Friday Thought – January 29, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

The Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant in the battle against Israel. They defeated the God of Israel, proving that their god (Dagon) was stronger than Israel’s God. At least that’s what they thought! The capture of the Ark was God’s discipline upon Israel, but He also used it as an opportunity to reveal Himself and His power to the Philistines.

They took the Ark to Ashdod and put it in the temple of Dagon and each morning that it was there they found the idol to Dagon fallen on its face before the Ark. On the second morning the idol had not only fallen on its face but its head and hands had broken off. (1 Samuel 5:4) The people of Ashdod were afflicted with tumors and under great distress. Instead of turning to worship the Lord, the Philistines removed the Ark from Ashdod took it to Gath.

In Gath the story was the same. The whole city was thrown into a panic (1 Samuel 5:9). The people of Gath were also afflicted with tumors. God was demonstrating His power. Again, the people of Gath did not bow down to worship the Lord. Instead, they sent the Ark away from Gath to Ekron.

As the Ark was entering Ekron the people cried out, “They have brought the Ark of the God of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” (1 Samuel 5:10) That city, too, was filled with panic and its people afflicted with tumors and death. They did not respond with worship, but with a desire to get rid of the Ark.

In the end, the Philistines wanted the Ark out of their country and sent gifts of gold with it to appease the Lord. They knew God was not pleased with them and wanted to assuage their guilt before Him. When they removed the Ark from their own territory they used a final test to be sure it was the God of Israel who had afflicted them and not just chance. They put the Ark on a cart attached to two cows and allowed it to go on its own. They believed that if it went directly to Israel, then the God of Israel was returning His Ark to His people and He had been responsible for their affliction. Sure enough, as soon as they released the Ark it headed straight toward Israel. (1 Samuel 6:12)

This was a season of grace for the Philistines. It seemed like affliction, but it was really grace! God was giving them an opportunity to recognize His power. He demonstrated Himself more powerful than their idols. They could have submitted themselves to Him in worship. They chose to ignore what He was revealing and send Him away! They missed their great opportunity!

How many times have we missed God’s grace and turned our back on Him?

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – January 28, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“The LORD said to Samuel: ‘I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family - from beginning to end. I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’'" (1 Samuel 3:11-14)

The story of Eli and his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, is a sad one. Eli was a good man who loved the Lord. He did a good job instructing Samuel and helping him to grow into a man who loved and served the Lord. Eli did not do the same with his sons. They became unrestrained men. They stole from the offerings brought to the Lord and were sexually immoral. God told Samuel that Eli had failed to restrain them. He failed to teach and discipline them when they were young boys and the result was disastrous for them and for Israel.

Israel lost a battle against the Philistines. They prepared for a second battle. They brought the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s presence to the battlefield. Hophni and Phinehas came with the Ark and Eli, a very old man, remained at home.

The Ark did not have the desired effect. The Philistines defeated Israel again, killed many Israelites, including Eli’s sons, and captured the Ark. When news of the death of his sons and of the Ark reached Eli, he fell off his chair in distress, broke his neck and died.

About the same time, Phinehas’s wife gave birth to a son and died in childbirth. As she was dying, she named the boy Ichabod, which means “there is no glory.” She said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured.” (1 Samuel 4:21-22)

All this because Hophni and Phinehas were unrestrained and wicked. Eli had failed as a father. God punished Israel for the failure of its leaders. God withdrew His presence in punishment.

You can do great things for God, but if you overlook the work God wants you to do in your own family, you will be a failure.

Everything rises and falls on leadership! The fate of Israel was determined by the quality of those who led the nation.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – January 27, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“The LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, ‘Here I am.’ He ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ Eli said, ‘I did not call; go back and lie down.’ He went and lay down. Again the LORD called, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ ‘My son,’ Eli said, ‘I did not call; go back and lie down.’ Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. Eli told Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.”’ Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel!  Samuel!’ Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’” (1 Samuel 3:4-10)

God spoke to Samuel as clearly as He has ever spoken to anyone. Few of us have had the kind of experience Samuel had, to hear the audible voice of the Lord and to have the Lord directly bring a message to. Even with that kind of clarity it took Eli’s spiritual wisdom to discern that it was the Lord. Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice and needed Eli’s help.

