August_31

SHARING BREAD

¹² Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Luke 24:12 (NIV)

The apostle John invites us to a wider horizon of our verse for today.  In his gospel, we find him chronicling the footrace occurring between Peter and himself to the tomb upon receiving Mary Magdalene’s news that Jesus’ body was gone – giving us a much broader scope of the event.  We find this scene detailed below:

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, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, 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.)     John 20:3-9 (NIV)

Slow to believe.  Slow to believe the ladies testimony from the mouths of the angels, slow to believe the empty tomb.  Slow to believe.  Is it not amazing, when the day is cloudy and dark, how dull and forgetful we become of the obvious.  Mary was disturbed at the empty tomb as were Peter and John – all forgetting the words of their Savior:

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” ²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”    Matt 16:21-23 (NIV)

Fully not comprehending the Master’s plan then and certainly not comprehending it now, Peter leaves the tomb scratching his head wondering.  Who would have just stolen the body and not the grave clothes – not to mention leaving them folded so neatly behind?  For that matter, who moved the stone and “shooed” away the powerful Roman guards?  For some peculiar reason, I find comfort in the disciple’s confusion.  I guess I don’t like to be the only one left wondering.  If Peter and John who had both walked so closely with Jesus could be baffled on their dark day, well, you can only imagine this modern day believer.  It is easy to follow Jesus when the day is bright and rosy but let the winds and rain clouds come and it is quite another story.  We are left wondering and baffled and forgetful of the promises of our Lord.  Just as an unfaltering faith in the promises of God was expected from Peter and John, we, as modern day disciples, are to embrace this same faith.  

“There is many a thing puzzling and perplexing to us which would be both plain and profitable if we did but rightly understand the words of Christ.”   Matthew Henry       

Having a firm grasp of God’s Word is monumental especially when the storms of life begin to blow.  That is how we are to rest secure in Him.  That is His desire for all of His children.

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”    Deut 33:12 (NIV)

 

King David’s confidence and boldness were not in himself but in the strong arm of God and His promises and provisions.  The Psalms are full of his proclamations of faith.  A few to encourage and strengthen us are below:

 

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?  ² When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. ³ Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. Psalms 27:1-3 (NIV)

 

³⁷ Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.
³⁸ But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. ³⁹ The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. ⁴⁰ The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.   Psalms 37:37-40 (NIV)

Remember, David’s confidence was not in the arm of flesh but in God who was his fortress and stronghold.  David stood firm in the strength of his God and we are called to as well.  Paul tells us in First Corinthians:

¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. ¹⁴ Do everything in love.   1 Cor 16:13-14 (NIV)

Adding in Philippians where his source of power derives:

¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.    Phil 4:13 (NIV)

 

“Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits.  Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as He built the heavens and the earth, glorify Himself in thy weakness, and magnify His might in the midst of thy distress.  The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye.  May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.”     Charles H. Spurgeon

What I glean from this:

• Like the first followers of Jesus, I can be slow to believe.
• I am to have an unfaltering faith in the promises of God.
• I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

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August_28

SHARING BREAD

⁹ When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

Luke 24:9-11 (NIV)

Hurrying away from the tomb, astonished, amazed, bewildered and afraid yet all the while filled with joy these women were a plethora of emotions.  They had a story to tell the Eleven and they were ready to tell it albeit in reverential fear.  I think it was wonderful of God to allow these female followers to be the first ones to bring the good news of His story. While I realize this is not true in every case, and I am certainly not meaning any offense, women in general are better in giving the details of a story than men.  We enjoy hearing and telling all the little particulars – all the nuances to every detail.  They had just experienced the supernatural and they were quite frankly, blown away.  Mark tells us in his gospel:

⁸ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.   Mark 16:8 (NIV)

 

The word translated “bewildered” is from the Greek word “Ekstasis” meaning:  “Astonishment, amazement, bewilderment; it is a sense of breathtaking and profound amazement coupled with exquisite dread at the sight of something remarkable, incredible, strange, or supernatural; the gripping fascination with some enthralling phenomenon which drives one from his powers of reason in order to encounter it; the word portrays someone as being carried away out of mind, being so psychologically and emotionally moved by some fantastic sight that he loses all sense of his present situation.  He is held captive by it and falls under its sway because it is beyond his power to impose rational controls on the object of wonder.”  Hebrew Greek Key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids.

