A Life Worthy

Alone One-a-Day Saturday 4/3/21

Posted on April 3, 2021 by michaelApril 3, 2021

Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones (Zechariah 13:7b).

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

Everybody loves you when you’re winning.

What happened to the crowds? Was it just last Sunday that the people were lining the streets, cheering for Jesus? Now where are they?

Gone.

When the soldiers came for Jesus, the disciples scattered. John followed, but at a distance. He needed to know what was happening, but he couldn’t bring himself to intervene.

Peter, like John, followed at a distance. He mingled with the crowd, where he could blend in and, hopefully, go unnoticed. While he was standing with a group, a servant girl recognized him. Here was Peter’s chance to stand tall for Christ. Here was his golden opportunity to proclaim his loyalty to Jesus and stand with him—die with him, if need be. After all, that is what he had promised Jesus.

What did he do? You know what he did. He denied his Lord. Big, strong Peter couldn’t stand up to the questions of the lowliest servant girl.

What of the rest? All we know is that they ran for it.

Like bunnies

Don’t be too hard on the disciples. I’m convinced that they genuinely believed they were up to the challenge. When Peter said he would never betray Jesus, I think he meant it down to the marrow of his bones. He didn’t have the courage, because he was only human. Like us. We know that John, and Mary, and a few others came to the cross before Jesus died; Jesus even spoke to John from the cross. But in the end, Jesus had to fulfill his purpose himself.

In the end, Jesus went to the cross alone.

He went to the grave alone.

He rose from the dead alone.

Because he had to. That was the point—if anyone else could have done it, if anyone else could have helped, we wouldn’t have needed the perfect Son of God.

Jesus stood alone so that you will never have to.

Because he loves you.

You.

Walk in thankfulness today, Beloved.

Good Friday One-a-Day Friday 4/2/21

Posted on April 2, 2021 by michaelApril 2, 2021

Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me (Psalm 41:9).

Betrayal

It’s a bitter, ugly word for a bitter, ugly deed.

Perhaps the worst thing about betrayal is that, by its very nature, it involves someone you trust. In a sense, you have to give the betrayer the power to hurt you by making yourself vulnerable. Those who never make themselves vulnerable to others can never be betrayed.

But then, they can never really love, either.

The most powerful of all persons made himself vulnerable, opened himself to rejection, let himself be betrayed, to rescue his beloved.

That would be you.

Good Friday, Beloved

The Lamb One-a-Day Thursday 4/1/21

Posted on April 1, 2021 by michaelApril 1, 2021

The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt (Exodus 12:13).

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7).

After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11).

You sin.

If that’s news to you, well, there you go. At least you’re in good company—pretty much everyone.

That sin gets between you and God and messes up your relationship, just like lying, cheating, or whatnot hurts any relationship. The Old Covenant had a means for dealing with sin and restoring your relationship with God.

Death.

Don’t like that part? Well, I don’t blame you, but there it is. As Paul says, “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 3:23) When Adam and Eve first sinned, death was the result. God took an animal, killed it, and used the skin to cover their nakedness…their sin. From that point on, animals were sacrificed to atone, or make up for, man’s sin.

Why would God want us to kill animals, and how does that make up for doing bad things? By itself, the idea doesn’t seem to make much sense. But think of it in context. God used the sacrifice—the physical death—of innocent animals to remind us that sin causes spiritual death in us. And it couldn’t be just any animal—it had to be your best. Woe unto you if you brought leftovers to the Lord of the Universe.

The Passover Lamb was a particularly special sacrifice. It reminded the people of their rescue from slavery. When God broke Pharaoh’s will and forced him to release the Hebrews, he did it by sending an angel to put to death the firstborn of all Egypt. To spare his people from this nightmare, God had each family kill a lamb—a perfect lamb, without any defect—and sprinkle its blood on the doorposts of their house. The Lord promised to “pass over” those houses sprinkled with blood. The Jews continue to celebrate the Passover as a most holy day.

As we saw yesterday, Jesus brought a new covenant. As he celebrated Passover with his closest friends, he said he was instituting, “A new covenant, in my blood.” You see, the old covenant was limited in its power. The blood of an animal could temporarily cover a man’s sin, but it could never remove it. A man’s blood was useless, because the sacrifice had to be perfect, and no man was perfect.

Until Jesus.

Jesus lived a sinless life, and thus was the one man in all of history who did not need to offer a sacrifice.

So he offered himself as the sacrifice.

For us.

There is no way to adequately explain Christ’s sacrifice; certainly not in these few words. My Bible covers it in about 2000 pages, and I still don’t fully get it. So let’s rest in these words from Paul:

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

In Christ, you are righteous; in him, you are righteousness. I can’t get my brain around that, but I know I want it.

Do you want it, Beloved?

Then take it.

Happy Thursday, Beloved

New Covenant One-a-Day Wednesday 3/31/21

Posted on March 31, 2021 by michaelMarch 31, 2021

“The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Most Christian churches take communion on a regular basis. If you have been part of a church for many years, you can probably recite Paul’s words from memory

“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread…”

How many times have you eaten the bread…or cracker, and sipped the wine…or juice? What does it all mean?

The first communion took place during the Passover, a reminder of the Old Covenant. The Passover celebrated the night that God supernaturally broke the power of the Egyptians over the Hebrews. He established a covenant with them, promising that he would be Israel’s God, and they would be his people.

Always.

For the most part, people in today’s world deal with each other through contracts. A contract is a business relationship between partners. Each side has obligations to and expectations of the other. If these obligations and expectations are not met, the contract is broken, and the terms become invalid. The people who were wronged by the violation of the contract can seek justice through an impartial third party, the court.

