4/03            Mt. 27:35-37

After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

THE CROSS

It was another day at the office following orders. The Jews were a rowdy group. They never got along with anyone. Now the soldiers had to wrestle their way through the crowd to put another Jew on the cross.

Life changing events can happen at the most unusual times. On the edge of the Roman Empire the Lord came. He lived and died in a backwater place called Israel. The Romans thought very little of the event.

The big event the Romans missed was the resurrection. He shed his blood and died for me but he didn’t stay in the tomb. The cruel cross was defeated by the power of God.

It took the blood of Christ to forgive my sin. The power of God gives me life. The blood of martyrs conquered the Roman Empire. What has Christ called you to do? It will take personal sacrifice and surrender to beat back the enemy.

THE CROSS

Evil, wicked, barren wood pointing at the sky.

Speaking out to all the world, “see who’s in control.”

Not unlike the life I’ve lived, planned and quickly paced.

Often thinking that it was me running all the race.

But just for me he walked from jail to hang upon the cross.

Hanging there for all to see God’s plan was best of all.

The soldiers nailed his hands and feet it was just a job.

The leader ordered the cross in place

He turned and looked my way.

I saw his face and it was me.

There was victory on that tree.

He lifted me from death to life.

4/02            Zephaniah 3:1-2

How terrible it will be for rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime.

It proudly refuses to listen even to the voice of the LORD. No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction. It does not trust in the LORD or draw near to its God.

THE WORLD IS ALWAYS WRONG

The world is wrong. Jesus is Lord. The lost need Christ. Without Jesus things are not going to work out all right.

Sometimes I forget just how simple the Christian life is. Jesus is my plumb line. As I live my life day to day, I can check with Him to keep my balance. He will provide the answers to my questions. He will bring sanity to chaotic situations.

For the Christian life to be simple, I must do my part. Time with God is required. Reading His Word is the basic key to simplicity. Thinking about what His Word says equips me to face the unknown.

How do I come to grips with the rebellion and chaos of the world? Love the Lord God with all my heart and all my soul and with everything that is in me. And love my neighbor as myself.

THE WORLD IS WRONG

Fellowship was His aim in creating me.

Equipping me was His goal.

I chose my own way. It broke His heart.

But still He loved me and walked beside me.

My heart and mind were foolishly distracted.

The world has ways of leading us along.

I fought the fight of riches and desire.

My heart ached and bled within my soul.

Finally all I saw was death and destruction.

Help me Lord I was wrong.

He was waiting for me to see Him standing there.

I love you He said walk with me.

4/01            Luke 13:30

And note this: Some who are despised now will be greatly honored then; and some who are greatly honored now will be despised then.” 31 A few minutes later some Pharisees said to him, “Get out of here if you want to live, because Herod Antipas wants to kill you!” 32 Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and doing miracles of healing today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. 33 Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!”

FEAR

There is not fear in Jesus. He is totally committed to the Father and the Father’s directives. He came to die so that we might live. Next time you are hurting and overrun remember that Jesus died for you and He gives you real life right now. Do not fear for the Lord has come.

3/31            Luke 13:22-29

Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, 24 “The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, because many will try to enter, 25 but when the head of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. Then you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know you.’ 26 You will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you. Go away, all you who do evil.'” 28 “And there will be great weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets within the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. 29 Then people will come from all over the world to take their places in the Kingdom of God.

COME
Come to Jesus now while you still can. Ask Him to save you and keep you. He will. And on that Day of Judgment you will stand before Him as His child and not as an alien. Death has been defeated and Jesus is alive.

3/30            Luke 13:18-21

Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? 19 It is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds come and find shelter among its branches.” 20 He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? 21 It is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough.”

KINGDOM

Once we come into the Family of God everything we do, everything we are is permeated and changed by the Gospel. It is the Good News. We are no longer at war with God. We are members of His family and recipients of His grace and peace. Jesus is Lord.

3/29            Luke 13:14-17

But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.” 15 But the Lord replied, “You hypocrite! You work on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from their stalls on the Sabbath and lead them out for water? 16 Wasn’t it necessary for me, even on the Sabbath day, to free this dear woman from the bondage in which Satan has held her for eighteen years?” 17 This shamed his enemies. And all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things he did.

REJOICE
Rejoice for Jesus will do whatever it takes to enable you to live. He forgives our sin. He cleans us up. He walks with us every step of the way. Rejoice for the Lord is good to you.

3/28            Luke 13:10-13

One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised and thanked God!

THANKFUL

I am thankful that Jesus saved me. You are thankful for your salvation. There is so much we should be thankful for. Every day remember to think about things you are thankful for and thank the Lord for them. An attitude of gratitude will go a long way in thwarting the enemies activity against you.

3/27            Luke 13:6-9

Then Jesus used this illustration: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s taking up space we can use for something else.'” 8 “The gardener answered, ‘Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down.'”

CHANGE

You need to change. I need to change. When we spend time with Jesus He will tell us what to change and how to change. He is Lord and wants to be leader of our life.

3/26            Luke 13:1-5

About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the Temple in Jerusalem. 2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than other people from Galilee?” he asked. “Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will also perish unless you turn from your evil ways and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen men who died when the Tower of Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will also perish.”

REPENT

We are called to repent. Sin damages us. Sin sidelines us. Turn back to Jesus and let Him clean you up and remove your sin from you. We need the Lord.

3/25            Luke 12:57-59

“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? 58 If you are on the way to court and you meet your accuser, try to settle the matter before it reaches the judge, or you may be sentenced and handed over to an officer and thrown in jail. 59 And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.”

RIGHT

We know the right thing to do and still we swerve away from the Lord. We know when we are hurting and we do not go back to Him. Stop where you are and do the next right thing. Love Jesus and love your neighbor.