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Lenten Devotionals 2014

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Saturday Apr 19 - The Day After

The disciples are exhausted, distraught, and confused. The smug religious leaders are congratulating themselves.   
  
They don't know that tomorrow, the tomb will be empty.  They don't know that the battle has been won, that our debt has been paid, that nothing will ever be the same.
  
Choose a phrase from today's scriptures to meditate on as you prepare to celebrate the Resurrection tomorrow.
 
This Easter, may you understand in a fresh way "how wide and long and high and deep" the love of Christ is for you. 

READ: John 3:16-17; Philippians 2:5-11; Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 3:14-21 

Friday Apr 18 - Crucifixion

Today, Jesus was beaten, mocked, spit at, screamed at, sentenced to death and paraded through the streets. Then, they nailed the Lamb of God to a Roman cross.
 
While He hung on the cross, darkness fell. When He died, the earth shook. The great curtain in the temple ripped in two from top to bottom, opening up the way to the Most Holy Place, the earthly dwelling place of God's presence.
 
This account is familiar for most and difficult for all. What new things do you see? How do those things challenge your previous understanding?
 
Jesus died, but was He killed?  
 
What does the tearing of the curtain symbolize for people in general, what does it mean for you personally?
 
What symbolism do you see in nature's response to the Crucifixion?

READ: Matthew 27:27-65, Psalm 22, Hebrews 10:19-22

Thursday Apr 17 - Final Moments

At this, His last Passover celebration before His crucifixion, Jesus did some very unexpected things. First, he took on the role of a servant to wash the disciples' feet, since none of them were willing to do it. Next, Jesus took something very old, very traditional, very familiar... and gave it new meaning. The Passover Seder has its own liturgy and ritual and had been commemorated the same way for generations. He took the bread and the 3rd cup of the 4 cups of wine and gave them new significance, which would not be understood until later.
 
Judas left the Upper Room and Jesus relocated to a garden with his disciples where He prayed. Judas arrived with a detachment of soldiers who arrested Jesus, bound Him like a criminal and brought Him before the Jewish religious leaders. Through the night, they subjected Him to an illegal trial that included false witnesses, He was dragged back and forth between the High Priest, Herod and Pilate, looking for someone with authority to authorize his execution. Finally, Pilate leaves it to the people to decide. They elect to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus.
 
How does Jesus display his authority through the Passover celebration?
 
Jesus' prayer in the garden takes place after a ritualized meal that uses cups of wine as symbolic markers in the story of God's redemption of Israel from slavery. How does Jesus' prayer in Matthew 26 change your understanding of His mission?
 
Jesus refused to exercise any of His 'rights' through this travesty. Do you see this as weakness, authority or something else? 

READ: John 13:2-5, 12-17; Mark 14:17-26; Matthew 26:36-46; John 18

Wednesday Apr 16 - Scheming

As Jesus taught in the temple courts this week, two distinct groups are revealed: the humble and the proud. The humble came to worship, learn or be healed. The proud gathered to criticize and scheme. They plotted for ways to trap Jesus in His words. Like wolves, they were ready to pounce and tear Him apart if He said the wrong thing. "But Jesus, knowing their evil intent...," deftly answered the question and avoided their trap. Amazed, they left Him until a more opportune time.
 
Their opportunity came knocking when Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, approached them, offering inside information on when they could arrest Jesus without causing a scene.
 
Jesus' wisdom and avoidance of the traps set for Him seem effortless. Are there circumstances in your life right now that need wisdom? Whose wisdom are you relying on? Jesus'? or your own?
 
Picture an individual from the two groups mentioned above (the humble listeners and the proud schemers), what body posture do you imagine them taking?
 
What is the posture of your heart when it comes to the person of Jesus, does it look like one of the people you imagined?

READ: Matthew 22:15-22, Matthew 26:1-5, Luke 21:37-22:6

Tuesday Apr 15 - Authority

During Jesus' last week, He spent His days in one of his favorite places, doing one of His favorite things: teaching in the temple courts. It's fascinating to read the accounts of holy week in the Gospels. Jesus doesn't shrink from His mission despite the growing tensions. He doesn't isolate Himself from everything and everyone, brooding in self-pity, dreading His impending betrayal and suffering. On the contrary: He is more bold, more direct, more authoritative. He stayed in the moment and on mission, healing and teaching with divine authority.
 
Imagine that you were in Jerusalem at the time of these accounts; would you be more likely to identify with the defenders of the institutions or the people hanging on Jesus' words?
 
