Apr 8 - Revelation 19:6

Then I heard what seemed

to be the voice of a great multitude,

like the sound of many waters

and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals,

crying out, “Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.

Revelation 19:6

Years ago, I knew an old Russian woman. She went to church with her daughter on Easter once. Then she complained about it for years – not to her daughter, but to me.

She said her daughter’s church was a “Happy Easter” church. That was the pastor’s limp greeting.

She needed a church that was bold in proclaiming the power of the resurrection. Eighty-eight years old and just few years from her inevitable grave, she craved the triumphant greet of the Orthodox and ancient churches …  

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Hallelujah!

Curious about this phrase, I looked up the word “Alleluia” (in all its spellings). Ironically, however, this word does not occur in the Bible!

Now, looking at the verse above, you’ll notice that that’s a bit of an overstatement. What I should say is that “Alleluia” does not come from humans. No hero of the Bible cheered it historically in the Old Testament. Never are we told that any human crowds chanted it – even as Jesus healed the sick. Furthermore, not even any Apostle wrote about it, even when proclaiming the glory of the resurrection.

So where does this word come from?

Heaven!!!

Four times in Revelation 19, the great multitude of heaven cries “Hallelujah!” Why now? Because in Revelation 18, Satan has just been defeated and the curse has been reversed.

It’s no wonder that the ancient church applied this back to the resurrection. The curse has been reversed. Christ was – and is – risen! Alleluia!!!

In Christ’s Love,

a bubbly cheerleader

(I’m honored to echo

the cheerful refrains of heaven)

Apr 7 - Luke 23:42-43

[One of the men hanging beside Jesus] said,

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

[Jesus] replied, "Truly I tell you,

today you will be with me in Paradise."

Luke 23:42-43

Two men were hanging beside Jesus. Both were criminals.

One, along with the crowds, callously mocked the innocent man – the innocent Messiah – hanging in the center.

The other confessed his guilt, and turned his life over to the Christ. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Isn’t it ironic … Dying more or less simultaneously with the Messiah, the first Christian to go to heaven was a hardened but repentant criminal!

“Remembering Jesus” means he will “remember” us. Therefore, the question is: How … and how well … do you remember Jesus?

In Christ’s Love,

an elephant

(a guy who wants

a long memory)

Apr 6 - 1 Peter 2:24

Christ himself bore our sins

in his body on the cross,

so that, free from sins,

we might live for _________

1 Peter 2:24

Fill in the blank.

In this short verse, Peter is telling his Jewish readers – and each of us – …

·         That Jesus is the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah,

·         That our Messiah – our Savior – died upon a cross,

·         That the fruit of this death was to “bear our sins,” to take them upon himself so that we don’t have to carry them forever,

·         That the result of the cross was permanently freeing us from sin.

What an incredible blessing! But now what?!

That’s Peter’s next piece of this verse. Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you from the sin and death, now what?! We’re free from death – hurray! – so now we are invited to truly live. But how? It’s time to permanently fill in the blank …

Here’s a clue … Nowadays, we often wink at sin. We know we aren’t “supposed” to do” certain things, but “everyone’s doing them” and really, “it’s not that bad.” Have you ever used those excuses? Have you ever minimized sin?

Christ Jesus never minimized sin. In fact, our sin – big and little – was so bad that it required his blood to conquer it. The violence of the cross requires us to fill in that blank with our “righteousness.” Christ himself bore our sins … so that we might live for righteousness.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who must have

something in his eye –

I keep winking and want to stop;

I want to live for righteousness

Apr 5 - Mark 14:41

He came a third time and said to them,

"Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough!

The hour has come; the Son of Man

is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Mark 14:41

Every week at worship we hear the words, “on the night he was betrayed.”

Each week, indeed, we remember that Jesus took bread and wine, blessed them, called them his body and blood, and instituted the ongoing feast of Holy Communion.

But what else happened on that Holy Thursday?

As you read this today, take a moment to journey along with Christ through your prayers. Read each event. Reflect on what it meant for him. Consider what it means for you.

·         Jesus gathered his disciples, desiring to share a final Passover supper with them.

·         Jesus broke bread and passed a cup, telling them that this represented a body that was broken and bloody – his body which by the end of the day would be broken and bloody and given for me and you.

·         Jesus predicted that one of them – whom he loved – would betray him.

·         Jesus told his closest follower, Peter, that this so-called “Rock” would deny his Messiah – his friend – repeatedly that night.

·         Jesus prays in the garden for his current disciples … and his future disciples.

