Tag Archives: Matthew

The body is weak! (Matthew 26:40-41) June 24, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Ezekiel 13-18

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 26:40-41
When He came back to the disciples, He saw that they were asleep. Peter awoke a little less confident and slightly chagrined.
Jesus (to Peter): So you couldn’t keep watch with Me for just one short hour? Now maybe you’re learning: the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Watch and pray and take care that you are not pulled down during a time of testing.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Caught with his hand in the cookie jar! Jesus asked his closest friends to help Him pray during this darkest hour of His life. One of His own was about to betray Him. Jesus knew the guards were on their way to arrest Him. The cross loomed in the distance. His death was imminent.

“Please, watch and pray with me for the next hour to help Me through this awful time in my life.”

Sounds like a simple request, doesn’t it? But Peter, James and John didn’t fulfill their mission. They let the food in their stomachs and the late hour of the evening get to them and they slept while their Master prayed. He comes back and the sound of His sandals on the gravel path arouses Peter. Oops! I was supposed to be praying, not sleeping. Caught!

We’re all guilty. We all get caught. No matter how stealthy you think you might be in covering your actions or hiding your schemes, you can’t. Everything eventually comes out in the open. Just take a look at what happens in the media today with our political candidates. If you think you can hide your past, just look at what comes out from the past on these men and women that want to lead our country. The opposing party is pulling out dirt from every aspect of each others lives. From the time they were young adults to yesterday’s twitter post, the latest misstatement, misaligned thought, maligned look, point of arrogance, or down right bad action for which each never takes ownership pops up in the news.

Nothing is ever really hidden. And so Peter, James, and John get caught. But that’s okay. Jesus understands. I think He’s a little disappointed that these three closest friends didn’t have the stamina to pray with Him for even an hour, but even at this late hour of His life, Jesus uses the incident as a teaching point for them. “Now maybe you’re learning: the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Watch and pray and take care that you are not pulled down during a time of testing.”

So what is the Master telling these three? I’m sure they were thoroughly embarrassed by their inability to stay awake with Jesus. I’m sure they fell over themselves with apologies and truly were sorry for not praying with Him during this hour. I’m sure they promised never to do it again and asked for another chance to redeem themselves even as the night grew longer and darker.

But Jesus understood their position before the coming of the Holy Spirit to live in them and not just with them. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. There are times that we just can’t go on any more. His words remind me of the day I came back from Iraq into our rear headquarters in Dharhan in Saudi Arabia after coalition forces were ordered back in Operation Desert Storm. I told my boss I needed a short nap before I would be much good to him for the next planning phase. I went into the hut several of the medical operations team shared and fell fully clothed into the cot I hadn’t seen in several months to take that short nap. In what a thought was a few minutes, I woke up and discover to my dismay the clock was two hours later than when I laid down. What I didn’t know was a full day had also passed. What I thought was a long two hour nap, was a twenty-six hour exhausted sleep. The spirit was willing, but the body was weak.

I learned that some of the team who held down the rear headquarters while the tactical operations center moved forward checked on me every few hours to make sure I was still breathing, but assumed I needed the sleep and didn’t wake me. I wanted to work as soon as I returned because there was a lot of work to do. But my body said shut down and repair itself after months of twenty-hour days. It just said no more and quit.

God understands our physical limitations. But He also helps us even with those physical limitations. I’m convinced it was His hand on me physically that let me work the grueling schedule I worked in Desert Storm without collapsing until after our return from the front. His sustaining power gave me the strength to endure all those months until my planning skills were no longer immediate concerns for medical support on the battlefield.

We will all face times of testing as the disciples did in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus and as I did with the constant pressures of planning in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. But prayer was high on my list and I felt the prayers of those who were home lifting me to God both for my safety and my ability to perform my tasks well not even knowing what my tasks might be. I knew friends and family were on their knees with my name on their lips.

Now twenty-five years after that conflict, I lift those planners and service members in my prayers daily. Some of them I know by name. Most are nameless to me, but not to God. Are there times my body fails me? Yes. Just passing my sixty-second anniversary of my birth, my body fails more often than I’d like, but I’ve learned to lean more on God so He can empower my spirit to keep at the fight. How about you? 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Does God answer prayer? (Matthew 26:39) June 23, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Proverbs 5-6

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 26:39
He walked a little farther and finally fell prostrate and prayed.
Jesus: Father, this is the last thing I want. If there is any way, please take this bitter cup from Me. Not My will, but Yours be done.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Have you ever had God not answer your prayers the way you wanted Him to answer them? If you haven’t, then you probably haven’t prayed…ever! I’m pretty positive that everyone who ever prayed more than once has asked God for something He didn’t grant. You see, God isn’t in the business of being a cosmic Santa as too many want to believe. Instead, we need to recognize God as our heavenly Father. Jesus talked about the fact that a father gives good gifts to his children, so if a son asks for a fish, he wouldn’t give him a snake, right?