Hearing the voice of the Lord requires spiritual discernment that comes with spiritual maturity. Samuel didn’t have it, fortunately Eli did. If we ever hope to discern the voice of the Lord we must move toward spiritual maturity.

 Spiritually wise counsel helps when we are trying to discern God’s voice and will. There is great value in having some spiritually wise friends who can help you discern God’s voice and will when it is unclear to you or to test your understanding when you think you have heard His direction.

God does speak to people. He spoke to Samuel and he is one of many men and women in the Bible to whom God clearly communicated His message and will. There is no reason for us to assume God has ceased speaking to people. There is every reason to believe God speaks just as clearly today as ever.

God desires the same response we see in Samuel when he recognizes it is God speaking. Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” God is looking for people who will listen to His voice and follow His will. Perhaps the reason so few hear His voice today is that God finds so few hearts ready to respond obediently to His direction.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – January 26, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

Samuel’s mother left him at the temple as a young boy to serve under the priest, Eli. He served well and took what he did seriously. The Bible says, “The boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.” (1 Samuel 2:26)

That statement is very similar to the one made about Jesus as He grew from a boy toward manhood. Luke says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52)

All parents want their children to grow physically in a natural way. It would be a sad thing for a small child to remain small all of her life. We have the same expectations of emotional and mental growth, too. We expect our children to be emotionally immature when they are young, but not to stay that way through their whole lives. We expect our children to struggle to learn the basic facts about language and math and science and every other subject. No child is born with all of that knowledge, it comes from experience and study. We want our children to grow and learn throughout life.

The same principle can be applied to a person’s spiritual life. Samuel loved the Lord even as a small child. He was taught to do that by his mother. But Samuel’s love for the Lord, knowledge of the Lord, and commitment to the Lord did not stay at the level which his mother taught him as a boy. As he served in the temple under Eli, Samuel learned more about the Lord and developed a deeper love for and commitment to Him. Jesus experienced that same kind of growth. It is what God desires of those who come into a relationship with Him. It is what He expects!

Spiritual immaturity is fine for those who are new in a relationship with Jesus. But spiritual immaturity should be temporary and gradually removed as we continue in our relationship with the Lord. Spiritual growth is the natural state and should be all through our lives in Christ.

You may be growing physically, emotionally and mentally, but the most important question is: Are you growing spiritually?

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – January 25, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“There is no one holy like the Lord, there is no one besides you, there is no Rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2)

These are the words of Hannah, the mother of Samuel. They are part of a prayer Hannah prayed on the day she turned Samuel over to the Lord. Samuel was a gift from God, the answer to her prayer for a son after many years of being barren. In response to God’s gift, Hannah promised that she would give Samuel to Him. True to her word, as soon as Samuel was weaned she brought him to Eli the high priest and left him in the service of the Lord.

It must have been difficult for Hannah to give her son to the Lord. She had longed with her whole heart for a son for many years. When she received the desire of her heart, she recognized him as the gift of God and returned him to the Lord. When Hannah gave Samuel to the Lord she did not do so with a grudging heart. She gave Samuel freely and with praise to God.

God did not demand that she give up her son. Even in giving up her son, she was not losing him, but giving him to God’s service. As Samuel grew and matured it would become obvious that his mother had given him to the Lord so that he might accomplish his highest purpose. He became a great man of God and had profound influence on Israel, all because his mother was willing to give him up.

As excruciating as the act of giving Samuel to the Lord must have been, Hannah knew God would be faithful to her and to her son. She clung to Him like a Rock, like the foundation that cannot be shaken.

What Hannah found in the Lord is still true. He never asks us to do anything that is ultimately harmful to us or to those we love. There is no one else we can turn to who has the strength, wisdom, and compassion He has. He is the foundation upon which we can build that will never be shaken.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – January 22, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. They stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:50-53)

Death is an enemy – Paul calls it that in his letter to the Corinthians. It is the last enemy that Jesus will defeat. Death seems so final and the separation so permanent.

