A Life Worthy

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.

No Shame One-a-Day Tuesday 3/23/21

Posted on March 23, 2021 by michaelMarch 23, 2021

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death (Philippians 1:20).

The word that strikes me in this verse is courage. The walk of faith is not for the faint of heart. If I want my life to exalt Christ, it will take courage.

And I have so stinking little.

A while back, I encountered a man who was perhaps not entirely psycho-emotionally stable. Here’s the situation: I was sitting in a coffee shop (back when you could just sit in a coffee shop), working on my One-a-Days. This man was at a table right in the middle of the room. He sat alone, speaking at full volume, sort of streaming consciousness to the world at large. He waxed eloquent on politics and science and space aliens and economics and religion and space aliens. Conspiracy theories abounded, and though distracting, it was all quite entertaining.

Except

Some of what he was saying was a blatant denial of Christ.

And he was saying it to a room full of people.

I knew I should talk to him, I felt the nudge to engage, but for the longest time I just sat and tried to ignore him.

While I typed a devotion on preaching Christ.

Ironic much?

Why did I dread the thought of going over there? I mean, I’m a pretty talkative dude, and this guy didn’t seem violent, just….crazy.

It’s hard to articulate, but it comes down to fear. Fear of being uncomfortable, fear of looking silly in front of the other customers, fear of being identified with Captain Disturbo, fear that I might not be able to answer his arguments effectively, and might end up doing more harm than good.

Fear

Eventually, I went over and engaged the man in gentle debate—if I hadn’t, I doubt that I would be sharing this story with you. Nothing dramatic happened. There were no lightning bolts, no angelic choirs. He didn’t break into tears and confess his sins, but he didn’t shiv me, either. I didn’t change his mind, but I stood my ground.

Take those minor victories where you can get them, Beloved.

Pray for me, and I will pray for you, that today we will have the courage to exalt the One who loves us.

Be not ashamed, Beloved.

Happy Tuesday.

Every Day One-a-Day Monday 3/22/21

Posted on March 22, 2021 by michaelMarch 22, 2021

The important thing is that in every way, from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of that I rejoice (Philippians 1:18).

How will you preach Christ today, Beloved?

With words?

With actions?

With tenderness, kindness, compassion?

With love?

Will you climb upon a soap box, or sit down for a quiet conversation?

You don’t need a stage, a crowd, or a microphone.

You do need a heart, a story, and the Holy Spirit within you.

And you have that.

How will you preach Christ today?

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Whatever it Takes One-a-Day Friday 3/19/21

Posted on March 19, 2021 by michaelMarch 19, 2021

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly (Philippians 1:12-14).

I once ran over my foot with a pallet jack loaded with about 50 cases of soup.

I don’t recommend it.

The wheel of the pallet jack ran up my foot, paused ever so briefly, and returned to the ground. During its journey, it took a moment to split my big toe like a grape.

It hurt. A lot.

The guys I worked with at the grocery store gathered around and tried to help…but there’s not much you can do for a popped toe. One of them, knowing I am a Christian, offered the following: “Hey, you’re not allowed to cuss, are you? Want me to cuss for you?” He then proceeded to turn to the store at large and scream a really creative string of profanities. Fortunately for us all, the customer count was pretty low at 1:00 a.m.

I became a bit of a curiosity for the guys, because although the pain was pretty intense, I didn’t pitch a fit or curse the heavens. As it happened, from that day on they took me, and perhaps my faith, a little more seriously.

Did what happened to me serve to advance the gospel? I think, in a really truly very small way, yes.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that you have never been imprisoned because of your faith in Christ. I certainly haven’t. I’d be hard pressed to show any moment in my life in which I was persecuted for the gospel. But difficult things have happened to me, just as they happen to you. The way that we respond to these difficulties shines like a beacon to the people around us.

Today, tomorrow, this week or next, something hard is going to come your way. When it does, let it serve to advance the gospel. Let those who see you see that you are different. Maybe they’ll even ask you why you’re different.

Then you get to tell them.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Fresh Fruit One-a-Day Thursday 3/18/2

Posted on March 18, 2021 by michaelMarch 18, 2021

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ…filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11).

Notice that the “Fruit of Righteousness,” the right behavior expected of you as a Christian, comes from the same source as righteousness itself.

Jesus Christ.

You can’t manufacture fruit any more than you can manufacture righteousness, so stop trying.

Seriously—knock it off.

If you want the fruit of righteousness, you’re going to have to let God develop it in you. It goes back to what we were talking about yesterday. As you grow in knowledge of God’s word, God can use that knowledge to develop wisdom and discernment in you. You will know the right thing to do, and you will be empowered to do it.

Remember, God’s got a vested interest in you. He wants to give you wisdom and discernment so that you can glorify him. In a man that might sound self-seeking; in God, it just sounds right.

So let God do what he does. He’s really, really good at it.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

More and More One-a-Day Wednesday 3/17/21

Posted on March 17, 2021 by michaelMarch 17, 2021

Love without understanding is dangerous. Love alone can be misguided, and can lead to rash, emotion-driven decisions that sometimes do more harm than good.

Did I just see a “Been there–done that” head nod?

I thought so.

That’s why God always seeks to guide our love with knowledge. Knowing God’s Word, and understanding what it teaches, allows you to love in strength and truth, not just sentiment. This kind of love doesn’t enable—it empowers.

Spend some time in the Word today. Allow God’s Holy Spirit to teach you the best way to love the people around you, with a love that will further the Kingdom of God and will keep you on the right path.

They get love.

You get wisdom.

God gets glory.

Win-Win-Win, Beloved.

Happy Wednesday.