 

This encounter the women had with the angels reminds me of many other times in Scripture where flesh comes in contact with the supernatural.  I will mention only two.  The first was the on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus took Peter, James and John to see Moses and Elijah!  Terror gripped these three disciples as well:

 

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)    Mark 9:2-6 (NIV)

 

Matthew also tells us:

 

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.    Matt 17:5-8 (NIV)

The second instance that comes to mind is Paul’s account of being taken into the third heaven.  He does not even recount this amazing instance in first person rather in third:

² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know–God knows. ³ And I know that this man–whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows– ⁴ was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.    2 Cor 12:2-4 (NIV)

 

This experience no doubt contributed to Paul’s firm conviction of 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:

 

¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.   2 Cor 4:17-18 (NIV)

Unfortunately, the report the women gave to the Eleven was not well received rather it seemed to them as idle talk, sheer nonsense. 

“They thought it was only the fancy of the women, and ascribed it to the power of imagination; for they also had forgotten Christ’s words.  One cannot but be amazed at the stupidity of these disciples, – who had themselves so often professed that they believed Christ to be the Son of God, had been so often told that he must die and rise again, and then enter into his glory, had seen him more than once raise the dead, – that they should be so slow to believe.”   Matthew Henry

After His resurrection, walking on the road to Emmaus, Jesus, who had blinded their eyes to His identity, tells two of His disciples the following truths that we should also take to heart:

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.   Luke 24:25-27 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• It is frightening for flesh to come face to face with the glorified.
• My future eternal glory far outweighs whatever light and momentary trouble I am called to now.
• I must not be slow to believe.

 

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August_26

SHARING BREAD

⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'” ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

Luke 24:4-8 (NIV)

Setting out very early in the morning with their prepared perfumes to anoint His body and sweet spices to scatter around Him, these women were astonished to discover that the stone had been rolled away.  Mark tells us that they had discussed on their way to the tomb who would roll away the stone for them to perform their labor of love:

¹ When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”   Mark 16:1-3 (NIV)

 When they arrived at the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away this was, of course, a great wonder to them.  How had it happened?  Who would have moved it?  Matthew tells us:

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.     Matt 28:2-4 (NIV)

This is quite amusing to me.  These great, brave Roman soldiers placed to guard the tomb of Jesus and make it as secure as they knew how – even to the point of placing a seal on the stone – shook and became like dead men at the presence of the angel of the Lord.  Admittedly, it must have been an awesome sight.  Indeed, throughout Scripture when flesh comes in contact with the glorified there is an incredible demonstration of awe mixed with great fear.  While this is certainly a supposition, I wonder if the angel of the Lord took a bit of delight in scaring these guards half  to death.  Once so pompous and sure of their ability to guard the tomb of our Lord now we find them here terrified.

“All the powers of death and darkness are under the control of the God of light and life.  An angel from heaven has power to break the seal, though it was the great seal of Israel, and is able to roll back the stone, though ever so great.  The angel’s sitting on the stone, when he had rolled it back, is very observable.  There he sat, defying all the powers of hell to roll the stone to the grave again.  The angel sat as a guard to the grave, having frightened away the enemies’ black guard; he sat, expecting the women, and ready to give them an account of His resurrection.”    Matthew Henry  

¹⁴ And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”    Job 26:14 (NIV)

The angels reproach he women in the futility and absurdity of their search for Jesus – why indeed would they be looking for the living among the dead?  Testimony is therefore given by the angels that Jesus is indeed living. Just a Job exclaimed:

²⁵ I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  ²⁶ And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; ²⁷ I myself will see him with my own eyes–I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!   Job 19:25-27 (NIV)

“God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive.  He lived and died, to buy my pardon.  An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!  How sweet to hold a new-born baby, and feel the pride, and joy he gives; but greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because He lives.  And then one day I’ll cross that river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain; and then as death gives way to victory,  I’ll see the light of glory and I’ll know He reigns. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone; because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because He lives!”    Gloria and William Gaither

The angels remind the ladies of Jesus’ words to them that He would be delivered into the hands of sinful men, crucified and raised again – then, Scripture tells us, they remembered His words.