·         Jesus, as he prays in anguish for “this cup” and this trial to pass from him, has his sweat fall like great drops of blood.

·         Jesus was arrested under the cloak of darkness.

·         Jesus was whipped and beaten.

·         Jesus underwent the sham of a trial in which the judge knew he was innocent, but allowed his execution to stave off a hostile crowd.

·         Jesus had to listen to the voices of the people he love, the people he came to save, crying angrily, “Crucify him. Crucify him.”

·         Jesus was whipped and beaten again, mocked and spat upon.

·         Jesus was stripped of his clothes and dressed in supposedly royal clothes with a crown of piercing thorns on his head.

·         Jesus, exhausted from violent abuse, was forced to carry his own cross through the streets.

·         Jesus was nailed to the cross.

… all on the night (and into the next day) when he was betrayed …

and … all for your sake.

In Christ’s Love,

a humbled, unworthy, and thankful man

Apr 4 - Galatians 6:14

As for me, God forbid that

I should boast about anything

except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because of that cross,

my interest in this world died long ago

Galatians 6:14

Why do people boast? Because something wonderful has happened.

Something wonderful has happened! Jesus died for you and me!

Paul is saying, “It’s not something I’ve done that’s wonderful. The wonder is what Christ has done for me.”

And even better, there’s a second wonder in this verse. Paul says, “because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago.”

My first temptation was to ask, “Has your interest in the world died?” But I’m not asking that because I know very few of us for whom it has – including me. I’m interested in sports, in television, in politics. I listen to secular music – country. I even read the entertainment page occasionally.

The question we need to ask, then, is: “What empowered Paul’s interest in the world to die? And how do I get some of that?”

I think the answer is Paul’s powerful understanding of his own brokenness. In Romans 7 he says, “18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me … I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

When we are a convicted of the true wretchedness of sin, then we begin to boast in the truest the blessing – the cross – saying, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to love

the cross more

and the world less

Apr 3 - 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message

about the cross is foolishness

to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved

it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

God dying?!

How ridiculous! How blasphemous! How foolish!

In ancient Israel, in the earliest years of the church, and even still today, some people could not accept a God – even a Son of God – who could die. Thus … how foolish was the cross?! Indeed, how blasphemous.

But to us who are being saved, the cross means …

·         That God so loved the world that he gave his only Son!

·         That Jesus so loved you and me that he gave his entire earthly life!

·         That sin is conquered and we are forgiven!

·         That death is defeated and we don’t have to fear the grave!

·         That we have a Savior who understands our pain and walks beside us in it!

Paul says “the message about the cross is the power of God.” Do you have these five hopes … these five confidences … these five “powers”?

In Christ’s Love,

Superman

(a powerfully empowered guy)

Apr 2 - 1 Corintians 15:3

For I handed on to you

as of first importance

what I in turn had received:

that Christ died for our sins

in accordance with the scriptures

1 Corinthians 15:3

What is the first most important thing in life?

It’s not bread or water. It’s not shelter or breath. It’s God’s love.

Jesus Christ died for our sins.

No. Make that personal. Jesus died for YOUR sins.

No matter what you’ve done. No matter what you’ve left undone. No matter if you can’t forgive yourself for it, Jesus can. He loves you. YOU. Personally.

If Jesus could forgive the people who literally nailed him to the cross – “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” – he can and will forgive you. Indeed, if you were the only person who ever sinned. He would have died just for you. YOU!

Today, at the beginning of Holy Week, confess your sins and trust in the full, total, and glorious forgiveness.

In Christ’s Love,

a former slave (to sin)

who’s now and forever free!

Apr 1 - Leviticus 23:40

On the first day you shall take the fruit of majestic trees,

branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees,

and willows of the brook; and you shall

rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.

Leviticus 23:40

For Palm Sunday, I was curious where the first mention of palm branches occurred in scripture. It is in Leviticus 23, during God’s explanation through Moses establishing the Festival of Booths.

This weeklong celebration was designed to help the Jews recall the Exodus when they lived in tents for forty years. Taking place in the Fall, the holiday has a harvest flavor. The week begins with a waving palms.

Calendar-wise, Palm Sunday has nothing to do with the Festival of Booths. Indeed, Palm Sunday occurred in the Spring, and Holy Week centered around a different Jewish holiday, Passover. Nevertheless, in learning about this, I couldn’t help but wonder … What if the Jerusalem Jews had celebrated the week after Palm Sunday like the week of Booths?

