Daily Devotional by Max Lucado
“the One who came still comes and the One who spoke still speaks”
July 1
A Big View of God
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. He was, he is, and he is coming.
Revelation 4:8 (NCV)
Exactly what is worship? I like King David's definition. "Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together" (Ps. 34:3 NASB). Worship is the act of magnifying God. Enlarging our vision of him. Stepping into the cockpit to see where he sits and observe how he works. Of course, his size doesn't change, but our perception of him does. As we draw nearer, he seems larger. Isn't that what we need? A big view of God? Don't we have big problems, big worries, big questions? Of course we do. Hence we need a big view of God.
Worship offers that. How can we sing, "Holy, Holy, Holy" and not have our vision expanded?
Matthew 26
The Plan to Kill Jesus
1 Jesus finished saying all these things. Then he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, the Passover Feast is two days away. The Son of Man will be handed over to be nailed to a cross."
3 Then the chief priests met with the elders of the people. They met in the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest. 4 They made plans to arrest Jesus in a clever way. They wanted to kill him. 5 "But not during the Feast," they said. "The people may stir up trouble."
A Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus
6 Jesus was in Bethany. He was in the home of a man named Simon, who had a skin disease. 7 A woman came to Jesus with a special sealed jar of very expensive perfume. She poured the perfume on his head while he was at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they became angry. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "The perfume could have been sold at a high price. The money could have been given to poor people."
10 Jesus was aware of this. So he said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 You will always have poor people with you. But you will not always have me. 12 She poured the perfume on my body to prepare me to be buried. 13 What I'm about to tell you is true. What she has done will be told anywhere this good news is preached all over the world. It will be told in memory of her."
Judas Agrees to Hand Jesus Over
14 One of the Twelve went to the chief priests. His name was Judas Iscariot. 15 He asked, "What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?" So they counted out 30 silver coins for him. 16 From then on, Judas watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them.
The Lord's Supper
17 It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The disciples came to Jesus. They asked, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?"
18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples." ' "
19 So the disciples did what Jesus had told them to do. They prepared the Passover meal.
20 When evening came, Jesus was at the table with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, "What I'm about to tell you is true. One of you will hand me over to my enemies."
22 The disciples became very sad. One after the other, they began to say to him, "It's not I, Lord, is it?"
23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will hand me over. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
25 Judas was the one who was going to hand him over. He said, "It's not I, Rabbi, is it?"
Jesus answered, "Yes. It is you."
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."
27 Then he took the cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. He said, "All of you drink from it. 28 This is my blood of the new covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. 29 Here is what I tell you. From now on, I won't drink wine with you again until the day I drink it with you in my Father's kingdom."
30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus Says That Peter Will Fail
31 Jesus told them, "This very night you will all turn away because of me. It is written that the Lord said,
" 'I will strike the shepherd down.
Then the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' —(Zechariah 13:7) 32 But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
33 Peter replied, "All the others may turn away because of you. But I never will."
34 "What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus answered. "It will happen this very night. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me."
35 But Peter said, "I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don't know you." And all the other disciples said the same thing.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. He began to be sad and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is very sad. I feel close to death. Stay here. Keep watch with me."
39 He went a little farther. Then he fell with his face to the ground. He prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want."
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray. Then you won't fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing. But the body is weak."
42 Jesus went away a second time. He prayed, "My Father, is it possible for this cup to be taken away? But if I must drink it, may what you want be done."
43 Then he came back. Again he found them sleeping. They couldn't keep their eyes open. 44 So he left them and went away once more. For the third time he prayed the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples. He said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look! The hour is near. The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners. 46 Get up! Let us go! Here comes the one who is handing me over to them!"
Jesus Is Arrested
47 While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. He was one of the Twelve. A large crowd was with him. They were carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests and the elders of the people had sent them.
48 Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, had arranged a signal with them. "The one I kiss is the man," he said. "Arrest him."
49 So Judas went to Jesus at once. He said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him.
50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came to do."
Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 51 At that moment, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword. He pulled it out and struck the servant of the high priest with it. He cut off the servant's ear.