³¹ Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. ³² He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. ³³ On the third day he will rise again.” ³⁴ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.   Luke 18:31-34 (NIV)

 

“To know a crucified Savior as having crucified all my sins, is a high degree of knowledge; but to know a risen Savior as having justified me, and to realize that He has bestowed upon me new life, having given me to be a new creature through His own newness of life, this is a noble style of experience:  short of it, none ought to rest satisfied.  May you both ‘know Him, and the power of His resurrection’.  Why should souls who are quickened with Jesus, wear the grave-clothes of worldliness and unbelief?  Rise, for the Lord is risen.”      C.H. Spurgeon

 

What I glean from this:

 

• As I walk with Him in faithful obedience, Jesus will take care of rolling away the obstacles of my “stones”.
• “All the powers of death and darkness are under the control of the God of light and life.”  Matthew Henry.  Praise Him!
• “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone; because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because He lives!”  Gloria and William Gaither    

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August_24

SHARING BREAD

¹ On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:1-3 (NIV)

The faithful female followers of Jesus were first to find the empty tomb.  Showing their supreme passion for the Lord, their desire was to now demonstrate their love by bringing forth expensive spices they had prepared for His burial.  Oh that all of our passions and desires point us always to Jesus as well! May our leanings naturally take us to the feet of our Savior!  There is a difference between obligatorily knowing Jesus and loving Him as our Lord.  When we are inspired with liking and love, charmed and delighted by His presence, it is not a compulsion or a drudge but rather extremely pleasurable and exciting to walk with Him. Just as a child who adores their father’s company, our delight in Him should not mask duty but rather be prompted by joy.

“Beyond all measure it is desirable that we, as believers, should have the person of Jesus constantly before us, to inflame our love towards Him, and to increase our knowledge of Him….But to have Jesus ever near, the heart must be full of Him, welling up with His love, even to overrunning; hence the apostle prays ‘that Christ may dwell in your hearts’.  ‘That He may dwell’; not that He may call upon you sometimes, as a casual visitor enters into a house and tarries for a night, but that He may dwell; that Jesus may become the Lord and Tenant of your inmost being, never more to go out….We should pant after love to Christ of a most abiding character, not a love that flames up and then dies out into the darkness of a few embers, but a constant flame, fed by a sacred fuel, like the fire upon the altar which never went out.  This cannot be accomplished except by faith.  Faith must be strong, or love will not be fervent; the root of the flower must be healthy, or we cannot expect the bloom to be sweet…..If love be cold, you can be sure that faith is drooping.”  C.H. Spurgeon

If we find our love for the Lord has grown cold and hardened we must pray for God to once again pour out His love into our hearts reigniting our flames.  God’s love encourages us on in our hope for His glory.  It is our Lord’s desire to be our constant portion and inheritance.  Paul tells us in Romans:

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.   Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

 

“Lord, You are my lover, my longing, my flowing stream, my sun, and I am Your reflection.”    Mechthilde of Magdeburg

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”   Neh 8:10 (NIV)

 

⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.   Psalms 37:4 (NIV)

 

“A man’s spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God.”   C. S. Lewis

 

Very early in the morning, approaching with their spices to add their personal touch to His burial, these dear women set out to not only anoint the dead body with their tears but also to fragrance it with the perfume of  the sacrifice of their spices.  Dismayed, these women discovered an empty tomb.  He had risen – He had risen indeed!  Confusion was certain – where could the body have gone?  Who had moved away the heavy stone?  Put yourselves in their sandals.  They had been eye witnesses to the crucifixion and the burial preparation.  So certain were they that He was dead they had gone to extravagant measures to offer forth a fitting burial.  Remember, Nicodemus had already brought seventy-five pounds of dry spices, myrrh and aloes to anoint Him.  John tells us there reaction to this scene:

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!”   John 20:1-2 (NIV)

 

“The continued instances of Mary Magdalene’s respect for Him at and after His death prove the sincerity of her love.  Love for Christ, if it is cordial, will be constant.  Her love for Christ was strong as death, the death of the cross, for it stood by that.”    Matthew Henry

What I glean from this:

• My love will always show forth in my actions.
• I desire for my heart to be full of Christ – even to overrunning.
• If my love for Christ is cold my faith is drooping.  “In humble reliance on thy grace, I will go forth, and fight the good fight of faith.”  C.H. Von Bogatzky

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August_21

SHARING BREAD

⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Luke 23:55-56 (NIV)

Ever at Jesus’ side, these women followed Him and cared for His needs out of their substance – continuing to minister even to the point of His burial.  While these ladies dared to watch from a distance, the disciples dared not to be seen at all.  Overwhelmed with grief, these female followers stood watching in disbelief – they had envisioned Jesus on a throne yet now they were seeing Him suffering on a cross.