The first day of this week was (and is) the biggest days of this weeklong celebration, but God says, “you shall rejoice before the Lord for [a full] seven days.” What if the Jerusalem Jews had kept waving Palms and “rejoic[ing] before the Lord for [a full] seven days?” Instead, by Friday, the crowds were crying, “Crucify him. Crucify him.”

Maybe Palm Sunday had a Festival of Booths festivity too it. Maybe it didn’t. I don’t know. Nevertheless, I wish they could have kept up their worship for a full week.

And then I think about myself. Do I keep up my worship up for a full week?

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to

fully worship this week

Mar 31 - Philippians 4:19

Paul wrote:

My God will fully satisfy every need of yours

according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Notice what this verse doesn’t say … It doesn’t say, “God will fully satisfy every wish of yours.”

So what do we truly need?

We say we need food, water, and air to live. That’s a “need,” right? Actually not. When believers die on earth, we still live.

So what do we truly need? Only one thing lasts forever, and that’s our relationship with Father, Son, Holy Spirit … and other believers.

In this life, believers may go hungry. We will get sick and die. But when we truly come to God, “God WILL satisfy every [real, true, and eternal] need … in Jesus Christ.”

And everything else that we label “a need” will just distract us from this truth, this hope, this glory, and this power.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who needs to need Jesus

… even more

Mar 30 - 1 Chronicles 29:17

I know, my God, that you search the heart,

and take pleasure in uprightness.

1 Chronicles 29:17

God takes pleasure in righteousness.

The world does not.

Look at the tabloids. Look at reality TV.

Why is there such a hunger in our world for this kind of drama? I’ve heard people say that they’re drawn to it. They can’t help but study, shake their heads, or laugh at the train wreck of people’s lives. It’s the same reason, they say, that we all slow down to gape at an accident on the side of the road. Morbid – but inescapable – curiosity.

What does this say about our own hearts, though? We say we’d watch the News more if it was filled with more uplifting stories, but the TV ratings don’t lie. Sex sells. Violence sells. Scandals and conspiracy theories draw us in. Why are we drawn like flies to manure, and indeed, what does this say about our hearts?

Right now … celebrate! You’re reading this rather than a tabloid.

Every time you reach for the remote, try searching your own heart even before God has a chance. Begin examining your motives. Begin “tak[ing more] pleasure in uprightness” and you’ll find the “God [who] search[es] the heart” filling you with more joy and purpose.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who likes writing these

because it always refocuses me

(and it encourages me that you’re reading them

and hopefully, daily, refocusing you!)

Mar 29 - Isaiah 49:10

They will neither hunger nor thirst,

nor will the desert heat or the sun
beat down upon them.

He who has compassion on them

will guide them and lead them

beside springs of water.

Isaiah 49:10

About half of the Old Testament prophecies are encouraging. About half are warnings.

Actually, that’s not quite accurate. While the words of prophetic encouragement come more quickly to mind and sour in our hearts, the ratio is probably not anywhere close 50-50. Most of the prophets spent most of their time warning a repeatedly wayward people.

I don’t know about you, but when I look at myself, I have two parts to my heart. Half is wayward. The other half is bold, courageous, and faithful. And still another half – proving that I’m not so good at math – is faithful but tired.

If I’m honest …

·         probably 5% of me is wayward – like all of us, if I say I have no sin, I deceive myself and the truth is not in me (see 1 John 1:6-10, or Rom 7:14:25).

·         Probably 75% is of me bold, passionate, consistent, determined, and faithful.

·         And then there’s that other 20%. Too often I’m overly busy, regularly distracted, frequently tired, and persistently relying on my power instead of God’s strength.

How about you?! What are your percentages?

Today’s verse is address to that last 20 (to 80) percent of us. This world is often a dangerous desert. On our own, we are parched, sun-sorched, exhausted, and imperiled (and if you’re not today … just wait a few weeks). Our only true hope is God. When we turn to God for life, “he [will have] compassion on [us] … he will guide [us] … he will lead [us] beside springs of water” and, as it says in John 4:14, “the water that [the Lord] will give will become in [us] a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s 20% needs

to be continually refreshed

(fortunately, I know who and

where the river of life is)

Mar 28 - Acts 18:9

Do not be afraid,

but speak and

do not be silent!

Acts 18:9

In Paul’s missionary journeys, he found both success and opposition in Corinth. While “8 many of the Corinthians became believers,” in other corners Paul was “5 opposed and reviled.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like hostility, battles, and angry opposition.