But we never stop to think that the reverse is also true. When my kids were little, if they asked for a race car, I would probably give them a toy race car. But if they wanted a real one, there is no way, that as a good father I would give them real race car. That would have been foolish. Granting them that request would mean injury or death. They certainly didn’t need a race car and to give it to them would have been a cruel gift to them as their father.

The same is true with many of the things we ask from God. He knows what is best for us. We do not. Sometimes we think we are smarter than God and know all the answers, but we don’t God answers our prayers in a way that is best for us and brings glory to Him. He knows the right answers in every circumstance. He knows how to make every bad situation turn for our best. It may not seem like it at the time, but as a good Father, He gives good things to His children. Always.

When I don’t get what I ask, I often come to this passage and remember that even Jesus, the very Son of God, asked something of His Father and did not receive what He asked. If anyone deserved to get what He asked it would be Jesus. He was God incarnate. The heavenly Father’s Son. He was sinless. He did everything the Father asked of Him. Yet, when it came to asking for relief from the agony of the cross, the Father said, “No. I won’t let you off the hook. You must die for the sins of the world. I know what you have done so far. I know what you ask. I know you don’t deserve this. But the answer is still no.”

So should I feel bad when God turns down my request? I admit sometimes I do, but I try to remember God knows me best and He is my Father. As when my kids were growing up, I don’t always know what is best when I ask for something. God does. I need to stop and remember that when I ask for a fish, He will never give me a snake. Likewise, if I ask for a snake not understanding the danger it holds, He will give me a fish instead because He is a wise and good Father.

The other pattern we see in Jesus’ prayer we here often in Christian circles. Non-believers see it as our excuse for God not doing what we ask of Him, but Jesus’ pattern is clear. “Not My will, but Your will be done.” It’s not the first time Jesus prayed that prayer. He taught His disciples to ask for God’s will to be done when shared a model prayer. He wanted us to realize God’s plan, His will, His desires take precedence over ours. He is God. We are not.

When we figure out that God is God and a perfect Father for His children we can accept, as Jesus did, whatever response we get from our requests to Him. We know He will give us what we need to grow closer to Him. We know He will help us grow and mature in our spiritual life. We know He will prepare us to perform the tasks He has in store for us. We know as a loving, wise Father, He will give us His best since He has already given us His best by giving us His Son for our deliverance.

So does God answer prayer? You bet! Does He always give us what we want? I hope not. Does He give us what’s best for us? Every time. He has our best in mind. If we will remember that one simple fact, like Jesus, we can accept His answers, not matter what they might be. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Prayer partners, good and bad (Matthew 26:36-38) June 22, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Psalms 72-74

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 26:36-38
Jesus: I am going over there to pray. You sit here while I’m at prayer.
Then He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and He grew sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Jesus: My soul is overwhelmed with grief, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Prayer was such an important part of Jesus’ life. We see Him getting away from the crowd and even from His disciples whenever He had important decisions to make. We find Him alone on hillsides, in the mountains, in gardens, slipping away in the night, rising early in the morning. Jesus got away to pray by Himself. He wanted time alone with His Father to discern the best course to take at critical junctures in His life.

In this scene just before Judas comes with a squad of soldiers to place the kiss of betrayal on the Master, Jesus once again slips away to pray alone. But in this instance, as He did when Peter, James, and John witnessed His transfiguration, He asks these three to watch with Him and pray. They cannot understand the incredible strain Jesus is enduring at the moment, but they can still join with Him in prayer…if they will.

They just finished a meal. They consumed some wine. It’s getting late. They’re not sure what they’re praying about. We know what’s about to happen. Have you ever had that problem? Jesus asks them to watch and wait, but their eyes get heavy and they don’t watch very well. But there are a couple of things I think we can learn from the small exchange we see in the first part of this garden scene with Jesus and His closest friends.

First, with Jesus as our pattern, we should go to the Father with every major decision and many if not most of the minor ones we face every day. God is interested in our lives. He wants to help us through the mundane as well as the spectacular. He wants to talk with us and give us the guidance we need to make the best choices in life, not just the good choices. We can’t do that unless we talk with Him regularly about our lives.

Second, when you face difficult times, whether it’s tough decisions, distress, or sorrow as Jesus faced that night, it’s good to have partners in prayer. Jesus took His three closest friends with Him to the deepest part of the garden to pray with Him about this monumental moment that soon would forever change not just history, but the very heart of men and women throughout the rest of time. Jesus wanted His closest friends, those He thought He could count on to help Him pray to help shoulder the spiritual burden He carried that night, to lift their hearts and prayers to His Father along with His own to help Him in this great time of need.