“True love for Christ will carry us through to the utmost, in following Him.  Death itself cannot quench that divine fire.”   Matthew Henry

⁶ Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. ⁷ Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.    Song 8:6-7 (NIV)

 

Certainly there was immense sadness and disappointment among them.  We are told in Matthew and Mark that many women watched from a distance the happenings yet some were identified specifically as those who carefully observed the details:  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joses, the mother of Zebedee’s sons, Joanna and Salome.

Mary Magdalene, always the first woman to be mentioned in the lists, was one who owed all her comfort to our Savior’s power and goodness.  Jesus had certainly “rescued her from the dominion of darkness” as He had freed her from the possession of seven demons.  She was well aware of what life was like apart from Christ.  She owed Him everything – as we all do – yet she was just privileged to be made more aware of this truth than most of us will ever be!  In gratitude, she could never do enough for Him.  Jesus addresses a love similar to this earlier in Luke:

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:44-47 (NIV)

 

“Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies.”   Charles Jefferson

“Humility is nothing else but a true knowledge and awareness of oneself as one really is.”  The Cloud of Unknowing

While Mary Magdalene had carefully observed Joseph and Nicodemus wrapping Jesus’ body in linen along with seventy-five pounds of spices – myrrh and aloes – she was eager to include her part.  Out of love for her Savior and ours, she wanted to do what she could.  She had experienced in her own life what Jesus’ love had accomplished for her – now it was her turn to express that loving gratitude:

⁷ But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the LORD has done.   Deut 11:7 (NIV)

 

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”   C. T. Studd

“Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love.”  Claire of Assisi 

Yet interestingly, we discover that out of her obedience to God’s commands she rested on the Sabbath:

¹ Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.   Deut 11:1 (NIV)

 It would do us all well to remember that God’s commands for us are not whimsical or meant for our bondage , harm, or displeasure but rather for our good and for His glory.  We do ourselves a great disservice when we fight against or disregard His revealed will in the Scriptures as though it will be for our harm.

What I glean from this:

• The female followers of Jesus loved Him greatly.
• I am particularly grateful when past mercies towards me are brought to my mind.
• I must dwell on the great things the Lord has done for me – the things I have seen with my own eyes. 

 

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August_19

SHARING BREAD

⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵² Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

Luke 23:50-54 (NIV)

Luke does not tells us, but Matthew spills the beans, that Joseph was a disciple of Jesus – albeit an incognito one for fear of the Jews as John divulges in his gospel:

⁵⁷ As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.    Matt 27:57 (NIV)

 

³⁸ Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. ³⁹ He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night.    John 19:38-39 (NIV)

“Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.”  Sir William Osler

Interestingly, we have presented here two secret followers of our Lord bravely stepping up to the plate.  No longer would they be able to hide their loyalty to our Savior.  Boldly asking Pilate’s permission for Jesus’ body, their desire was to give Him a fitting burial.  The disciples, on the other hand, were nowhere to be found. 

“Joseph and Nicodemus’ act of love and respect for the body of Jesus was for them dangerous, costly, and without any personal gain. The service of Christians for their living Lord should be equally courageous and sacrificial, for their labor is not in vain.”      Bible Knowledge Commentary

Paul tells us in First Corinthians that our labor for the Lord will never be empty, vain, ineffective or useless:

 ⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.   1 Cor 15:58 (NIV)

“Scars are the price which every believer pays for his loyalty to Christ.”     William Hendriksen

“There must be a practical outworking of our faith here in this present world, or it will never endure in the world to come.  We need fewer words and more charitable works; less palaver and more pity; less repetition of creed and more compassion.”  Billy Graham

“Christians shouldn’t be surprised when, in seeking to do God’s will, we find ourselves trapped in painful, frightening, difficult, or impossible situations.  Life is hard – especially for Christians.”  Robert J. Morgan

