Devotionals – A Worshiper's Journal

Our Plans and God’s Will

Proverbs 27_1, GNT

In January 1957, the following quote by writer, journalist, and cartoonist Allen Saunders was published in Reader’s Digest magazine: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” Those same words also appeared 23 years later in the lyrics of the 1980 song by John Lennon, “Beautiful Boy.” Another way of putting the sentiment of these words would be, “Go ahead and make your plans but live one day at a time because you don’t know what tomorrow will bring.” Proverbs 27:1 in the Good News Translation says, “Never boast about tomorrow. You don’t know what will happen between now and then.”

The truth is that we can make all of the plans we want to make, but we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Life is uncertain. James 4:14 (NET) says, “You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.” Life is also as complex as a good mystery novel. It is made up of minutes, hours, and days that are filled with people, places, and things. And each day, we may be called upon to make decisions, some of which may be critical, and some which may be routine and even mundane. And while there is nothing wrong with making plans, and we should do so, we must never allow pride or arrogance to cause us to boast about our plans (James 4:16). When we make plans, they should be made saying, “This is what I will do, if it’s God’s will (James 4:15).”

When we do things in accordance with God’s will, when we place His will above our plans, then we are doing what Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33-34 (NET) when He said, “But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.” Trusting in our own plans can lead to anxiety, but when we trust in God’s will for us, in His plan for us, and do so with all our hearts, then we can walk in confidence, knowing that He will guide us each step of the way (Proverbs 3:5-6). And we can face life with the certainty that God’s plans for us are never to harm us, but rather to prosper us (Jeremiah 29:11).

Living life based on our own plans brings uncertainty, but life in accordance with the will of God brings certainty, even when we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

The Math of Salvation: Confess + Believe = Saved

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9, ESV)

Yesterday, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the defining event of the Christian faith. Easter has now passed, but its meaning for our lives is something that we should celebrate every day. As a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been given the hope of salvation.

In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul talked about this hope and how we can secure it. Securing that hope takes action on our part, action that involves both inward and outward expressions of faith and trust. I will call that action the “math” of salvation. The “math” of salvation is this: “confess + believe = saved.” In Romans 10:9, Paul tells us that if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, then we will be saved. Confess + believe = saved!

Let’s look at this a little more closely. When we confess something with our mouths, we are giving an outward expression of the trust that is within us. I love the way this is translated in the New Living Translation, which says, “if you openly declare that Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9, NLT). So what does it mean to confess or openly declare that Jesus is Lord? It means that we are acknowledging by our words that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. We are declaring to the world that we believe with our hearts and minds that Jesus is God made flesh.

When we add that confession of the divine sovereignty of Jesus to a heartfelt faith that Jesus was raised from the dead by God, the result is salvation. That faith, the belief in the resurrection of Jesus, is the inward expression of faith and trust. So which comes first? Before we can confess our faith and trust in Jesus as Lord, we must believe in our hearts that He is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. When we have this heartfelt belief, we are justified or made right with God. We are then able to confess or declare that faith with our mouths and receive the gift of salvation (Romans 10:10).

Confession and belief are two separate steps to salvation. They are both equally important. We receive the gift of salvation by acknowledging to God that Jesus is Lord, that He is God and believing in Him. And this gift of salvation is available to everyone. Paul says that, when it comes to salvation, God makes no distinction between Jew or Gentile. Jesus Christ is not just Lord of the Jew or Lord of the Gentile. He is Lord of all. And everyone who calls upon His name will be saved (Romans 10:12-13).

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Third Day: He is Risen Indeed!

“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”

(Matthew 28:6, ESV)

The forces of evil rejoiced as Jesus was laid in the tomb on that dark Friday. Their celebration continued as His body lay there the next day. But now it’s Sunday, the third day, and the celebration belongs not to the forces of evil, but to those who walk in the light. What brought this about? An empty tomb! On our recent trip to Israel, a group from Evangel Church visited two different sites that are claimed to be the place of the tomb in which Jesus was laid. There is a difference of opinion as to which is the true site. But there is one thing that they both have in common. Jesus is not there! Jesus is alive! He is risen indeed!