Jesus' teaching & healing brought mixed reactions: praise & indignation. What is your response to Jesus?
 
What would you be doing if you knew this week was your last? Would you be at peace or panicked?
 
READ: Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:18, Matthew 21:23-27, Luke 19:47-48

Monday Apr 14 - Purpose

When Jesus headed to Jerusalem this week, He knew exactly what He was doing. It was time for the fulfillment of His purpose. He was completely aware of the Jewish religious leaders' conspiracy to trap Him, and ultimately kill him. They were jealous of the attention he garnered, and most did not like the message He delivered, as it threatened their authority and exposed their hypocrisy.
 
Everything Jesus does this week is intentional, from entering the "danger zone" of Jerusalem, to "sparring" with the religious leaders, to washing His disciples' feet, to Calvary. Everything. Jesus was not captured or taken against His will. Jesus was not murdered or martyred. He was deliberately pursuing his mission. His life was not taken. He laid it down willingly.
 
How does Jesus' intentionality this week impact you?
 
If an account of your life were written, what kind of intentions would we observe?
 
Do you believe that God has given you a purpose?   

READ: John 11:43-57, Matthew 20:17-19, John 10:17-18, John 15:13

Saturday Apr 12 - Who is Jesus? -- I AM the Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega (ΑΩ) are the first and last letters of the classical Greek alphabet; basically, our "A to Z". Jesus was at the beginning; He will be at the end, and everything in between.
 
Tomorrow, the "I AM" rides into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. The cheers of Hosanna will turn to shouts of,  crucify him!" in a few short days.
 
   There was no one before Him;  
   there will be no one after Him.
   Jesus started it; Jesus will finish it.
   Jesus was, Jesus is, Jesus will be.
   I AM.
 
How has your perspective on Jesus expanded as you've examined "I AM?"
 
Faith in Christ is the beginning of your salvation; how is He working in you to bring it to completion?
 
As you think about the coming events of Holy Week, do you see Jesus as victim, martyr, victor or something else?

READ: Revelation 1:8, 21:6-8, 22:12-17, Philippians 1:6

Friday Apr 11 - Who is Jesus? -- I AM the Vine

Spring IS coming. Spring means it's time to plant your garden. Whether you like to grow flowers, fruits or vegetables, it all pretty much works the same. Peppers grow on a pepper plant, tomatoes on a tomato plant, and watermelons on a watermelon vine. You can't just grow a watermelon by itself. It has to grow on a vine. The vine is what feeds the watermelon, supplying nourishment so it can grow. When the bunny in your yard gnaws it off, the baby watermelon dies because it's been cut off from its source of nutrition. The vine can't do anything to make the watermelon grow when it's been detached.
 
It's no different in our spiritual life. If we are to bear fruit, we must stay connected to Jesus, the Vine. When we are attached to Him, we will grow and be spiritually fruitful. When we disengage from the Vine, we will be fruitless and wither spiritually. Jesus says, "Apart from me, you can do nothing."
 
How do we stay connected to the Vine?
 
What things in your life threaten to gnaw at your connection to Jesus?
 
What kind of fruit do you produce when you're on your own, not connected to the Vine?
 
What fruit have you seen produced in your life as a result of being connected to Jesus?
 
Has the Spirit "pruned" things in you that inhibited the growth of good fruit?

READ: John 15:1-8

Thursday Apr 10 - Who is Jesus? -- I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life

Words mean things - even tiny words, like "the." Jesus says here, "I am THE way, THE truth and THE life."   
 
Notice what He did not say:  He did NOT say, "I am A way, A truth and A life." 

"A" and "the": two tiny words, but two vastly different meanings.
 
The original Greek is more intense than our English translation.  Jesus is saying...
   ONLY I am the way...  
      (The only path to heaven and eternal life)
   ONLY I am the truth...  
      (The origin of what is real, right and true)
   ONLY I am the life...  
      (The only source of real life, whether physical or spiritual)

Jesus is not just one option, among many suitable alternatives. He is the One and Only.
 
Are you trying to work your way to heaven, or find a path other than Jesus?
 
What "untruths" have taken hold in your head or your heart? Christ, the Truth, wants to restore what is true.
 
Are you living life as Christ intended? Free from guilt & shame, full of joy & blessing?