That is a lie of Satan Jesus debunked in this final story. Jesus didn’t die in this passage, He’d already done that and come back to life, but He did leave the earth and leave His followers behind. The ascension marked the separation of Jesus from those who had come to Him during His time of earth. In that sense, the ascension is very much like a death. The disciples won’t see Jesus again in this world – not until He comes in the clouds at His Second Coming.

The ascension also demonstrates that the separation did not mark the end of Jesus. As He was lifted from the earth and into the clouds, Jesus was very much alive. The ascension wasn’t the end of Jesus – it was His trip from this world to the next.

Death doesn’t mark the end of any of us. The very moment we breathe our last breath on earth will also be the moment that we breathe our first breath in the world to come. The separation that death brings from those we love is temporary – at least for those who follow Jesus. We’ll be reunited with all other followers of Jesus in the world to come – the permanent world where separation will never come.

The disciples realized the ascension was not the end of Jesus. When Jesus lifted from the earth and returned to heaven, the disciples lifted their voices in worship and went away with great joy and praise to God.

Remember that picture the next time death strikes close to home. For followers of Jesus, death’s separation is temporary and death is not the end – it’s  the beginning of real life.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – January 21, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“He told them, ‘This is what is written: Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’” (Luke 24:46-49)

First, there is the miracle of atonement. The atonement happened on the cross – “the Christ will suffer”. That suffering was necessary. It was the payment made by God to cover the penalty of our sins.

Second, there is the astounding declaration that the payment was accepted by God. God declared that when He raised Jesus from the dead. There is no clearer proof imaginable that there was something unique and powerful about the death of Jesus. Death took Him, but could not hold Him.

Third, repentance and forgiveness of sins are to be preached. The means by which we accept the payment Jesus made on our behalf is by our repentance – turning away from ruling our own lives and trusting our ability to provide for ourselves – to allowing Jesus to rule our lives and trusting His work for all that we need. That’s repentance – and the result of repentance is forgiveness – a clean slate, sins forgiven.

Fourth, the preaching is to be to all nations. The Jews couldn’t keep the message for themselves – it was meant for more than just them. It was not to be restricted to that day and age – it includes the nations to come in the thousands of years to follow. Not just good nations and good people, but all nations and all people. Not just democratic nations, but dictatorships and nations and every other kind. All nations are to hear the message of Jesus.

Finally, there is the power – “clothed with power from on high.” The followers of Jesus don’t have to rely on our own strength and abilities – they will never be enough. God provides the power – He promised it – He gave it on that first Pentecost – and He keeps giving it today.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – January 20, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

"Jesus himself stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.' He showed them his hands and feet. While they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, 'Do you have anything here to eat?' They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it in their presence." (Luke 24:36-43)

They saw Jesus crucified. They watched as He died. Their hopes were dashed. They had put so much hope in Him. Then strange reports began to come back to them. The tomb was empty. Some women had seen Him alive. He had appeared to Peter. He walked with two disciples to Emmaus. Now, it seems that He is standing in their midst.

It couldn’t be true. This must have been a ghost or a vision. Jesus was dead. To think that He had come back to life was just too good to be true. They did not believe "because of joy and amazement." They had never seen anything like this before or heard about anything like this. Surely it was all in their own minds.

Then Jesus asked for something to eat and ate. In something as simple as sharing a meal with them, they realized it was no dream. Visions don't eat supper! Jesus was really with them. He had come back from the dead. What they had hoped for had come true. Their wildest imagination had actually happened!

The resurrection changed them. Frightened and hiding in the upper room before they realized He had come alive again … afterward they started preaching to everyone who would listen. Running away when they came to arrest Jesus, now they'd be arrested themselves and wouldn't back down. Denying Jesus during His trials, now they'd testify about Him to the same council that killed Him. Something changed them! Jesus was alive! He still is!

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – January 19, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“They talked about Jesus, ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. They crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. … Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ Beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:19-27)

The Jews had been studying the scriptures. They knew what the prophets said about the Messiah. Those who were devout were hoping for the Messiah and praying and waiting faithfully for Him.

The disciples of Jesus on the road to Emmaus had even greater advantage than the usual Jew. They had heard Jesus teach. They had walked with Jesus as He talked with the crowds, explained the scriptures and worked miracles. They had placed their faith in Him. They believed that He was the Messiah.