Throughout the world, those who put their faith and hope in Jesus Christ are celebrating the greatest day in history, the day on which our Savior, Jesus Christ conquered death. It is the third day. Death could not hold Jesus. He is alive and has conquered death and the grave. He gave His life on Friday to pay the price for our sin, but on Sunday, not just sin, but also death was conquered as Jesus rose from the dead. Death had no victory over Him. Because of Jesus, death has lost its sting. Jesus was victorious. And those who turn from their sin and place their faith and trust in Jesus share in that victory (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Jesus rose from the dead and can never die again. And because of His victory, we can experience eternal life. We may one day die a natural death but, thanks to Jesus, we do not have to face the second death, eternal separation from God. Thanks to Jesus, we can experience eternal life. Jesus said that He is the resurrection and the life. He promised that those who believe in Him, although they may die, they will still live (John 11:25-26). Because of the grace and mercy of our heavenly Father, given to us through Jesus, His Son, we do not need to face separation from the Father but can have eternal life in His presence. That is cause for celebration! Hallejujah!

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Holy Saturday: A Day on Which to Reflect

But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

(Isaiah 53:5–6, ESV)

As we have commemorated Jesus’ Passion this week, on Thursday we remembered a day on which Jesus faced betrayal, denial, abuse, humiliation, and trial. Friday we remembered His pain, suffering, and His death on a cross. And now we come to Saturday, a day in which Jesus lay in the tomb. To the disciples who followed Jesus, it was a day of confusion, disillusionment, mourning, and even fear. For Mary, the mother of Jesus, it was a day to grieve the loss of her son. For some Roman soldiers, it was a day to stand guard over the tomb. But for us, living on this side of Jesus’ death and resurrection, it is a day on which we can reflect. We can and should reflect on what the events of the Passion of Jesus truly mean to us.

Because of sin, we were separated from God. The relationship that man once had with God was destroyed. But God, although He is righteous and just and cannot tolerate sin, still desired for us to have that close relationship with Him that existed before sin entered the world. There was nothing that we, in our own human power could do to restore that relationship. And so, God decided that He would do something about it.

Some 700 years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah spoke of the suffering servant who was to come, a person who would come from God, a person who would take upon Himself the punishment for our transgressions. His suffering, His pain, would bring us peace, it would heal our wounds. And, despite the fact that we, just like a flock of sheep, have been led astray by sin, God would lay upon this suffering servant, the imiquity of us all (Isaiah 53:5-6). Jesus was the fulfillment of this prophecy. His suffering and His death was the price that was paid to set us free from the bondage of our sin.

Jesus came into the world for the purpose of dying for us. He is the proof of a God who loves us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His one and only Son so that the relationship broken in the Garden of Eden could be restored, so that the veil of sin that separated us from God could be torn apart (John 3:16). God sent Jesus not to condemn us, but rather to save us. All that we need to do is turn from our sin and believe in the One whom God sent, Jesus (John 3:17-18). Jesus died for all of us (Romans 6:10). Not just for a few, but for as many as are willing to believe. And the best part is that, if you were the only person in the world, He would still have died for you.

Reflect today not just on how much Jesus suffered, not just the horrific and painful death that He endured, but also on the fact that He did so willingly for you. As He hung on the cross, Jesus saw each and every one of us and He endured that death with joy (Hebrews 12:2).

The Passion of Jesus Christ: Friday

Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. (John 18:28, ESV)

After a night during which He was betrayed, denied, arrested, tried, beaten, and mocked, Jesus was led from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium, where He was presented to the Roman governor, Pilate, with the hope that Pilate would sentence Jesus to death. Although after questioning Jesus, Pilate was reluctant to sentence Him, the governor agreed to have Jesus flogged. Jesus was handed over to the Roman soldiers who beat Him to within an inch of His life, placed a crown of thorns on His head, and mocked Him.

When Jesus was brought back to Pilate, the governor once more sought to release Jesus. It was traditional at the Passover for the Romans to release a prisoner, and Pilate gave the people a choice between Jesus and a murderer named Barabbas. The crowd chose Barabbas. When Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, the chief priests and the crowd shouted, “Crucify Him!” Pilate washed His hands of the matter and delivered Jesus over to be crucified. After carrying the heavy cross to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, Jesus was nailed by His hands and His feet to the cross.