Carefully and tenderly Joseph and Nicodemus loving unfastened the “fullness of the Godhead bodily” from the cross.  The nails of which we were all responsible for hammering into His hands and feet – painstakingly removed.  You can sense the kindness of these men as they wrap our Savior’s body in clean linen.  John tells us that Nicodemus brought about seventy-five pounds of a mixture of myrrh and aloes – an extensive amount of spices – of which they placed upon Him securing it with strips of linen:

³⁹ He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. ⁴⁰ Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.   John 19:39-40 (NIV)

 

The sweet, tender care they took over Jesus’ body reminded me of a story I once heard where a mother’s child had recently died.  In an effort to bring comfort, many were telling her that he was no longer in that body but that he was in heaven with Jesus.  While certainly true, the mother responded with the following:  “But I loved that body”; “I took care of that body”; “I fed and bathed and nursed and rocked that body”.  While we all know that our bodies are wasting away while our spirits live on, I am ministered to by the care of these two men of our Lord’s body.  It was indeed an expression of deep sacrificial love.   

 

“…Jesus showed us what God really wants to cleanse and purify—our hearts. Christ’s transforming work on the cross helps us to break free from desires that hold us in bondage. As we submit to God, we become like Christ, no longer wanting to offend God. Out of gratitude we obey Him from the inside out.”  Tremper Longman, Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind

 

“Our Creator is infinitely good, and His will is love: to submit to one who is ‘too wise to err, too good to be unkind,’ should not be hard.”  C.H. Spurgeon

⁶ With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  ⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?  Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  ⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.    Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)

 What I glean from this:

• I should be about what God shows me clearly at hand rather than what dimly lays at a distance.
• I should step up to the plate for my Savior even if it is dangerous, costly or with no apparent personal gain.
• It is God’s desire for me to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him.

 

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August_17

SHARING BREAD

⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Luke 23:49 (NIV)

Those who knew and loved Jesus stood at a distance striving to assimilate what they were beholding.  What appeared to be the worst they could have imagined was in all actuality the very best that could have happened.  Is not most of life like that?  We stand in a bereaved silence, astonished and amazed, gazing at a particular happening that has crossed the path of our lives and has quite literally taken our breath away.  How can something so devastating to us turn out for our good?  Though we “know” Him, the “Why’s?” often echo loudly in our minds drowning out any thoughts of a higher purpose for good, oftentimes leaving us soundly bereft of hope.

“Faith raises the soul above the difficulty, straight to God Himself, and enables one to stand still.  We gain nothing by our restless and anxious efforts….It is therefore true wisdom, in all times of difficulty and perplexity, to stand still – to wait only upon God, and He will assuredly open a way for us.”  C.H. Mackintosh 

“To the child of God, there is no such thing as an accident.  He travels an appointed way…..Accidents may indeed appear to befall him and misfortune stalk his way; but these evils will be so in appearance only and will seem evils only because we cannot read the secret script of God’s hidden providence.”  A.W. Tozer

¹² Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:12 (NIV)

“Now” we suffer from incomplete knowledge it will only be when “now” becomes “then” that we shall know fully – when all of our questions will be completely answered.  The “part” that we can now comprehend and hold on to is His faithfulness and love for us and that He always has our best interest at heart.  Scripture tells us:

⁹ Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.   Deut 7:9 (NIV)

Throughout our apparent devastation, God is in the business of making beauty from our ashes.  Indeed, Jesus’ “job description” covers that very issue. We are told by the prophet Isaiah:

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion–to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.   Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

Jesus Himself reads these very words from a scroll handed Him in the synagogue proclaiming to His hearers that this Word was fulfilled in their hearing:

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷ The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” ²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹ and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”   Luke 4:16-21 (NIV)

Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted, to free the captive, to proclaim God’s favor and the day of vengeance, to comfort the mourning, to bestow beauty instead of ashes, gladness instead of mourning, and praise in place of despair.  He came for us to be oaks of righteousness, planted by Him to display His splendor – all of this coming our way through the cross of Christ.  What appeared as devastation to these onlookers would in all actuality become life and life to the full.  As Jesus tells us:

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.   John 10:10 (NIV)

John also tells us:

 ³⁰ Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.    John 20:30-31 (NIV)