READ: John 13:33-14:7

Wednesday Apr 9 - Who is Jesus? -- I AM the Resurrection and the Life

Scripture is clear that there is more to your existence than just this life here on earth. There is something after. Where you spend your eternity will depend on one thing: what you do with the Man called Jesus Christ. For those who embrace Jesus as the Son of God, our Savior & Redeemer, there will be eternal life. For those who reject Jesus and the redemption He offers, there will be eternal death. Your choice.
 
Death feels like the end. It's difficult to see beyond it, because all we know is the "here and now." It's so final, so mysterious, so unknown, and for many, terrifying. For believers, physical death ends your journey through this life, but opens up and whole new journey: Resurrection life. Jesus, who raised Himself from the grave and conquered death itself, IS the Resurrection and the Life. Death is nothing to Him. It has no power over Him, and when our identity is in Christ, death has no power over us. Because Jesus is the Resurrection, we can view death through the lens of hope. Death is merely the passage from this life to the next.
 
There is no resurrection apart from Christ, there is no eternal life apart from Christ. Even this life, the "here and now," isn't all that it can be, apart from Christ.
 
Does the idea of dying terrify you?
 
How much anxiety would you experience if you were dropped off, alone, in the middle of a foreign city you'd never been to? How would it be different if you were with a dear friend, who'd been there before?
 
Jesus' statement is not, "I'm the way of resurrection," but "I AM the resurrection." How does this statement shape your understanding of Jesus?
 
How will embracing Jesus the Resurrection change your view of death?

READ: John 11

Tuesday Apr 8 - Who is Jesus? -- I AM the Good Shepherd

Sheep eat grass. Sheep drink water. It's not complicated. The shepherd is responsible to provide for them in every way: food, water, shelter, protection. 
 
Sheep won't drink from rushing streams, but only from calm waters, so their shepherd guides them to safe, calm water sources and the best pastures. Because sheep are so helpless, they are easy prey for wolves, bears or lions. Shepherds are the defenders of the flock, leading them to the safety of the sheep pen, protecting them from predators, and when necessary, putting themselves in harm's way to rescue the sheep. (In the account of David & Goliath [1st  Samuel 17]: David refers to killing a lion and a bear to protect his flock!)
 
Flocks are often in remote pastures for long periods of time, with only their shepherd. Over time, the sheep learn to trust their shepherd, to know their voice, and to follow them anywhere. This bond is strong and is key to the survival of the flock.
 
Christ is our Good Shepherd, who knows what we need, who will provide for us in every way, and who has laid down His life to rescue us.
 
Are you relying on your Shepherd to provide the essentials for you?
 
Are you able to discern His voice? Are you learning to trust Him?
 
Is your trust growing to the point where you will follow Him wherever He leads you?
 
Have you wandered from your Shepherd and found yourself in the wilderness? He is seeking you, are you listening for His voice?
 
How does your perspective on Psalm 23 change based on what you know about sheep?
 
READ: John 10:11-18, 24-30; Psalm 23; Luke 15:1-7

Monday Apr 7 - Who Is Jesus? -- I Am the Gate

It's difficult to understand Jesus' analogy, "I am the gate for the sheep," without an understanding of sheep pens in the Middle East. There are two types: public pens and wilderness pens. (This is only one of many differences between the Middle Eastern and western perspective on raising sheep.)
 
Public sheep pens hold several flocks at a time, with the sheep of different flocks obviously intermingling with each other. When a shepherd is ready to leave the village to pasture his sheep, the gatekeeper opens the gate and the shepherd calls his sheep. His sheep follow; the rest stay, because sheep will only follow their own shepherd. They learn the sound of their shepherd's voice and will not follow someone else.
 
The wilderness is a dangerous place for sheep, primarily because they are truly helpless and profoundly simple (dumb!). Sheep can wander off, are easily lost and are incapable of defending themselves against predators. A wilderness sheep pen is simply a circular "wall" of rocks or branches with an opening for entering and exiting. There is no gate for this pen. At night, the shepherd literally lies down in the opening and becomes the gate. Nothing bad can get in and no sheep can wander off without the shepherd knowing about it.  Isn't this a wonderful picture of Jesus?  
 
Is Jesus your Shepherd? Or are you following someone else?
 
Are you making an effort to learn and recognize the voice of your Shepherd?
 
Are you following your Shepherd where He leads you, or are you wandering off?

In what ways does Jesus act as "the Gate" in your life?

