Matthew 26:36-38
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
This is the time in Jesus’ life that leads up to His betrayal and arrest. He knew that the cross was before Him. He came to earth knowing that He was to die for the sins of all people.
When it comes down to the hard choices, knowing your path and walking it out can be very different. Now that the hour was at hand, the Lord needed the strength to see it through. In order to receive what He needed from the Father, Jesus did what He always knew would bring Him an answer. He spent time with God the Father in a private place, far away from any distractions.
This was not to be a time for crowds of people. He even left most of His disciples at the entrance to the garden. The only ones to stay with Him were Peter, James, and John. He would spend the night agonizing over what was ahead.
Let this today be your garden of prayer. God is waiting for you to cry out to Him. Only the Lord can give you the strength you need for the road ahead. Whether you know the dangers or not, let the peace of God rule in you this day. Find your rest in His presence.
Tags: Bible, choices, Christ, Christian, cross, devotion, distractions, encouragement, faith, garden, garden of prayer, Gethsemane, God's will, Jesus Christ, overcoming, prayer, prepare, presence of the lord, problems, solitude, strength, trust
Psalm 24:3-6
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
These are the real mountain-climbers. Those who desire to ascend to the hill of the Lord and to stand in His holy place. Are you one of those who want to stand in this place of power where few have ever been?
To climb a daunting hill requires persistence. Step by step, sometimes just plodding along, you get to the top. This “hill” of the Lord’s presence requires the same kind of consistency.
It is good to know that the access we need has already been granted through the blood of Jesus Christ. That is all the permission we need to enter His holy presence. The daily walk, however, is up to us. We can choose to spend time in His presence – a choice that will reap eternal benefits – or we can ignore it and live for ourselves.
Make that choice today. Spend the extra time that is necessary in the presence of the Lord. Ascend His holy hill in the power of His Spirit. Allow His holiness to draw you further upward than you have ever gone before.
Tags: access, Bible, Christ, Christian, climb, devotion, encouragement, glory, higher, holy hill, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Jesus Christ, mountain, mountaintop, path, presence of the lord, step by step
What does that mean? Should I be afraid of God? Is He watching for any slip so He can zap me?
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is misunderstood by many people. I have talked to Christians who were so very afraid that they would mess up even a little. They think that God is watching them so closely that if they make the smallest mistake, they will be penalized severely.
Fortunately that’s not what it means to walk in the fear of the Lord. The best illustration I ever saw was a show about people who cut diamonds for a living. The show chronicled the diamond from when it went on the auction block to when it’s stones ended up in the fine jewelry shop.
The winning bid was about 3 million dollars for this large diamond. The jeweler was sure that he could more than triple the value by the way he cut it up into smaller stones. What happened next surprised me. I expected him to immediately begin the process of cutting the diamond. Instead, he took the first three months to simply study the diamond. He basically stared at the diamond for hours a day, making notes, drawings, and plans for the cuttings he would perform. With a stone that valuable, he didn’t want to do anything that would ruin it.
That is a picture of the fear of the Lord. I am not afraid that God is going to get upset at me and hurt me. On the contrary, my relationship with God is so important to me that I fear anything coming to disrupt it. It is so valuable to me that I don’t want to ruin it. I want to walk before God in such a way that our fellowship grows daily.
Cultivate a true fear of the Lord. Meditate upon how valuable it is to be in relationship with Him. Then let that attitude motivate you to live a reverent life before Him.
© Nick Zaccardi 2012
Tags: afraid, Bible, Christian, devotion, diamond, faith, fear, fear of the Lord, fellowship, God's faithfulness, God's will, growth, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, prepare, presence of the lord, relationship, reverent, valuable, value
John 1:12-13
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
I can’t think of a greater blessing! We can be children of God.
This is not for everybody. You have to want it. It comes by faith in God and what He has done through Christ. It has to be received, if we believe in His provision for us on the cross. If Jesus Christ is our Savior, then we are God’s children.
Some people look at themselves as slaves of God. Then they get the attitude that it is hard to work for Him. They have an angry look on their face and act like serving God is the worst thing you could do.
