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Holy Week

Day 3 of 6 days:

Tuesday

How busy are you on a typical week? Moving from one activity to the next and filling our calendar with commitments can be exhausting. We may be doing lots of really good things, but can we actually do any of them well when we have so much on our plate?

It’s easy to confuse our busyness with purpose. Being busy might make us feel important, or our perception of worthiness may be tied to what we do instead of who we are. But maybe we’re not supposed to be consumed with activity every hour of the day, and instead focus on doing a few things really well.

Many of the religious leaders in Jesus’ time had made the law complicated and burdensome. There were many things “to do” in order to maintain good standing, but when one of these scribes came to ask Jesus about the greatest commandment, it didn’t turn into a long-winded technical debate.

Jesus had a simple answer. It’s not about the breadth of things you do, it’s about the depth in which you do them. Love God and love people with everything you’ve got!

We can’t love God with just one compartment of our being. We can’t just serve Him by attending a church service for an hour on Sunday or sending up an occasional prayer. We can’t honor Him with our mouth but set our hearts on material things. He is meant to be Lord over our WHOLE lives.

Jesus gives us the greatest commandment and a follow up:

  • Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
  • Love others as yourself.

Let’s focus on these two things today: How can I love God more fully and what can I do to show love to others?

Mark 12:28-34 King James Version

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Good Morning: A Minimal Devotional

Day 30 of 31 days:

Hope

Good morning.

I feel this prophetically: “Hold fast to His Word. He is faithful and true” (Revelation 19:11). “If He said it, so be it” (Jeremiah 1:12). “He’s not a man that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19).

When my wife and I went through a miscarriage, the pain came like an armed thief to rob us of our hope. You may have been through much hardship as well. Even if we’re full of faith, there’s always a moment in the midst of trial where we all get to decide if we’ll stand on what we know or if we will succumb to the worry of “what if…?”

Unfortunately, there are many who don’t know the solid ground. My point is that there is a hope deficit. The world greatly suffers from this. There are so many worries and wonders, and people are suffocating because of it, having nothing sure to stand on. Worse than any pandemic or natural disaster, it’s a greater travesty to live and die with no hope. Hope says, “God’s got me forever.” My prayer is that when people meet those who believe in Jesus, they meet hope. If I may, we are hope dealers.

Who’s one person that you’ll encourage this week who might not know Jesus?

Hebrews 10:23 King James Version

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Holy Week

Day 2 of 6:

Monday

Has your life been simplified lately, or has it grown more complicated? In some ways, your decision-making process may be easier. Since every meeting is done via Zoom, you only have to worry about what shirt to rotate for the day…the bottoms can be pj’s or sweatpants!

But in other ways, recent events may have made your life more complicated. Now you’re having to navigate new technology, figure out innovative methods to run your business, and possibly homeschool your kids.

But in other ways, recent events may have made your life more complicated. Now you’re having to navigate new technology, figure out innovative methods to run your business, and possibly homeschool your kids.

It may be difficult to work out “what” and “how” to address these current issues, but the question that can potentially derail us is obsessing over “why” we are facing these challenges.

When you focus on the problems and worry over the details, the mountain in front of you can grow bigger and more ominous. 

Fixating on fear makes things complicated but focusing on faith brings peace and strength. Jesus kept things simple as He walked with His Father, stood in faith, and ministered to the people He loved. He could have been fearful in the week leading to His death, but Jesus knew His Father was in control, had a plan, and could do the impossible. So He was empowered to walk in faith and confidence in those final days!

Jesus gave His disciples some truths that we can encourage ourselves with today:

  • We can have faith in God at all times.
  • Remember that no mountain is too big for God.
  • When you pray and ask, believe you have received what you asked for.

Although we face obstacles and challenges, we can choose whether we allow the mountains in front of us to grow bigger or be removed. We can anchor our faith in God and let His truth be our perspective.

Jesus always made time to go to His Father in prayer. Let’s do the same today, asking and believing for His will to be done in our lives.

