him to be glorified has come. The moment when He would receive His greatest glory and honor was here. And, for us, to think of glory and honor, we think of a great award or some time of prize.

For Jesus, His greatest glory was the cross. And that doesn’t seem right. But, as He tells us, in the cross, many lives are changed, and freedom is gained for those that believe.

A grain of wheel falls, and it bear much fruit.

He goes to the to cross, and many lives are freed.

To love our lives means in this world we hate it, to gain eternal life. By the way “hate” doesn’t mean “hate” like we think of. It means to not see it as the primary thing. To know that there is something greater. And that is the truth. As great as our lives are, there is something greater.

God. To hate our live doesn’t mean that we “hate” it. It means that we choose Him first.

And, like the cross, at first that doesn’t seem right or like something we’d want to do. But, we find, that in laying down our lives, and placing His life first, we find what we are really looking for in our lives.

In laying it down, we find something greater. Today, may we know true greatness. May we find the great life that God has for us. May we lay down our lives, and take us His.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Monday of Holy Week 2013

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Today is Monday, and we are in the midst of Holy Week. This is the last week of Jesus earthly ministry, and each day we see Him do, say, and teach something important.
Of His life, all of His ministry was important. But, these last few days. He really focused in on what truly matters.

What it was all about. What truly counts. What truly is important.

Today, on this Monday, we read from John 12: 3-8. Listen to what happens:

Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

6a00e5512b13618833011278de233128a4-800wiWe see Mary anoint Jesus expensive perfume. Some will tell you that this anointing is a foreshadowing of what is to come at the end of the week, as a way of getting His body prepared for burial.

That is a good way to look at what’s happening, as it keeps our focus on cross that is coming. But, there is something else that’s really important, at least to me, in my reading of this text.

We see Judas get upset that the perfume is not sold. The bible says it’s not because he was concerned about the poor, but he was really a thief. And then Jesus says this – you’ll always have the poor with you. But He would not always be there.

What is He trying to tell us in that? What is important in that for us?

Here’s what I think.

I think Jesus is telling us to keep our eyes focused on what really matters. Him. To make Him the focus. To make Him the point. To make Him what it’s all about.

The stuff that we do, the good things, the acts of service, all of this, it’s done for His glory. It’s done for His purpose. It’s done for Him.

And we’ve got to keep things in perspective as to why we do them. And what it’s all about. It’s for Him. Every act of service. Ever good thing. Every smile. Word of encouragement. Everything. It’s for Him.

So, today, in this Holy Week. Let’s focus on Him. Let’s make Him the main thing. And let’s find our life in Him.

Because that’s where life is found.

Today, let’s keep Him the main thing.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Listen

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Jesus talks a lot bout being the shepherd and us being the sheep. He talks a lot how the sheep know Him and He knows them.

The sheep know the shepherd’s voice. And they follow it. No matter where it leads them.

Listen to what it says in John 10:25-27:

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

windyThe sheep follow the voice of the shepherd because the sheep know that the shepherd has their best interest in mind. The sheep know that the shepherd loves them, cares for them, and will protect them.

The sheep know that the shepherd will protect them.

So do we. We know that our Good Shepherd loves us. Cares for us. Will protect us. Has our best interests in heart.

So we know that we can follow the voice of the shepherd wherever it is that He leads us. And it will be ok.

But, here’s the thing. We’ve got to learn to listen. We’ve got to learn to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd.

We’ve got to listen for His voice. In prayer. In study. In worship. In service.

The Good Shepherd will call us. He will love us. He will lead us.

We just have to make sure that we are listening.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Control

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urlIt’s very easy in life to be live via our passions. What do I mean by that?

I’m not talking about things like I’ve got a passion for art. Or music. Or the outdoors, or things like that Those are “passions” that enrich our lives, things that give us joy, things we can enjoy with others, things that in many ways, we can see God in.

What do I mean?

It’s easy live to be live via our passions. To lose control of ourselves to our passions of anger. Or greed. Or pride. Or sloth. Or (my favorite) gluttony.

And the thing is, when we are living in these passions, we feel like we are doing what we want! We are in control! We are in charge! We can do whatever it is that we want to do, because it’s our life!

Here’s the thing about that. We aren’t really in control.

When we live a life of anger. Or hate. Or greed. Or lust. Or pride. Or well, a million different passions we struggle with, we are out of control.

We have given control of ourselves to something else. Listen to what Paul says in Romans 6:10-13:

For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Do not let sin reign in your body. Do not give it control.

