Tag Archives: Jesus

Didn’t See that Coming

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I really love when the Bible catches us off guard. When we read something or see something or something within the text gets us in a way that we do not expect.

When we see something unfold in the text the we didn’t see coming.

Like what we read today in Mark 3:1-5. Listen to this text and see if the same thing that hit me hits you:

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Man-with-withered-handWe see Jesus come into synagogue, a place of Jewish teaching. And we see people plotting against Jesus, because it was in the man-made law (not the Old Testament law) that people were restricted from work on the Sabbath. Why? Because one of the Commandment is to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy. It should be a time of rest. But, the religious leaders had moved this to a commandment that had far exceeded its actual religious purpose and had moved it to just straight legalism and control.

So, Jesus is there, and he says, is it against the law to help someone?  And they are silent. And there it is.

“He looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart.” Jesus got angry! Didn’t see that one coming! He got angry.

We have this milk toast image of Jesus as just laid back, smiling, walking around, always happy, not very passionate, just kind of there. Today, it says when He was confronted by folks that would rather observe a man-made law than would help someone, He got angry.

Because they valued man-made laws and regulations over the true law of God. What is that true law? To love God and love neighbor. Jesus valued people over everything. That’s why He came. And that’s what He longs to teach us.

To value people over everything.

And they didn’t. The valued their rules over people. And it grieved Him. And it made Him angry.

Today, as the people of God, seeing others hurt should make us angry. Seeing children with no food to eat should make us angry. Seeing women and children abused should make angry. Seeing sin run rampant in the world should make us angry.

But, we can’t just get angry. We must do something about it. Jesus just didn’t get angry. He healed the man.

Today, these things that make you angry, these things of injustice and hurt. What are you going to do about them?

How are we going to act to help someone today? For in doing that, we are really living out the law that God wants us to live. And we are making a difference in for the kingdom.

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

Oh, You’re a Christian?

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A few weeks back, I read a blog post that’s stuck with me. It was entitled, oh, you’re a Christian? You can read it by clicking here. Basically its the story of two folks talking and one realizing that the other is a Christian, and being surprised by that.

Why were they surprised?

They said, you don’t seem judgmental enough.

That’s stuck with me a lot since I read it. I’ve referenced it in several sermons and teaching moments. It has really bothered me. Why?

How have we, as the followers of the One that is love, is mercy, is grace, how have we gone from being defined that mercy and grace, to being defined as being too judgmental.

Listen to what Jesus does today in Mark 2:15-17:

And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

wanted2The Word says that He ate with sinners and tax collectors. Those that were seen as less than, or not as good, not as holy, not as righteous. He ate with them. He loved them. He came for them.

He came for sinners.

Jesus Christ came for sinners. Of which I am the chief one.

We have got to be more graceful. How do we do that? Be remembering that we too are sinners that Jesus came to eat with. We too are sinners that Jesus came to save. We are not perfect. We are not superior.

We have to remember who we are. Remember how Jesus has loved us. And as saved us.

And love others in that way.

Today, may we seek to be like our savior. May we see to love everyone as He did. And may we seek to point others to His love and grace.

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

Before You Go

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Sorry these reflections have been sporadic or nonexistent the last few weeks. Been out pocket with revivals and Asbury’s BaseCamp. Should be back in the saddle now!

One of the things I love about each of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is that they each have a different emphasis and purpose they are trying to accomplish. I often put it that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are answering the questions of who, what, when, and where of Jesus’ life and ministry. John is answering the question of why.

But within that, each gospel is showing us something about Jesus life, death, and resurrection so that we have a full picture of who Jesus is. In Mark’s gospel, for instance, we are always getting a picture of Jesus on the move, always going, doing, serving, full of action.

That’s why today’s text is so important. Listen to what it says in Mark 1:34-39:

And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

jesus-prayingWe see Jesus going. We see Him healing. We see Him going out to preach. We see Him doing a lot. But, notice what happens in the middle before He goes out to “do.”

We see Him withdraw. And pray. Before He goes about His tasks, His purpose, His calling, He stops. He finds time. And He prays.

When I talk about the prayer life of Jesus, I always remind folks of this. Jesus wasn’t just another man. He was God Himself, in the flesh. God from God, light from light. And, so, Jesus, even though He was God, makes time to pray to His father. To seek His father’s face. To have communion with the Father.

Before He went to go, He stopped to pray.

How much more should we? How much more should we seek our Father’s face? How much more should we stop and pray? How much more should we take this moment. And stop. And pray.

So, before you start this day, before you start these tasks, before you get so busy, stop. Pause.

And pray. For, without the prayer, our going won’t really even matter much. If we accomplish anything today, may that something be prayer.