52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him. "All who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I can't ask my Father for help? He would send an army of more than 70,000 angels right away. 54 But then how would the Scriptures come true? They say it must happen in this way."
55 At that time Jesus spoke to the crowd. "Am I leading a band of armed men against you?" he asked. "Do you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courtyard teaching. And you didn't arrest me. 56 But all this has happened so that the words of the prophets would come true."
Then all the disciples left him and ran away.
Jesus Is Taken to the Sanhedrin
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest. The teachers of the law and the elders had come together there. 58 Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for something to use against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. 60 But they did not find any proof, even though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally, two other witnesses came forward. 61 They said, "This fellow claimed, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God. I can build it again in three days.' "
62 Then the high priest stood up. He asked Jesus, "Aren't you going to answer? What are these charges that these men are bringing against you?"
63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, "I command you under oath by the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."
64 "Yes. It is just as you say," Jesus replied. "But here is what I say to all of you. In days to come, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven."
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes. He said, "He has spoken a very evil thing against God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard him say this evil thing. 66 What do you think?"
"He must die!" they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face. They hit him with their fists. Others slapped him. 68 They said, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?"
Peter Says He Does Not Know Jesus
69 Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. A female servant came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.
70 But in front of all of them, Peter said he was not. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
71 Then he went out to the gate leading into the courtyard. There another woman saw him. She said to the people, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."
72 Again he said he was not. With an oath he said, "I don't know the man!"
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter. "You must be one of them," they said. "The way you talk gives you away."
74 Then Peter began to call down curses on himself. He took an oath and said to them, "I don't know the man!"
Right away a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. "The rooster will crow," Jesus had told him. "Before it does, you will say three times that you don't know me." Peter went outside. He broke down and sobbed.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Luke 2:25-35 (New International Reader's Version)
25 In Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was a good and godly man. He was waiting for God's promise to Israel to happen. The Holy Spirit was with him. 26 The Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 The Spirit led him into the temple courtyard.
Then Jesus' parents brought the child in. They came to do for him what the Law required.
28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,
29 "Lord, you are the King over all.
Now let me, your servant, go in peace.
That is what you promised.
30 My eyes have seen your salvation.
31 You have prepared it in the sight of all people.
32 It is a light to be given to those who aren't Jews.
It will bring glory to your people Israel."
33 The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus' mother, "This child is going to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. God has sent him. But many will speak against him. 35 The thoughts of many hearts will be known. A sword will wound your own soul too."
July 1, 2009
The Reveal
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READ: Luke 2:25-35
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. —Isaiah 40:5
The room was a wreck. Mismatched furniture. Faded paint. Ugly light fixtures. Knick-knacks crammed into crowded spaces. The homeowners tried to make some improvements, but the room kept getting worse.
Thus begins a home-improvement TV program. After interviewing the owners, the designer draws a plan to maximize the room’s potential. Program producers create suspense by building up to a moment referred to as “the reveal.” Viewers watch the progress and ooh and aah with the homeowners when they see the new room.
Over time, the world has become like a neglected room. People bring in things that don’t belong. They arrange priorities in ways that hinder potential. Lives become dull, overcrowded, and ineffective. Self-improvement projects offer little help.
The Bible is God’s plan that shows the best way to live. God builds suspense throughout the Old Testament. Then, at the appointed time, comes the great reveal—Jesus! Upon seeing Him, Simeon exclaimed, “My eyes have seen Your salvation . . . , a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32).