Now I do admit that children are supposed to obey their parents. In that sense we must “serve” God. I know that on more than one occasion I accused my parents of treating me as their slave. The fact is, even when you have to do what you’re told, the parent-child relationship is far superior to that of a master and slave.
This verse tells me that I am not just treated like a child of God. He doesn’t just call me His son. It is much greater than that. I have the right – with all the responsibilities and privileges – to be a child of God. This is an amazing thought. God views us as full fledged sons and daughters. That is why He both blesses and disciplines us.
Spending time with our Father should be the most natural inclination. It should be where we want to go for love, support, encouragement, and strength. Spend time with the Lord today, knowing that He wants you to experience the best that being a part of His family has to offer.
Tags: Bible, blessings, calling, child of God, Christian, cross, devotion, encouragement, faith, family, hard work, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, obedience, parent, problems, provision, relationship, savior, slave, testimony
2 Timothy 1:5
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Sometimes it’s good to look back over your life to see where God has brought you from. I love to hear a testimony of a changed life. I have known drug addicts, gang members and people from the “underworld” who have given their lives to Christ and were changed by His power. I have met people who have been bound by addictions, hurt by abuse and oppressed under the weight of depression all set free by the blood of Jesus.
It is an encouragement to see the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit at work in the world. I, for one was insulated from most of these issues. I tend to relate more with Timothy. My grandparents were saved soon after they came over to America from Italy. My parents were raised in church, and followed Christ throughout their lives. When I came along, I had no choice – church was where our family went, whenever the doors were open.
Then, one day, at a children’s camp (Camp Woodhaven in West Boylston, MA) I personally received the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. I have tried to follow His leading ever since.
Sometimes I used to feel that I missed out on something, when I would hear the testimonies of how God saved people from an evil life. But when I grew older I realized the blessing of being born into a Christian home. God kept me from some of the things that could have destroyed me. I have a testimony of the Lord’s power to keep and protect a life from the darkness of the world.
So, whether you came to Christ from a life of great sin, or you were raised in church, be grateful to the Lord for His presence in your life. The fact is, we all need a Savior. No one is too far away from His love. Equally, no one is good enough to deserve His love. We all need the power of the cross to set us free. Praise God for His grace that He freely gives to all who seek Him.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, Christian witness, devotion, disciple, encouragement, evil, faith, God's faithfulness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, praise, protection, sin, testimony, trust, world
Psalm 103:11-12
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
I love watching the sky in the evening. When you go outside on a bright starry night and gaze at the heavens, it seems to go on forever. Indeed, all the stars that you are able to see are light-years away. They are unreachable at our present level of knowledge.
That is how much God loves us – to a level unattainable by human thought. My finite brain cannot comprehend His love and compassion for me. That He would pay the price for my forgiveness at a point when I didn’t even know Him is beyond my understanding.
But there is more to it. If I were to travel in a direction – east or west – and continue on forever, I would still never come to my sin that was taken away. He has permanently removed the sin, guilt, and punishment that should have been mine. What an incredible thought.
These are basic truths that are known by most believers. Yet, it is a good thing for us to take the time to review and meditate on them once in a while. Spend some time in the stillness of your surroundings today, and allow these deep principles to work on your soul. Let them revive and renew your appreciation for the Savior of your life. Give Him thanks today for all He has done for you.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, east, encouragement, faith, forgiveness, God's love, higher, holy worship, Jesus Christ, praise, presence of the lord, stars, thank God, thanks, west
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Try as we might, we can never run away from God. What I have actually found is that people who try to run away from Him the hardest, end up running right into His arms. It is, as this Psalm puts so eloquently, impossible to flee from the presence of God.
If you are looking, His presence can be felt everywhere and in every situation. As a matter of fact, sometimes when I am hiking or camping in the most remote wilderness settings – far from any sign of civilization – I find His presence the strongest. The reality is that I can hear from the Lord the clearest when I am out in the wild.
It is an incredible blessing to know that the God of the universe is my constant companion. Wherever I go and whatever I do is in the company of His Holy Spirit. All I need is to ask and His guiding hand will take mine and lead me into His will for my life.
Go to Him today in the knowledge that He will never leave you or forsake you. Thank the Lord for His abiding presence in your life. Seek Him for His wisdom, strength, and guidance for the road ahead.
