God wants us to rely on Him, especially in our times of weakness.

Thank you LORD that Your power is made  in my weakness. There are days or months when we become powerless, physically sick, handicapped, or financially weak.  But we can call upon the LORD to help us. God wants us to rely on Him, especially when we are weak.   LORD, I want my life to display Your power, even in weakness. Help me to depend more on You each day, and to feel Your strength when I struggle.

Text:  Judges 7: 1- 25  New International Version

Gideon Defeats the Midianites

7 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. 2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”

5 So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” 6 Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.

7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” 8 So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.

Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.

13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”

14 His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”

15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.” 16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

17 “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”

19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. 23 Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. 24 Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”

So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. 25 They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. 

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  When my son was nearly three, I needed an operation that would require a month or more of recovery. Prior to the procedure, I imagined myself in bed while stacks of dirty dishes accumulated in the sink. I wasn’t sure how I’d take care of an active toddler and couldn’t picture myself standing in front of the stove to cook our meals. I dreaded the impact my weakness would have on the rhythm of our lives.

God intentionally weakened Gideon’s forces before his troops confronted the Midianites. First, those who were afraid were allowed to leave—twenty-two thousand men went home (Judges 7:3). Then, of the ten thousand who remained, only those who scooped water into their hands to drink could stay. Just three hundred men were left, but this disadvantage prevented the Israelites from relying on themselves (vv. 5–6). They couldn’t say, “My own strength has saved me” (v. 2).

Many of us experience times when we feel drained and powerless. When this happened to me, I realized how much I needed God. He encouraged me inwardly through His Spirit and outwardly through the helpfulness of friends and family. I had to let go of my independence for a while, but this taught me how to lean more fully on God. Because “[His] power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9), we can have hope when we can’t meet our needs on our own.  By Jennifer Benson Schuldt

[From Commentary]  Some scholars suggest that the reason God chose the three hundred soldiers who lapped water from their hands like dogs to defeat the Midianites (Judges 7) is because they were the ones who kept their eyes up. Those who knelt to drink had to put their faces directly into the water and thus couldn’t see around them. However, it was God who gave the victory. The way they drank water wasn’t necessarily important; it was the number of men that was significant (v. 2). If it had been the smaller number who had stuck their faces in the water to drink rather than lapping, God would likely have used them instead. by J.R. Hudberg

[From me]  Thank you LORD that Your power is made  in my weakness. There are days or months when we become powerless, physically sick, handicapped, or financially weak.  But we can call upon the LORD to help us. God wants us to rely on Him.  LORD, I want my life to display Your power, even in weakness. Help me to depend more on You each day, and to feel Your strength when I struggle.

Posted April 30, 2023 (at a time when I am physically weak due to cough caused by sore throat due to GERD) 

Jesus is our Great Healer.

Lord, by Your wounds we are healed.  You are the Great Healer.  Thank you for bearing the punishment that is supposed to be imposed on us due to our sins. You bore the sufferings and pain, to save us. Thanks for healing our relationship with God.  Thanks for healing our physical bodies.  Thanks for the healing that you will provide to people today, as we conduct the Medical Mission, in Tagumpay.   Thank you for the miraculous spiritual healing.  Help me to trust You in my physical challenges.

Text:   Isaiah 53:4-6   New International Version

4    Surely he took up our pain

    and bore our suffering,

    yet we considered him punished by God,

    stricken by him, and afflicted.

5    But he was pierced for our transgressions,

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

    the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

    and by his wounds we are healed.

6    We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

    each of us has turned to our own way;

    and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  On Easter Sunday 2020, the famous Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks Rio de Janeiro in Brazil was illuminated in a way that appeared to clothe Jesus in the attire of a physician. The poignant portrayal of Christ as a doctor was in tribute to the many frontline health-care workers battling the coronavirus pandemic. The imagery brings to life the common description of Jesus as our Great Physician (Mark 2:17).

Jesus healed many people of their physical afflictions during His earthly ministry: blind Bartimaeus (10:46–52), a leper (Luke 5:12–16), and a paralytic (Matthew 9:1–8), to name a few. His care for the health of those following Him was also demonstrated in providing for their hunger by multiplying a simple meal to feed the masses (John 6:1–13). Each of these miracles reveal both Jesus’ mighty power and His genuine love for people.