Crucifixion was one of the most horrific methods of execution known to man. It was a long, painful, humiliating form of punishment. Jesus’ physical suffering on that cross must have been excruciating. But, perhaps even more painful was what Jesus experienced when, as He hung dying on that cross, the sins of all people were laid upon His shoulders. At that point, when Jesus looked to the Father, He could no longer see His face. Because He is a just and righteous God, the Father could no longer look upon His Son because of the sin that the Son now bore. At that moment, Jesus knew separation from God and He cried out, “My God, My God! Why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:45-46) And soon after that, saying, “It is finished,” Jesus died (John 19:30).

Why did Jesus suffer and die? He did so to pay the penalty for your sins and mine, the sins that separate us from God. He did it so that, by turning from our sins, believing that He is Lord and that He died for us, we could all have eternal life in the presence of God. He did it so that we would no longer have to experience that separation from the Father. He did it so that we will never have to say, “My God, my God! Why have You forsaken me?”

This day on which we commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice for us is called Good Friday. Now, that may seem like an incongruous name for the day on which Jesus died, but when we look at what His death provided for us, freedom from the bondage of sin and death, it makes perfect sense. It truly is “good.”

The Passion of Jesus Christ: Thursday

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. (Luke 22:7, NLT)

Luke’s account of the Passion of Jesus begins by pointing out that the Festival of Unleavened Bread – the Passover – had arrived. It was the time when the Passover lamb would be sacrificed. And, it marked the beginning of the suffering of Jesus, our Passover lamb, who would soon be sacrificed for our sins.

As the day began, Jesus sent two of the disciples, Peter and John, to make the preparations for the Passover meal. Jesus knew what that evening and the days that followed would bring and His desire was to share the Passover meal with His disciples before His suffering began. When the time came for the meal, Jesus and the disciples gathered in an upper room, where they sat around the table to begin their meal (Luke 22:7-16). What happened next was to become one of the great ordinances of the Christian church – the Lord’s Supper, or Communion.

Jesus took the bread and wine, gave thanks for them, and gave them to His disciples. As He did, He told them that the bread was His body, the body that He was giving for them, the body that would bear the scars that rightfully belonged to us, the body that would bear the punishment for our sins. As He passed the cup of wine, He told them that it represented a new covenant between God and His people, a covenant that would be bought with Jesus’ own blood. As He shared this bread and wine, representing His body and His blood, He gave the disciples instructions that were not just for them, but for all believers who would be added to the body of Christ. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” And so, to this day we remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us as we share in communion (Luke 22:17-20).

It was after Jesus shared this beautiful meal with His disciples that His suffering, His Passion, truly began. That night, Jesus would be betrayed by one of His own disciples (Luke 22:47-48). Another disciple would deny even knowing Him, not once but three times (Luke 22:54-62). In the Garden of Gethsemane, He would pray with such anguish over what was to come that He would sweat blood (Luke 22:41-44). He would be arrested, then tried by the religious leaders, the council, at the home of the high priest Caiaphas. Throughout that night, Jesus would be beaten and humiliated (Matthew 26:57-68).

Although Scripture does not mention it, following His trial before the council, it is likely that Jesus was thrown into the dungeon beneath the home of Caiaphas, a dark, cold pit, to wait until He was brought before the Roman governor, Pilate. On our recent trip to Israel, we had the opportunity to visit the site of the house of Caiaphas and go down into this dungeon. Being in that place, one could imagine the suffering and pain that Jesus must have felt as he sat there, alone.

What would happen the next day would be much worse, a suffering and death that no one should ever have to endure, but one which Jesus endured so that we would be set free from the bondage of sin and death, so that one day we may have eternal life in the presence of God.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Passion Week: The Days in Between, Part Two

On the second day following the triumphal entry, when Jesus and the disciples arrived in Jerusalem, they were immediately approached by the chief priests and the scribes, who challenged Jesus’ authority to do the things He had been doing. Jesus answered their question with one of His own, “Was the baptism of John from heaven or was it from man?” Perceiving that an answer either way would put them in a lose-lose situation, the chief priests and the scribes responded by saying they did not know, to which Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by whose authority I act.” (Mark 11:26-33).