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

How to Live

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Jesus is asked what is the way to life. What must one do to inherit eternal life?

That’s a big question, huh? That’s probably one that you want to get right. So, Jesus returns the question and says, what is written.

Listen to how this plays out in Luke 10:25-28:

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

8562bf13209e799f6798813cdcb87bf4I love Jesus’ response. He says do this – love God, love neighbor, love yourself, and you shall live.

And I think that He is teaching us something bigger than just “living” for eternity. I think that Jesus is teaching us how to live today. You don’t have to wait until heaven to have to live. You can live today.

See, when we live for something bigger than us, when we live to love God, to love our neighbor, and yes, to properly love ourselves, then we are really living.

But, if we are living to chase stuff, or status, or fame, or our reputation, or whatever, than we really aren’t living. Now, we may be breathing, eating, and doing the stuff of life, but we won’t be living. We will be existing.

But when we live for that, to love God, others, and self, then we are living. We have a purpose. We have a plan. We have something really worth having.

Then, we are truly living.

Today, Jesus shows us to live. How? To love. God. Others. And yes, even love ourselves. Today, let’s truly live for something worth living for. Let’s love God with all that we are. Let’s do our very best to love our neighbor. And let’s forgive ourselves and see ourselves as the child of God that we are.

Let’s not just wait to heaven to live. Let’s live 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.

What I am Thankful For

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300px-StJohnsAshfield_StainedGlass_GoodShepherd_Dk_FaceThere’s a lot of things that we can be thankful for in regards to our faith.

We can be thankful for the goodness of God. We can be thankful for all the good things in life that God gives us, for the Bible tells us that all good gifts from God.

We can be thankful for the truth of God in scripture. In prayer. In worship.

We can be thankful for His grace and mercy that He gives when we fall down and ask for help.

We can be thankful for His peace that gives. For His hope. For His joy. For His strength.

All these are things that we can list on our things that we are thankful for. And they are good things. But, today, let me tell you what I am most thankful for. Listen to the words of Hebrews 4:14-16:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

It’s that phrase in verse 15. “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness.” I am thankful that Jesus understands.

The word tells us that Jesus was fully God and fully human. And in that, He is able to understand our temptation, for He was tempted as we are. He understands our hurts, as He was hurt. He understands our tears, as He cried. He understands us.

And it isn’t just that He understands, but He has sympathy. He has compassion. He has grace for us.

He lived as we live, walked as we walked. He understands. No matter what it is, right now, Jesus understands.

He is not uncaring towards your hurts, pains and loss. He understands. He cares. He is there.

That is what I am thankful for. Jesus understands what we are going through.

And He never gives up on us.

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.

No Check List

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imagesOne of the things that I talk about with groups here at Asbury is the struggle of what it means to be a Christian. How exactly should we live? What exactly should we do? What are the things that we should be doing?

What are the things that we shouldn’t be doing?

Man, wouldn’t it be a lot easier if God just gave us a check list. Now, He has given us things like the greatest commandment (love the Lord our God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself) and He has given us the 10 Commandments.

So there are some basics.

But, there is no check list. There’s something better.

Listen to what Paul tells us today in Galatians 2:19-20:

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Paul tells us this. We’d died to the law. We don’t live by the law any more. Ours is not a checklist faith any more. Well, what kind of faith is it?

It’s the faith where Christ lives in us and through us. It’s the kind of faith where we die not just to the law, but to ourselves.

It’s the kind of faith where just focus on Jesus. If we focus on Him, He takes care of the rest.

So, today, don’t worry about a checklist. Don’t worry about what you have to do. This, this is what you have to do. Focus on Him. With all that you are. With all that you have. Focus on Him.

That’s your check list. Focus on Him.

And if you do that. If we do that, He will take care of the rest.

Today, may we focus on Him, may we follow Him, with all that we are. And His spirit within us will take care of what we are supposed to do!

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.

You Matter

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you-matter1You matter to God. You do. Your life. Your fears. Your worries. All of it.

Even the things that you may think don’t matter. If they matter to you than they matter to God. You are important to Him. He loves you and cares for you.

You matter.

Sometimes it’s tempting to think that we don’t matter. Or our concerns aren’t big enough. Or important enough. Surely there are things that are more important to God than our fears, our worries, our lives.

Why should we pray about these things? Surely God has more important things to worry about.

Listen to what Jesus says today in Luke 12:6-7:

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Sparrows in the economy of Jesus’ day were literally of no value. They had no worth. They were the most unimportant thing you could think of.

And Jesus says that none of them would be forgotten.

You matter. You matter to God. You are important. Your worries. Your fears. Your concerns. All of it. You matter.

Never forget that. Take your concerns to Him. You matter. You are important. Never forget.

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.