Mark 11:12-33 King James Version

12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.

20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

27 And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.

31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Good Morning: A Minimal Devotional

Day 29 of 31 Days:

Health

Good morning.

Being made of spirit, soul, and body, I want to foster awareness today to the latter, our physical health. It matters and we have a role to play in it. Do we need to lift seven days a week and eat protein-packed meals every 45 minutes? No, not unless your profession somehow requires it. I want to encourage us to live an active lifestyle. I hope that our heart’s desire is to be in this for the long haul. It would be a great travesty to have so much love and revelation in our being, but not be able to give it because of physical limitation. I want to be disciplined enough to where my natural body can align with my spirit as I minister to others.

Let’s get extremely practical this morning. We must constantly assess our hydration. Are we drinking enough water? Now, to nutrients. From a micro level to a macro, I would research a good regime that works for your body. Finally, the one that’s easiest to avoid is movement. We would be surprised how far walks can go (no pun intended).

Overall, my encouragement is rhythm. We need to find sustainability and what actually works for our schedule. Contrary to popular belief, yes, we all have time. Be creative. Set goals. Get accountability. Have fun. Again, we’re in this for the long haul. Let’s be a great witness of overall discipline and have life-long effective ministry.

What’s are two moves you’ll make to benefit your physical health this week?

Romans 12:1 King James Version

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Going through the Bible a chapter a day.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2037&version=KJV

Today’s review of the past week.

Chapter 31: God choose to gift Bezaleel and Aholiab and anoint them with His Spirit (verses 3-6). God equipped them so that they coukd construct the temple according to His commandments. Verses 12-18 A Sign Between Jehovah and Israel. Work through 6 days but on the 7 the Sabbath no work for it is Holy unto the Lord for if any shall work shall be put to death.

Chapter 32: The Broken Law verses 1-14. Israelites were so impatient waiting on Moses that they  came to Aaron and asked to make them a gods. To which he did and this is idolatry broken law to which condemms them.  God’s wrath wax hot against them yet Moses reminded the Lord of His convenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (verse 13 & 14). Disciplinary Judgement verses 15-29 Moses anger waxed hot for fear of the God unto the Israelites. Then verse 26-29 Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said Who on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me. All the sons of Levi gathered and Moses commamded that they go throughout the camp and slay every man 3 thousand were slayed that day.  Verses 28-29 Moses told them to consecrate- Together sacred (priesthood) – to devote irrevocably to the service of God.

Chapter 33: verses 1-6 God says He will remove himself from the Israel this is because of Israel’s idolatry. Verses 12-17 Moses comes to God and petitions on behalf of Irael that God not only fine favor with him but with everyone and God says he will do so that His presence will be with Moses and Israel.

Chapter 34: Moses we builds the stones for the commandments which the Lord re-writes as Moses destoryed them with his anger against Israel for having idolatry and going against God. Also a new convenant is made between God and Israel. Moses having gone up and seen the back of God his face shone and this frighten the Israelites at first they were afraid to draw near but began to draw near him.  He wore a vail before going unto the Lord and when he went to speak with the Lord to get down and left it down to let them know what the Lord said and then put the vail back up until the next time he saw the Lord.

Chapter 35: Verse 1-5 Moses explains God’s command concerning the Sabbath and the offerings to bring unto the Lord those with a willing heart. Giving is done with willingly, joyfully, unaimously. It is not mandatory. The Israelites were so excited and enthusiasm with their abundance of their gifts unto the Lord.

Chapter 36: The Work Begun the work on the tabernacle begins. Tabernacle serves as a meeting place between God and His people. 

Chapter 37: The Ark the building of the ark with the mercy seat (verses 1-9), the table with its vessels (verses 10-16), the candlestick (verses17-24), the golden altar for incense (verses 25-28) , & the holy oil & incense (verse 29).

Thanks for joining in the recap of the past week and today’s chapter. See you next Sunday for the upcoming week’s review of chapter’s shared.

God bless you and your loved ones.