Promise for Today - What Exactly is Salvation?

Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 CEV

Because of God’s great mercy, Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 NIV). He showed you how much you matter to him by sending his Son to die on the cross for your sins. That’s the kind of love God has for you.

You may have heard people say, “I’m saved.” You may even say that yourself when you talk about your relationship with Jesus. But what does it mean to be saved? What happens when you accept God’s gift of salvation? Salvation rescues you from your sinful self. Many people don’t think they need to be saved or “rescued” from anything. And I ask them, “Really? You have no pain in your life? You have no resentment, pressures, guilt, or anxiety?” Everyone has problems they can’t solve on their own. Everyone needs to be rescued. Everyone needs Jesus.

In Psalm 50:15 (GW), The Bible says, “Call on me in times of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me”.

Salvation reconnects you to God. When you surrender your life to God, Jesus makes peace between you and him. He tears down all the barriers that once separated you from your Creator. There’s a word for that: reconciliation.

Salvation recovers what you lost. What would you like to get back? Maybe you’ve lost your confidence, your joy, your reputation, your dream, or your innocence. Jesus came to recover what you’ve lost.

If you’re familiar with farming, you probably know how damaging a swarm of locusts can be. They can destroy a field of corn in about two hours. What has eaten away at your life? What has destroyed your plans or relationships? Only God can restore it all. Joel 2:25 says, “I will give you back what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops” (GNT).

Being reconciled to God also means you will live with him forever. You won’t spend eternity in hell, separated from God; instead, you will have a secure home in heaven! That’s why preparing for the next life is the most important thing you can do in this life. - written by Pastor Rick

Talk It Over
Do you struggle to admit you need God to rescue you? In what ways do you sometimes try to rescue yourself?

What have you lost in life? Take time to thank God for being a God of restoration and ask him to restore “what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops.”

If you are already a Christian, in what ways did your salvation reconnect you to God? 

If you haven’t decided to follow Jesus yet, in what areas of your life do you see a need for connection to God? It’s never too late to seek God’s rescue. If you haven’t yet accepted God’s gift of salvation through Jesus, you can do that today. Are you ready to commit your life to Jesus? If so, then pray this prayer:

Father,

           Your Word declares in Romans 10:9-10 ( ESV) that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that You raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. You have promised that if I believe and make You Lord of my life, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and You will accept me into Your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe that You are God, my Savior. Today I’m turning every part of my life over to You. I want to follow You and do what You tell me to do.

“Jesus, I am grateful for your love, for your sacrifice on the cross, and for your resurrection that makes it possible for me to join you in heaven. I know I don’t deserve it. And I thank you that it is a gift of grace. I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you, and I ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

Promise for Today - You're Not Alone

Jacob’s sons became jealous of their brother Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and brought him safely through all his troubles.

 Acts 7:9-10 (GNT)

When faced with great adversity and hardship, Joseph remained resilient because he depended on God’s presence, no matter where he was. There’s a phrase that’s used five times in Joseph’s story—and anytime something is said five times in Scripture, God wants you to pay close attention. This phrase is essentially, “The Lord was with Joseph.”

Joseph knew that no matter what the setback was, God was with him. God was with Joseph when his brothers threw him in the pit and when they sold him to the traders. God brought him safely through all his troubles. 

Notice that it doesn’t say God spared Joseph from his troubles. It says God brought him safely through.

When you have God’s presence, it doesn’t mean he’s going to keep bad or hard things from happening to you. It means he’s going to bring you through it. If God had spared Joseph from all the terrible things that happened to him, then Joseph would not have made it to Egypt, where he became a powerful leader who saved his people from famine. He would have never had his comeback.

God doesn’t cause your problems, but he can use them for his purposes.

Whatever you’re facing today, God could have taken you around it or kept you out of it altogether. But he’s taking you through it for your good and for his glory. Even when you don’t feel it, God’s presence has never left you. He was with Joseph in the pit, on the path to Egypt, in Potiphar’s palazzo, in prison, and in Pharaoh’s palace. There is no place you can go that he will not be with you too.

There is always something to learn in the setbacks of life. Maybe the only thing you learn in your troubles is how to depend on God’s presence and power—but that means a deeper, stronger faith will be one of your greatest comebacks. - written by Pastor Rick

Talk It Over

Who or what can help remind you of God’s presence when you are going through a setback?

What do you think God wants you to do when you don’t feel his presence?

Think of some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned through the setbacks in your life. How does remembering God’s faithfulness through them help you trust in his presence now?

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Prayer:

Father, 

          I'm reminded of the old gospel song "He'll Do It Again" - we KNOW You can, and You will do it again. You will bring us through all of life's issues when we place our faith and trust in You. It's Your Plan. Your Purpose. And all for Your glory. Because of Your faithfulness - knowing we are never alone - we freely offer You our praise and thanksgiving in the midst of it all. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - A Better Approach

Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do.
Ephesians 6:7-8 NLT

(Devotional by Pastor Rick) Have you ever been forced to take a job you didn’t really want? Maybe you couldn’t find your dream job or financial needs made you take the job that was available but not the one you wanted. You had to settle for what you thought was best.