His greatest act of healing, however, came through His death and resurrection, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah. It is “by [Jesus’] wounds we are healed” of our worst affliction: our separation from God as a result of our sins (Isaiah 53:5). Though Jesus doesn’t heal all our health challenges, we can trust the cure for our deepest need: the healing He brings to our relationship with God. By Kirsten Holmberg

[From Commentary]  Isaiah 52:13–53:12 is called the “Suffering Servant” passage and is one of Isaiah’s best-known texts. In fact, The Bible Knowledge Commentary points out that this passage is repeatedly quoted in the New Testament, including Isaiah 52:15 in Romans 15:21; Isaiah 53:1 in John 12:38 and Romans 10:16; Isaiah 53:4 in Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:7–8 in Acts 8:32–33; Isaiah 53:9 in 1 Peter 2:22; and Isaiah 53:12 in Luke 22:37. The many citations from this text make sense when the “Suffering Servant” is seen as Jesus—whose great suffering would produce great glory. When matching up the descriptions of the sufferer in Isaiah’s text with the Gospels, it’s easy to see why so many believers in Jesus view this as a messianic prophecy.

by Bill Crowder

[From me] Lord, by Your wounds we are healed.  You are the Great Healer.  Thank you for bearing the punishment that is supposed to be imposed on us due to our sins. You bore the sufferings and pain, to save us. Thanks for healing our relationship with God.  Thanks for healing our physical bodies.  Thanks for the healing that you will provide to people, as we conduct today the Medical Mission, in Tagumpay. Thank you for the miraculous spiritual healing. Help me to trust You in my physical challenges.

Posted April 23, 2023 - the day when we hold our Medical Mission in Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna, where we will treat more than 200 patients

Jesus resurrected from the dead.

LORD, thank you for demonstrating to all of us that indeed You resurrected from the dead, and there were disciples and many people who saw You, after you have resurrected from the dead. Thank you that that is a Fact and not a mythical story. Help us, LORD, as we come running to you, to seek you.  You promised that when we seek You, we will find You. Help us to overcome our unbelief. Thank you, LORD, for dying on the cross for my sins, and then resurrecting from the dead, to show Your great and awesome powers. 

Text:  John 20:1-10   New International Version

The Empty Tomb

1    Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 

2    So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3    So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 

4    Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 

5   He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

6   Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 

7   as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 

8   Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 

9   (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 

10   Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

The full title of this painting is The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection. It is Burnand's best-known work.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]   On a trip to Paris, Ben and his friends found themselves at one of the renowned museums in the city. Though Ben wasn’t a student of art, he was in awe as he looked upon the painting titled The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection by Eugène Burnand. Without words, the looks on the faces of Peter and John and the position of their hands speak volumes, inviting onlookers to step into their shoes and share their adrenaline-charged emotions.

Based on John 20:1–10, the painting portrays the two running in the direction of the empty tomb of Jesus (v. 4). The masterpiece captures the intensity of the two emotionally conflicted disciples. Though at that juncture theirs wasn’t a fully formed faith, they were running in the right direction, and eventually the resurrected Jesus revealed Himself to them (vv. 19–29). Their search was not unlike that of Jesus seekers through the centuries. Although we may be removed from the experiences of an empty tomb or a brilliant piece of art, we can clearly see the good news. 

Scripture compels us to hope and seek and run in the direction of Jesus and His love—even with doubts, questions, and uncertainties. Tomorrow, as we celebrate Easter, may we remember Jesus’ words: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).  By Arthur Jackson

[From Commentary]  When John wrote that the disciples “still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead” (John 20:9), what Scripture was he referring to? Similarly, Luke says, “ ‘Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (24:26–27). What passages did Jesus expound here? The answer to these questions is found in the preaching of the apostles in the book of Acts. Indeed, they’d experienced the resurrected Christ personally, but they also had Scripture to defend this crucial doctrine. The apostolic preaching of Peter in Acts 2 includes references to Psalm 16:8–11 (Acts 2:25–28) and Psalm 110:1 (Acts 2:34–35). Paul’s preaching in Acts 13 references Psalm 2:7 (Acts 13:33), Isaiah 55:3 (Acts 13:34), and Psalm 16:10 (Acts 13:35).  by Arthur Jackson

[From me]  LORD, thank you for demonstrating to all of us that indeed You resurrected from the dead, and there were disciples and many people who saw You, after you have resurrected from the dead. Thank you that is a Fact and not a mythical story. Help us, LORD, as we come running to you, to seek you.  You promised that when we seek You, we will find You. Help us to overcome our unbelief. Thank you, LORD, for dying on the cross for my sins, and then resurrecting from the dead, to show Your great and awesome powers. Dear Jesus, lead me into Your loving arms today.