Paul didn’t either. Fortunately, God knew this. Therefore, “9 one night the Lord s[poke] to Paul in a vision.” It was a message of encouragement. We say half of it in our verse for today: “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent.”

In verse 10, God tells Paul why he can be encouraged and be bold: “for I am with you.”   

Are you ever worried, afraid, or feeling oppression for the sake of the Gospel? Remember, ‘You-plus-God’ is always an overwhelming majority! Hear the rest of God’s word to Paul as encouragement to you in the midst of your worries and fears. “10 I am with you [and when I am with you] no one will lay a hand on you to harm you.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy with a big bodyguard

Mar 27 - Psalm 62:9

Those of low estate are but a breath,

those of high estate are a delusion;

in the balances they go up;

they are together lighter than a breath.

Psalm 62:9

Question: How much does a “breath” weigh?

Answer: More than a “delusion.”

In the balances of this world, when we weigh our standing or worth, we tend to rank ourselves.

In my High School, the jocks and cheerleaders ranked highest. The book worms were nearer the middle. And the druggies were at the bottom.

I’m not in High School anymore. Nevertheless, we adults still rank. Prestigious jobs and prodigious pay checks are highly esteemed. And character seems to matter increasingly less.

All of these things “rankings” are ultimately a delusion. The only thing that has weight and substance is faith. It’s not our works. It’s not our clothes. It’s not our job title. It’s not our car. It’s our faith. It’s our character – which is “faith active in love” (see 1 Jn 3:18).

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to

weigh as much as a

spiritual Sumo wrestler

Mar 26 - 2 Timothy 2:19

God's solid foundation stands firm,

sealed with this inscription:

"The Lord knows those who are his."

2 Timothy 2:19

At Spirit of Joy we have the bible memory and evangelism program for our kids. It’s called AWANA. It stands for “Approved Workers Are Not Ashamed.” That phrase – 2 Tim 2:15 – comes just a few sentences before today’s verse.

Part of AWANA is the call to unashamedly “14 remind” our broken world of the “8 Gospel [of] Jesus Christ, raised from the dead” and “19 God’s solid foundation [which] stands firm.” Therefore, Janie Owens and her crew teach our kids to be unashamed workers.

Are you an unashamed worker?

There’s two ways to be ashamed. The first is to never really witness.

The second was occurring in Timothy’s community. Paul was telling them in this letter that the false “talk [of] Hymenaeus and Philetus [was] spread[ing] like gangrene.” These had “18 swerved from the truth,” and were apparently causing others to swerve from the true life promised through the Gospel.

I hear Paul implying, “Hymenaeus and Philetus may think they are doing God’s will and are his ’15 approved workmen,’ but ’19 the Lord knows who are his.’”

I don’t know about you, but on “19 God’s solid foundation” I want to “stand[ forever] firm.” And that “stand” must begin now by not being ashamed.

In Christ’s Love,

George Custer

(even if the world thinks

my stand might lead in total defeat,

God raised another man whom they thought

died in total defeat … Jesus Christ)

Mar 25 - 1 Kings 8:29

May your eyes be open

toward this temple night and day,

this place of which you said,

"My name shall be there."

1 Kings 8:29

Solomon built the Temple.

Then he prayed.

Some people don’t like prayers like this. They think we shouldn’t ask God to “hear us” when we know he always hears us.

Now, I’m not going to argue with anyone who has that kind of boldness in faith! But I’m also not going to argue with anyone – including Solomon – who is having a heartfelt conversation with God.

Jesus said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive" (Mt 21:22). If you want to remind God to hear, ask him to hear. If you want God’s eyes to be open, ask for him to be watchful. It’s not redundant or unnecessary. It’s relational. It’s asking a favor from a trust friend.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who’s praying

for God’s eyes to be open

toward this temple,

“guard us from danger, Lord”

Mar 24 - Isaiah 59:21

My words that I have put in your mouth

shall not depart out of your mouth,

or out of the mouths of your children,

or out of the mouths of your children's children.

Isaiah 59:21

Have you ever said, “Wait … wait … it’s on the tip of my tongue”?

Usually that means that you want to say something … but just can’t remember the specifics.

God wants his word to be on the tip of your tongue. However, he wants you to remember the specifics.

In fact, not only does God want you to remember the specifics, but he wants you to tell the specifics … especially to your children.

Faith is passed generation to generation. If we don’t actively tell our children, they won’t tell our children’s children. And soon the faith will disappear. Indeed, the church is always one generation away from being extinct.