Now, listen, we are going to make mistakes. We are going to mess us. We are going to fall. That’s the way it goes.

Here’s the thing. Don’t give into that. Don’t be satisfied in that. Don’t feel like that’s alright and good enough.

Don’t allow sin to take control. Don’t allow yourself to be controlled by these passions. Christ died to defeat that.

He died so that He can be in control. So, today, what will control us? Will it be sin? Will it be Jesus?

Today, may we not live out of our passions. May we live, via the grace of God. And may Jesus Christ have control over all our lives!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

A Glimpse of Heaven

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urlWhat does eternal life look like? Before you answer that question, stop and think about what I just asked, and what I didn’t ask.

I asked what does eternal life look like. I didn’t ask what does heaven look like.

Now, Andy, aren’t they the same thing? Sort of.

What do you mean by that?

Let me share one of my favorite passages of scripture with you today, John 17:1-3:

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Jesus is praying to His Father and he says – this is eternal life – they know the only true God, and Jesus Christ who you have sent.

That’s eternal life. Knowing God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son. That’s eternal life. And that starts now. That starts today. That starts the moment we know God through Jesus Christ.

Now, heaven in a place, an eternal place where will know God and be with Him forever. Heaven is a place of resurrection and spiritual bodies. Heaven is a place, if you reading this, we haven’t gotten to yet.

Eternal life is. Being found in God. Knowing God living in God. Breathing in God. Living with God every day of our lives.

That’s eternal life.

And we know that NOW. Today. In this moment.

Every time in our lives that experience God and His grace, every time we experience the moving of the Holy Spirit, every time we know God; through worship, prayer, scripture, service, through the ways that we experience Him, that’s a foretaste of heaven.

That’s a glimpse of heaven. That’s eternal life. And we can know that now.

Today, look for those glimpses of heaven. Look for eternal life in your life today. Look for those moments when you can experience God. That’s eternal life. Knowing the Father through the Son.

No matter where we are today, may we know eternal life.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What Are You Afraid Of?

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What are you afraid of today?  What is it that makes you scared? Worried? Terrified?

We all have something. We all have someone. We all something that take away our joy, our confidence, our hope. We are all afraid of something.

It’s that reason why that one of the most mentioned commands in the Bible is this. Do not be afraid. Do not fear. Over and over again in scripture we are told to do not be afraid.  Do not worry. Do not live in fear.

If God is for us, who can be against us, we are told.  Listen to what we are told today in Jeremiah:

But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. “Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid.

urlThe people of Israel were going to be defeated by the foreign army. Their way of life was going to change forever. Nothing would ever be the same again. They were going to lose so much of what they knew, what they expected, what they had hoped for, what was the their foundation.

They were afraid. They were terrified with what was going to happen.

And so, in that moment, God speaks these words – do not be afraid. And then again at the end, no one shall make him afraid.

No one.

Nothing.

He will not be afraid, for I, the Lord, and with him. Do not fear.

And today, no matter where you are in your faith, that is His call to you as well. Do not be afraid. Do not fear. Do not worry. God is with you. God loves you. God is for you.

Do not fear.

Today, you have nothing to be afraid of. For you God is with you. Take confidence in that fact today!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

The Good Shepherd

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In scripture, we are compared a lot to sheep. And that sounds great.

Because sheep are cute. They are fuzzy. The are sweet little lambs. And so, in the bible when we are called sheep we think that’s a compliment.

It’s not. Being called sheep is not a good thing. We are not being complimented.

Sheep need the constant care and guidance from the shepherd. Without it, they would not make it. Without the care, voice, and help of the shepherd, they literally would not survive.

They would get lost.

So, look at what happens today in Matthew 18:12-14:

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

urlWe see a shepherd that had 100 sheep. And 99 are fine. One is lost, sure, but 99% is a pretty good success rate. I think any of us would be happy with that. But, not the Good Shepherd. Not God.

He wants all the sheep to be found. So, He goes out, searching for that sheep. Until He finds it. And there is much rejoicing when that happens.

Today, little sheep, no matter where you are in your faith, God is searching for you. He is looking for you. He is pursuing you. If you are lost and don’t know where you are. Even if you can’t find your way. Even if you want to give up.

The good shepherd is looking.

And He won’t give up on you. Come home. He is looking for you now. He loves you more than you’ll ever know. Come home.

The Good Shepherd loves all His sheep. The 99. And the 1. But, He rejoices when that little lost one comes home.

And so should we. Today, we are thankful that we serve a God that seeks us out.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.