Posted on April 28, 2023

Wash each others' feet. Serve others.

Lord, you have shown us a great example of humility and servanthood, that though you have all the power in this universe; that, even though you are God, even though you are superior to your disciples, you took off your robe and washed the feet of your disciples, which is a task reserved for the lowest menial servants.   Lord, we are amazed by your love and compassion.  You demonstrated how much you loved your own disciples dearly.   You did that "feet washing" to teach us that we should not lord it over others, but instead serve other people, especially the needy and the most disadvantaged. Use me, LORD, for your ministry.  I like to use my gifts and talents to serve others to demonstrate my love for you. LORD, show me how to love others with the same love You have for me.

Text:  Matthew 20:28   New International Version

28   just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Text:  John 13:3-15  New International Version

3   Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

4   so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 

5   After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6   He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7   Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8   “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9   “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10   Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 

11   For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12   When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 

13   “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 

14   Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 

15   I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  Although just thirteen years old, DeAvion took up a challenge to serve others. He and his mom had heard a story about a man who called on kids to mow fifty lawns for free during their summer break. Their focus was to assist veterans, single moms, people with disabilities—or anyone who just needed help. The founder (who had mowed fifty lawns in fifty states) created the challenge to teach the importance of work ethic and giving back to the community. Despite the heat and the availability of other activities a teenager could pursue in the summer, DeAvion chose to serve others and completed the challenge.

The challenge to serve comes to believers in Jesus as well. The evening before He would die for all people, Jesus ate dinner with His friends (John 13:1–2). He was well aware of the suffering and death He would soon encounter, yet He got up from the meal, wrapped a towel around Himself, and began to wash His disciples’ feet (vv. 3–5). “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet,” He said (v. 14).

Jesus, the humble Servant and our example, cared for people: He healed the blind and sick, taught the good news of His kingdom, and gave His life for His friends. Because Christ loves you, ask Him who He wants you to serve this week. By Anne Cetas

[From Commentary]  In biblical times, foot-washing was a task reserved for the most menial servant. For a superior to wash the feet of an inferior was virtually unheard of (John 13:6–8, 13–16).

But John begins his thirteenth chapter by saying Jesus loved His own — even to the end. Christ adopted the role of the servant to wash the very feet that would abandon Him just a few hours later (Mark 14:50). To love like Jesus means humbly serving even those who fail us. It is, after all, how He loves us.  Jed Ostoich

[From me]  Lord, you have shown us a great example of humility and servanthood; that, though you have all the power in this universe, even though you are God, even though you are superior to your disciples, you took off your robe and washed the feet of your disciples, which is a task reserved for the lowest menial servants.  Lord, we are amazed by your love and compassion, and about how you loved your own disciples dearly. You did that "feet washing" to teach us that we should not lord it over others, but instead serve other people, especially the needy and most disadvantaged. Use me, LORD, for your ministry.  I like to use my gifts and talents to serve others to demonstrate my love for you. LORD, show me how to love others with the same love You have for me.

Posted April 27, 2023

The LORD is the true vine, and we are the branches

People tend to wander, roam around, seek pleasures in various places. People are pulled in all kinds of directions. But I want to stay at home with You, LORD.   Thank you LORD for reminding us that You are the vine; and that we are the branches; that if we  remain in You, we shall bear much fruit; apart from You, we  can do nothing. Thank you LORD for reminding us that if we keep ourselves apart from you, we will be like branches broken away from the tree, dries up and destined to burn.  You’re my life. Help me to abide in You.  Help me LORD to always cling to you and to abide always in You. 

Text:   John 15:1-11  New International Version

The Vine and the Branches

1  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 

2   He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 

3   You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 

4  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5   “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

6   If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 

7   If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 

8   This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9   “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 

10   If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 

11   I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]   Several years ago, we brought home an adult black cat named Juno from the local animal shelter. Truthfully, I only wanted help thinning our mice population, but the rest of the family wanted a pet. The shelter gave us rigorous instructions on how to establish a feeding routine that first week so Juno would learn our house was his home, the place he belonged and where he’d always have food and safety. This way, even if Juno might roam, he would always eventually come home.

If we don’t know our true home, we’re forever tempted to roam in vain search for goodness, love, and meaning. If we want to find our true life, however, Jesus said, “Abide in me” (John 15:4 esv). Biblical scholar Frederick Dale Bruner highlights how abide (like a similar word abode) evokes a sense of family and home. So Bruner translates Jesus’ words this way: “Stay at home in me.”