Jesus then told the parable of the tenants, which spoke of a vineyard owner who sent some of his servants to get fruit from the vineyard from the tenants who were leasing the vineyard. The tenants beat or killed one servant after another, and so the vineyard owner sent his own son, whom the tenants then proceeded to kill. Perceiving that Jesus had told this parable against them, the chief priests and the scribes now sought to arrest Jesus, but they were afraid of the reaction of the people. So, instead of having Jesus arrested, they left Him and went away (Mark 12:1-12).

The chief priests and scribes then sent the Pharisees and Sadducees to question Jesus, with the purpose of trying to trap Him in what He said. Jesus was questioned about taxes, about the resurrection, about which of the commandments is the greatest. Jesus answered each of these in such a way that the Pharisees and Sadducees, seeing that they could not succeed in entrapping Him, did not dare to ask Him any more questions (Mark 12:13-34).

Later that day, Jesus left the temple and went with His disciples to the Mount of Olives. It was there that some of the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of the end of the age. Jesus responded by telling them that there would be many who would be teaching false teachings, there would be wars, rumors of wars, famine, and earthquakes. He warned that believers must be on guard as they will suffer persecution, but they must continue to preach the gospel to all nations. Jesus spoke about tribulation that would come and about His return in glory and power. But, as to when all of these things would place, He taught that no one knows except for the Father (Mark 13:3-37).

On the next day, the day before His Passion would begin, Jesus went to the home of Simon, a leper whom He had healed. While Jesus sat at the table in Simon’s home, a woman came with an alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume and anointed Jesus with it. That very same day, the chief priests and scribes began to plot to have Jesus arrested and put to death. And one of Jesus’ own disciples, Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and offered to betray Jesus. In return, Judas was paid thirty pieces of silver. Everything was now in place for the Passion of Jesus to begin (Mark 14:1-11).

Passion Week: The Days in Between, Part One

Throughout the world this week, Christians will be focusing on the Passion of Jesus Christ. Traditionally, the emphasis is on the events that took place on the three days we know as Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday. On those days, we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Last Supper and prayer at Gethsemane, and Jesus’ arrest, suffering, and crucifixion. But what happened during the days between the triumphal entry and the Last Supper, between Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday?

Following the triumphal entry, Jesus spent some time looking around the temple. Then, in what seems like an anti-climactic end to a day that began with crowds cheering and praising Him, calling out to Him, “Hosanna!” which means “save us,” Jesus returned to Bethany, where He had been staying along with His disciples. Over the next few days, Jesus and His disciples would travel back and forth between Bethany and Jerusalem, a trip of about two miles. The clock was ticking as the days and hours brought Jesus closer to what He had been sent here for, His suffering, His death and His resurrection.

The next day, Jesus and the disciples made their way back to Jerusalem. At the temple that day, an event occurred that was likely the straw that broke the camel’s back when it came to the chief priests’ and scribes’ opinion of Jesus. As He entered the temple, Jesus began driving out the buyers and sellers, overturning the tables of the money-changers, saying, “My house shall be a house of prayer! But you have made it a den of thieves!” The chief priests and the scribes saw and heard all this and began seeking a way to destroy Jesus. Their anger must have burned at Jesus, a person they perceived as nothing more than a rabble-rouser and a blasphemer. But since they feared the crowds who were amazed at Jesus’ words, they did nothing, and Jesus left Jerusalem for Bethany once again that evening (Mark 11:15-19). But He was now one day closer to that which He had come for, to suffer and die for the sins of man.

On the second day following the triumphal entry, as they made their way back to Jerusalem, Jesus taught His disciples (and us) an important in faith and forgiveness. Jesus said that, through faith, we can move a mountain and that any prayer that is offered with faith, without doubting, is a prayer that will receive an answer. He also spoke about the importance of forgiving the trespasses of others, pointing out that when we do, God will also forgive us (Mark 11:20-25). That began what would be one of the most event-filled days leading up to the Passion.

The Usefulness of God’s Word

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

(2 Timothy 3:16–17; KJV)

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul gives a wonderful description of God’s Word and how it should be used in our lives (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In just one sentence that spans two verses, he sums up the usefulness of Scripture to every believer. Paul begins by pointing out that all Scripture has been inspired by God. Some translations say that Scripture is “God-breathed.” While the words may have come from the pens of men, those men (including Paul) were given these words by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit working through them.

