Tag Archives: Jesus

You Can Do It

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Today, no matter what task is facing you, you can do it. In Philippians 4: 11-13 today, Paul is talking about the trials that he has faced in His life and in His ministry.

He recounts them all. Listen to what he says:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

He says I’ve had everything, I’ve had nothing. I’ve had abundance, I’ve been left empty. There is nothing that I’ve not gone through in some fashion in my life.

And he concludes, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Today, you can do it. Whatever it is you are facing, you can do it.

Or put, actually better, Jesus Christ, through you, can do it. Jesus, working through you, can accomplish whatever task it is that you have in front of you today. Jesus, working through you, can do whatever it is you face today.

There is no task too high, no challenge too great. You can do it.

Through His power, strength, and might. You can do it.

Through Christ’s power working through us, may we be faithful! And may we accomplish whatever it is God has for us 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.

Good Dirt

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Jesus often communicated with parables. These were stories that related the point He was trying to get across to common things that the people of the day would understand.

Jesus was followed mainly by the common people of His day. So, many of His parables talk about things they (and we) would understand. Family. Land. Word. Stuff that nearly every human deals with.

Today’s reading is one that I’m sure we’ve all heard many times, from Matthew 13: 3-9. Listen to what happens.

And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

In this parable, the farmer (God) throws out the seed (His Word) and some ground is receptive to it, and the seed gives fruit. And the rest of the ground, it’s either receptive at first and then dies away, or it is not all receptive.

Every time I read this story, the question goes through my mind. What kind of dirt will I be today?

Will I be good dirt? Or will I be the kind of dirt that rejects what God wants to do in my life today?

Today, God will reach out to you. It may be through this devotional. It may be through your own reading. It may be through the words of a co-worker or a family member. It may be through a song you hear on the radio.

God will reach out to you. He will fling His word into your life in some way today.

What type of dirt will you be?

Will you be good dirt that receptive to what God is trying to do?

Or will you be dirt that goes through the motion? Or will you be dirt that out-and-out rejects what God wants to say and wants to do.

God wants to speak to you today. He wants to give you His word.

What type of word will you be?

May we each be good dirt.

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 Way

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Jesus Christ is the way to life. That’s it. That’s it.

That sounds too simple.

It sounds too exclusive.

It’s not smart enough. It’s old-fashioned. It’s out of date. It’s simple-minded, foolish, and not at all fashionable in the world we live in.

But it is the truth. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.

That’s what He tells us today in John 14:6-7:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus Christ is the way to life. He is life. And life is not found outside of Him. So, today, a simple question for us to consider when we think about this verse.

Do we want to live? I mean, really live? Have life worth clinging to and hanging onto? Have a life worth having?

I’d think that almost every one of us really wants that life.

It’s only found in Jesus. He is life.

So, today, what are we chasing? What are we pursuing? What are we working on/working towards? Is it life worth having? Or is it life that will pass away.

Life is found in Jesus. I know it’s simple. But it’s true. Life worth having is found in our daily, consist walk with Him, through our reading, our prayer, and our study.

Today, may we truly find life worth having. Today, may we have Jesus.

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.

Do Not Be Afraid

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Paul in his ministry did a lot of pretty scary things. He went to some pretty rough places. He faced down some pretty tough dudes.

He was willing to do all of this, because He had a passion, a calling a desire to take the good news of Jesus’ love, mercy, and salvation to as many people as He could and as far away as He could.

Yesterday, we talked about what we are here for. What our purpose is. Paul knew what his was.

But, here’s the thing. Just because you know what God’s called you to, just because you are aware of what He wants you to do, just because you may be confident in this, it doesn’t mean you won’t be scared.

In our lives, we will be scared of something. We will be worried about something. We will be afraid.

Of life. Of challenges. Of circumstances. Of, whatever.

Listen to what Jesus tells Paul today in Acts 18:9-11 , as he goes about his calling:

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Do not be afraid. No one will harm you. I have more on my side than just you.

Remember, God has more up His sleeve than just me and you. God’s plan is bigger than us. We are part of it. But, the entire fate of the free world doesn’t rest upon your shoulders.

Today, don’t be afraid. Don’t fear. No matter what you are facing. No matter what you are up against. God is with you.

He loves you. He will not forsake you.

He will not forget you.

He is with you. He is for you. He loves you.

Today, no matter what is going on, here the words of Jesus to Paul – Do not be afraid.