To drive this idea home, Jesus used the illustration of branches attached to a vine. Branches, if they want to live, must always stay at home, tenaciously fixed (abiding) where they belong.

There are many voices beckoning us with hollow promises to fix our problems or provide us some new “wisdom” or exhilarating future. But if we’re to truly live, we must remain in Jesus. We must stay at home.  By Winn Collier

[From Commentary]   One of the central emphases of the gospel of John is on the incarnation—God becoming human to be with us (John 1:14)—as a gift of God’s love (3:16–17).  

While church tradition and other evidence suggests John the disciple was likely the author of this gospel, the author is intentional about being identified only as someone “whom Jesus loved” (21:20), whose testimony is trustworthy (v. 24). What’s most important is that the gospel points us to Jesus as the One through whom we can rest in God’s love (15:9). by Monica La Rose

[From me]  People tend to wander, roam around, seek pleasures in various places. People are pulled in all kinds of directions. But I want to stay at home with You, LORD.   Thank you LORD for reminding us that You are the vine; and that we are the branches; that if we  remain in You, we shall bear much fruit; apart from You, we  can do nothing. Thank you LORD for reminding us that if we keep ourselves apart from you, we will be like branches broken away from the tree, dries up and destined to burn.  You’re my life. Help me to abide in You.  Help me LORD to always cling to you and to abide always in You.  

Posted April 26, 2023

God's grace is sufficient to enable us to overcome our weaknesses

Thank you LORD that you promised us that your grace is sufficient so that we can overcome our weaknesses.   Thank you LORD that in our weakness, You give us the strength and power. I thank you that my weakness is an opportunity for You to reveal your immense power.  Dear heavenly Father, thank You for being the source of my strength and guiding me each day.

Text:  2 Corinthians 12:9-10   New International Version

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  Soccer player Christian Pulisic faced several injuries that influenced his career. After learning he wouldn’t be in the starting lineup of the Champions League semifinals game, he was disappointed, but he described how God had revealed Himself to him. “As always, I reach out to God, and He gives me strength,” he said. “I feel like I always have Someone who’s with me. I don’t know how I would do any of this without that feeling.” Pulisic ultimately made a momentous impact when he was substituted later in the game. He initiated a clever play that led to the game-winning shot and secured their spot in the championship. These experiences taught him a valuable lesson: we can always view our weaknesses as opportunities for God to reveal His immeasurable power.

The world teaches us to rely on our own strength when encountering problems. However, biblical wisdom teaches us that God’s grace and power give us strength in the most trying circumstances (2 Corinthians 12:9). Therefore, we can move in confidence, recognizing that we never face trials alone. Our “weaknesses” become opportunities for God to reveal His power, strengthening and supporting us (vv. 9–10). We can then use our struggles to offer praise to God, giving thanks for His goodness and sharing these encounters with others so that they can come to experience His love.  By Kimya Loder

[From Commentary]  God’s promise to Paul that “my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9) shouldn’t be surprising. Power in places least expected has been God’s way of doing things since Adam and Eve’s sin brought both judgment on all creation and the promise of redemption.

Jesus is the epitome of the unexpected. Not only did the Messiah come as a baby from Bethlehem (both of which were not unexpected), but the way He secured our salvation through His death and resurrection was completely unexpected. This picture finds its most dramatic expression in the book of Revelation. When John is told to turn and look at the victorious “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5), he sees not just a lamb but one that’s been sacrificed (see v. 6). Strength in the unexpected places is how God works. J.R. Hudberg

[From me]  Thank you LORD that you promised us that your grace is sufficient so that we can overcome our weaknesses.   Thank you LORD that in our weakness, you give us the strength and power.   I thank You that my weakness is an opportunity for You to reveal your immense power.    Dear heavenly Father, thank You for being the source of my strength and guiding me each day.

Posted April 25, 2023

Jesus was willing to suffer, even to death. so that we might receive eternal life.

Lord Jesus, when you prayed in that Garden of Gethsemane, we saw how you really struggled very much, because you knew that you will suffer great pain and humiliation, and a painful death at the cross.  But you said "not my will but thy will be done".  You obeyed the Father. It is His will that such a supreme sacrifice be done.  Thank you LORD for showing and demonstrating to us your great submissiveness and obedience to the Father. Thanks for reminding me about the sufferings and pain that you endured.  Lord Jesus, thank You for being willing to suffer, even to death, so that I might receive eternal life.  Thank you LORD.  I am forever grateful. 