This was one of the many setbacks Joseph in the Bible faced—to a much greater degree than we will ever experience. Genesis 37:36 says, “Meanwhile, in Egypt, the traders sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh—the king of Egypt” (TLB). In a matter of days, Joseph went from being a pampered son in his father's home to being a slave in someone else's home in a foreign country. He was doing work he never expected to do, without having any say in the matter.

You may be in a job right now that you really don't like or don’t want to do, that you wish you didn't have to do. You wish you were doing something else somewhere else. Maybe on your worst days, it even feels like forced labor. It seems like a setback, and you don’t see an end in sight.

If that’s you, then you probably can identify with Joseph and how he felt.

But Joseph made a pretty remarkable decision: Wherever Joseph went and whatever he did, he chose to do the best he could with what he had for God. Even as a slave, away from his home, he served with his whole heart and tried to honor God with good work and good character. Joseph took the work of a slave and gave it meaning. He did this by working for God and not for his human master. He saw God as his boss, and so he gave God his best in his work. And it didn’t go unnoticed: Joseph’s excellent work stood out and led to promotions by his master that eventually landed him in the service of the king [even though he had trials along the way].

Ephesians 6:7-8 says, “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do” (NLT).

No one else may notice your efforts, and you may not see your reward until you get to heaven. But your diligent, faithful work in your job will never go unnoticed by the One whose opinion matters most.

Talk It Over

Do you need someone to notice your hard work for it to be worth it to you? Why or why not?

How often do you have to make the decision to work diligently?

In what ways does staying connected to God through Bible study and prayer help you stay focused and diligent at work?

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your provision in our lives. For those of us who work outside our homes, according to Your Word, let us do all things without grumbling or disputing, that we may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom we will shine as lights in the world, holding fast to Your Word of life.  And let Your favor be upon us, and establish the work of our hands. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Disconnected Value

Part 3 - Pastor Rick

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

God has amazing plans for you! But if you’re not connected to him, you lose out on everything he wants to do in your life.

Yesterday, we looked at two things people lose when they’re spiritually lost: their direction and protection. Today, we’ll be looking at another thing they lose: their potential. Your potential to do good things in the world is dramatically limited when you’re disconnected from God.

It’s a lot like coins. Put enough of them together, and they have great potential for good. You could feed a family, start a business, or even save a life. But you can’t do any of those good things if the coins are lost.

The story of the lost coin in Luke 15:8-10 is a good example of this. It’s about a woman who has 10 valuable coins. But, somehow, one of them gets lost. She doesn’t say, “I’ve got nine coins, so I’m not going to worry about the lost one.” Instead, she turns her house upside down to look for it and celebrates when it’s finally found. Just because her coin was lost didn’t mean it had lost its value. It still had great value! But what it lost was its potential to do any good.

God made you to do great things, far greater than you could possibly imagine. In fact, if God showed you what he wants to do with your life when you completely place it in his hands, it would astound you! The Bible says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 

Maybe you’ve been disconnected from God for many years, and you think it’s too late for him to use you. It’s not too late! He’s your Creator. He sees you as highly valuable, and he knows your potential. 
If you’ll surrender every part of your life to him today, you’ll start to see all the things he has prepared for you come to life.

Talk It Over

When have you lost something of great value to you? What lengths did you go to in order to find it?

How are people affected when someone wastes their potential?

God has amazing things “prepared for those who love him.” How does that knowledge affect your desire to live completely for him?
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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Jesus and His willing sacrifice so that we could be restored to a right relationship with You. The scariest scenario is to be disconnected from You. We want to fulfill the purpose and plan You ordained for our lives. Help us to walk ever closer so that we see Your light on the path You have planned for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Value - Part 2 (Pastor Rick)

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” 

Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)

God sees everyone as valuable and worth seeking, finding, and saving. The Bible says, “[God] desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4 ESV).

But many people are spiritually lost. This means they’re following their own plan for their lives rather than God’s plan. But what do spiritually lost people actually lose? 

They lose several things, but today we’ll look at just two: their direction and their protection.

You can see this in the story of the lost sheep in Luke 15:3-6. It’s about a shepherd who leaves 99 saved sheep to go and search for his one lost sheep. He doesn’t say, “I’ve got 99 saved sheep, so forget the lost one!” No, they all matter to him. And when he finds the lost sheep, “he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home” (Luke 15:5 NIV) to celebrate.

Like sheep, people who are spiritually lost lose their direction. In fact, all humans are this way. You don’t intend to get lost. You just think, “That grass over there looks greener.” And soon you follow your own way and lose your direction.

The Bible says, “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own” (Isaiah 53:6 NLT).

Another thing spiritually lost people lose is God’s protection. Like sheep who wander away from their shepherd, you too are vulnerable when you don’t have a shepherd to protect you from the wolves of life. That’s why you need to follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Otherwise, you are alone and defenseless—and you lose God’s protection.

The Bible also says, “My people are wandering like lost sheep; they are attacked because they have no shepherd” (Zechariah 10:2 NLT).

But when you place yourself under the Good Shepherd’s care, you get direction and protection. This doesn’t mean you will be free from trouble. But it does mean that God will work “all things together for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28 BSB).

Maybe you or someone you know is lacking God’s direction and protection today. Remember: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who sees everyone as extremely valuable and “desires all people to be saved.”

Talk It Over

When did you first realize you mattered to God? What circumstance or person helped you realize this?