Today, and each day, He is with you.

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.

When Your Prayer Life is Hard

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Jesus models for us, in our lives, what life should be like. He shows to us the model of Christian life and faithfulness.

Will we ever live as He lived? No likely. But, He shows us what we should aspire to. He shows us what we should chase after.

We should all, in our lives, try to be like Jesus.

And we get that in terms of loving, or serving, or forgiving. We understand that.

Today’s passage, through, it gives us insight to what we should try to be like, in terms of our prayer life.

Look at what happened into in Mark 14:35-56:

And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Jesus prays that this cup pass from Him. Yes, He chose the cross. He knew it was what He must do. He knew it was God’s plan for redemption for humanity. He knew it was what was to come.

And we see, that even while He chose it, He was not looking forward it. He was not excited about it. He really knew how tough it would be.

So, He asked His father, if possible, let it pass. But, He said, not it be His will, but God the Father’s will.

When your prayer life is hard, He understands. When you aren’t sure what to pray, He understands. When your prayer life is a struggle, He understands.

When we struggle with life, when we struggle with challenges, when we deal with all types of problems, He understands. He’s been there. He’s been in the place where He asked God to take the cup from Him.

But, how did His prayer end? Not what He will, but what God willed.

When it’s hard, he understands

Jesus went through the challenge and pain of the cross. He went through the pain of betrayal and hut. He went through all of this. And He emerged victorious.

So will you. Be faithful. Pray. Trust. Hope. Lean upon Him. Know He’s been where you are.

Trust in God’s will. He will take care of you. Even when your life pray life is hard. He will not leave or forsake you. Trust in Him. Even when you don’t know what to pray or how to pray. Trust. His grace is sufficient.

And through Him, just as He did, we will triumph.

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 2012

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Somethings in life are bigger than us. Somethings in life are beyond us. Somethings are bigger than our ability to understand or our ability to plan.

God’s plan of salvation is one of them. When we think about the cross and Jesus dying upon it, there are so many things that we can focus on.

Who’s fault was it?

Why did it happen?

What about Judas? What about the devil? Where was God? Did Jesus have a choice? Why did it have to happen this way?

Lot’s of questions. Lots of things that we wonder about. Lots of things that we don’t know.

Today, we see in this passage for this Wednesday of Holy Week, something bigger is playing out.  Listen to what happens in Luke 22:1-6:

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

God’s plan of salvation was bigger than one person, bigger than one choice, bigger than one betrayal. It was His plain to bring us to Himself.

He knew that we could earn it or work our way to salvation. He knew that we weren’t good enough or faithful enough. He knew that we could never do it on our own.

So He did it for us. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

And so, yes, the devil entered into Judas. And Judas made a choice. And earlier Jesus made the choice to come to Jerusalem. And yes it was bad and messy and ugly. Yes it was painful. Yes it awful.

And God did that for us. For our sin. For our redemption. For our forgiveness and salvation.

Yes, there are things about all this that I don’t understand. But I do understand this. Jesus loved you, and me, enough that He willing did it.

And it was God’s plan of salvation all along. I am thankful that God loved us enough that He went to this length for us.

May each of us, in our lives, be faithful to God today, as He was faithful to 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.

Monday of Holy Week 2012

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One of the conversations I was having last night with my Disciple Bible study was the conversation about the death of Jesus on Good Friday.

Did Judas have any choice in what was happening? (My answer, yes, all humans have free will). What if he’d have not done it? We were talking all the questions that so many have about the cross, the suffering of Jesus, and all that happened to our Lord.

On this Monday of Holy Week, listen to what happened on this day, according to John 12:1-8:

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 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.”

We see Him being anointed as for burial. We see Him say that He would not be there much longer. He knew what this week would hold for me.

And in reading it, the point struck me, that struck me last night in our conversation. In regards to his crucifixion, Jesus knew what He was doing. He chose to go to the cross. He chose to go to Jerusalem. He knew what was going to happen.

He knew that the cross awaited Him on Good Friday. He knew what was to happen. He willing chose it. Judas had a part to play, yes, but remember.

Jesus choose to lay His life down.

For you, and for me. He went to cross, suffered its pain an anguish. For us. For me. For you. For our forgiveness. For our salvation. For our hope.

Jesus knew what was happening. And He chose it. For us.

But, one other thing I stressed last night. No one killed Jesus. He’s not dead! He’s alive. He rose from the dead, He’s alive forever more.