A covenant is more like family. When my children were little, I gave them rules to follow, but those rules were for their benefit as much as, or more than, for mine. If they violated those rules I disciplined them, but they did not cease to be my children. My covenant with my children to love and support them as their father remained, even if, from time to time, they didn’t live up to their end of the bargain.

Which they didn’t.

Because they were children.

Jesus brought his disciples, and all of us, a new covenant. This covenant was not based in rules, but in relationship—in the person of Jesus himself.

Think about the relationships in your life. Do they feel more like covenants, or contracts? What about your relationship with God? Do you feel like you are under the grace of his covenant, or like you are bound to a contract which you cannot possibly fulfill?

You are a child of the covenant, Beloved. He makes the promise. He paid the price. All you need do is accept the grace that he offers.

Walk in that grace today.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

No Surprises One-a-Day Tuesday 3/30/21

Posted on March 30, 2021 by michaelMarch 30, 2021

I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting (Isaiah 50:6).

They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing (Psalm 22:18).

Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet (Psalm 22:16).

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for a firstborn son (Zechariah 12:10).

I’m jumping ahead a little in the narration today. You see, as Jesus went through this final week of his earthly life, he knew what was coming. He knew he would die to pay the price for our sins. He also knew that more than death would be involved. There would be pain, and humiliation, and loneliness. The soldiers slapped him around. They laughed at him. They dressed him up to look like a petty king, complete with crown of thorns. They took his clothes. They spat on him.

And he took it. For you. For me.

The key is to remember that Jesus was not surprised by any of this. He didn’t accidentally let his guard down. He didn’t get caught up in circumstances beyond his control. There are no circumstances beyond his control. As he spent this day teaching in the temple, he was moving purposefully and steadily toward the pain that waited for him. At any point along the way, Jesus could have said, “I’m done with this.” He chose to wait until he could say, “It is finished.”

The spiritual accomplishments of the Cross are so monumental that sometimes we forget about the physical agony Christ endured both after his arrest and on the Cross. Remember it today, Beloved. Remember what he suffered, and why. And don’t ever, in all the days ahead, wonder if you are worthy of any good thing.

You, Beloved, are worth dying for.

Happy Tuesday

Stand One-a-Day Monday 3/29/21

Posted on March 29, 2021 by michaelMarch 29, 2021

The Cleansing of the Temple

…for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me (Psalm 69:9).

Jesus entered the city and went up to the temple. It was Passover, the biggest holiday of the Jewish year, so the joint was really jumping. Many people had come from a long way away to be part of the celebration. Rather than transport all the animals you would need for the various sacrifices, it was normal and acceptable to buy what you needed when you got to Jerusalem. The customary practice was for vendors to set up shop at a convenient place near the temple.

What Jesus saw when he arrived was dramatically different. The vendors had their booths and tables set up in the temple itself. They were operating in an area called the Outer Court, the only place in the temple where non-Jews could come to worship God. There they were, selling animals and changing foreign currency into local currency, and just generally carrying on noisy business, all while people were trying to worship.

Jesus was furious. He knocked over the tables and chased the vendors out of there. John even says that Jesus made a whip and used it to drive the blasphemers away. He yelled at them, saying, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers!’”

This is not the meek and mild Jesus we think of from Sunday School flannel boards.

He is not holding a lamb on his shoulders.

He does not have little kids crawling all over him.

He is not smiling.

This is the Messiah, the Lion of Judah. This is a man of righteous integrity, protecting the purity of his father’s house.

Do the insults of those who insult God fall on you? There are a lot of people out there who mock Jesus, and this is a prime season for it. Does that bother you, Beloved? What are you doing about it? Do you stand for Christ in your daily world? Look, I’m not calling you to grab a whip and chase the heathen out of town—of course if you do, please send me pictures and I’ll post them.

There is no sitting for Christ. You stand, or you fall.

Stand for him today, Beloved.

Happy Monday

Triumph One-a-Day Sunday 3/28/21

Posted on March 28, 2021 by michaelMarch 28, 2021

Note: I’m pausing Philippians 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

Be One One-a-Day Friday 3/26/21

Posted on March 26, 2021 by michaelMarch 26, 2021

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:1-2).

Does it show?

Does your relationship with Christ have a visible effect on who you are in the world?

Does your fellowship with other believers reflect the fellowship you have with the Holy Spirit?

You know it’s supposed to, right?

Let’s make that the focus of our prayers this morning, as we head out into a day filled with people who are not as easy to love as Jesus is.

Go and love, Beloved of Christ.

Happy Friday.

Worthy One-a-Day Thursday 3/25/21

Posted on March 25, 2021 by michaelMarch 25, 2021

Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Philippians 1:27)

What will happen to you today?

Oh, you can probably guess a good portion of it, but you can’t be sure, can you? Laughter, tears, love, anger, pain, joy, indigestion—who knows what the next hours hold?

Better question—How will you conduct yourself today?

Will your laughter be at others…or with them?

Will your tears be for yourself, or for the broken?

Will your love be selfish or selfless?

Will your anger be trivial or righteous?

And what of your pain?

And your joy?

Perhaps we need not elaborate on the indigestion.

Live worthy today, Beloved.

Happy Thursday.

Perspective One-a-Day Wednesday 3/24/21

Posted on March 24, 2021 by michaelMarch 24, 2021

For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

Is it?

Is your purpose, every day, to get closer and closer to Jesus? To bring him honor and glory with your every breath? To know him, and then know him better?

Do you look to the eventual end of your life as the fulfillment of all your earthly desires? The great graduation day when you receive all that you have earned, and all that you could never earn?

Oh, Beloved, I hope so.

As for me, well, I still let the mundane cloud my view of eternity far more often than I would like.

I’m going to make this verse my prayer today, with the hope that the power of the Holy Spirit will drive it deep into my soul and make it who I am.

Care to join me?

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.