READ: John 10:1-10; Isaiah 53:3-6

Saturday Apr 5 - Who is Jesus? -- Light of the World

Light: it exposes things and it illuminates. Sometimes light is uncomfortable, like when it's shining in your eyes or showcasing the dust on your coffee table. Other times light is comforting. Back alleys and remote parking garages aren't nearly as creepy when they're well lit. Dark woods aren't as scary when you have a flashlight in your hand. Isn't it interesting how little light it takes to dispel the darkness?
 
The Light of Jesus is the same. It will reveal areas in your life that are "dirty," it illuminates obstacles or areas of danger, and will guide you when the road ahead seems dark or uncertain.
 
Jesus called himself the Light of the World, but he also called us the light of the world!  When we receive Christ, He puts His Light in us to shine out of us wherever we go.
 
Is the world brighter because of the Light you carry? Or is the darkness swallowing you?
 
Are you walking in the Light?

Are there areas of your life you are intentionally keeping in the shadows?
 
READ: John 8:12, 9:5, 12:35-36, I John 1:5-7, Matthew 5:14-15

Friday Apr 4 - Who is Jesus? -- Bread of Life

Who doesn't love bread! Is there anything better than the smell of freshly baked bread? Bread is a staple in every kitchen in nearly every culture, unless you're on a low-carb or gluten free diet.
 
When the Hebrews were hungry in the wilderness, God provided bread from heaven: manna. They ate manna during their entire 40 year wilderness journey. When they reached Canaan, the Promised Land, the manna stopped. Manna was the only consistent source of food. There was provision for every day.
 
Jesus called Himself "the Bread of Life," because He is the only source that will satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst.
 
Do you have a hunger & a thirst for righteousness? Ask Christ to give you a hunger.
 
Manna was provided every day, but they were still required to collect it. What kind of daily effort do you make to satisfy your spiritual hunger?
 
Are you consuming fresh Bread every day, or are you trying to stay nourished on yesterday's portion?
 
READ: Exodus 16:2-5, 16:11-27, 16:31, John 6:25-35, 47-51, Matthew 5:6

Thursday Apr 3 - Who is Jesus? -- High Priest

After the Exodus from Egypt (at Mt. Sinai), God ordained that Moses' brother Aaron and his descendants would serve as High Priest. The High Priest was responsible for presenting sacrifices & offerings to God. He served as the intercessor, representing God to the worshipers, and the worshipers to God. The High Priest was responsible for following the strict ceremonial laws God had established for atoning for sin: both his own sin, and the sin of the people. This involved daily and annual sacrifices.
 
Jesus is now our High Priest. He is interceding for us in heaven. No other sacrifices are necessary, because He offered Himself, as the perfect, sinless and final sacrifice for sin. Jesus is not only the High Priest who makes intercession for us, He is also the Lamb, the sacrifice for our sin.
 
What does it mean to you that Jesus is your High Priest and is interceding for you?
 
How does it comfort you to know that Jesus empathizes with your weaknesses?
 
Does having Jesus interceding as your High Priest help you to approach God's throne of grace with confidence?
 
READ: Hebrews 5:1-3, 7:23-27, 10:11-14, Hebrews 4:13-16

Wednesday Apr 2 - Who is Jesus? -- Lamb of God

Passover was instituted during the 10th plague, when God set the Hebrews free from Egyptian bondage. The blood of perfect, innocent lambs, applied to the door frames of each home, protected the inhabitants from the plague of death; death "passed over." The meal of lamb, bitter herbs and unleavened bread gave the Hebrews strength for the journey ahead of them. God instructed His people to commemorate Passover every year, pointing them forward to when the Perfect Passover Lamb would be sacrificed once, for all.
 
Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, crucified on Passover, sets us free from the bondage of sin. The blood He shed on the cross "protects" all who believe from eternal death in hell. Those who put their faith in Him are continually strengthened for the journey ahead.

Are you still living in bondage to sin?
Has the blood of Jesus been "applied to the door frame" of your life?
 
Are you drawing strength from Christ? If not, what needs to change?
 
What other connections do you see between the Passover lamb in Exodus and Jesus, the Passover Lamb crucified on Calvary?
 
READ:   Exodus 12:1-3, 5-13, John 1:24-30, 19:14-16, 19:31-37, Isaiah 53:4-7, I Peter 1:18-20, Revelation 5:11-13

Tuesday Apr 1 - Who is Jesus? -- Creator

It can be easy to forget that Jesus was active before He was born as a human. Sure, we can imagine He was in heaven before His "appearance" in the Gospels, but doing what? Just sitting there at the right hand of God?
 
