Triumph One-a-Day Sunday 4/5/20

Posted on by April 5, 2020
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A life worthy

Note: I’m pausing Ephesians as we celebrate Holy Week.  Not that every week isn’t holy, but you know what I mean. 

Palm Sunday

The Triumphal Entry

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!  Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).

O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success.  

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

From the house of the Lord we bless you.

The Lord is God, and he has made his face shine upon us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar (Psalm 118:25-27).

Jesus was arriving in Jerusalem for the Passover.  This week would be the climax of his ministry, and would represent the very reason he came to live among us.  The time had come to declare himself the Messiah. (“Messiah,” by the way, is a Hebrew word that means “anointed one,” or “chosen one.”  The same word is translated “Christ” in the Greek.)

So, Jesus did what anyone would do—he sent for a donkey.

This really does make sense.  Zechariah had prophesied that the Messiah would arrive as a king, and would come to claim his throne riding on a donkey.  By arriving in this manner, Jesus was sending an unmistakable signal to the crowds. Now I know that a donkey is not the noblest of animals…certainly not very king-like.  But to the Hebrews, the donkey was significant. A king used a stallion when he rode to war, but a donkey when he came in peace. Thus, Jesus came as the King of Peace, to make peace between man and God.

The crowds loved it.  They spread cloaks and leafy branches on the ground for Jesus to ride upon—sort of a red carpet treatment.  They cried out “Hosanna!” which means, “Save us,” and, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” They were quoting Psalm 118, essentially acknowledging Jesus as Messiah and pledging themselves to him.

Crowds are so fickle.

As he descended the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem was spread out before him.  Jesus wept over the city, knowing that, though they praised him at that moment, they would soon turn on him.

Do you praise him, Beloved?  I know you pray, and you study his word—after all, you’re reading this—but when was the last time you threw your head back, spread your arms wide, and declared your love for the King of your heart?

You know what?  Don’t worry about the last time.  When will be the next time?

How about now?

Happy Sunday, Beloved

Peace One-a-Day Friday 4/3/20

Posted on by April 3, 2020
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A life worthy

For he himself is our peace…(Ephesians 2:14)

It isn’t so much that he brings peace

or makes peace

or counsels peace

or helps you find peace

or teaches peace…though he does all those things.

He is peace.

Now, that’s a big concept for me to get my heart around, but I’m going to try today. Frankly, it simplifies things somewhat:

Stressed? Turn to Jesus.

Frightened? Turn to Jesus.

Angry? Turn to Jesus.

Lonely? Turn to Jesus.

Confused? Turn to Jesus.

Sad? Turn to Jesus.

I think this might be the ultimate life-simplification strategy.

Walk in Christ today, Beloved.

After One-a-Day Thursday 4/2/20

Posted on by April 2, 2020
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A life worthy

But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ  (Ephesians 2:13).

What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can bring me through an endless wasteland of darkness and emptiness and loneliness and despair and shame and grief and guilt and sorrow and pain and loss and bring me to the One who loves me?

You guessed it.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Before One-a-Day Wednesday 4/1/20

Posted on by April 1, 2020
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A life worthy

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)–remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:11-12).

Well, now…that’s uplifting, ya?

Paul is talking to the Gentiles here, those who were not born into Israel and therefore did not share in Israel’s promise under the Old Covenant. But frankly, I can’t help personalizing this, because I’m just that egocentric. I can’t read this passage without remembering my own life B.C.  I was outside, I was separate from Christ, I was excluded, I was without hope and without God.

As were you

Don’t worry–there’s an A.D, to follow the B.C.

but not today.

Today,  just spend a little time remembering who you were, where you were, what you were, before the Lord of the Universe stepped in. I know it stings, but it’s good for us.

You’ll thank me later.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

Advance Prep One-a-Day Tuesday 3/31/20

Posted on by March 31, 2020
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A life worthy

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

The steps are laid out.

All you have to do is walk.

If you follow God’s lead, you will do good things. You will make this world a better place. You don’t have to agonize over what to do…He’s got it all planned.

No, Beloved, that does not make you a robot. It makes you an independent person with free will who chooses to follow a path laid out by the Expert.

Or chooses not to

But let me ask you this: is it a good idea to jump off the roller coaster mid-ride?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Good Works One-a-Day Monday 3/30/20

Posted on by March 30, 2020
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A life worthy

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…(Ephesians 2:10)

“Aha! See, Michael, I told you it’s about works!”

Well, of course it is

and

no it isn’t.

Beloved, Jesus does not love you because of what you do. That, quite frankly, is a lie from the pit of hell that will torment you if you allow it to. Please do not undo God’s loving grace over one phrase.

However,

God did not create the unique, complex, individually awesome and talented you just so you can sit and watch the world go by. He created you to do stuff.

And you probably already are.

So, here’s a thought for my friends who get caught up in the need to do more and build more and be more…which is probably most of us. This verse does not just apply to serving meals in a soup kitchen or building houses in another country or teaching children overseas–though those are all wonderful things that God may have in mind for you. This verse also applies to the kind word spoken in passing. It applies to an honest day’s work that benefits others. It applies to raising children that will follow Christ. It applies to studying hard to learn and build a God-honoring future.

Beloved, you will have epic moments, but you will have far more mundane moments.

Make them count.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Boast One-a-Day Thursday 3/26/20

Posted on by March 26, 2020
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A life worthy

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:9).

Because we would.

Boast, that is.

I mean, I have been known to open a jar for my wife and then claim credit for “making dinner.”

When we apply that concept to our spiritual life, we find that it’s a very small step from, “GOD + me” to works-based religiosity, name-it-claim-it theology, self image issues, legalism, and Towers of Babel in your backyard.

No, those aren’t cell phone towers.

Anyway, God, in his infinite wisdom, made it very clear that our salvation is absolutely NOT up to us.

That’s freeing…aaaand a little frustrating,

and perfectly, thoroughly as it should be.

It’s for you, Beloved, but it’s not up to you.

Happy Thursday

Never Enough One-a-Day Wednesday 3/25/20

Posted on by March 25, 2020
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A life worthy

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works… (Ephesians 2:9)

How high can you jump?

You know, just jump straight up into the air?

One foot? Two?

If you want to measure, I’ll wait…

…

…

By the way, if you took video footage of that, please send it to me.

Obviously, some of us can jump higher than others. Age, strength, injuries all factor in. If you train hard and get the right shoes, you can increase your vertical leap. A professional basketball player can get above three feet–Wilt Chamberlain was able to jump four feet straight up.

Now, imagine that God’s requirement for eternal life was a vertical leap

of

one

thousand   

feet.

It would make the whole trying-to-earn-it-on-your-own business seem pretty silly, wouldn’t it?

Hmm…

Walk in grace today, Beloved. It’s easier on the knees.

Happy Wednesday

Gift One-a-Day Tuesday 3/24/20

Posted on by March 24, 2020
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A life worthy

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– (Ephesians 2:8).

Think of the best gift you have ever received.

Seriously…stop for a moment and think about it.

Consider the joy it gave you to open that package and see that what you had wished for and dreamed about and maybe imagined but never thought you would really have was really yours.

Grace is like that–only eversomuch more so.

Think of the best gift you have ever given.

Seriously…stop for a moment and think about it.

Consider the joy it gave you to watch one you love open that package and to see their face light up as they realized that what they had wished for and dreamed about and maybe imagined but never thought they  would really have was really theirs.

Because of you.

Giving grace is like that for God–only eversomuch more so.

Open the gift, Beloved. Everyone wins.