Text:  Luke 22:39-44  New International Version

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

39    Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 

40   On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

41   He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 

42    “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 

43    An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 

44    And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]   Walking through the Scottish National Gallery, I was drawn to the strong brushwork and vibrant colors of one of many Olive Trees paintings by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. Many historians believe the work was inspired by Jesus’ experience in the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. What especially caught my eye on the canvas of the painting were the small red splotches of paint among the ancient trees.

        Known as the Mount of Olives because of all the olive trees located on the mountainside, Jesus went there to pray on the night that He predicted His disciple Judas would betray Him. Jesus was overwhelmed with anguish knowing the betrayal would result in His crucifixion. As He prayed, “his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Jesus’ agony was evident in the garden as He prepared for the pain and humiliation of a public execution that would result in the physical shedding of His blood on that Good Friday long ago.

        The red paint on Van Gogh’s painting reminds us that Jesus had to “suffer many things and be rejected” (Mark 8:31). While suffering is part of His story, however, it no longer dominates the picture. Jesus’ victory over death transforms even our suffering, allowing it to become only a part of the beautiful landscape of our lives He’s creating. By Lisa M. Samra

[From Commentary]  After sharing Passover (the Last Supper) with His disciples (Matthew 26:17–30), Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray knowing He’d suffer and die a horrific death. Those closest to Him would desert Him, and Peter would deny Him three times (Luke 22:34, 54–62). Yet Jesus also knew that after three days He would rise again (Matthew 12:40; Mark 8:31).

        The Mount of Olives, a ridge in the Judean mountains lying east of Jerusalem and the Kidron Valley, is first mentioned in the Old Testament when King David fled from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15:30). Solomon later chose this mountain to build “a high place” for the “detestable” foreign gods of the Ammonites and Moabites (1 Kings 11:7). Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9–12) and will return to the same place, fulfilling the vision of the prophet that the mount “will be split in two from east to west” (Zechariah 14:4).  by Alyson Kieda

[From me]  Lord Jesus, when you prayed in that Garden of Gethsemane, we saw how you really struggled very much, because you knew that you will suffer great pain and humiliation, and a painful death at the cross.  But you said "not my will but thy will be done".  You obeyed the Father. It is His will that such a supreme sacrifice be done.  Thank you LORD for showing and demonstrating to us your great submissiveness and obedience to the Father. Thanks for reminding me about the sufferings and pain that you endured.  Lord Jesus, thank You for being willing to suffer, even to death, so that I might receive eternal life.  Thank you LORD.  I am forever grateful. 

Posted April 24, 2023

All of creation sings praise to the LORD.

All of creation praises God. That is a basic truth that we need to grasp and  understand.  Jesus said that even the stones cry out (in praise). Now, we know that there are stones called Bluestones that make musical sounds. Our God deserves all of our worship, praise, and gratitude. Lord, when my heart grows sad and weary, and I lose sight of Your worthiness, please remind me that all creation sings Your praise.

        This same passage says that Jesus wept for Jerusalem, even in the midst of joyful singing of the crowd.  Celebration and lamentation, praising and weeping meet in Luke 19:37–42. While the crowds had seen the miracles and celebrated, what they hadn’t seen was the judgment that was to come because of the rejection of Jesus. Because of that, Jesus wept.   Jesus had compassion for the many people that will be killed by the enemies of Jerusalem. 

Text:  Luke 19:37-42  New International Version

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 

42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  Bluestone is a fascinating variety of rock. When struck, certain bluestones will ring with a musical tone. Maenclochog, a Welsh village whose name means “bell” or “ringing stones,” used bluestones as church bells until the eighteenth century. Interestingly, the ruins of Stonehenge, in England, are built of bluestone, causing some to wonder if that landmark’s original purpose was musical. Some researchers claim that the bluestone at Stonehenge was brought from near Maenclochog, nearly two hundred miles away, because of their unique acoustic properties.

Musical ringing stones are yet another of the wonders of God’s great creation, and they remind us of something Jesus said during His Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem. As the people praised Jesus, the religious leaders demanded Him to rebuke them. “ ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out’ ” (Luke 19:40).