Before He appears on the scene as a baby born to Mary & Joseph, Jesus is involved! He was active in creation and continues sustaining creation, holding all things together.
 
Have you ever considered Jesus, the Word, as Creator?
 
When you look at creation, what does it tell you about Jesus?

How do you feel about the idea of Jesus holding all things together?
 
READ:  Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:1-3

Monday Mar 31 - Who Is Jesus? -- I Am

God's first introduces Himself by name to Moses at the "burning bush." God calls Himself: "I AM who I AM." While this might sound mystical to us, the greater point is that God is not some ambiguous, mysterious "cosmic force" - He has a Name. He can be known.
 
His Son, Jesus, who is called Immanuel ("God WITH us"), is the visible image of the invisible "I AM." I AM has come to us in the person of Jesus.
 
Is there comfort or distress in knowing a God who calls himself by this name?
 
"I AM" contains way more than our minds can handle. When you think of God, what descriptive name forms in your mind? Judge, Father, Friend, Redeemer, something else? 

Does what you know about Jesus challenge or confirm this view?
 
READ:  Exodus 3:13-14, Matthew 1:20-24, John 8:48-59, 18:1-6, Colossians 1:15, 2:9, Hebrews 1:3

Saturday Mar 29 - Self Control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and SELF-CONTROL - Galatians 5:22-23
 
Self-control is... well, obviously, the ability to control one's self!
  • Beginner level: controlling your body (children, adolescents)
  • Intermediate level: controlling what comes out of your mouth
  • Advanced level: controlling what you think about
 
Self-control is like a guard rail installed along the highway. The guard rail helps keep us on the road, out of the ditch, and away from on-coming traffic. When we exercise self-control, we stay safe and "on the road." Guard rails can be unmaintained, weak, rotted and flimsy or they can be constructed of concrete. How solid is your self-control guard rail?
 
As we mature, we learn how to control what comes out of our mouth (hopefully). The most difficult area of self-control is what happens in our mind & heart. No one sees what we think about, but evidence of what's in our heart/mind will eventually slip out. Jesus said, "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." Christ wants to clean up the source (our heart & our mind) so that our thoughts, actions and words are self-controlled.
 
Have you been diligent to maintain your self-control guard rails? Or have you let them get weak & flimsy by compromising?
 
Have you observed the connection between your heart & mind and your mouth??
 
In what situation is self-control most difficult? Does it need to be avoided? Or do you need to be strengthened?
 
READ: II Timothy 1:7; Titus 2:11-12; Proverbs 17:27-28, 25:28; James 1:19-20, 3:5-12; Psalm 141:1-4; Philippians 4:8

Friday Mar 28 - Gentleness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, GENTLENESS and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23
 
Gentleness might be another misunderstood virtue.  For many people, "gentleness" = wimpy & spineless.
 
In scripture, godly gentleness is most often associated with our verbal responses to others. Are your words harsh or gentle? Rough or polite? Cutting or healing?
 
There's nothing wimpy about a gentle reply. Which takes more strength? Ripping someone's head off when they've hurt or offended you? Or giving a gentle, self-controlled reply? God's gentleness is expressed in/through us when we respond with the Truth, tempered by His love.
 
What is your reaction to the term "gentle?"
 
Do your verbal responses need some softening?Are you driven by your need to be right? Or by Christ's Spirit?
 
READ:  Proverbs 15:1; James 3:5-12; Titus 3:1-5; I Peter 2:13-17, 3:8-17

Thursday Mar 27 - Faithfulness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, FAITHFULNESS, gentleness and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23
 
Faithfulness is the quality of being true to your word, keeping your promises, being reliable and loyal, proving trustworthy and believable.
 
It's easy to think of faithfulness in terms of marriage or our relationship to God, but proving faithful plays out in every area of our life: work responsibilities, volunteer assignments, and relationships with family & friends.
 
"Pie crust promises" are promises that are "easily made, but easily broken" (thank you, Mary Poppins).  Being faithful means we won't make promises we don't intend to keep. It means we keep trying, even when things prove difficult. Being and staying faithful is a choice. We can be faithful because HE is faithful to help us.
 
How good is your word? Do people believe you when you say you'll do something?
 
Do your actions match your words? Do keep your promises?
 
Is there an area of your life where you are having difficulty proving faithful? Have you asked the Lord to help you with this?