What daily habits keep you close to Jesus, the Good Shepherd? What habits make you more likely to wander from him?

Who in your life doesn’t appear to have God’s direction and protection? Make plans to tell them how valuable they are to him.

Have you opened your life to Jesus Christ? You don't need to know what's going to happen tomorrow. You don't need to know what the future holds; you just need to know who holds the future! When you have a relationship with your Creator, you'll have the security of his unwavering love and unbreakable promises.

Prayer:

Dear God, 

               I want my security to be in something that cannot be taken from me. I want my security to be in my relationship with you, as I trust in your promise to never leave me. I want to claim that promise today. As much as I know how, I open my life to you, Jesus Christ. I confess that I have lived life my own way and sinned against you. Please forgive me. Come into my life and change my priorities, my values, my purpose, and my direction. Transform me into the person you want me to be. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Value (Pastor Rick)

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” 

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

In God’s eyes, there are only two kinds of people—saved people and lost people. Every one of us falls into one of these two categories. And, ultimately, no other human distinction matters.

God loves all people, regardless of gender, race, or culture. In fact, He created them with those characteristics. And He doesn’t distinguish people by their education, looks, wealth, or talent. What matters most to Him is whether people are spiritually saved or lost, whether they’re in His family or not.

The words “saved” and “lost” imply value—they mean that God sees you as being worthy of seeking, saving, and finding. “Saved” and “lost” are expressions of His love.

The Bible says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 NLT. That’s how valuable you are. Jesus Christ came to earth to seek you and to save you.

Only valuable things get lost; invaluable things just get misplaced. In other words, nobody loses a toothpick. You may misplace a toothpick, but you don’t lose it, because it’s not that valuable.

However, if I lost my wedding ring, it would be a real loss because it represents decades of commitment to my wife. Not only that, but Kay gave it to me, and I love her. I could never misplace my wedding ring; I could, however, lose it.

So, when we talk about whether a person is spiritually saved or lost, we’re not talking about their value. Every person—saved or not—is incredibly valuable to God.

But God doesn’t want anyone to be spiritually lost. Why? Because it means they are disconnected from Him and don’t have a relationship with Him.

Over the next couple days, we’re going to look at the question, “What do you actually lose when you’re spiritually lost?” The answers to this question will help you understand how much you matter to God and help you share this encouraging news with others.

Talk It Over

Have you—perhaps unconsciously—thought of people who are lost as having different value from those who are saved? How does it feel to know all people are of equal value to God?

What’s an example of something you have lost? What’s something you have misplaced? What was the value of each of those things to you?

Who in your life needs to hear how valuable they are to God? How can you take time to encourage them by telling them that today?

There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. The Bible says in John 3:18, “Those who believe in the Son are not judged” (GNT).

If you’re ready to accept that promise, stop fearing God’s judgment, and commit your life to Jesus, then pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus,

You have promised that if I believe in You, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, and I will learn the purpose of my life. Instead of judging me, You will accept me into Your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sins, and I believe that You are the Son of God - my Savior. I believe You died on the Cross as the perfect sacrifice so I could be forgiven. I believe You rose again on the third day, victorious over death, hell, and the grave. I receive You into my life as my Lord. Thank You that I don’t have to earn salvation, deserve it, or work for it. It is Your gift of grace.

“Today I’m turning over every part of my life to You. I want to use the rest of my life to serve You instead of serving myself. I humbly commit my life to You, and I ask You to save me and accept me into Your family. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.”

Promise for Today - Do I?

As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.
Luke 11:37-41 NLT

I have to admit, I am one of those people who has a "thing" about clean hands. I cringe when someone wants to shake my hand, using the same hand I just watched them sneeze or cough into. I don't refuse to shake their hand - after all, Jesus touched and healed lepers, and He said we could do the things He did and greater works shall we do (John 14) - but when the greeting is over, I do reach for the hand sanitizer in my purse. (Y'all pray for me...)

Am I as careful with what goes inside of me? Do I guard my heart with due diligence, knowing that out of it spring the issues of life? Do I practice and implement forgiveness when offended or hurt? Do I bless and release those who have trespassed against me? Do I protect my thoughts, thinking only on "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise," do I think on these things?

If not, why not?

In our Promise for Today, Jesus asked, "Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside?" I'd say He nailed that in more ways than one.

Prayer:

Father,
          Keep us ever mindful of Your Truth. We pray according to Your Word in Psalm 24. We want to be able to climb the mountain of the Lord and to stand in Your holy place. We want to receive Your blessing and have a right relationship with You. Give us clean hands and a pure heart, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Enemies' End

They were destroyed at Endor, and their decaying corpses fertilized the soil.

Psalm 83:10 NLT

If you've known me very long, you know that I refer to the enemy's attacks on our lives as fertilizer. I was delighted to read the confirmation in this Psalm! The English Standard Version states they became "dung for the ground." 

Whatever the word, every attack by the enemy STINKS, to say the least! And only our Almighty God can take what the enemy meant for bad and turn it into good for our lives (Genesis 50:20). Just like roses need manure to bloom, we, too, shall bloom and grow as God intends, despite anything and everything the enemy tries to do to stop you or me. They were defeated at Calvary's hill, and the decaying corpses of the enemy shall fertilize our soil! 