Yet, here they are, after Jesus’ death, His resurrection and after the report of the resurrection from the women and a couple of other disciples. They still did not believe. They still did not understand.

They had heard and studied the word of the prophets – but they didn’t believe what they predicted. They couldn’t fathom that the Messiah would be killed and then come to life again. That was too much for them to embrace without having witnessed it.

Jesus said to them, “How foolish are you, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”

We are surprised by the hesitancy and unbelief of the disciples. Yet, we, too, have heard and studied the word of the prophets and have met Jesus and embraced faith in Him, yet, we are also slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Slow to believe that Jesus really has conquered death. Slow to believe that heaven really does await. Slow to believe that Jesus really is coming again.

The resurrection proves that all the prophets have spoken will come to pass.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – January 18, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“The women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but they did not find the body of Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 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? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ Then they remembered his words.” (Luke 24:1-8)

When the women arrived at the tomb that Sunday morning they did not find what they expected to find!

They came with spices. The women were planning to use them on the body of Jesus. They expected to find His body in the tomb. They expected Jesus to be dead.

Instead they found the stone rolled from in front of the tomb. That solved a problem they were concerned about. They had no idea how they were going to get into the tomb. The stone being rolled away solved one problem, but what they found and didn’t find inside changed all their plans!

The women didn’t find the body of Jesus. They had seen Jesus’ body placed in the tomb. For some reason the body of Jesus was no longer there. The women didn’t understand. They wondered what it meant.

The women found two men in the tomb. They weren’t ordinary men – their clothes gleaned like lightning. What the men told them was astounding, “Jesus is alive, He has risen!”

Luke’s account is a simple one. The other Gospels don’t paint a much more complicated picture. Their accounts are simple and straight-forward. What they report in such simple terms is the most profound miracle in the history of the world – God raised Jesus from the dead.

That means everything Jesus said about Himself was true. That means everything Jesus said about us was true. That means everything Jesus said about the future was true. God proved it by raising Him to life again.

A miracle ... salvation offering – eternity ensuring – life-changing!

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – January 15, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“There was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 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. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 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.” (Luke 23:50-53)

There is a detail about Joseph that Luke does not mention. It is found in the Gospel of John. “Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews.” (John 19:38)

Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus. He was a secret disciple until Jesus died and then he exposed his secret by going to Pilate and asking for the body of Jesus. His secret was out. It was out to Pilate. It was out to the Jewish leaders. They knew whose tomb it was in which Jesus had been laid.

The Bible doesn’t tell us when Joseph became a disciple. But the whole time he was a disciple while Jesus lived, he kept it to himself. It took Jesus’ death to bring the news out into the public. That seems incredibly sad to me. Jesus knew that Joseph was a disciple because Jesus saw into men’s hearts. But Joseph never had the chance to tell Jesus and never had the chance to express his love and devotion to Jesus – not until He was gone.

Joseph was afraid he would be rejected or ridiculed. There is always a risk in loving someone else – but it is a risk worth taking.

Gandhi said, “A coward cannot exhibit love, it is the prerogative of the brave.” Joseph was a coward – until Jesus died. Fortunately, Jesus is still alive and Joseph has now had opportunity to show his love. It’s too bad he didn’t show his love while Jesus was on earth.

It is sometimes frightening to love Jesus. We may be rejected by others for loving Him. We may be ridiculed. It’s a risk worth taking. Jesus is worth loving. It’s worth letting Him know it. It’s worth letting others know it, too.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – January 14, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. The curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’” (Luke 23:44-46)

Luke mentions two miracles that happened around the death of Jesus: darkness covered the land and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Both are astounding acts of God’s power and authority.

God caused darkness to cover the land. In the middle of a spring day in Israel that just doesn’t happen naturally. Rains don’t come often and even when they do the clouds don’t block out the sun. This was something unnatural – something supernatural. God was saying that heaven didn’t want to see what was happening on earth. Darkness was having its day.

The second miracle is even more astounding. The huge curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn in two. Some of the Gospel accounts mention that it happened from top to bottom. Nothing fell against the curtain and caused a tear to rise from the floor to the ceiling. Someone grabbed the curtain at the ceiling and ripped it to the floor. It was a thick curtain – impossible for a human to rip from top to bottom. God’s was saying that the way into His presence – barred to all except the High Priest – was now open to all. A new Day of Atonement had happened and the way to God was completely open.