Lest we forget the cost to our Savior, I am persuaded that part of His sufferings on the cross included the fact that those closest to Him remained at a distance.  I do not know about you, but when I am suffering I want those who love me close by – if for nothing else, their concern in itself is ministering. We must never forget that Jesus came to earth as both fully God and fully man.  He experienced loneliness and isolation, pain, suffering and sadness. To not consider His humanity emotionally is to perhaps miss a great deal of His suffering on the cross.  As David writes:

¹¹ My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. Psalms 38:11 (NIV)

 

What I glean from this:

 

• Sometimes it is hard for me to understand the higher purpose for good when calamities occur in my life.  I must trust in the promise of His Word that God will use these things for my good and for His glory.
• God has a plan and it is for my good.
• Jesus loves me, this I know.

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August_14

SHARING BREAD

⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.

Luke 23:47-48 (NIV)

There is no doubt about it; Christ’s behavior draws attention even from a hardened Roman centurion guard.  Glorifying God and claiming Jesus to be right, just and upright, this centurion verbalized what his eyes beheld and his ears had heard. Indeed, in the gospels of Matthew and Mark it is added:

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”   Matt 27:54 (NIV)
³⁸ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”   Mark 15:38-39 (NIV)

Perfect and just works, faithful and upright, Jesus impacted His sphere.  It reminds me of Moses’ words in Deuteronomy:

⁴ He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.   Deut 32:4 (NIV)

Quite convicting as our behavior is to emulate Jesus’.  It is difficult, to say the least, for our character to stand out when we choose to blend with the world rather than walk in His ways.  It is no wonder that we as modern day disciples of Jesus make such a small impact on our culture.  Shamefully, this is particularly true when we compare ourselves to the first followers of our Lord.  Would it not be exciting to see a modern day Peter, James or John?  If the original eleven disciples plus Paul could turn their world around why on earth can’t we?  Could it be that we bear no familial resemblance?  Wouldn’t it be great to be able to state like Paul:

⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.   Phil 4:9 (NIV)

 

¹ Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.   1 Cor 11:1 (NIV)

 

The One who perfectly exemplified love for God and for others was, of course, our Lord Jesus yet we are called to display this same spirit of love in our lives and spheres.  John tells us:

 

⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.   1 John 2:6 (NIV)

 

This is how we impact our world for Christ.  We preach the greatest sermons with our actions rather than our mouths.  It would do us well to remember that if our lives are not impacting our world for Jesus, we are indeed just wasting our time and certainly not bringing glory to God.
“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, and learning.”  Frederick Faber  

“Every time we resist the slightest temptation, we honor God.  Every time we overcome even the smallest problem by trusting and obeying our Lord Jesus, God is glorified in our lives.  Whenever we choose character over convenience, faithfulness over ease, or honesty over deceit, we bring honor to the Lord Himself.”  Robert J. Morgan

Interestingly, while the centurion’s opinion had changed the others that had gathered to witness the event remained the same.  Emotionally ministered to, they beat upon their chests repeatedly; striking themselves with fervent feelings yet remained unrepentant.  They turned their backs on Him and walked away.  They went back to business as usual.  This should be a reminder for us all.  We can be moved by a wonderful sermon or a beautiful song, even to the point of an outward expression of our emotions, yet we turn our backs and walk away without any change.  I am reminded of James’ exhortation to us:

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.   James 2:18-19 (NIV)

 

Demons knew full well that there is one God – they had once been in His presence.  They even show forth emotion by shuddering yet they remain unchanged.  We are saved by grace, we can do nothing to earn it – it is the precious gift of God and a true faith in Jesus will always show forth in works.  

 

What I glean from this:

 

• Christ-like behavior draws forth attention in our spheres as Jesus’ teachings go contrary to the worlds.
•  Jesus’ life on earth was perfect, just, faithful and upright.
• I am to walk as Jesus did through is poe   the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

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August_12

SHARING BREAD

⁴⁴ It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Luke 23:44-46 (NIV)

Spiritual darkness, ignorance, error, sin and misery prevailed from the sixth hour to the ninth and the sun stopped shining.  For three hours darkness reigned.  Jesus had previously stated as much:

 ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour–when darkness reigns.”   Luke 22:52-53 (NIV)

 

The prophet Amos also prophesied to us indicating clearly that the day of punishment would also be a day of darkness:

 

⁹ “In that day,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.   Amos 8:9 (NIV)