Can you see it? Do you believe it? Can you give God praise? Can we give God thanks IN all these circumstances?

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for the unending provision You bring to our lives - first and foremost, salvation through Jesus, Your Son. Give us eyes to see Your Glory in even the fertilizing events of our lives, and may we always look to You, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and give You praise. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today Favorite - Like a Trail Horse

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT

Long-distance trail horses do much better on a trail that is termed a "single track with garbage" than they do on an established wide trail or open field. (Obviously, single track is one horse passes at a time; garbage means lots of brush, rock, etc.) I thought that sounded illogical until it was explained that an established wide trail or open field can be a total distraction for the horse. Lots of things to look at and the horse gets competitive with the other animals. In addition, there is very little concern on the horse's part for how he steps because there doesn't appear to be any danger.

On a single track with garbage, the horse is very focused and carefully picks its steps. There are usually no distractions - or at least, very few. The horse is highly unlikely to break and run and is extremely responsive to the rider's slightest touch of instruction... and it was right there that God tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention.

Now, I don't know about you, but there are times (even though I know I'm NOT) it feels as though I'm walking alone. I reiterate - I know I'm not alone, but sometimes, I can't see a clear path in front of me. I don't see the water source ahead. At times, the way is so close that it's hard to see at all. And I have to watch every step I take. There's the underbrush of life's debris and distractions to stub my toes or twist my ankle or cause me to fall and come up lame.

However, I know it is in the tough spots that I am most focused on following His lead and the most responsive to His slightest instruction. God hasn't taken me on this single track with garbage so that I will be confined and alone. No, I may not be able to look around to see where I am or where I am going, but I am not lost. I am found. The Great I AM, the Omnipotent Way Maker has chosen this single track with garbage. He's brought me this way so I can know Him better and trust Him more.

Prayer:

Father,
             Thank You for Your Word! It is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and by Your grace, I will follow only You. Completely close my eyes, my ears and my spirit to anything that is not of You. Guide my every step, O God. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Listen and Learn

A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.
Proverbs 13:1 NLT

In both the physical and spiritual realms, there is a process. A baby learns to crawl before he walks or talks. In the spiritual realm, a new convert should listen and learn before he begins service. 

A wise son submits to the discipline of instruction. The scoffer won’t have it; he thinks he has all the answers and refuses to be corrected. Proverbs 16:18 warns us that "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 21:24 NKJV defines it, "A proud and haughty man—'Scoffer' is his name; He acts with arrogant pride." The mocker or arrogant person who refuses instruction is blatantly heading toward poverty and death. Psalm 1:6 declares that the way of the wicked will perish (referring to those who are prideful, arrogant, scoffers, mockers of God's way).

Psalm 1:1 ESV tells us, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;..." Learning wisdom brings its own rewards, including honor and life itself. God is watching, listening, and we should learn His Word in Isaiah 66:2b “But I will look to this one, At one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who [reverently] trembles at My word."

Prayer:

Father, 

           Shine Your light of Truth on us if and when we find ourselves judging others. Forgive us, O God, and change our hearts to be kind and loving and compassionate. Help us to see the good in people. Help us to see YOU in mankind - those You created in Your image. We want to walk in a true posture of humility before You and our fellow man. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father, we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen

Promise for Today - God Won't Waste Your Hurt

Devotional by Pastor Rick

“These sufferings of ours are for your benefit. And the more of you who are won to Christ, the more there are to thank him for his great kindness, and the more the Lord is glorified.” 

2 Corinthians 4:15 (TLB)

When you use your pain to help others, God will bless you in ways you can’t possibly imagine.

The apostle Paul went through enormous pain in his life, which is why God was able to use him in enormous ways. He was shipwrecked, beaten, and robbed. He went without food, water, and sleep. Yet God used him to spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. In fact, if you were to ask Paul, “How’d you put up with so much pain?” He’d tell you it was because he wanted to bring people to Jesus Christ. He wanted to help others.

Paul said in the Living Bible paraphrase, “These sufferings of ours are for your benefit. And the more of you who are won to Christ, the more there are to thank him for his great kindness, and the more the Lord is glorified” (2 Corinthians 4:15).

You may never suffer the same ways Paul did, but you will go through pain in life. So you might as well use your pain for good and not waste it.

There are actually three kinds of suffering God uses to help others: self-imposed suffering, innocent suffering, and redemptive suffering.

Some suffering is the kind you bring upon yourself. You cause some of your own problems by making poor judgements. You don’t always make the right decisions, eat the right foods, or respond the right way to others.

Innocent suffering is when, through no fault of your own, you get hurt by someone else. Whether you were abandoned, rejected, or scammed, everyone has been hurt by the sins of other people.

But the highest form of suffering is redemptive suffering. This is when you go through pain or problems for the benefit of others.

This is what Jesus did. When Jesus died on the cross, he didn’t deserve to die. He went through that pain for your benefit so that you could be saved and go to heaven. In the same way, God will use your pain to bring hope and healing to others.

Who can better help somebody going through bankruptcy than somebody who has gone through bankruptcy? Who can better help somebody struggling with an addiction than somebody who’s struggled with an addiction? Who can better help parents of a special needs child than parents who raised a special needs child? Who can better help somebody who’s lost a child than somebody who has lost a child?