If bluestone can make music, and if Jesus made mention of even the stones bearing witness to their Creator, how might we express our own praise to the One who made us, loves us, and rescued us? He is worthy of all worship. May the Holy Spirit stir us to give Him the honor He deserves. All of creation praises Him.  By Bill Crowder

[From Commentary]  When we think of Palm Sunday, we think of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to the joyful, loud shouts of the crowd who rejoiced for “all the miracles they had seen” (Luke 19:37). In their celebration, they sang Psalm 118:26, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” However, in Luke 19:41–42, we see different emotions expressed, ones we don’t normally associate with this day of celebration and welcome of Jesus. In verse 41, we have the image of Jesus lamenting: “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it” (see also 13:31–35). Celebration and lamentation, praising and weeping meet in Luke 19:37–42. While the crowds had seen the miracles and celebrated, what they hadn’t seen was the judgment that was to come because of the rejection of Jesus. Because of that, Jesus wept.  By Arthur Jackson

[From me]  All of creation praises God. That is a basic truth we need to understand.  Jesus said that even the stones cry out (in praise). Now, we know that there are stones called Bluestones that make musical sounds. Our God deserves all of our worship, praise, and gratitude. Lord, when my heart grows sad and weary, and I lose sight of Your worthiness, please remind me that all creation sings Your praise.

This same passage says that Jesus wept for Jerusalem, even in the midst of joyful singing of the crowd.  Celebration and lamentation, praising and weeping meet in Luke 19:37–42. While the crowds had seen the miracles and celebrated, what they hadn’t seen was the judgment that was to come because of the rejection of Jesus. Because of that, Jesus wept.

Jesus had compassion for the many people that will be killed by the enemies of Jerusalem. 

Posted April 23, 2023

God forgives us our sins and gives us righteousness.

The LORD forgives our sins, if we confess our sins to Him.  He washes away and cover all our sins of the past.   He puts them out of sight.   We are considered righteous because God the Father imputes the righteousness of Jesus into us.   We dont deserve those gifts, but because of God's love and mercy, He gave us forgiveness and righteousness.   There is great joy for those whose sin is put out of sight! (Psalm 32:1).  The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.  We should rejoice in the Lord and be glad, because we are now righteous.  Let us sing because we were made upright in our hearts.   Thank you LORD that you have forgiven me for my past sins. Thank you LORD for making me pure within.

Text:  Psalm 32   New International Version

1   Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2   Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3   When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

4   For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

5   Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.   I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”   And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

6   Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found;  surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.

7   You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

8   I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;  I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

9   Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

10  Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.

11   Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]   José, a young believer in Jesus, was visiting his brother’s church. As he entered the sanctuary prior to the service, his brother’s face fell when he saw him. José’s tattoos, covering both arms, were visible since he was wearing a T-shirt. His brother told him to go home and put on a long-sleeved shirt, for many of José’s tattoos reflected the ways of his past. José suddenly felt dirty. But another man overheard the brothers’ interaction and brought José to the pastor, telling him what had happened. The pastor smiled and unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a large tattoo on his chest—something from his own past. He assured José that because God had made him pure from the inside out, he didn't need to cover his arms.

David experienced the joy of being made pure by God. After confessing his sin to Him, the king wrote, “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!” (Psalm 32:1 nlt). He could now “shout for joy” with others “whose hearts are pure!” (v. 11 nlt). The apostle Paul later quoted Psalm 32:1–2 in Romans 4:7–8, a passage declaring that faith in Jesus leads to salvation and a pure standing before Him (see Romans 4:23–25). 

Our purity in Jesus is much more than skin deep, for He knows and purifies our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 John 1:9). May we rejoice in His purifying work today. By Tom Felten

[From Commentary]  While some of David’s psalms contain information in the superscription about the historical context that birthed the song, Psalm 32 doesn’t. It merely ascribes authorship to David and adds: “A maskil” (a meditation). Despite this lack of information, some scholars dogmatically declare Psalm 32 to be a companion psalm to Psalm 51, which describes David’s repentance following his sin with Bathsheba. It’s clear that Psalm 32 contains elements of confession and repentance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s related to the Bathsheba incident. We need to be careful about making assumptions regarding the biblical text and say no more and no less than what the Bible says. by Bill Crowder

[From me]  The LORD forgives our sins, if we confess our sins to Him.  He washes away and cover all our sins of the past.   He puts them out of sight.   We are considered righteous because God the Father imputes the righteousness of Jesus into us.   We dont deserve, but because of God's love and mercy, He gave us forgiveness and righteousness.   There is great joy for those whose sin is put out of sight! (Psalm 32:1).  Thank you LORD that you have forgiven me for my past sins. Thank you LORD for making me pure within.