READ:  Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 100; Proverbs 3:3-4, 20:6; Colossians 3:23-24; Hebrews 10:23-25, 12:1-3

Wednesday Mar 26 - Goodness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, GOODNESS, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23
 
Being vs. Doing: When we receive the Spirit of Christ, the "fruit" we produce is not in "being good," but in doing good. If we are only focused on our own "moral cleanliness," while ignoring the needs of those we encounter, we have missed the point entirely.
 
When Christ conforms us to His Image, it's not just for us, but also for the benefit of those we encounter. Christ's transforming activity in our lives will always lead us toward acts of compassion: doing good. Sometimes doing good means getting dirty.
 
Do you neglect doing good because you don't want to get dirty? Do you convince yourself that someone else will do it?  
 
Will you ask God to help you see the "good works He's prepared in advance" for you today?  Ask Him for the strength & the courage to act.

How does it change your outlook to understand that Christ is transforming you for the benefit of others, as well as yourself?

READ:  Luke 10:25-37; Galatians 6:7-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-17, 3:13, 4:17

Tuesday Mar 25 - Kindness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23
 
Kindness: benevolence, consideration, tenderness, tolerance.
 
Isn't it interesting how one piece of "rotten fruit" (like impatience) can produce more rotten fruit? Impatience is usually expressed in unkindness: harsh words, a callous attitude.
 
Kind isn't something you "do," it's something you "are." If what's going on inside you is ugly, what comes out of you will be ugly. When we begin to mature spiritually, when Christ cleans out the "rotten fruit," the natural by-product will be kindness.
 
Is there "rotten fruit" in your life that is producing other "rotten fruit?"  Do you have to "fake" kindness, or is it something that comes naturally to you?
 
It's easy to be kind to people who are kind to you, but how do you respond to someone who's been unkind to you?

How do you respond when you witness someone being unkind to someone else?
 
READ:  Ephesians 4:29-32; Luke 6:45; Philippians 1:27; II Timothy 2:23-24;  I Thessalonians 5:14-15

Monday Mar 24 - Patience

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23
 
Patience is the ability to suppress annoyance when things aren't going the way you'd like them to. Patience can also be the ability to wait for something without becoming anxious or agitated.
 
Patience is not one of those virtues that Christ just gives us.BAM! You've got patience now!
It would be so much easier that way, wouldn't it?! Christ blesses us with joy or peace, but patience has to be learned, developed and exercised.
 
When it comes to our relationships, godly patience is really just "extending grace" to another... giving them space to NOT be "perfect." As we mature spiritually, we can grow beyond just "suppressing" our inner annoyance, to being less annoyed!
 
Is patience something you struggle with? How does it help to think about it as "extending grace"?
 
Maybe you're good at keeping your mouth shut (suppressing), but are you still seething on the inside? Will you ask Christ to help you see others as He does?
 
READ: Proverbs 19:11; Ecclesiastes 7:8-9; Colossians 3:12-14; I Peter 4:8

Saturday Mar 22 - Peace

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23
 
Peace.  
You know when you have it and when you don't.. Peace is not something you can fake or muster up. It's not something you can generate on your own by pretending to "not care what happens." You have peace, or you don't.
 
The kind of peace that God give is a sense of inner calm, an assurance that God has things in control, even when they seem very out of control. It happens when you let go of control and trust Him. This peace doesn't make sense in human terms... because it's not from us. It's a gift from God.
 
Have you experienced the "peace that transcends understanding?" Do you long for this peace? Only Christ can offer it.
 
Have you let go of control to embrace the peace that He offers?
 
READ: Psalm 4:8; Proverbs 14:30; Isaiah 26:3; John 14:26-27, 16:33; Philippians 4:6-7

Friday Mar 21 - Joy

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23
 
Joy is a misunderstood virtue. Often, we use "happiness" and "joy" interchangeably, but they are different!  
Happiness has to do with "me"... with MY emotions, with MY satisfaction in MY immediate circumstances. Think about how quickly we can move from "happy" to "UNhappy!"
 
Joy, on the other hand, is on the inside. Joy isn't about "me," but almost always comes from NOT thinking about "me!" It's an inner peace and deep contentment that isn't easily swayed by what's happening around me. When bad things happens, you can still have joy!
 
Think of a time recently when you experienced a deep joy. What were you doing? Have you experienced joy, even while facing something difficult?

If you're not experiencing joy in your life, examine if your life is "me" focused.  How can you reach outside yourself to serve others?
 