The third thing I learn from these few verses is that Jesus didn’t take all His disciples into this deeper part of the garden. He took only three of His disciples. Did that mean He didn’t have confidence in the others? Not necessarily. But just like each of us have some friends that are closer than others, so did Jesus. Just like we have some friends we can pour our heart out to and know we will not be judged for our thoughts, Jesus probably felt the same way about Peter, James and John. These three were His inner circle. They were His confidants. We need some of those in our lives.

You probably have a lot of associates around you. People who will do things for you and with you. You know their names and a little about them and they know you in the same way. You see them around at church or work or in the neighborhood, but you probably would not list them among your list of friends if you had to start making a list of friends. You probably do have a list of friends. People you invite over to your house often. You know all about them. You might even go on vacations with them. You know you could pick up the phone and ask them for help and they would be there for you. But you don’t tell them your deep dark secrets, because they are not that close. You trust them, but not with your inner secrets. But hopefully, you have two or three people on your list that are like that. You can confide in them. You can pour your heart out to them without judgment. You know they will listen and still be there at the end of the crisis. These confidants are rare in the journey of life and I think Jesus held Peter, James, and John in this last category. We all need just a few of those kinds of folks also.

Finally, even though those close friends, those confidants, those intimate prayer partners may let you down, it’s still good to ask them to help you pray. I think Peter, James, and John probably tried to prayer for a while when Jesus first asked and if they had known the gravity of the situation would have stayed awake longer and prayed better. But even so, it set their mind on the issues that Jesus would soon face. And God probably used this time to make them great prayer warriors later as He reminded them of their failure in the garden. So don’t be afraid to ask partners to pray with you, even if they forget, fail to follow up, fall asleep, or don’t respond in the way you might like. It could be a growing period for all of you.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Do you stumble and fall? (Matthew 26:31-34) June 21, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – 1 Kings 14-18

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 26:31-34
Jesus: Scripture says,
I shall strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will scatter.
Just so, each of you will stumble tonight, stumble and fall, on account of Me.
Afterward I will be raised up. And I will go before you to Galilee.
Peter: Lord, maybe everyone else will trip and fall tonight, but I will not. I’ll be beside You. I won’t falter.
Jesus: If only that were true. In fact, this very night, before the cock crows in the morning, you will deny Me three times.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Have you ever made Peter’s type of declaration about one of your snares to temptation? “I’ll never miss my devotions again. I’ll never frequent that den of evil again. I’ll never look at that filth again. I’ll never drink that stuff again. I’ll never smoke that stuff again. I’ll never …” Name the temptation that plagues you most and you’ve probably made the same promise Peter made to Jesus. “Even if everyone else falls away, I’m so devoted and so determined, I’ll never do that because I love you so much.”

What happens next? The tempter comes with just the right shiny bait and suddenly we find ourselves falling to the temptation once again. The bait looked so good and so delicious we just couldn’t help but bite and we didn’t see the hook hidden just beneath the surface. Now we’re pulled along by the angler who wants to take our soul.

Peter thought he was strong enough to handle the tempter. So did the other disciples. So often we think we’re strong enough, too. But look through scripture and you’ll find the strongest Bible heroes failing to remain strong when the tempter puts his bait in front of them. They fall to his wily schemes and suddenly find themselves drowning in a sea of disillusion and despair. They don’t know how to find the strength to carry on and are embarrassed by their inability to carefully follow God’s decrees for their lives.

Just like us, isn’t it? Don’t we do the same thing? Don’t we too often fall for the same things over and over again because we just keep taking the bait? So how do we get away from the merry-go-round and live the life God wants us to live for Him? How do we see through the schemes Satan puts in our path and live up to the promises we make to God?

There is a way. Paul describes it as living by the spirit rather than living by the flesh. It’s giving ourselves fully to God and listening and obeying Him as His Spirit in us guides us. When we are sensitive to Him, He prompts us toward the exit signs when the tempter tries to lure us into the deep with his shiny toys and illicit pleasures. Sometimes the bait Satan uses can even be good things, but not the things God has in store for you. We can lose the best in the good if we’re not careful.

When we listen to God’s spirit in us, though, He will guide us to the best for us and keep us from falling into Satan’s traps. He will point us to the exit signs when temptations come our way so we have that way of escape Paul takes about. God knows about temptation. He knows about the evil of this world. He knows the schemes Satan uses to try to trap us into a path of disobedience. And He gives us His spirit when we ask Him to guide us and teach us. To help us discern the path He would have us take instead of the path Satan and the world would direct us toward.