God will never waste a hurt. God will work in your life so that He can work through you to encourage others.

Praise God and rejoice during trials, because suffering will build your endurance and help others in their pain. God can use all three kinds of suffering for good. Start by giving each of your hurts to Him and say, “God, I want you to use my pain to benefit others.”

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Prayer:

Father, 

          We want to remain teachable, and we know You don't waste anything. Whatever You have allowed us to learn in our sufferings and pain, we want to use also for those who are in pain around us. We want to love and serve like Jesus. And it's in His Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - It's a Big Deal

6 “The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live! 7 The Lord your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate and persecute you. 8 Then you will again obey the Lord and keep all his commands that I am giving you today.

9 “The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do. He will give you many children and numerous livestock, and he will cause your fields to produce abundant harvests, for the Lord will again delight in being good to you as he was to your ancestors. 10 The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

11 “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. 12 It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ 13 It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ 14 No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

15 “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Deuteronomy 30:6-16 NLT

These are great promises; however, reading through the Old Testament can be very difficult for many reasons. BUT, at the same time, it makes me SO grateful for the new covenant through Christ our Lord. He took upon Himself ALL the sin of mankind and nailed it to the Cross at Calvary, becoming the sacrifice for us. Why? To REDEEM us from the CURSE of the Law!

Christ's death and resurrection ushered in the Age of Grace - you may have heard it called "The Dispensation of Grace". From its beginning at Pentecost and continuing through the Rapture of the Church, THIS is why we should be overwhelmingly grateful! God freely offers salvation to 'whosoever will' by grace through faith in Christ's sacrifice in place of keeping the Law. If you've ever read even just Leviticus and Deuteronomy, you would know it's a big deal. HUGE...

Prayer:

Father,

           I have a new understanding and appreciation of Charles Wesley's hymn, ♪♫ O for a thousand tongues to sing praises to our King...♪♫.  It would not be enough to properly express our gratitude! You, O God, King of the universe, knew we could never live up to Your perfection, and in Your great love created Your perfect plan of salvation through Your Christ before the foundation of Earth. It's almost too much for our hearts and minds to grasp. We give You all glory and honor and praise, in Jesus' Name. Amen

Promise for Today - Wholehearted Obedience

Today the Lord your God has commanded you to obey all these decrees and regulations. So be careful to obey them wholeheartedly. You have declared today that the Lord is your God.
Deuteronomy 26:16-17a NLT

I tend to multitask, and I used to think that was a good thing, especially in my line of work. However, lately I have come to realize that it is now a habit - a way of life that bleeds over into my time with family or friends, and worse! My time with the Lord. I am easily distracted, and I hate it. Jesus tells us in Mark 12:30, "And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." What if Jesus only half-heartedly listened to me?

There is no half in Christ. He didn't come halfway here and then change His mind and go back. He didn't half-heal people. He did not go halfway to Golgotha. He wasn't half-dead on the Cross. When Scripture tells us He gave His life for ours, there is not ONE mention of Him doing it halfway. No place does it indicate that He gave half His life for ours. No buy-one-get-one-half-off. He was completely committed. He gave it all. Should He expect less from us?

Jesus Christ gave His all - sacrificed His whole life - so that we could be cleansed from ALL our sin (1st John 1). Not for all the ones except those things we might really like to do, or the ones we think aren't "that bad"...

What will we do with the life He's purchased and paid full price for? Will we hold out? Or will we wholeheartedly embrace the life He has bought for us and give Him our all?

Prayer:

Father,
          Give us Your strength to walk in wholehearted obedience to love You with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our mind, and all of our strength. We can only do this by Your grace. We want - we choose - to bring everything into obedience to Your Word. Forgive us, Father, for dragging our feet and getting distracted with the things of this world. Help us, O Lord, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Reaching Back for Salvation

18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
19 So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— 20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. 21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:18-21 NLT

6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead[a]—so although they were destined to die like all people,[b] they now live forever with God in the Spirit. 

1 Peter 4:6 NLT

I wanted to share some thoughts and Scriptures and dig a little deeper regarding Christ’s time on Holy Saturday. My personal belief is that Jesus descended into Hades to take back the keys to death and the grave, freeing those held in "Abraham’s Bosom" (or Paradise) until salvation was made possible through Christ's perfect sacrifice.

Scriptural Context:
Our Promises for Today - 1 Peter 3:18-21 & 4:6: These passages suggest Christ preached to the spirits in Hades—specifically those who rejected God during the time of Noah. This was an announcement of His triumph on the Cross, sealing the fate of the lost while bringing the Good News to the dead.

And Revelation 1:18: "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."

Understanding Abraham’s Bosom:
According to resources like Christianity.com, Abraham’s Bosom is viewed as a temporary holding place for the righteous dead prior to the Resurrection. Because the way to the direct presence of God was not yet opened (Hebrews 9:8), even the righteous remained there until the sin debt was paid. Ephesians 4:8–10 suggests that after His death, Christ "led captivity captive," emptying this compartment and bringing the faithful into heaven. Today, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, according to 2 Corinthians 5:8.