Posted April 22, 2023

God wants us to rely on the Holy Spirit to resist the urge to sin.

As believers in Jesus, we experience daily struggle between doing sinful and doing good things.  In fact, we still have a sinful nature, it is inside our bodies, it is like a dead corpse tied to our body and we cannot remove it until after we've attained full glorification in the LORD.  That sinful nature prompts us to sin.  We should not depend solely on our own strength to do what’s right. We should always ask the Holy Spirit to help us resist the urge to do sin.  It’s through the power of Christ’s Spirit that believers can experience freedom, life, and peace.  One day, when this life is over (when we have attained glorification), then we’ll be truly dead to sinful impulses. Until then, however, we can and should rely on the power of the LORD whose death and resurrection won the victory over sin. 

Text:  Romans 7:15-20  New International Version

15   I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 

16    And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 

17   As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 

18   For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 

19    For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 

20   Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  When I was a kid, a decommissioned World War II tank was put on display in a park near my home. Multiple signs warned of the danger of climbing on the vehicle, but a couple of my friends immediately scrambled up. Some of us were a bit reluctant, but eventually we did the same. One boy refused, pointing to the posted signs. Another jumped down quickly as an adult approached. The temptation to have fun outweighed our desire to follow rules.

There’s a heart of childish rebellion lurking within all of us. We don’t like being told what to do or not to do. Yet we read in James that when we know what is right and don’t do it—it is sin (4:17). In Romans, the apostle Paul wrote: “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (7:19–20).

As believers in Jesus, we may puzzle over our struggle with sin. But too often we depend solely on our own strength to do what’s right. One day, when this life is over, we’ll be truly dead to sinful impulses. Until then, however, we can rely on the power of the One whose death and resurrection won the victory over sin.  By Cindy Hess Kasper

[From Commentary]  Romans 7:14–25 has been a source of much debate in scholarship. Many have believed it describes Paul’s ongoing struggle with sin because it speaks in the present tense and uses the first person (“I”). However, it’s difficult to reconcile Romans 7’s description of being a “slave to sin” (v. 14) with the state of freedom from sin’s bondage described as a gift of the Spirit to all believers in chapters 6 and 8 (6:17–18; 8:1–2). Today, many scholars believe that Romans 7’s vivid description of doing “what I do not want to do” (v. 16) wasn’t describing Paul’s then-current personal struggle. Instead, he may have been using a literary technique of speaking in the present tense to dramatize the futility of seeking salvation through the law (8:3). It’s through the power of Christ’s Spirit that believers can experience freedom, life, and peace (vv. 1–3, 6, 10).

By Monica La Rose

[From me]  As believers in Jesus, we experience daily struggle between doing sinful and doing good things.  We still have a sinful nature, it is inside our bodies, it is like a dead corpse tied to our body and we cannot remove it until after we have attained full glorification in the LORD.  That sinful nature prompts us to sin.  We should not depend solely on our own strength to do what’s right.   We should always ask the Holy Spirit to help us resist the urge to do sin.  It’s through the power of Christ’s Spirit that believers can experience freedom, life, and peace.  One day, when this life is over (when we have attained glorification), then we’ll be truly dead to sinful impulses. Until then, however, we can and should rely on the power of the LORD whose death and resurrection won the victory over sin. 

Posted April 21, 2022

God rescues us

In the midst of chaos, violence and mayhem, the plan of God always prevails.  God’s plan is at work in our lives, sometimes in ways that we do not understand.  God rescues us. When calamity or bad things happen, sometimes we become desperate, discouraged and lose all hope. But we should not lose hope because our Heavenly Father has a plan to help us or accomplish something that we dont even know or understand.  God is sovereign in all things.  Nothing happens without the knowledge and permission of God. Lord, thank you for your rescue. Help me to trust Your perfect plan.

Text:  Exodus 2:1-10  New International Version

The Birth of Moses

1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman,

2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 

3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket[a] for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 

4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 

6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”

8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 

9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.

10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  Their precise ages are unknown. One was found on the steps of a church; the other knew only that she’d been raised by nuns. Born in Poland during World War II, for nearly eighty years neither Halina nor Krystyna knew about each other. Then DNA test results revealed them to be sisters and led to a joyful reunion. It also revealed their Jewish heritage, explaining why they’d been abandoned. Evil people had marked the girls for death simply because of their identity.