Peter and the rest of the disciples all abandoned Jesus the same night Peter made the declaration that he would never leave his Master. John stuck closest, just to see what was happening to Jesus in the courts of the Sanhedrin. But all of them fell to the tempter’s snare just as Jesus said they would. They could not stand without God’s Spirit living in them any more than we can.

But after Pentecost, after they asked God to fill them with His spirit, after they let God really become Lord of their lives, each began to let God lead them in ways they never understood before. They sensed His spirit guiding them and helping them, just as Jesus said He would. As you read about their lives, they no longer lived the up and down relationship with God. They lived the lives He wanted them to live enabled by the resurrection power of God’s spirit in them.

Do you want to stop falling prey to that same old habit that plagues you? Do you want to get off the merry-go-round that you know displeases God and frustrates your spiritual growth? Then give yourself wholly to Him. Then listen to and obey His spirit living in you. Live in accordance with His spirit in you, and not by the flesh. That’s the secret those early church leaders shared as their secret to living the lives God wanted them to live. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

My body and blood (Matthew 26:26-29) June 20, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Leviticus 4-6

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 26:26-29
Jesus: Take this and eat; it is My body.
And then He took the cup of wine, He made a blessing over it, and He passed it around the table.
Jesus: Take this and drink, all of you: this is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you: I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until I am with you once more, drinking in the kingdom of My Father.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

So, I have to ask, how many times have you gone to church, heard the words, and just gone through the motions of taking communion? If you’re like most people, you get into the routine and far too often, the Lord’s Supper become just another ritual instead of a remembrance of His sacrifice for us. So how do we keep it from become routine? How can we make sure we focus on the importance of the symbols the bread and drink that we share together represent and not the action of eating and drinking?

It’s so easy to do. I have to admit that even as a minister, I have been guilty of getting busy with responsibilities, thinking about the next part of the service, and going through the motions. Reciting the words, but not focusing on their personal meaning for me. I wanted to make sure I got the ritual right and didn’t think as much as I should have about what the ritual really meant. Terrible for a minister to do that, huh? But we’re all guilty, whether in the pulpit or the pew, we sometimes let our minds wander and forget just how important this sacred moment really is.

How do we stay focused in the moment? Think about what you’re doing. Don’t let your mind wander. Satan will do his best to distract you with everything he can to take your mind away from the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the symbols of His broken body and shed blood He pointed out to us in this simple act of sharing bread and drink together. Whether your tradition uses wine or grape juice, communion wafers or bread, doesn’t matter so much as remembering the what each of these mean as symbols of Jesus’ personal sacrifice for the redemption of your individual sins.

When we stop and just think about that symbol, bread for His body, drink for His blood, it should cause us to pause and recall the sacrifice He made. I’m not sure we can fully understand what that sacrifice was really like. Many of you have probably seen the movie “The Passion” as I did several years ago and got just a glimpse of what that week was like for Jesus. But seeing His suffering on the screen doesn’t do justice to what the experience was like for Him. We saw Hollywood’s portrayal of the scourging, the crown of thorns pushed down on His head, the beam of the cross lashed to Him as He struggled up the road to Calvary. We experienced some of the sights those in Jerusalem might have seen on those days.

But we have no idea the pain, the humiliation, the cruel punishment inflicted by the Romans, the excruciating agony of the cross. Most of us have no reference points from which to begin to compare the suffering Jesus endured as He faced death as the penalty He paid for us. But from that movie, from studies you might have made of Passion week, from medical reports you’ve heard about crucifixion, when you see the bread in your hand, remember the brutality Jesus endured for you. All that should have been mine and yours as payment for our disobedience to God. As you see the juice in the cup, think about the blood He lost as He felt the whip across His back, crown of thorns on His head, the spear in His side. That blood was shed for my sins and yours so that we would not have to pay with our blood for the sins we commit.

Is it easy to let your mind wander to what’s for lunch as communion is being served? Yes. Is it easy to think of the ballgame starting in a few hours? Yes. Is it easy to think about what will happen at work this week? Yes. But if we try, we can also focus on the bread, a symbol for His body, broken for us. We can focus on the cup filled with the fruit of the vine, a symbol of His blood, shed for us. His sacrifice ushered in a new covenant. One in which we can have a personal relationship with the creator. He promised that if we ask, He will live not just with us, but in us, to help us be the person He created us to be.