Another Point to Ponder
The High Priesthood and Mary Magdalene:
I also found an interesting perspective from the Israel Bible Center regarding why Jesus told Mary not to touch Him in the garden, yet later invited Thomas to do so. It relates to the purity requirements of the High Priest. As our ultimate High Priest, Jesus was preparing to minister in the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 9:11). Just as a priest required seven days of ordination, Jesus needed to remain in a consecrated state to complete His mission in the presence of God without delay or defilement. By the time He saw Thomas eight days later, His priestly work was complete.

While Abraham’s Bosom may no longer function as it once did, understanding it highlights the completeness of Christ’s work. He didn't just save us moving forward; He reached back through time to bring the faithful dead into the fulfilled promise of salvation.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for revealing Your Word to us. Thank You for every minute detail of the plan You implemented for salvation - Reveal them all to us, O God, King of the Universe. Holy Spirit, lead us into all Truth according to the Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Assignment Should You Choose to Accept It

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”
Matthew 3:1-3 NKJV

How do we prepare the way for something or someone? We can clear obstacles or defeat them. We could provide an introduction to either the person or the subject, thus making the way easier. That is what John did.

How could people be prepared to receive Christ if they didn't recognize their need for Him? How would they know they needed Him unless they first acknowledged their sin? One text writes, "John prepared the way for Jesus by preparing others to welcome Him."1

Do we prepare others to welcome Him? Are we preparing the way of the Lord? He's coming soon...

Prayer:

Father,
We pray as Reverend Charles Halle prayed, O Lord God, at the first coming of your Son Jesus Christ, you sent John the Baptist in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way before Him.
Grant to the ministers of your Word and sacraments the same burning zeal to prepare the way for His coming again; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

1 Tyndale Life Application Bible p 1996

 

Promise for Today - There is Hope

He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus ...
2 Corinthians 4:14

The resurrection of Christ brings hope. The late Emil Brunner once said, “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life.” As the human organism is dependent on a supply of oxygen, so humanity is dependent on its supply of hope. Yet today, hopelessness and despair are everywhere. Peter, who himself was given to despair during the episode of Calvary, writes in a triumphant note, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

There is hope that mistakes and sins can be forgiven. There is hope that we can have joy, peace, assurance, and security in the midst of the despair of this age. There is hope that Christ is coming soon—this is what is called in Scripture “the blessed hope.” There is hope that there will come some day a new heaven and a new earth, and that the Kingdom of God will reign and triumph. Our hope is not in our own ability, or in our goodness, or in our physical strength. Our hope is instilled in us by the resurrection of Christ.

(Rev. Billy Graham devotional)

Prayer:

Father,
           Our hope is in You, our resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! May we never despair, as we remember Your triumph and love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - What to Do On a Saturday

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

Revelation 1:17-18 NLT

He was dead. They all saw it - watched in horror as it happened. Beaten beyond recognition, whipped within an inch of his life, bloodied and stripped. Then nailed to a cross and crucified... where His life's blood and water flowed out from His pierced side. He said Himself, "It is finished..."

When we say, "It is finished." We mean it's done. It's over. There's nothing else to do with it or for it. It's ended. There's nothing left. The good news is His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. When Jesus said, "It is finished." It meant only that the Master Plan for His time on Earth that time was completed. It wasn't over. It was just the beginning.

He descended into hell and fought the enemy and He won. Jesus now holds the keys to death and the grave. That's what He was doing the Saturday of what we call Holy Week.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for sending Your Son as the propitiation for our sins. Thank You that we have been redeemed and set free by His Blood shed at Calvary. Thank You that we are overcomers by the Blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of our testimony! Give us courage and opportunity to testify! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

2026 Lenten Season - Day 40 - Empty

We finish the tradition of 40 days of Lent-related devotionals.
Sharing "Journey to the Cross" by Paul David Tripp.
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The empty tomb stands as your guarantee of help today and gives you hope for what is to come.

Life in this fallen world is hard. It can be hope-defeating and discouraging. Sometimes it looks as if the good guys are losing and the bad guys are winning. Unexpected visitors enter your door, bringing the pain of various kinds of loss with them. Things you thought you could depend on fail you, and the promises of people you thought you could trust fail you. Our lives right here, right now, are a mix of joys and sorrows. It’s frustrating how complicated things can be. Grief is an all-too-frequent visitor, and anger often bubbles up inside us.

The Bible gives us three reasons for the hardships of life that we all experience, whether in momentary frustrations or in prolonged seasons of pain and loss.

1. The World
The Bible has much to say about the world we all live in, but it warns us that the place that is our present address is dramatically broken and not functioning as the Creator intended. In Romans 8, Paul says our world is “groaning” as it waits for redemption (Romans 8:22). You groan when you’re in pain, you groan when you’re frustrated, you groan when you’re discouraged. Everything around us is not as it was meant to be. The world around you is like a car you need to get from point A to point B, but it has mechanical difficulties. It doesn’t do well what it was created to do, so you have to face the daily frustration of wondering what will happen next. Each trip you take is marked with a bit of worry, and often your trips are interrupted by yet another mechanical failure. Such is the world we live in.

