Max Lucado Daily: Six Hours, One Friday
Six hours, one Friday. Mundane to the casual observer. A shepherd with his sheep, a housewife with her thoughts, a doctor with his patients. But to a handful of awestruck witnesses, the most maddening of miracles is occurring. God is on a cross. The creator of the universe is being executed.
It is no normal six hours. It is no normal Friday. Far worse than the breaking of his body is the shredding of his heart. And now his own father is beginning to turn his back on him, leaving him alone. What do you do with that day in history? What do you do with its claims? They were the most critical hours in history.
Nails didn't hold God to a cross. Love did. The sinless One took on the face of a sinner so that we sinners could take on the face of a saint!
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21).
From Six Hours One Friday
Matthew 16
Some Bad Yeast
1–4 16 Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them. He told them, “You have a saying that goes, ‘Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.’ You find it easy enough to forecast the weather—why can’t you read the signs of the times? An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you’ll get is the Jonah sign.” Then he turned on his heel and walked away.
5–6 On their way to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring along bread. In the meantime, Jesus said to them, “Keep a sharp eye out for Pharisee-Sadducee yeast.”
7–12 Thinking he was scolding them for forgetting bread, they discussed in whispers what to do. Jesus knew what they were doing and said, “Why all these worried whispers about forgetting the bread? Runt believers! Haven’t you caught on yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of fragments you picked up? Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand, and how many baskets of leftovers you collected? Haven’t you realized yet that bread isn’t the problem? The problem is yeast, Pharisee-Sadducee yeast.” Then they got it: that he wasn’t concerned about eating, but teaching—the Pharisee-Sadducee kind of teaching.
Son of Man, Son of God
13 When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17–18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
19 “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”
20 He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.
You’re Not in the Driver’s Seat
21–22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”
23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”
24–26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
27–28 “Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Friday, April 18, 2025
by Bill Crowder
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
Luke 23:32-34, 39-43
Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution.
33 When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.
34–35 Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.”
Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them.
39 One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: “Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!”
40–41 But the other one made him shut up: “Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”
43 He said, “Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.”
Today's Insights
As Jesus hung on the cross, He made several statements that are now referred to as “The Seven Last Words (Sayings) from the Cross.” Three are found in Luke 23: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (v. 34); “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43); “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (v. 46). The other four sayings are found in Matthew 27:46 and John 19:26-27, 28, 30. Jesus didn’t lose perspective during His distress, pain, and agony. He remained focused on His Father and His mission. Though the voices around the cross were many, including the criminals crucified with Him (Luke 23:39-42), Christ’s words were clear, focused, and intentional. His conduct under duress remains the standard for those called to endure suffering. “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
Lament to Praise
He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42
Several legends surround the naming of the beautiful five-petaled flower the forget-me-not. Among those stories is one from a German legend. According to the story, as God named all the plants He’d created, one little flower worried that it would be overlooked. So the flower called out, “Forget-me-not, O Lord.” And that’s the name God gave to it.
Though this is only a story, the forget-me-not has become a symbol of love and remembrance. Yet all of us have experienced what it feels like to be forgotten. To be remembered—especially to be remembered by our God—is our heart’s true desire. We find just such a story in the account of the crucifixion of Jesus. Luke tells us, “Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with [Jesus] to be executed” (23:32). As they were being crucified, one criminal next to Christ suddenly understood. He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v. 42). Christ’s response was unforgettable: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43).
What an amazing moment! In his darkest hour, that criminal learned what it meant to be remembered by the Son of God.
We too are remembered in our hour of need. The God who loved us enough to die for us will never forget us.
Reflect & Pray
When have you felt forgotten? How will you turn to Jesus today and permit Him to turn your lament into praise?
Dear Father, in those moments when I may feel forgotten, please remind me of Your abiding, loving presence in my life and encourage me with Your grace.
Dig deeper into the book of Luke by checking out Good News that Divides.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Friday, April 18, 2025
Readiness
God called to him. . . . And Moses said, “Here I am.” — Exodus 3:4
When God calls, many of us are lost in a fog. We don’t know where we are; we don’t answer. Readiness means having not only a right relationship to God but also a knowledge of where we are at the present moment. Often we are so busy telling God where we’d like to go that we don’t bother to notice where we are. Moses knew where God had placed him, and when God called on him, Moses clearly said: “Here I am.”
The person who is ready for God’s work is the one who will win the prize when the call comes. Too often we wait to take action, held back by the idea that some amazing opportunity is just around the corner. If a great opportunity does happen to arrive, we’re quick to cry, “Here I am!” But if the duty God calls us to is small and obscure, we aren’t there.
Readiness for God means being ready to do the tiniest thing or the grandest thing. Whatever God’s program, we’re there. We hear the Father’s voice as the Son heard it; we’re ready with all the alertness of our love for the Father. Jesus Christ expects to do with us exactly as the Father did with him: to put us where he likes, in pleasant duties or in unpleasant duties.
Be ready for the surprise visits of God. A ready person never needs to get ready. Think of the time we waste trying to get ready when God has called! The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the ready soul—ablaze with the presence of God (Exodus 3).
2 Samuel 3-5; Luke 14:25-35
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
We begin our Christian life by believing what we are told to believe, then we have to go on to so assimilate our beliefs that they work out in a way that redounds to the glory of God. The danger is in multiplying the acceptation of beliefs we do not make our own.
Conformed to His Image, 381 L
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