Next time you come to the Lord’s table, stop, think about the bread and the wine. What does it mean for you? Really think about it. Don’t let go of the beauty of the moment as you share this special moment with others.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Judas had a way out (Matthew 26:21-25) June19, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Ephesians 4-6

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 26:21-25
Jesus: I tell you this: one of you here will betray Me.
The disciples, of course, were horrified.
A Disciple: Not me!
Another Disciple: It’s not me, Master, is it?
Jesus: It’s the one who shared this dish of food with Me. That is the one who will betray Me. Just as our sacred Scripture has taught, the Son of Man is on His way. But there will be nothing but misery for he who hands Him over. That man will wish he had never been born.
At that, Judas, who was indeed planning to betray Him, said,
Judas Iscariot: It’s not me, Master, is it?
Jesus: I believe you’ve just answered your own question.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

There are two things about this last supper exchange that always intrigue me. Jesus had a lot to say to His disciples during the course of that evening and all of the gospels tell us aspects of His discourse in different ways. But Jesus’ words in Matthew cause me to stop and ponder His words every time I read them.

Jesus tells His disciples one of them will betray Him. But then it seems that almost without exception each of the disciples ask if he is the one that will make the deal with the devil and betray Jesus to His enemies. Has that ever seemed odd to you? Judas was the one who would betray Jesus. In fact, he already has the money in his pocket and has given the priests the signal he will use to show them who Jesus is so there is no mistake when the soldiers capture Him in the garden.

Yet all of the disciples question Jesus because each is afraid they will become the turncoat and give Jesus over to the authorities. Each of those in that room think they have the ability to fall away and give up all they learned from Him. Each think they can fulfill the role Jesus proclaims one of them will fill. Think about that for just a moment. All of them are gathered with Him for this Passover meal. Jesus shared with them some of His last and deepest thoughts. All of them feel especially close to Him as they know they could also be part of the crowd called traitor to the crown, rioters, rabble-rousers. Those are the names the priests give Jesus and want Him arrested.

Each has the question on his lips, “Jesus, will I be the one that betrays you?” See, I think any of those disciples and any of us could be His betrayers. We could be the one that whispers to the enemy. We could be the one that nails Jesus to the cross. In fact, we all do. It’s my sins that put Him there. He died for me, for my betrayal of God.

The second thing that always strikes me about this conversation between Jesus and His disciples is Judas’ question. Judas knows. He already betrayed Jesus. He already met with the priests and took the thirty pieces of silver. He already made the plans to point Jesus out from the rest of the followers. The deed was all but done except for the kiss, the final act. But Judas had the audacity to follow suit of all the other disciples and ask, “Jesus, is it me?”

What do I learn from this? We know when we are about to give the final kiss. We know when we are on the brink of stepping across the line and going to far. Jesus gives us every opportunity to stop before we cross the line. As Paul says, with every temptation, He makes a way of escape. Judas didn’t have to be the one to betray Jesus, but he did. Judas didn’t take the warning signs from Jesus and instead carried out the act after Jesus did everything He could to give him an opportunity to escape. Remember, every other disciple carried in their heart the means of betrayal. They all questioned their motives, their resolve to follow Jesus to the end. Judas failed to take the exit when Jesus offered it. Instead, he went out of the upper room, met with the priests and soldiers, came back and placed the kiss of betrayal on Jesus cheek.

So there are three things I learn from the disciples in these short exchanges. First, all of us are susceptible to temptation and can betray Jesus if we do not keep our faith strong and our eyes on Him. Second, all of us know our position with Him. We know if we are the one selling Him out to others. Third, there is always a way of escape if we will take it. And most of the time, God points us to it pretty clearly. He makes the exit sign pretty bright, but we have to move toward the sign to get out the door. Judas answered his own question, but he still had a way out if he had chosen it.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Friends in the time of need (Matthew 26:18) June 18, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Luke 13-14

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 26:18
Jesus: Go into the city, find a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, ‘My time is near, and I am going to celebrate Passover at your house with My disciples.’”

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

I like this about Jesus and the relationships He has built in His thirty-three years on earth. He told a few of His trusted disciples to go find a certain man. No doubt one of the many friends He made along the path of life He traveled over the last several years. Maybe the man was a family friend who didn’t berate Mary and Joseph for the son born to early to them to be Joseph’s legitimate heir. Maybe he was one of the guest at Cana who witnessed Jesus’ first miracle and became a close and trusted friend after believing Jesus was the Son of God. Maybe he was one of John’s followers present on the day John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

We don’t know who the man was, but Jesus sent His disciples to this particular, person to let him know He was coming with a bunch of His friends. And when Jesus’ disciples came to that man and told him what Jesus said, he didn’t even flinch. He set up the room. He got provisions for them. He welcomed them in. He was happy to see Jesus and meet whoever Jesus brought with Him.

I often wonder how many of those kinds of friends Jesus made in His wanderings throughout the territories of Judea and Galilee. I think of people like Lazarus, Mary, Martha, Zaccheus the tax collector, and others who probably gave Him an open door invitation to welcome Him into their home any time He was in the area.