This is an important point. In his book, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens writes that it is important to understand that Jacob Marley was dead in order for anything wonderful to come from the story Dickens is relating. When it comes to the Bible, it is important that we understand that it is the Holy Spirit inspired, inerrant Word of God in order to read it, understand it, and use it for the purpose that God intended. After establishing this point, Paul goes on to explain that purpose.

The Word of God is profitable, or useful, for several reasons. First and foremost, it is profitable for doctrine, or teaching. By reading the words of the Bible, we learn who God is, what He has done for us, and what He desires from us. The doctrine that we need for life is God’s truth and the only place where we can find that truth is in His Word. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 tells us that a day will come (indeed, that day may already be here!) when people will not want to hear sound doctrine. For this reason, we need to have the truth of God’s Word in our hearts.

This brings us to the second reason that God’s Word is profitable, for reproof. Reproof can be looked at in a couple of ways. It can mean using the truth of God’s Word to rebuke those who teach false doctrine and warn those who believe that false doctrine. It can also mean rebuking believers who choose to persist in sin (1 Timothy 5:20). In order to do these things, we need the truth of God’s Word in our hearts so that, with patience and teaching, we can be ready when necessary to use His Word to reprove and rebuke.

The third reason for the usefulness of God’s Word is to correct. As we walk in God’s ways, we likely will face opposition from those who do not share our faith. Their opposition may come by choice or because of a lack of understanding of God and His truths. The Word of God gives us what we need to correct, with gentleness, those who oppose us. When we do, the power of God and His Word may very well lead them to repentance as they receive the knowledge of His truth (2 Timothy 2:25).

Finally, God’s Word is useful for instruction or training in righteousness. God’s Word shows us what is right and then teaches us how we can live according to godliness, always seeking to do what is right in the sight of God. When we learn how to live righteously, we can also help new believers to learn to live righteously.

Paul ends these verses by telling us why these things are important to the believer, why we need God’s Word to learn and teach, to reprove and correct, and to train to live righteously. If we count ourselves as believers, we need these things so that we may be complete, so that we have all that we need to carry out the work that God has planned for us.

What the Lord Has Done

Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.

Let the whole world know what he has done.

Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.

Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.

(Psalm 105:1-2, NLT)

The first two verses of Psalm 105 exhort the people of Israel to give thanks to God, to proclaim His greatness, and to sing His praises. They also are exhorted, not once but twice, to tell everyone about the things that the Lord has done, His wonderful deeds. The psalm then goes on to recount God’s faithfulness to Israel, from His covenant with Abraham to His leading the Israelites into the land that God had promised them. The psalm tells of God’s faithfulness to Jacob and to Joseph, His deliverance of the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, and His miraculous provision of manna and water in the wilderness. These were all things that the Israelites knew they should not just praise God for, but also tell everyone about.

The faithful God who delivered the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, who provided food and water in the wilderness, and who brought them into the Promised Land is the same faithful God who is still at work in the lives of believers today. Just as He made a covenant with Abraham, He has made a covenant with all believers, providing for a means to eternal life through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. The same God who delivered the Israelites from their bondage to Pharaoh has delivered believers from the bondage of sin. And His deliverance does not stop there, as He has delivered countless people from the bondage of drugs and alcohol, the bondage of gambling, the bondage of debt.

The God who provided manna and water for the Israelites in the wilderness is the same God who provides for us today, sometimes in miraculous ways and sometimes through the charity and generosity of friends or strangers. He is and always will be our Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider. Our God is worthy of all of our thanks and praise, not just because of what He has done for us, but because of who He is. But, when we see His wonderful deeds in our lives, just like the Israelites, we need to tell everyone about them. Why? Because people need to hear them.

I don’t know about you, but I find that reading about the things that God has done for His people throughout the history of the world brings me great comfort when I realize that I serve a God who can do such things for His people. Hearing of His wonderful deeds throughout time strengthens my faith and brings me to my knees in awe of this God who loves us so much. When we tell people of the things that God has done for us, when we proclaim His greatness and tell every one of His wonderful deeds, we can bring comfort, strength, and an increased faith to those who believe. And for those who don’t, hearing our testimony of what God has done for us just may be the thing that helps lead them into a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Has God done wondrous deeds in your life? Give Him thanks, praise His greatness, and be sure to tell others about what the Lord has done!

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