2. The Flesh
When the Bible talks about the flesh, it’s not talking about our physical bodies but rather our fallen nature, that is, our struggle with sin. Yes, we have been forgiven. Because of what Christ has done, God views us as righteous, and sin is no longer our master. It is vital to remember that the presence of sin within us still remains and is being progressively eradicated by sanctifying grace. Sin is in us and all around us. Marriage would be dramatically easier if every husband and wife were sin-free. The same would be true of friendship, parenting, the workplace, government, your neighborhood, the church, the world of entertainment, education, and the list could go on. Sin complicates everything in our lives. Many of our daily frustrations and disappointments are the result of the presence of sin in us and in the people around us.

3. The Devil
The apostle Paul ends his practical instructions in Ephesians 6 by reminding us that we live in the midst of a great spiritual war. Our struggle is not really with people, places, and things. No, what we wrestle with every day are principalities and powers, “cosmic powers over this present darkness... spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). There really is a great, dark, deceitful enemy who prowls around like a hungry lion, seeking to devour us. Life is hard because life is war. All the things that we do every day and all our relationships are made more difficult because they take place in the middle of a spiritual war. There is a tempter, a deceiver, who will mess with your faith, seeking to instill doubt of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and love in your heart. He doesn’t have the power to remove your salvation, but he is intent on messing up your journey.

Because of the world, the flesh, and the devil, it is wonderful that the work of Christ on Earth didn’t end on the cross but with the shocking glory of the empty tomb. The empty tomb of Jesus is your guarantee of help here and now and of help to come. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that the resurrection of Christ guarantees the present reign of Christ (see vv. 20–28.) What is the King doing right now? Paul says, “He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25). The sin that causes us so much heartache will be defeated. The enemy, who sows so much turmoil in our lives, will be defeated. Death, which seems to be the inescapable reality of our lives, will be defeated. The risen, conquering King will defeat these enemies, and the empty tomb is his promise.

But there is more. Paul tells us that the resurrection of Christ is a “firstfruit” resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20). This is such an encouraging word picture. When that first apple appears on the tree, the first grape on the vine, or the first bean on the plant, it is a guarantee of a harvest of many more to come. The empty tomb of Jesus guarantees another resurrection. We will rise up on the last day and be transported to a new world, a world where all things have been made new. There will be no more sin, there will be no more broken world, and there will be no more death. All pain, frustration, discouragement, and suffering will forever end. And as risen and fully redeemed beings, we will live forever in peace and harmony with our risen Savior King.

The empty tomb of Jesus is your guarantee that what you live with today will not always be. Every enemy that troubles your life right here, right now, will be under the victorious feet of your risen Savior, Jesus. His empty tomb guarantees the completion of the work. He will not quit; he refuses to relent until that last enemy is under his feet. Then, and only then, will he usher in his final kingdom and invite us into a world where all things have been made new.

The journey of Jesus to the cross didn’t end with the cross, but with the victory of the empty tomb, and that’s a very good thing.

GOING DEEPER
Reflection Questions

1. How has what you’ve considered in this Lenten study informed or changed your perspective on the suffering and grief inherent in life on Earth?

2. How will considering Jesus’s sacrifice make the triumph of Easter different for you this year?

3. What implications does the victory of the empty tomb have for your life?

Read the end of the story in John 20:1–29, and relive the joy of the first Easter.

The Resurrection

1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed— 9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then they went home.

11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 

12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 

13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.

15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
16 “Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
19 That Sunday evening, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 

20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

26 Eight days later, the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

2026 Lenten Season - Day 39 - Unwilling

We continue the tradition of 40 days of Lent-related devotionals (46 counting the Sundays).
Sharing "Journey to the Cross" by Paul David Tripp.
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We have hope because Jesus was willing.

It is sad but unavoidably true: one of the marked characteristics of sin is unwillingness.
Sin causes us to be:
unwilling to forgive
unwilling to obey
unwilling to serve
unwilling to trust
unwilling to give
unwilling to make peace
unwilling to be gentle
unwilling to persevere
unwilling to suffer
unwilling to submit
unwilling to sacrifice
unwilling to surrender

And the list could go on and on. We are often unwilling because of the selfishness of sin. Our “me-ism” puts us in the center. It makes life all about us: our wants, our dreams, our needs, and our feelings. Our struggle with the self-ism of sin will not be fully defeated until the sin inside us is no more. So, we face a world of difficulty. A marriage can’t work if a husband and wife are unwilling to live in self-sacrificing, forgiving love. A parent-child relationship falls apart when the parent is unwilling to be patient and kind or the child is unwilling to honor and obey. Friendships don’t work when the friends are unwilling to give and to serve. The workplace is hard and inefficient if the employer is unwilling to love his workers as he loves himself. Unwillingness to be temperate with food and drink will destroy your health. When we begin to examine our daily lives, it becomes clear that so many of the problems we live with are the fruit of our collective unwillingness to live as our wise and loving Creator has designed us to live.

God, in his vast wisdom, knew that the only way to rescue us from our unwillingness and its bitter fruit was to send his Son to be willing to be what we would never choose to be, to do what we would be unwilling to do, and he would willingly die in our place. This is why the following stop on Christ’s journey to the cross is so striking, convicting, and hope-giving:

Luke 22:39– 46
[And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”]

This passage is a clear window into the willingness of Jesus. We find him in the garden of Gethsemane, facing what would crush any of us. Because he is God, he knows the redemptive plan. He knows he is facing injustice, torture, public ridicule, the cruelest death possible, and the rejection of his Father, all because he is going to load our sin onto his own shoulders and pay our penalty. In his humanity, he is quaking at the thought of it all, and he asks if there is any possibility that there is another way. Will you stop for a moment and imagine what would be going through your heart and mind if you knew you were facing such horror? 