With our travels, my wife and I have made a few of those kinds of friends. We can call and tell them we will be in the area and they expect us to stay with them. And when they are in San Antonio, we expect them to stay with us. They are friends that if they called at midnight and said they needed a place to stay, the doors would be opened and beds would be available. They’re like family. Nothing is spared. No invitation is needed. Just show up and we will have a good time together for as long as they choose to stay. And they reciprocate if we happen through their town.

Relationships like that don’t happen overnight. Those relationships grew over years and decades as we learned about our likes and dislikes, as our kids grew up with common interests, as we discussed values and ethics and determined we were like minded in our love of God. These relationships take the brunt of life and survive the worst crises life throw at us because they help us get through those tough times. We rely on each other for prayers, an understanding shoulder to lean on, something beyond sympathy for our plight, a willing hand to help us through those crisis moments.

Jesus sent His disciples to meet such an individual. A certain man. A person with whom He grew a relationship over time until like those friends I discribed above, He could drop in without notice and be welcome. So how do we grow those kinds of relationships? How do we get to the place with others that we can drop in or have them drop in without the feeling of interruption and welcome these friends with open arms, always feeling at home with them? What is it about those relationships that make them so close and so genuine that you can share your life deeply and relish every moment with them?

I think one of the most important aspects of these relationships is the common ground in values. Deep in your heart where eternal things matter, you are kindred spirits. As I think about that list of people that I’m comfortable dropping in and out of their homes, almost without exception, they have a deep love of God and faith in Christ for salvation. All are growing in faith, but most know Him intimately.

Second, we are all open with each other. No pretense. No hidden agenda. We aren’t looking to gain anything from each other except friendship. We expect nothing in return from the time we spend together or the things we do for each other. We communicate and share joys, sorrows, hurts, celebrations, a multitude of emotions without fear of ridicule or judgment.

Finally, I think those relationships grow because from the beginning of the relationships, with small things at first, but later with whatever is needed, we have learned to trust each other to help when needed. We know we can rely on each other when the chips are down. We know when nothing else seems to work, we can turn to each other and things will get done.

Do you have those kinds of friends in your repertoire? I think Jesus made those kinds of friends wherever He went as the perfect Man and Son of God. I also think it’s more difficult for us to make and keep those kinds of friendships because we are imperfect and often not very godly. But I can tell you from decades of experience, those relationships are certainly worth the effort.

Jesus sent His disciples to a certain man. Do you have a few of those around the world you can call on for help when you need them? 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

How about that tenth commandment? (Matthew 26:10-13) June17, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Ezekiel 7-12

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 26:10-13
Jesus: Why don’t you leave this woman alone? She has done a good thing. It is good that you are concerned about the poor, but the poor will always be with you—I will not be. In pouring this ointment on My body, she has prepared Me for My burial. I tell you this: the good news of the kingdom of God will be spread all over the world, and wherever the good news travels, people will tell the story of this woman and her good discipleship. And people will remember her.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

A woman, other writers identify as Mary Magdalene comes into the house where Jesus is eating. Breaks open a jar filled with alabaster, a very expensive perfume, and proceeds to pour it on Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her long hair. Some of the disciples are indignant and complain about the waste of this expensive gift and admonish her, telling her she should have sold it and given the proceeds to the poor.

Are you ever guilty of the disciples’ error? I have to admit, I have been. And I’m pretty sure if you thought about it a little bit, you’ve probably been guilty of the same error. Someone doing good for another person and we stick our nose in it and complain about it. We think they should be doing something else instead. Essentially, that’s what the disciples were saying. Hey, Jesus. Why are you letting her waste that perfume on your feet? She could be doing something else with the money that stuff costs.

So many times we want to second guess the good actions of other people. Did you every stop to think that maybe God prompted that person to do that act at that time for that person for a particular reason? Maybe that person needed some encouragement at just that time to keep them on track in their spiritual journey. Maybe the act performed was just the demonstration of God’s love that convinced the recipient that God is real and pointed them to His saving grace and merciful forgiveness.

We don’t know why God prompts His children to do particular things at particular times. But sometimes He does. And sometimes those acts may seem extravagant to some. But what causes us to think that way in the first place? I think it’s often that tenth commandment that gets in the way. He didn’t do that for me, so why should he do it for her? I didn’t get that extra helping of potatoes so why should He? The church recognized them for cleaning up the yard, I was there, too, why didn’t I get mentioned? Can you say covet?