On this Monday of Holy Week, let us remember that our Lord willing chose what was to happen, for my sake, and for your. And let us remember that even the pain, and agony of the cross could not defeat our Lord!

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 Matters

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I’ve never been one for arguing about theology. I’ve never been one to really want to fuss with others about what I believe and what they believe.

Now, I’ve got a theology. I know what I believe about God. And I really like what I believe about God. I think what I believe about relates well to what scripture says. And I’m pretty happy with it.

But you know what. You may not agree with it. You and I may have some real differences about what we believe. And you know what I’ve learned?

That’s ok.

Look at what Paul writes today in 1 Corinthians 15:12-17. He writes about what matters.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Jesus. His life. His death. His resurrection. I would add to that His return as well (which Paul does later). These are what matters. That’s what it’s all about.

Paul says that if Christ didn’t rise from the dead, then we are still in our sins. And our faith is worthless.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not still in my sins. My faith has changed my life. It has made me a new person. I am new, I am changed, I am different.

And it’s all about Jesus. It’s all about what He’s done.

That’s what matters. Jesus.

You and I may not always agree on everything. I am totally fine with that. But, if Jesus is your Lord and He has changed your life, that’s what matters.

That’s what matters. His life. His death. His resurrection. His return. Today in our lives, lets love as He would have us to love, let’s serve as He would have us to serve.

And let’s keep Him the main thing.

And if He’s the main thing, everything else will fall into place. Today, let’s focus on what matters.

Jesus.

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.

Doubt

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John the Baptist knew who Jesus was. Scripture tells the story that even while he was in his mother’s womb, he leapt for joy when Mary came to visit, for even then he knew that the Messiah was there.

John was the one appointed by God to go and to prepare the way for Jesus. He was the one that was supposed to make things ready for Jesus’ coming and ministry.

Some of his disciples even became disciples of Jesus.

John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

John knew Jesus.

So, it’s a little surprising to read what happens in today’s text, Matthew 11:2-5:

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

And yet today, in this text, he doubted. Life had taken a turn. John was now in prison for standing up to Herod and condemning him. And you condemn the king, it normally doesn’t go to good for you. So, he is doubting.

And what do Jesus say – look. Look at the lives I’ve changed. Look what I’ve done. Look what’s happening. I am who I say that I am because I have changed live.

You will doubt. It will happen. That’s ok. Doubt happens. Even John did. But when doubt comes, just like John, look around. Look at the lives that are changed. Look at the difference Jesus makes, in your lives and in the lives of others.

He has changed my life. He has changed the lives of so many others. And, if you let Him, He will change your life in amazing ways today!

Doubt will come. But remember. Remember what He has done for you. Remember how He has shown you grace. Remember how He has changed your life. That change. That experience. That’s God’s working in our lives.

When doubt comes, remember what He’s done. And look at what He’s doing. And hold tight to those things.

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.

Only Jesus

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Listen to a reading today from Mark 8:1-8. And listen to it like you’ve never heard it before:

In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.” And his disciples answered him, “How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?” And he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven.” And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

There are two things that stuck out to me today in this reading about the feeding of the crowd. This is a story that we’ve all heard a 1000 times, and when we’ve heard a story that many times, it’s easy to really listen and hear what’s happening.

As I was reading and listening today, two things really popped out.

First, why did Jesus do this? Verse two says this – He had compassion on the people. Jesus is a compassionate Lord. He is a good shepherd. He cares for His people.

Today, Jesus cares for you. Really. Your hurts. Your fears. Your worries. Everything in your life. Everything causes you pain and worry, He cares about. He has compassion for.

You matter to Jesus. You are important to Him. He really does care for you today. Don’t forget that. Don’t feel like you are unimportant to Him today. You are not. You matter.

And the second things that jumped out to me today was verse 8 – they ate and were satisfied. Some translations say they were filled. Jesus didn’t just give them enough food to keep them from dying, He gave them enough food to fill them.

Jesus doesn’t just care for you today. He wants what is good for you today. He wants for you good things that will fill you. That will satisfy you.

And here’s the thing. You know what is the only thing that will really satisfy and fill you today?

Jesus.

Nothing else will satisfy and fill you today. Nothing else will meet your needs in such a way. Only Jesus.

Today know that He has compassion for you, no matter where you are and what’s going on. And know that He longs to satisfy you with what is best. Himself.

Today may we find all of our life in Jesus.

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.