READ:    Psalm 16:11, 19:8, 28:7, 92:4; I Thessalonians 1:6; II Corinthians 8:2; James 1:2-3; I Peter 1:6-9

Thursday Mar 20 - Love

But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23
 
What is real love?
  • Love is one of those virtues that's been cheapened and "dumbed down" by our culture. "Daytime TV love" is sleazy & fickle.  
  • "Hallmark card love" it cutesy & gooey.  
  • Celebrity love is brief.  
  • Rock & Roll love is confusing ("Love Hurts," "Love is a Battlefield").  
Love comes in different varieties: we love coffee, we love our kids and we love a good bargain.
 
Again, what is real love? How do we know when we're "doing it right?" Are we loving and being loved like Christ loved?
 
What ideas in these verses do you find particularly challenging? Which aspect of love (from I Cor. 13) is the most difficult for you to consistently practice?
 
Who do you find most difficult to love? 
 
READ: Matthew 22:36-40; I Corinthians 13:4-7; Luke 6:27-28, 32-36; I John 4:7-21 

Wednesday Mar 19 - Fruit

When we invite Christ to transform us, when we cooperate with Him in the renewing of our minds, when we "put to death" those things in us that are unlike Christ... it will show in the ways we interact with others. The apostle Paul called it the "fruit of the Spirit": virtues that grow in us, as we grow in Christ.
 
These are not virtues we can generate on our own. They are a direct result of the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives. The truth is, we all "bear fruit"... the question is, what kind of fruit is your life producing?
 
What kind of "fruit" would you say your life is producing right now? What would others say?
 
Are you trying to bear "good" fruit without being tapped in to the Vine?
 
READ: Luke 6:43-45; Galatians 5:16-24; John 15:1-5

Tuesday Mar 18 - Void

When you're trying to make any kind of change, it's difficult to just STOP doing something. It works best if you replace it with something else. When you "get rid of something," it leaves a void... a vacuum. A vacuum WILL be filled with something. Unless you intentionally replace the "bad" with something "good", the "bad" will eventually get sucked back in to the void.
 
Spiritually, when you are attempting to eliminate a bad habit or behavior, consider replacing it with something positive. The Holy Spirit will help you discern what needs to go. Ask Him to show you what to replace it with.
 
Is God transforming your attitudes? Is it easier to see what you need to start doing? Or what you should stop doing?

Are you "putting to death" the sinful behaviors and attitudes God is pointing out? Or are you making excuses for them?
 
READ: Ephesians 2:8-9, 4:22-32, 5:15-20; Colossians 3:5-14

Monday Mar 17 - Being Transformed

When you desire to become more physically healthy, there are usually things you need to STOP doing and other things you need to START doing. Over time, the continual practice of doing the right things and avoiding the wrong things will lead to overall fitness. It doesn't just happen by itself. (Too bad, right?!)
 
Spiritually, the transformation from death to life happens both, in a moment, and over the course of your life. You "believe" in a moment, but it takes a lifetime to be truly transformed. Your transformation doesn't just "happen," either. While Christ is the One who does the transforming, He will only do it with our cooperation.

Are you cooperating with God in His process of transformation? Or are you still conforming to the "world?"

Do you feel like it's all up to you?

Are you patient with yourself in the process of spiritual transformation? Or easily discouraged?   What encouragement do you find from these verses?
 
READ: II Corinthians 5:17-18; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 1:6, 2:12-13

Saturday Mar 15 - The NEW Prognosis

There is a cure for our terminal spiritual condition! There's only ONE cure, but it's available to everyone and it's FREE!  
 
Anyone who's had a life-threatening disease knows how exhilarating it is to find a cure and to be given a clean bill of health. No more fear! You embrace life with joy, a grateful heart, and a new appreciation for each day.    
 
Christ purchased your healing. Have you accepted it?  
                       
Take a moment to reflect on what it means to live with no condemnation.
 
Have you thanked Christ recently for setting you free from sin & spiritual death?
 
Are you living in the freedom that Christ purchased for you? If not, what needs to change?
 
READ:  Romans 8:1-2, 6:22-23; Colossians 1:13-14, 2:13-14

Friday Mar 14 - Treatment Protocol: Receive

When we believe Christ, when we confess, when we repent... He blesses us, "the worst of sinners" with good gifts.   His gifts are free to us, but they were not free.  
 
Believing, confessing, repenting, receiving... It can all be summed up in one word: Salvation. Salvation is God's cure for disease of sin.
 