We let our selfishness get in the way. Even the disciples’ comment harks back to selfishness. They wanted their plans carried out, not God’s. Why are you letting her pour perfume on you, instead of doing what we want here to do with it? If it’s up to us, we would sell it and take care of other people. Our plan is to use the proceeds for other purposes. We want to do what we want to do. Isn’t that essentially what they’re saying here? It sure sounds like it to me.

That’s the problem we have when we begin to criticize the good actions of others. When we try to categorize and assume something better or something different or something else that fits our plans should be done instead of the good work an individual is prompted to carry out for God with their personal property, we get ourselves in trouble. It’s that tenth commandment thing rearing its ugly head. We need to be on our guard as soon as it pops out of its hole.

If it’s the church’s money or an organization’s money, the answer might be different. Then the property belongs to God and is managed by a council or pastor on behalf of the congregation that it serves. In that case, there are boundaries within which to operate because the funds are not one person’s. The property is not one person’s. The decisions are not solely one person’s. So when one person does something outside the guidelines and boundaries the congregation prayerfully sets in place through the leadership of the church, there may be reason to criticize one person’s waste of the congregation’s resources.

But personal resources, when God says to do something, it’s always best to listen and do it. As with Mary’s case, there was a purpose. She prepared Jesus for burial because the women would not have time on the day He died. She probably didn’t even think about what she was doing when she went to see Jesus and anoint Him with her perfume. But as Jesus said, “wherever the good news travels, people will tell the story of this woman and her good discipleship. And people will remember her.”

Will the same be said about you for the good you do to others or because of the criticism you have for the good deeds others have done? How about that tenth commandment? 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Passover happens again (Matthew 26:2) June 16, 2016

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Proverbs 4

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 26:2
Jesus: The feast of Passover begins in two days. That is when the Son of Man is handed over to be crucified.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

What incredible timing. We celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus and sometimes don’t think about the connection with Passover as much as we should. As Christians, we sometimes throw out the Jewish holy days without much thought unless they happen to fall on the same days as our Christian holy days. Passover is the day, though! Certainly, without Easter, Passover wouldn’t mean as much to us because Easter demonstrates that Jesus’ sacrifice works, but Passover was the sacrifice!

On that day, while the chief priest and several of his henchmen were consorting with Pilate, something they should not have been doing on this of all days, the rest of the priests were really busy. This day was Passover. What did that mean? Every family was busy getting their young, unblemished lamb blessed and prepared for sacrifice. The temple roared with the pilgrims from all over the world who came to this place to share with friends and family to celebrate the day God freed Israel from slavery from Egypt and made them a nation.

Passover for them was more important than Independence Day for us. We gained our independence from Great Britain and celebrate it as the day we became a free nation, but that’s not quite the same as Passover. The day the Jews celebrate, not only created a new nation, but demonstrated God’s sovereignty over His people and the world by killing the first born of every household across the land unless they were protected by blood smeared on the doorpost of the house. That sign caused the death angels to pass over the house and spare the first born from execution at the hand of God.

Thousands of sheep died on the day Jesus died. Thousands of Jews gathered in homes around their tables clothed in traveling garb with shoes on their feet and shared the story of God’s salvation of His chosen people, rescuing them from the hands of Pharoah. Thousands listened to the message of God’s redemption and the promise of His coming Messiah, blind to the fact that on a hillside just outside the city of Jerusalem the Romans at the bequest of their priests were crucifying the Messiah while they roasted their lamb and told their story.

God brought freedom to all who followed Him. Moses served as His spokesman and led them out of Egypt. All they need to do was follow and obey God’s commands. They didn’t and all the adults who left Egypt died in the desert except Joshua and Caleb. Through the centuries, God continued to send prophets to the Jews to tell them, “All you need to do is follow My commands and you will be free.” They didn’t and God drove them into exile.

He allowed a remnant to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and the city. The nation began to rebuild, but under the overloard of other nations more powerful than they were militarily. God continued to tell them, “All you need to do is follow My commands and you will be free.” They didn’t. God sent His Son, the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords to free us, to redeem us from the penalty of our sins. And again God said, “All you need to do is follow My commands and you will be free.” They didn’t and instead hung His Son on a cross.

God knew all along the sacrifice would be made. And He knew it would be on Passover. The perfect sacrifice on the perfect day in the perfect place. Jesus, the sinless one, sacrificed in Jerusalem, the city of God, on Passover, the day that represented freedom, the breaking of the chains of slavery.

But there is more. Remember the other side of Passover? Remember what happened to those who did not observe the warning? Death struck every household. The sacrifice required the blood of an innocent lamb. But without the blood of the lamb, the death of the first born was the payment for God’s wrath. So blood was shed in every house. Every family saw death. The issue was whether the death was that of a lamb, a substitute, or the first born in the family.