We become part of God’s great “reveal” when we follow His design and Christ’s example. — Julie Ackerman Link
O send Thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me
That He may touch my eyes and make me see;
Show me the truth concealed within Thy Word,
And in Thy Book revealed I see Thee, Lord. —Lathbury
All that I am I owe to Jesus Christ, revealed to me in His divine Book.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
July 1, 2009
The Inevitable Penalty
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READ:
You will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny —Matthew 5:26
There is no heaven that has a little corner of hell in it. God is determined to make you pure, holy, and right, and He will not allow you to escape from the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit for even one moment. He urged you to come to judgment immediately when He convicted you, but you did not obey. Then the inevitable process began to work, bringing its inevitable penalty. Now you have been "thrown into prison, [and] . . . you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny" ( 5:25-26 ). Yet you ask, "Is this a God of mercy and love?" When seen from God’s perspective, it is a glorious ministry of love. God is going to bring you out pure, spotless, and undefiled, but He wants you to recognize the nature you were exhibiting— the nature of demanding your right to yourself. The moment you are willing for God to change your nature, His recreating forces will begin to work. And the moment you realize that God’s purpose is to get you into the right relationship with Himself and then with others, He will reach to the very limits of the universe to help you take the right road. Decide to do it right now, saying, "Yes, Lord, I will write that letter," or, "I will be reconciled to that person now."
These sermons of Jesus Christ are meant for your will and your conscience, not for your head. If you dispute these verses from the Sermon on the Mount with your head, you will dull the appeal to your heart.
If you find yourself asking, "I wonder why I’m not growing spiritually with God?"— then ask yourself if you are paying your debts from God’s standpoint. Do now what you will have to do someday. Every moral question or call comes with an "ought" behind it— the knowledge of knowing what we ought to do.
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Life-Saving Kits with Nothing Inside - #5863
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
During our college years, my wife spent part of a summer as a counselor at a Bible camp that was buried deep in the mountains. I mean like deep in the mountains - deep enough in the mountains that the rattlesnakes are plentiful. One day as she was hiking with her girls through the woods, they all heard what they thought was just a branch or a stick breaking. Until they realized that one of the girls had been struck in the leg by a rattlesnake. Now my wife is someone you want to have around when there's a crisis; she's got a very cool head. She ran to the nearby camp and immediately went for the box in the infirmary that said Snake Bite Kit on it. But her heart sank when she opened it; the life-saving kit was empty. Thankfully, they were able to get that girl to a hospital in time to save her life, no thanks to that empty snake bite kit!
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Life-Saving Kits with Nothing Inside."
It's a terrible thing to realize that the thing that claims to be able to save your life really has nothing that can help. As you read the pages of the Bible, you discover that the religions of the world are much like that. Every religion motivates its followers with the same promise - some form of heaven, eternal life if you're a good follower of "whatever" or "whoever." Sadly, religion does not, for the most part, offer a cure for the deadly infection we have: that's sin and its eternal death penalty.
There may be no more famous verse in all the Bible than John 3:16. It says, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Interestingly enough, the verses that immediately precede that description of God's plan for saving us talk about a snake. In John 3:14-15, our word for today from the Word of God, He says, "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. God so loved the world..."
In order to understand this snake thing, and more importantly, to understand the only way your sins can be forgiven and the only way you can go to heaven, it helps to go back to Numbers 21 in the Old Testament where this snake incident took place. Venomous snakes have attacked God's people in the desert, and many of those people are dying. God says to Moses, "'make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.'" (Numbers 21:8-9). Their only hope was to look at what God had lifted up to save them.
For us, that is Jesus, God's Son, dying on that cross. We've all been bitten by the deadly snake called sin. None of the great moralities, none of the great religions can possibly pay the death penalty for our sin. Getting to heaven isn't just about putting enough good on one side of the scale to balance the bad on the other; it's about satisfying a death penalty, and it took Jesus Christ death to do that. You have to look to Him as the only One who can save you.
Have you ever done that? If you don't know you've given yourself to Jesus, you probably haven't. And you are risking an eternity away from God, paying an eternal death penalty that Jesus already paid. But this could be your day to look away from any other hope of heaven and say, "Jesus, You are my only hope of having my sins forgiven; my only hope of going to heaven. And Jesus, I am Yours!"
Our website has a lot of information there put in simple, non-religious language that can help you be sure that you've begun your relationship with Him. In fact, it's all about how to begin life's most important relationship. This might be a good day for you to check it out. Let me give you the web address. It's YoursForLife.net. Or if you prefer, I could send you my booklet called Yours For Life if you'll call a toll free number and just ask for it. The number is 877-741-1200.
Don't depend on something that promises life but can't possibly give it to you. Depend on the One who loves you so much that He died so you don't have to.