These two aren’t the only miracles that surrounded the death of Jesus, just the only two that Luke mentions. They are enough to show that something astounding was happening and God was involved. Something supernatural occurred when Jesus died.

Darkness prevailed for a short time – but not for long. Light would win. What darkness thought would be the end of Jesus turned out to be His greatest hour – atonement was purchased – the way to God was open.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – January 13, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: 'Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" (Luke 23:39-43)

I'm amazed at how two people can respond so differently to Jesus. Both thieves were in the same situation, they were being executed. They would soon be facing God. Yet, even in that kind of dire situation they responded differently to Jesus. One mocked Jesus. The other turned to Jesus for help.

The thieves provide an illustration of two different responses to Jesus that are still seen among people today. There are those in dire situations, who deeply need help, yet who hurl insults at Jesus instead of asking Him for help. They refuse to admit their need. They refuse to acknowledge that God might be able to help them. And there are others who see in Jesus the only One who can help them and turn to Him for mercy.

What these two thieves had to offer God was the same. Both of them had absolutely nothing to offer God. The spiritual condition of the two thieves was also the same. Both were convicted criminals, obvious sinners who deserved punishment by man and condemnation by God. Yet, one left this world to face what he deserved from God. The other left this world with the promise of paradise awaiting him. The only difference between the two is that one turned away from Jesus and the other turned toward Him.

Ultimately, our eternal destiny hangs on the same choice. Turn away from Jesus and we face the eternity we deserve. Simply turn toward Him and paradise awaits us, too.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – January 12, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“With loud shouts the people insistently demanded that Jesus be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.” (Luke 23:23-24)

Who was responsible for the death of Jesus?

Pilate had the authority to release Jesus. He knew Jesus was innocent of the charges. But Pilate didn’t have the strength of character to do what was right. He gave in to the demands of others. Pilate was responsible.

The chief priests and rulers are the ones who found someone to betray Jesus. They had Him arrested in secret and put Him on trial. They found false witnesses to testify against Him. They sentenced Him to death. They brought Him to Pilate so He could be crucified. The chief priests and rulers were responsible.

The people praised Jesus just a few days earlier when He came riding into Jerusalem on the colt. They lifted branches to wave in His honor. A few days later they went along with the chief priests and the rulers and asked for His death. The people were responsible.

Satan entered Judas and got him to betray Jesus. He incited the leaders of the Jews against Jesus. He influenced the crowd to cry out for Jesus’ death. He worked in Pilate’s heart to take advantage of his weakness. Satan was responsible.

We are the ones whose sins needed atonement. A price had to be paid to cover our sins. The death of Jesus paid that price. You and I are responsible.

Jesus willingly gave His life for us. He knew the price that had to be paid and offered to pay it. He wasn’t forced – no power could do that to Jesus. Jesus was responsible for His own death. Aren’t you grateful!

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – January 11, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Pilate asked if Jesus was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. He hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.” (Luke 23:6-11)

Herod wanted Jesus to entertainment him, to dazzle him with the performance of some miracle. Jesus refused.

Jesus refused to even speak to Herod. He answered none of Herod’s questions. He kept silent despite all the accusations brought by the Jewish leaders. This wasn’t a serious trial. This wasn’t a serious attempt on Herod’s part to seek answers and find truth. This was a sideshow – it was entertainment.

What Jesus says and does is never about entertainment. He would not provide Herod entertainment and He won’t provide us with entertainment, either. Honest and sincere questions – those Jesus will answer. Questions posed just for fun or to get the focus off of a person’s problems – those Jesus will leave unanswered. Honest and sincere prayers – Jesus will hear and answer. Requests for something to dazzle – Jesus remains silent and unmoved.

The lack of interest Jesus has in entertaining people makes me wonder what He thinks about some of what we call worship in today’s churches. How much is honest and sincere praise – and how much is for our pleasure? How much is real worship – and how much is about entertaining the crowds? I don’t have answers to those questions – just questions to ponder. After all, it’s not so much about what goes on in the churches – it’s about what is going on in the hearts of worshipers! It’s about what goes in your heart and my heart when we come before God with our praise.