You and I get upset at a flat tire, a sassy child, a mean boss, an unexpected bill, or a bad day. We go through a tough patch, and we begin to question the goodness of God.

But Jesus did not end his prayer by asking to be released from the sacrificial suffering awaiting him. Instead, he said to his Father, “Not my will, but yours, be done.” That final sentence of Jesus’s prayer in the garden gives hope to every sinner who has ever lived. Jesus did not think of himself first. He was not propelled by his own comfort. He did not protect his rights. He did not demand to be accepted and respected. He willingly forsook all the things that we think are our just due. He forsook those things willingly and without coercion. He was willing because he knew what was at stake, and he knew what the result of his self-sacrifice would be.

In that garden, there was angst and fear, but there was not a shred of selfishness or rebellion. Jesus knew what he had been appointed to do. He knew what the culmination of his earthly work would be. In his humanity, it was a fearful thing to consider, but he had a submissive, loving, and willing heart. This moment of willingness is a moment of hope for all of us, who, in our sin, have lives that are marked by unwillingness. Our hope in this life and the one to come is never to be found in our willingness to believe in and follow him, but in his willingness to endure suffering and death for us. His willingness unleashes the grace we need to be forgiven and to become more and more willing to lay down our lives for his kingdom and his glory.

GOING DEEPER
Reflection Questions

1. Think of your difficult or challenging relationships. Where has “unwillingness” of sin crept in? What could happen if you chose to be willing in those areas instead?

2. Imagine yourself in the garden watching Jesus pray—what are you thinking? Feeling? Wondering about?

3. What specific things was Jesus willing to do for you? List them out, meditate on them, and thank him!

Read Matthew 26:36–46, and praise Jesus for withstanding every temptation toward selfishness and his own comfort.

Matthew 26:36-46  New Living Translation
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

36 Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. 38 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
44 So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

2026 Lenten Season - Day 38 - The Passover Lamb

We continue the tradition of 40 days of Lent-related devotionals (46 counting the Sundays).
Sharing "Journey to the Cross" by Paul David Tripp.
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Our hope is found in the fact that Jesus came to be the final Passover Lamb, not just a great teacher and a miracle healer.

Luke 22:14 –23
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Likewise, the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

If there had been no upper room, if there had been no fulfillment of the promises of the Passover, and if Jesus were not the final Passover Lamb, we would simply have no hope in this life or the one to come.  It is impossible to overstate the importance of Jesus saying these profound words: “This is my body, which is given for you,” and “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”  Here is Jesus, in that intimate final night with his disciples, saying, “I am the hope of fallen humanity,  because I am the promised, spotless Lamb of God.”

Just as the blood painted on the Israelites’ doors in Egypt meant that the angel of death would pass over those houses, so all who put their trust in the Messiah Jesus are covered by his blood and therefore will not bear the punishment for their own sin. It’s not enough that Jesus was a great teacher. If all he had done were teach truth, but had not shed his blood as the fulfillment of all the truth teaches us about sin and redemption, then we would be damned. If all Jesus had done were perform physical healings, then we would still be the spiritual walking dead. If all he had done was confront the false religion of the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees, but had not gone on to be the sacrificial Lamb that true religion requires, then we would be doomed. If all he had done was send his disciples out with a theological message, but had not been the historical, physical covering, by his shed blood, which that theological message requires, then we would be without hope and without God, sinners alone in this fallen world.

But he is the Passover Lamb. He is the fulfillment of the covenant promises of old. His blood covers and cleanses us. All human history marched to this moment in the upper room and the sacrifice of Jesus’s life that would follow.

Whenever I read the account of the incredible moment in that rented room and hear Jesus talk of his blood that was about to be poured out, a hymn always comes to mind. Its words are near and dear to my heart. It was written in 1876 by Robert Lowry, who was a pastor in Philadelphia, the city where I live.

“Nothing but the Blood of Jesus”

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
Oh, precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know,
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my cleansing, this I see—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my pardon this my plea—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Nothing can for sin atone—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of good that I have done—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!

This is all my hope and peace—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Now by this I’ll overcome—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Glory! Glory! This I sing—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!
All my praise for this I bring—
nothing but the blood of Jesus!

May you attach your sense of self, your meaning and purpose, your moral compass, and your hopes and dreams to the message delivered in that upper room and to the actual moment of sacrifice on that hill  outside the city. And may every moment of sin, weakness, and failure be punctuated by you singing to yourself the ultimate answer to the ultimate question, What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

GOING DEEPER

Reflection Questions

1. What helps you enter into the true meaning of the Lord’s Table, Jesus’s blood and flesh for you?

2. In what ways are you trusting in something other than or in addition to Jesus’s blood to save you?

3. How might it affect your day-to-day life if you really, deeply understood the importance of Jesus as your Passover Lamb, the way the Jews in Jesus’s day did?

Read Matthew 26:17–30, and enter into the story.

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

18 “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.

20 When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table[a] with the Twelve. 21 While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

22 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”

23 He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. 24 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”

25 Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”
And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”

26 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”

27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant[b] between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.