The same is still true today. The penalty for our sins is still death. That’s what we deserve. We earned the death sentence in our disobedience to God. Every single one of us have that paycheck due us. Death stands at the door. But we have an opportunity to apply Jesus’ sacrificial blood on the door of our heart and live. His blood covers our sins and death passes over us instead of visiting us with its eternal damnation.

But the blood must be applied and that is something we must do. Like the Israelites who brushed the lamb’s blood on the doorposts of their homes, we must accept Jesus as Lord, the power of His saving grace, the sacrifice He made to pay the penalty for our sins. His blood, shed for us, applied to our hearts gives us life instead of death, freedom instead of slavery. Passover happened again the day Jesus died. It happens again every time someone in faith accepts Him as Lord. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Harsh words I don’t want to hear (Matthew 25:41-46) June 15, 2016

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Bible reading plan:

Read it in a year – Psalms 69-71

see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)

Today’s Devotional

Matthew 25:41-46
Jesus: At that He will turn to those on His left hand.
King: Get away from Me, you despised people whom My Father has cursed. Claim your inheritance—the pits of flaming hell where the devil and his minions suffer. For I was starving, and you left Me with no food. When I was dry and thirsty, you left Me to struggle with nothing to drink. When I was alone as a stranger, you turned away from Me. When I was pitifully naked, you left Me unclothed. When I was sick, you gave Me no care. When I was in prison, you did not comfort Me.
Unrighteous: Master, when did we see You hungry and thirsty? When did we see You friendless or homeless or excluded? When did we see You without clothes? When did we see You sick or in jail? When did we see You in distress and fail to respond?
King: I tell you this: whenever you saw a brother hungry or cold, when you saw a sister weak and without friends, when you saw the least of these and ignored their suffering, so you ignored Me.
So these, the goats, will go off to everlasting punishment. But the beloved, the sheep (the righteous), will go into everlasting life.

What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?

Wow! Harsh words from the Master. Eternal punishment for those who fail to show compassion to those around them. What are we supposed to do with that? Does Jesus expect us to give up everything to feed the hungry? Does He want us to sell our homes or open the doors to every hobo that walks down the road? Does Jesus want us to spend all our free time at the prison talking to inmates? Will He list us as part of the herd of goats if we don’t?

I have to tell you, I think we have gotten pretty hard-hearted and dispassionate in our country in some respects. Oh, we pour billions of dollars into disaster relief when catastrophes happen like the tsunami in Japan or the earthquakes in Pakistan or the hurricanes in Gulf of Mexico. We find it easy to throw money at problems and ease our conscience and say we are compassionate and care for people. But do we?

I think one of the problems in our society comes from the fact that a small percentage of evil people figured out how to take advantage of compassionate people and make a pretty extravagant living from it. Seven figure salaries from charitable organizations or journalists with hidden cameras following the panhandler on the street corner change from his rags into his khaki pants and polo shirt before climbing into his new Cadillac and driving to the golf course and on to his half million dollar house.

The few crooks that make it into the news sour us against those that legitimately need our help. But then we look at the taxes that come out of our paycheck and think, “Isn’t that what the government is supposed to do? Don’t they have programs to help the down and out? Haven’t I paid enough?” So we pass them by thinking we’ve done our part in the supporting the social programs the government lays out for all those who should receive help. Surely, the government will take care of anyone that needs help. All they need to do is apply and if they don’t get help, they probably don’t deserve it, right?

Well, I have a question for you. When is the last time you sat down at one of the tables in a homeless shelter and listened to the story of one of the mothers there? How did she happen to end up on the street with her two or three children? Or the guy with the Masters Degree in economics? What happened to him that caused him to live on the street under a bridge? Or the veteran that should be able to get help through the Veterans Affairs for the nightmares that plague his sleep and make it impossible for him to function during the day? When is the last time actually talked to one of them? Would that make a difference in how you feel about “those” people?

Yes, there are some crooks out in the world who would take advantage of us. Yes, there are some people who make a living by deceiving others and weaving sad-song stories to get handouts so they don’t have to work and pay taxes. Yes, our government is creating a welfare society in which we are quickly relying on the government instead of ourselves for support. But the vast majority of those in real need are not among that number. And I really think God’s Spirit in us can help us sort those out if we truly listen to Him. He can help us discern the sheep from the goats, even among that crowd.

So if we can have compassion for the animals the humane society shows on their commercials with “Amazing Grace” playing in the background, can’t we begin to have some compassion for the people around us that need a little lift in their world? The price for walking by could be pretty high. Remember Jesus’ words, “whenever you saw a brother hungry or cold, when you saw a sister weak and without friends, when you saw the least of these and ignored their suffering, so you ignored Me.”

Those are harsh words I don’t want to hear. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.