Jesus isn’t interested in entertaining us – He is interested in changing us!

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – January 8, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“At daybreak the elders of the people met together and Jesus was led before them. ‘If you are the Christ,’ they said, ‘tell us.’ Jesus answered, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.’ They all asked, ‘Are you then the Son of God?’ He replied, ‘You are right in saying I am.’ Then they said, ‘Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.’” (Luke 22:66-71)

What is the standard by which the identity of the Messiah should be judged?

The clear answer is – God’s revelation in the Old Testament. God’s Word is the objective and authoritative standard that should have helped the people then and us today to determine if Jesus is the Messiah.

Jesus was on trial before the chief priests and teachers of the law. These men made up the leading council among the Jews. They should have been the most spiritual people in Israel. They should have known God’s Word better than anyone. They should have more quickly turned to the Word than anyone else.

Where is the probing of the scriptures to find its answers? Where is the question put to Jesus to ask Him to prove from God’s Word that He is the Messiah? You won’t find those things because they aren’t there. There was no turning to God’s Word by the council. They relied on their own opinions and what they thought the Messiah would be like – and they missed the true Messiah.

Do you have questions about Jesus? Turn to God’s Word. Do you have questions about theology? Turn to God’s Word. Do you have questions about life? Turn to God’s Word. Do you have questions about eternity? Turn to God’s Word.

There is an objective and authoritative standard for all of those questions and many more. The standard isn’t our own opinion. It’s not wrapped up in what we think is right or what ought to be right. The standard is the Word of God – the Bible.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – January 7, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“They led him away to the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with him.’ He denied it. ‘Woman, I don't know him,’ he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, ‘You also are one of them.’ ‘Man, I am not!’ Peter replied. An hour later another asserted, ‘Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.’ Peter replied, ‘Man, I don't know what you're talking about!’ Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ He went outside and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:54-62)

What was Peter thinking when he denied Jesus three times? He could not have had a hardened heart toward Jesus. He was in the courtyard because he loved Jesus and wanted to be near Him in case there was some way to help. When Jesus looked straight at Peter, it was a reminder that Jesus had predicted the denials. Peter had forgotten what Jesus had predicted until that moment.

Peter had good – though flawed – motivations in his denials. He believed that if he said he was a follower of Jesus they would arrest him or throw him out of the courtyard. Peter wanted to stay right where he was, close to the trials and did what he had to do to remain there.

Peter’s denials aren’t much different from Judas’ betrayal. I think Judas had good – though flawed – motivation, too. Judas was trying to force Jesus to declare Himself King and take control. Peter was trying to do something good, too – stay close to Jesus during His trial. Both chose ungodly means to accomplish what they thought were godly aims.

Have you ever been guilty of using ungodly means to accomplish a godly aim? That’s never a right choice. Peter’s denials broke Jesus’ heart and so did Judas’s betrayal. When we choose ungodly means to accomplish godly aims, we break God’s heart, too.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – January 6, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’ When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, ‘Lord, should we strike with our swords?’ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. Jesus answered, ‘No more of this!’ He touched the man's ear and healed him.” (Luke 22:47-51)

Would it have been wrong for Jesus and His followers to exercise self-defense and draw weapons against those who came to arrest Him?

Most of us would say that self-defense is a legitimate response to violence. But Jesus would have none of that. There would no self-defense offered by Jesus and none allowed by those who followed Him. That’s not to say that Jesus would be upset if you provided self-defense for yourself or your family if you were attacked. It just means that Jesus offered no self-defense for Himself.

Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested and then He allowed Himself to be tried, beaten, mocked, and executed. In fact, He did more than just allow Himself to go through all that – He volunteered. In the eternal plan of God to save the world, Jesus was a volunteer.

The compassion of Jesus shows through even in this dark hour. When one of His followers struck a servant who came along with the arrest party, Jesus healed the wound. It wasn’t the servant’s fault – he went only where told to go and did only what he was told to do. Jesus showed compassion on him.