Imagining a frightened mother who leaves her threatened children where they might be rescued calls to mind the story of Moses. As a Hebrew baby boy, he was marked for genocide (see Exodus 1:22). His mother strategically placed him in the Nile (2:3), giving him a chance for survival. God had a plan she couldn’t have dreamed of—to rescue His people through Moses.

The story of Moses points us to the story of Jesus. As Pharaoh had sought the murder of Hebrew boys, Herod ordered the slaughter of all the baby boys in Bethlehem (see Matthew 2:13–16).

Behind all such hatred—especially against children—is our enemy the devil. Such violence doesn’t take God by surprise. He had plans for Moses, and He has plans for you and me. And through His Son, Jesus, He’s revealed His biggest plan—to rescue and restore those who once were His enemies. by Tim Gustafson

[From Commentary]   Similar to the kindness of Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:6) is the compassion of the Hebrew midwives in the previous chapter. Pharaoh had commanded Shiphrah and Puah to kill any baby boys born to the Hebrew women (1:15–16). Were there only two midwives? We don’t know, but these two are singled out for their moral courage. The midwives “feared God” and so defied Pharaoh’s vile command (v. 17). When he confronted them, they lied about it (vv. 18–19). God blessed them for their fear of Him rather than Pharaoh, and for their actions in defense of vulnerable life (v. 21).  by Tim Gustafson

[From me]  In the midst of chaos, violence and mayhem, the plan of God always prevails.  God’s plan is at work in our lives, sometimes in ways that we do not understand.  God rescues us. When calamity or bad things happen, sometimes we become desperate, discouraged and lose all hope. But we should not lose hope because our Heavenly Father has a plan to help us or accomplish something that we dont even know or understand.  God is sovereign in all things.  Nothing happens without the knowledge and permission of God. Lord, Thank You for Your rescue. Help me to trust Your perfect plan.

Posted April 20, 2023

God wants us to pray fervently

God wants us to pray;  to pray when we are in trouble, when we are in need, and to pray when we are sick or when other people are sick. The apostle James assures us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).   God wants us to always pray fervently.   Lord, help me to continually be in prayer and not to give up. Thank You for Your love that helps me persevere.

Text:   James 5:13-16  New International Version

The Prayer of Faith

13    Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 

14    Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 

15    And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 

16    Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  Chuck, an actor and martial artist, honored his mother on her hundredth birthday by sharing how instrumental she’d been in his spiritual transformation. “Mom has been an example of perseverance and faith,” he wrote. She raised three boys on her own during the Great Depression; suffered the death of two spouses, a son, a stepson, and grandchildren; and endured many surgeries. “[She] has prayed for me all my life, through thick and thin.” He continued, “When nearly losing my soul to Hollywood, she was back home praying for my success and salvation.” He concluded, “I thank [my mom] for helping God to make me all I can and should be.”

The prayers of Chuck’s mother helped him to find salvation—and a godly wife. She prayed fervently for her son, and God heard her prayers. We don’t always get our prayers answered the way we’d like, so we cannot use prayer as a magic wand. However, James assures us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (5:16). Like this mom, we’re to continue to pray for the sick and those in trouble (vv. 13–15). When, like her, we commune with God through prayer, we find encouragement and peace and the assurance that the Spirit is at work.

Does someone in your life need salvation or healing or help? Lift your prayers to God in faith. He’s listening.  By Alyson Kieda

[From Commentary]   The words pray[ed] or prayer occur seven times in James 5:13–18 (niv), but they’re derived from three different Greek words. The word rendered “pray” in verse 13 (also vv. 14, 17, 18) is proseuchomai, to pray to God, to supplicate, worship. This is the word most often used in the New Testament in reference to prayer. The word translated “prayer” in verse 15 is euchē, which denotes a wish, expressed as a petition to God. The verb form of this word, euchomai, appears in verse 16: “pray for each other so that you may be healed.” The other word translated “prayer” in James 5 also appears in verse 16: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” The word here is deēsis, a petition, prayer, request, supplication. Prayers of various kinds find their way to the listening ear and caring heart of God.  Arthur Jackson

[From me]  God wants us to pray;  to pray when we are in trouble, when we are in need, and to pray when we are sick or when other people are sick. The apostle James assures us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).  God wants us to always pray fervently.   Lord, help me to continually be in prayer and not to give up. Thank You for Your love that helps me persevere.

Posted April 19, 2023