Certainly not much of a trade off – reigning with darkness for an “hour” compared to reigning with Jesus for eternity! Hell-o, let’s wake up here!  Satan is permitted an “hour” to do his worst and do his worst he does yet darkness must give way to light. I am reminded of David’s words in Psalm 30:

⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.   Psalms 30:5 (NIV)

Make no mistake about it; the power of darkness will be made to give homage to the Prince of Light. Luke also tells us in our verses for today that the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  No longer would the sacrificial system be necessary for the Israelites to have access to the Holy of Holies where God dwelt.  Prior to this, only once a year and only the High Priest could go behind the curtain and even then with much trepidation.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross we have now been given access to the Father. 

³ Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.   Heb 9:3-5 (NIV)

 

⁷ But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.  Heb 9:7 (NIV)

Hence the tearing of the curtain indicates our access.  The writer of Hebrews tells us:

¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰ where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.   Heb 6:19-20 (NIV)

 

Paul also gives us the following encouraging verses:

 

 ¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.   Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)

 

¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.    Eph 2:18 (NIV)

 

¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.   Eph 3:12 (NIV)

“Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.”  Alexander Maclaren

As believers in Jesus we can now approach God both freely and confidently.  Again, the writer of Hebrews confirms this by stating:

 

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.     Heb 10:19-23 (NIV)

 

“Do you know who you are? Do you know who you were designed to be? Do you know the Father’s intent for your life? You are meant to hear in your spirit the same thing Jesus heard when he came out of the waters of baptism at the beginning of his ministry: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’….J I Packer puts it simply. ‘What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God for his Father’…Our highest privilege and deepest need is to experience the holy God as our loving Father, to approach him with out fear and to be assured of his fatherly care and concern.”    Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials

 

What I glean from this:

 

• The day Christ took on my punishment was a day that darkness reigned.
• I can now approach God both freely and confidently.   “I remember two things:  that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”  John Newton

• Through Jesus’ work on the cross I now have access to God through faith.  G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “Nothing taken for granted; everything received with gratitude; everything passed on with grace.”

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August_10

SHARING BREAD

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. ”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43 (NIV)

Interestingly, all the components necessary for our eternal salvation are fleshed out in our verses for today – if this were not so, Jesus would have told us would He not?  These are the “take-aways” I get from the conversation between Jesus and the thief on the cross in the above verses:

• The thief feared God displaying it by not hurling insults at Jesus or blaspheming or reviling Him but rather turning to Christ – seeing Him as His intercessor.
• The thief was aware of his repeated, habitual sin and his inability to save himself.
• The thief realized that his sin had to be punished.
• The thief realized Christ was without sin.
• The thief realized Christ was going to another kingdom.
• The thief asked Christ to remember him in His kingdom.
• The thief rebuked and berated the other criminal in a biting charge demonstrating his disapproval showing forth fruit in his life.
• The thief is with Jesus in paradise and has been since that day.

Maintaining a holy confidence in our Lord, committing his way to Jesus, expecting help from Him, rejoicing in the hope of being with Him forever, this thief on the cross sets for us a good example.  Do we maintain such a confidence in Jesus as Scripture states?

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.     Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV)

 

¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.   2 Tim 1:11-12 (NIV)

 

⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.   2 Tim 4:7-8 (NIV)

Have we committed our way to Him who is more than sufficient to meet our every need – expecting Him always to grant us the grace to accomplish whatever He allows with contentment, peace and joy?  Paul gives us the following declaration of the source of his amazing, supernatural strength- Jesus – as he proclaims:

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.   Phil 4:11-13 (NIV)

 

Lastly, do we rejoice in the hope of being with Him forever – holding fast in confidence to our future eternal bliss?  Jesus desires for us to be encouraged and strengthened by this truth.  Just as He told His first disciples, He tells us:

 

¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.   John 14:1-3 (NIV)

 

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.    2 Peter 3:14 (NIV)

 

“Nothing can harm us, including death, when we have trusted Christ as Savior, because Christ has conquered death – and so shall we.”   Billy Graham

 

What I glean from this:

 

• The thief on the cross is with Jesus in paradise.
• Jesus desires for me to have confidence in Him – not in me!
• Jesus desires for me to long for His return rather than be consumed with the world.

 

 

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