April 19
“Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”” (John 13:7 NKJV)
We can be like the person praying “Lord give me patience, and give it to me now!”
The great truths of the glorious God come when we are ready to receive them and not when we want.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 18
“Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”” (John 13:6 NKJV)
Peter is astounded and asks the question everyone else is thinking but are too afraid to ask. I always thank God for the Peter’s because some of the greatest teachings come from their questions.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 17
“After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:5 NKJV)
When someone came into your house a servant, slave or the lowest family member would wash the feet of a traveler as their feet would be dirty or dusty. Bur this happened after they had come in so this is a ritual which has meaning? What is the glorious God saying to us?
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 16
“rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.” (John 13:4 NKJV)
WHAT A SHOCK! How would you feel is one of your leaders did this? What does this say about a Rabbi and Son of God Who would do this?
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 15
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,” (John 13:3 NKJV)
Most things about God are Trinities just as God is.
1. knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands
2. and that He had come from God
3. and was going to God
Offering ourselves to and for the glorious God has eternal meaning.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 14
“And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,” (John 13:2 NKJV)
Satan had already put into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus. This was not just a momentary decision but a temptation which overtime became a horrific action.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
Remind us God that grace must come from You. We must have received grace from You to be able to understand what grace is and be able to offer grace to others. Help us understand grace is undeserved and unmerited. Grace is to be extended to our enemies and those who have hurt and even destroyed us. From Your grace we must extend that grace.
We are falling in upon ourselves
Our created framework crumbles
The many pieces reject the other
The many pieces destroy – all
We cannot see the crumbling
We are lost in anger and let go
Destroying others destroys us
Every day someone else lets go
The framework bends in pain
Our creation destroys itself
For all evil will destroy itself
We are afraid to see blindness
We fear what we do not know
Fear has become how we live
Fear has become how we learn
Fear has become how we love
Fear has become who we are
The framework is fracturing
Each failure we do not look
The crumbling we say is good
Shielding our eyes from flames
Shielding ears from screams
Shielding hearts from pain
Shielding minds from Truth
Failure has become victory
Destruction is to us victory
Death is progression to us
Murder is our “holy” mantra
We slide to unseen perversion
We think this slide is progress
How many are being deceived
How many will lose their way
How many will be destroyed
How many will be murdered
We are falling in upon ourselves
Our created framework crumbles
The many pieces reject the other
The many pieces destroy – all
The rejected God cannot help
We have “progressed” from God
3/28/2021
April 13
“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1 NKJV)
Chapter 13 teaches what it really means to be a Christian (meaning little Christs which was first used as a term of derision) and live the christian life. Knowing the cost, Jesus willingly walked toward destruction and death because of love!
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 12
“and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11 NKJV)
There is so much here you could meditate on for a lifetime! Please do meditate on this verse and ask God to reveal to you what it means for you.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 11
“that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,” (Philippians 2:10 NKJV)
At the glorious name of Jesus EVERY knee shall bow, even those who do not want to! Everyone, everywhere and from all of time shall bow “at the name of Jesus”!
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 10
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,” (Philippians 2:9 NKJV)
Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation”. Notice Jesus does not just give salvation but IS salvation!
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 9
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8 NKJV)
Do you see the glorious God as giving orders and demanding obedience? See the humility of God and the supreme obedience!
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 8
“but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7 NKJV)
There are three words which we really need to understand in this verse:
Reputation comes from κενόω kenoo (ken-o’-o) which means
make void, make of none effect, make of no reputation, be in vain.
Bondservant comes from δοῦλος (doulos doo’-los) which means
servant, bond, bondman (Notice it can mean one held on bond and one holding the bond)
Likeness comes from ὁμοίωμα (homoioma hom-oy’-o-mah) which means
likeness, made like, similitude, shape
(The definitions are from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
Meditate on how these three words help you understand this verse.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 7
“who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,” (Philippians 2:6 NKJV)
Robbery is from the Greek word ἁρπαγμός (harpagmos har-pag-mos’) which means:
robbery 1; 1
1) the act of seizing, robbery
2) a thing seized or to be seized
2a) booty to deem anything a prize
2b) a thing to be seized upon or to be held fast, retained
Notice this is this only time in the New Testament this word is used.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 6
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 2:5 NKJV)
As we continue we will discover the meaning of the mind of Christ Jesus but this verse calls us to begin the journey realizing we cannot know where it will lead us.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 5
“For the message of 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 NKJV)
Sin drives people to seek power and they perish in emptiness. To them sacrificing for others is foolish because they want their own power and own wealth. But true joy and power come from giving to God and from God.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 4
““Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”” (John 12:5 NKJV)
Some would say what a great heart since Judas cared about the poor. But which is more important, to feed the poor or glorify God? Our attempts to serve others must be grounded in our love and worship of God or our hearts grow weary and others are not truly helped.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 3
“Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,” (John 12:4 NKJV)
It may seem the next verse is necessary to make sense of this verse but first we are shown the heart of Judas. The description of Judas is lengthy and filled with meaning. I wonder how Simon felt about his son who betrayed God’s Son?
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 2
“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” (John 12:3 NKJV)
Mary offers a worthy gift to the glorious God who raised her brother Lazarus and spared Mary and Martha from a life of poverty. Praising the glorious God fills your life and home with a heavenly fragrance!
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
April 1
“There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.” (John 12:2 NKJV)
Jesus was surrounded by enemies who wanted to kill him out of fear and greed. But in the presence of His enemies Jesus sat around the table with friends of life. Does this remind you of anything?
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
March 31
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.” (John 12:1 NKJV)
Jesus faced death every time He went to Jerusalem and a visit with His dear friend whom Jesus has resurrected must have brought comfort.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
God,
I hurt so bad and my mind is so unclear it is hard to pray. I do not listen to the news and I am guilty of running from the terrible news. Forgive me, a lost soul.
The news is so bad and many think this is a bad time. History tells us this is just a hiccup in the pain and suffering throughout time. We in America think things are bad when this is a good time compared to the suffering in the world. God, give us eyes to see and ears to hear their pain and suffering! To hear their cries for help!
2/15/2021
March 30
“Surely the Lord GOD will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.” (Isaiah 50:9 NKJV)
Is this surely one of faith or one of hope? Isaiah proclaims his need for God and without God we are left with merely wearing out and being devoured like a forgotten garment.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
March 29
“He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.” (Isaiah 50:8 NKJV)
Isaiah has found strength to stand against his adversaries because of the presence of God who justifies him. Is Isaiah calling for others to stand with him or is he remembering his ability to stand comes from his standing with God?
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
March 28
““For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.” (Isaiah 50:7 NKJV)
Just as Jesus determined to face suffering for our redemption (to be redeemed from slavery) we must be determined to receive our redemption so we will not be disgraced or ashamed before God!
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
March 27
“I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6 NKJV)
Just as in Psalm 22 we are given a glimpse of the suffering of Jesus. Isaiah knew the suffering of Jesus through God’s revelation. Trough the suffering of Jesus forgiveness extends backwards and forward in time!
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
March 26
“The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.” (Isaiah 50:5 NKJV)
This verse could be turned around to say only if I am not rebellious or lose faith will I hear God!
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
March 25
““No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”” (Jeremiah 31:34 NKJV)
We have sermons, Sunday School and many studies but the Holy Spirit teaches us to ‘Know the LORD,’. From the least to the greatest of humanity the Holy Spirit guides us to knowing God which is available because of the forgiveness of our sin by God.
Your prayer
Give God thanks for what you have.
Praise God for who He is.
Ask for God to use you today.