Jesus showed compassion on His betrayer, Judas, too. He didn’t allow Judas to approach Him without confrontation. It was Jesus’ last attempt to point out what Judas was doing. A last attempt to dissuade Judas from the course he had chosen. That’s compassion.

In one of the darkest hours of His life, Jesus didn’t strike back in self-defense. Instead, He chose compassion even toward those who came to arrest Him.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – January 5, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. He said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” (Luke 22:39-44)

This isn’t the first time that Jesus taught His disciples about prayer. There are parables about prayer. Jesus showed them the model prayer in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus prayed His long prayer in John 17. We can look at the prayer to multiply the food for the 5,000 and the prayer to raise Lazarus from the dead and dozens of other prayers.

Jesus believed in prayer and practiced it for Himself and others. Jesus taught about prayer. Prayer was obviously important to Him.

Consider these lessons about prayer from this text:

Prayer can be a protection for us from temptation. Our strength will never be enough to protect us from the temptations Satan puts into our paths. We need God’s help to overcome.

Jesus demonstrated submission when He prayed. He knelt in the garden to pray. There was nothing casual about the way Jesus prayed. He didn’t take His relationship with the Father for granted or treat it lightly.

Jesus honestly told the Father what He wanted. He didn’t hold back His request. He wasn’t concerned that the Father wouldn’t understand or think less of Him because of what He asked. He wanted out of the way of the cross and He asked honestly for it.

Jesus wanted the will of the Father more than He wanted His own way. He submitted to His Father’s will above all. If the cross was what the Father wanted, Jesus was willing.

Prayer brought Jesus help. The Father didn’t bend His will to what Jesus wanted, but He did send angels to strengthen Jesus.

Lord, teach us to pray like Jesus prayed.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – January 4, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

“‘Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ He replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34)

Jesus possessed supernatural knowledge. Early in His ministry, Nathaniel was brought to Him and Jesus knew what Nathaniel had been doing before got there. At a time and place where Jesus was not present He still saw what was happening. Jesus saw into the hearts and minds of those around Him and knew what they were thinking and what they were planning to do. He could tell Peter about Peter’s future. Miraculous knowledge that was evidence of the divine nature of Jesus.

But the most impressive feature of this scripture is God’s heart and mercy. I love the phrase that Jesus spoke to Peter, “When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus was predicting Peter’s denial. Peter would turn his back on Jesus at the most critical time of Jesus’ life – during His trials. That had to hurt and disappoint Jesus. Peter’s sin cut into Jesus’ heart.

But God didn’t reject Peter when he denied Jesus. God wooed Peter back. God did that through telling Peter what was going to happen before it did; through a look that Jesus gave to Peter after he spoke the last denial, and through the intentional restoration that would come from Jesus when He met Peter on the shore of Galilee after His resurrection. God wanted Peter back. Not even his denial kept God from loving Peter and from a willingness to forgive Peter.

God did more than just forgive Peter and accept him back. In an astounding act of grace and mercy, God invited Peter to use even his failure to help others.

God responds the same to us. He always invites back, even after our most grievous sin. He loves us and wants us back. He doesn’t just forgive us; He uses even our failures to accomplish good things in our lives and in others.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – January 1, 2016

Good Morning Friends,

"Jesus said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.'" (Luke 22:25-27)

What does leadership look like?

The world has some ideas about leadership. To the world, a leader is one who can tell others what to do and they do it. The leader is the one who gets the biggest office, the best parking spot, and the most perks. The leader is the one who sits at the head of the table and determines what the agenda for the meeting is going to be. The leader is the one who makes the decisions and sets the direction for the group. The leader is the one that others look up to and defer to. The leader is the one at the top of the organizational chart.

But God has different ideas of what leadership looks like. You can see His ideas by looking at the ministry of Jesus. There is no doubt that Jesus is a leader, the greatest leader that has ever lived. But His leadership was not characterized by decision-making and by telling others what to do. His leadership was marked by service. He served others and because of that they loved Him and followed Him.

And Jesus calls His followers to that kind of leadership, too. Not the kind of leadership the world teaches of big offices and firm orders, but the kind of leadership that looks for needs among people and steps up to meet those needs. The kind of leadership that serves those around them.

His, by Grace, Steve