What do these verses say we receive when we come to Christ?  
 
Have you received the gifts that He offers? If not, what is holding you back?
 
READ:    Acts 2:38, 1:8; John 14:26-27; I Timothy 1:15-16

Thursday Mar 13 - Treatment Protocol: Repent

Some people have THE most difficult time squeezing out the words, "I'm sorry." (Why is that?!) Remorse or "feeling sorry" is only part of repentance. True repentance involves a change in direction, a change in behavior. Being sorry is easy. Change means it's real.
 
Do you have a difficult time saying you're sorry?
 
Do you find yourself confessing the same sins over & over?  Have you truly repented? Or is it just remorse?
 
Reflect on how you've changed since coming to Christ. Thank Him for it.
 
READ:  II Corinthians 7:10; Romans 2:4; II Peter 3:9

Wednesday Mar 12 - Treatment Protocol: Confess

Confessing comes in various forms: admitting, acknowledging, & declaring. Confession is part of believing in Christ. Confession can be humbling, but it establishes intimacy, whether with the Lord or with a friend.
 
Is confession a regular part of your relationship with Christ?  How difficult is it for you to humble yourself in confession?
 
What friends do you trust enough to be accountable to them?
 
READ: Psalm 51:1-12;I John 1:9; James 5:16

Tuesday Mar 11 - Treatment Protocol: Believe

Belief can seem so easy, yet be so difficult. How many times have you heard, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!" Because of sin, our diagnosis is terminal unless a cure is found. Believing Christ is the beginning of our healing. Believing may not be easy, but it is simple.
 
Have you believed in Christ to be saved?

Is it hard for you to believe because the "cure" seems too easy?

Have you asked God to help you believe?
 
READ:  Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 10:9-13; Mark 9:23-24; John 1:12, 6:40

Monday Mar 10 - The Cure

As soon as sin entered the picture, God set a plan in motion: to remove our guilt, to take away our shame, to save us from eternal death, and to restore our relationship with Him. 

Make it Personal:
  • Do you believe that God loves YOU?
  • Do you believe Christ died for YOU and that He provided the remedy for your sin?

READ:  Matthew 9:12-13; John 3:14-17;  Romans 5:6-8, 18-19

Saturday Mar 8 - The Diagnosis

Terminal. The severest side effect of sin is death. While physical death is unavoidable (none of us get out alive), spiritual death, our eternal & final separation from God, is by far the most horrible consequence of sin. 

Make it Personal: 
  • Are you "dead" in your sins? 
  • Have you hoped "good behavior" would be enough to save you? 

READ: Jeremiah 17:9-10; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23; James 1:14-15 

Friday Mar 7 - The Symptoms and Side Effects

Fear. Shame. Guilt. Separation from God.
Even when we think no one else knows what we've done or how we've acted, God knows. Sin separated us from Him.

Think About It: 
How do people try to hide from God?  What consequences of sin have you observed in the world around you?  What have you observed about how people behave when they feel guilty? 
 
Make it Personal:
How do you feel when you know you've sinned? 

READ: Genesis 3:8-11, 23-24; Isaiah 59:2; Psalm 69:5; Psalm 51:3-5   

Thursday Mar 6 - The Sickness

Sin. It's like a disease we're all born with, passed on to us from our first father, Adam. We didn't do anything to "catch" it, and there is nothing we can "do" to get rid of it.  We all have it!  
 
Think About It: 
Where have you observed the sinfulness of humanity this week?  What other "nicer" words do we use to describe what is really just "sin?"  
 
Make it Personal:
Have you ever considered your own sinfulness?  Do you try to call it something else?

READ: Proverbs 20:9; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10-18

Wednesday Mar 5 - What is Lent?

The 40 day period of preparation before the celebration of the resurrection of Christ.  The 40 days is in remembrance of the 40 days Christ spent fasting in the wilderness.  This first week, we will look at our sin, the reason Christ went to the cross. 
 
Think About It: 
Isn't it interesting how the serpent planted doubt in Eve's mind about God's goodness?  How did he try to twist God's words? 
 
Make it Personal:
What things does Satan use in your life to tempt you to doubt God or His goodness?  Do you see God as a giver? Or a taker? 
 
READ: Genesis 2:15-16; Genesis 3:1-15, 17-19
Flushing Community Church of the Nazarene • Pastor Terry Bate
810.732.0282 • 9500 W Pierson Rd; Flushing MI 48433
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