Have you converted the Word of God from eyes and ears (reading and hearing), to mouth and hands (a willingness to speak and an readiness to serve)? Do it now … for the sake of your children, your grandchildren, and the future of the church.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who often speaks with his fingers

(I type devotions, how do you share the faith?)

Mar 23 - Proverbs 3:7

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:7

I like puzzles. I like thinking creatively and solving them.

All of life is a puzzle. And if you’re a puzzler like me, that can be kind of fun. There’s always a new challenge to solve.

But what are we warned about in today’s verse? Not to be wise in our own eyes.

I like solving things myself. That means that the best I can do is the best I can do. And taking control myself, I too often miss out on the best God can do.

In my life, it’s not so much that I need to “turn away from evil,” as today’s verse says, rather I need to quit trusting in myself and trust in Jesus.

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who likes 1 Corinthians 1:30,

“Christ Jesus became for us wisdom from God.”

Mar 22 - Psalm 106:6

Both we and our ancestors have sinned;

we have committed iniquity,

have done wickedly.

Psalm 106:6

Iniquity. Sin. Wickedness. (You can definitely tell that it’s Lent in my daily source for verses.)

I must confess that I generally like brighter verses. But I must confess that I agree with the Psalmist: I’m part of the human generational curse. I’ve done wickedly.

Confession has two parts. First, we are called to genuinely and humbly acknowledge our sins. Some people are so prideful that for them, this is the hardest part.

Other people find another part of confession the hardest: Accepting God’s grace and forgiveness. Often we so despair that we can’t forgive ourselves, and thus can’t imagine that anyone – including God – could forgive us.

Psalm 106 is a litany of human wickedness … and God’s amazing graciousness.

·         6 Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity; have done wickedly. 8 Even so, he saved them.

·         8 at the Red Sea … 10 he rescued them from their enemies and redeemed them from their foes. 13 Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! 8 Even so, he saved them.

·         14 In the wilderness, their desires ran wild … 15 So he gave them what they asked for, but … 8 Even so, he saved them.

·         19 The people made a calf at Mount Sinai ; they bowed before an image made of gold … 8 Even so, he saved them.

·         21 They forgot God, their savior … 44 Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries.

·         24 The people refused to enter the pleasant land … 44 Even so … 45 He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love.

·         35 Instead, they mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs … 37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons. … 44 Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries.

Do not doubt that God can forgive you? Instead … “1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who accepts grace (part 2),

but needs to be more humble (part 1)

Which half are you better and worse at?

Mar 21 - Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast to

the confession of our hope

without wavering, for he
who has promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

What is "the confession of YOUR hope"?

For many of us, it's easier to talk about "the confession of OUR hope." "We" believe in God. "We" confess that Jesus was crucified, died, and is risen. "We" acknowledge that the Spirit empowers. That's good! But that's general.

What if someone asked you ... WHY? Why do you believe?

If you can't say more than something like, "I've been a Christian all my life" or "I like going to church," then maybe it's time to take a leap of faith! Maybe it's time to do something bold. Radical! Maybe it’s time to do something that you can't do on your own and only God can accomplish. Maybe it's time to quit being quiet and do something adventurously uncomfortable for the sake of the Gospel.

What if someone asked you ... Why do you believe? Start writing a new chapter! What is "the confession of YOUR hope"?

In Christ's Love,

a guy who gains power

and sees hope and heaven

only -- and whenever –

he surrenders

Mar 20 - Jeremiah 2:13

My people have committed two evils:

they have forsaken me,

the fountain of living water,

and dug out cisterns for themselves,

cracked cisterns that can hold no water.

Jeremiah 2:13

Forsaking God is an obvious evil. But why is digging out our own cisterns so evil?

First, you know what a cistern is, right? It's a pit for water. It must have a solid lining. Cisterns often hold the runoff from the rain. They can also be filled from nearby rivers and springs. In and of itself, cisterns are obviously not bad or evil.

The problem is the water. God provides living water. He is the only source for true life. "Digging out cisterns for ourselves" implies filling up our lives with our own agendas and trying to do life on our own terms.

At its worst, we're forsaking God's living water and are drinking from the world's pollution. These bacteria, filth, and parasites will steadily poison us.

But even at our best, we'll still only collect some of the good that the world can offer. Not only does the world's provision lack the nutrients of eternal life, but the best of our human efforts eventually erodes the lining of the cistern. Even the world's best will inevitably leak out, and we'll be left empty.

I don't know about you, but it's unlikely that I will formally and officially forsake God. However, I am constantly tempted to try and dig out “success” on my own terms.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants God to pour me

a little of the good stuff