Tags: Bible, calling, Christian, devotion, encouragement, fellowship, God's faithfulness, God's will, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Jesus Christ, light, path, praise, presence of the lord, trust
Psalm 121:1-4
I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Whether you are talking about the Rockies or the Appalachians, mountains and hills are a majestic sight. I can spend hours praising, worshiping, and praying to God when I am in the presence of such beauty. When I look at their splendor I cannot help but sense a power far greater than my own.
It is an awesome revelation that the God I am in relationship with is the Creator of those mountains. Greater still, He also created the stars I see wheeling over those peaks.
Yet, in spite of all that power, He wants to help me. Now that is a humbling thought! The God of the universe wants to be a part of my life.
Praise the Lord! He is my source and my strength. It is He who upholds and sustains me. I can rest in Him knowing that the path of my life is safe and secure in His loving hands.
Even though I get tired and fall asleep, the Lord does not have that weakness. That is a comforting thought. He is always awake and alert, watching over my life and helping it to conform to His Word.
Take the time today to thank God for His unfailing help and protection in your life. Give Him praise for His majesty and strength.
Tags: Bible, Christian, Creator, devotion, encouragement, God's faithfulness, help, Holy Spirit, holy worship, Jesus Christ, mountain, mountaintop, outdoors, praise, presence of the lord, problems, protection, sleep, strength, trust, wilderness
Acts 9:3-6
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
We all make mistakes. The unfortunate thing is, that sometimes we compound these mistakes by going off into a totally wrong direction.
In this section of Scripture we find that Saul (later to become Paul the Apostle) has become self-deceived. He thought that by persecuting the church, he was in the center of God’s will for his life.
It took a wilderness journey and a voice from heaven to knock him off his horse and break through his defenses. Apparently there was no other way to get through to him. He needed to be shaken up in order for God to get his attention.
As we spend time in the wilderness we should be open for the Lord to wake us up and turn our lives around. Every once in a while God has a life altering event waiting for you just around the next corner. We need to be prepared and open for these heavenly interruptions.
As you go before the Lord today, make sure that you reaffirm your intention to obey Him no matter what comes your way. Let Him know that you will remain true to Him even if it calls for you to change your plans.
Tags: attention, Bible, calling, Christian, devotion, disciple, faith, God's faithfulness, God's will, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, light, mistakes, path, Paul, persecution, presence of the lord, Saul, self-deceived, wake up call
Acts 1:9-11
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
(NIV)
Yesterday I shared about the reason we need to know about the return of the Lord. We saw that Jesus taught His disciples that the important thing was being a witness. After explaining all this to the disciples, He rose from the earth and was taken out of their sight. The tragedy is that there are too many Christians around who are just like those disciples. You know them. It’s almost as if their life can be summed up with those words, “WHY ARE YOU LOOKING UP INTO HEAVEN?”
That seems to be their whole outlook on life. Their only goal is to find out when Jesus is coming back. “Lord, is it today? Can somebody tell me? Is it going to be this week?” Their whole Christian life is looking to see when Jesus is coming back. In doing that they miss the main emphasis given to us by Christ, which is “BE A WITNESS.”
What we usually find when we read through the Scripture is that when Jesus or the Apostles talk about the Second Coming of the Lord, the main theme of the teaching is usually about something else. The Return of Christ itself is not their main focus. When we think about it, the main emphasis should be the change that is needed in our lives to prepare us for the return of the Lord. The apostles only seem to use the return of Christ as a side illustration to emphasize the urgency that is needed to spur us on to change our ways.
There are so many people worried about what’s going to happen next. They are always asking, “Am I going to make it?” If that’s you – SNAP OUT OF IT! God is going to see us through. I’ll tell you now how it all ends – we win. All the rest is about how we get there. The end has already been written even though we haven’t reached it yet.
Christ is returning. That is a Scriptural fact. The real issue is what I am doing with this knowledge. Am I sitting back, doing nothing until He comes to get me? Or is it propelling me forward to share God’s love with others? The choice is yours.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, Christian witness, church, devotion, God's will, Jesus Christ, prepare, return of Christ, second coming, testimony
The Spirit and the Word 