SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:54-62 No criticism here. Have there not been times when I’ve been ashamed to say I follow Jesus? Have there not been times when I have been silent about my faith, to save face? If I was under threat of arrest, would I speak out openly? I would like to think I would be…
Light overcomes darkness!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:47-53 Is Jesus leading a rebellion? Should we as Jesus followers fight with swords and clubs to establish God’s kingdom? This is how the ISIS extremists see their role, fighting to set up an Islamic state based on sharia law. But notice the connection between ‘swords and clubs’ and ‘when darkness reigns’. Ask the…
Tempted in the garden
SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:39-46 Jesus goes into the garden of Gethsemane, and is tempted. The disciples are with Jesus, and they are tempted. Adam and Eve were in the garden, and they were tempted. You and I are somewhere in God’s garden every day, and we are tempted. Whatever form Satan takes, he whispers distractions, doubts and…
Taking God seriously
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 101 In this Psalm, David is sharing how serious he is about God. It sounds like he is bragging, and maybe he is. We know from the story of his life that he did not always live or act this way. I would not recommend singing about your devotion this way in church. But…
Investing in God’s kingdom!
SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 32-35 Jerusalem is under siege, everything looks hopeless. Yet Jeremiah is encouraged to buy property in the doomed city. We can continue to invest in this world, in this life, because God will set things straight! ‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the…
How will a gun help me?
SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:31-38 The battle begins, Satan’s troops are on the move, and Peter is a prime target. For some reason, Jesus changes his directives: “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” (Luke 22:36) Take money, luggage and…
What makes us great!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:24-30 This is sadly comic, the disciples bickering about position when Jesus is preparing to die. After three years, they still do not understand the heart of God, of Jesus, of the kingdom. The kingdom of God is not about position or power or prestige. It is about living and loving and leading like…
Eager to feast with Jesus!
SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:14-23 Jesus eagerly desires to eat THIS passover with His disciples… why? He had eaten many meals with them, and probably a few passovers. But this is the last passover before He suffers, before the ‘big event’ occurs. The big event is His death, dying for the curse of Adam (Genesis 2:17). He steps in…
God’s preparations
SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:7-13 The Jewish feast of Passover, when they celebrate God’s rescue from bondage in Egypt. Jesus wants to celebrate God’s rescue of all people from bondage to sin, death and hell. I am assuming that Jesus knew about the man with the house because God revealed it to Him in a time of prayer….
Shout!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 100 Whenever we focus on God, joy, praise and thanksgiving should burst out. Going to temple (for Jews), gathering with other Jesus-followers, are times to focus on God together. We reflect on Who He is (He is God, He made us, we belong to Him, He rules and cares for us!) We reflect on…