"This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." Acts 2:23-24
Death didn't have a chance! God was in charge. Jesus surrendered Himself to death for our sins according to God's will. He fully experienced the agony of death and the judgment for our sin. But death was unable to hold Him! He arose victorious over sin, death, and the grave. Now in Him, through faith, we share His indestructible life. Sin, death, and the grave have lost their hold on us. We may taste death but we will not abide in death for the One whom death could not hold will call us out into eternal life. Death still doesn't have a chance!
Father, I thank you that Jesus tasted death for my sake and conquered death that I might be forgiven and freed from death's claim on me. Help to live today without fear and in joy this life in Christ over which death has no hold.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
All for the Kingdom
"After his suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God." Acts 1:3
Before the cross, Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom, taught in parables about the kingdom, and instructed disciples to pray "Your kingdom come" (Matt. 6:10). Then in the critical days between His resurrection and ascension He continued to make the kingdom of God the focus of His precious final hours with His disciples. The kingdom of God, the God who reigns and the people over whom He reigns, is to the major concern of those who follow Jesus. We live under the King's authority and we serve and witness that His kingdom might be strengthened and expanded to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). We need to live our lives in light of the big picture--God's eternal kingdom--and not merely in light of our immediate circumstances.
Father, help me to see the big picture of Your kingdom each day and to live each day with a kingdom focus and commitment as a faithful follower of King Jesus.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Before the cross, Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom, taught in parables about the kingdom, and instructed disciples to pray "Your kingdom come" (Matt. 6:10). Then in the critical days between His resurrection and ascension He continued to make the kingdom of God the focus of His precious final hours with His disciples. The kingdom of God, the God who reigns and the people over whom He reigns, is to the major concern of those who follow Jesus. We live under the King's authority and we serve and witness that His kingdom might be strengthened and expanded to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). We need to live our lives in light of the big picture--God's eternal kingdom--and not merely in light of our immediate circumstances.
Father, help me to see the big picture of Your kingdom each day and to live each day with a kingdom focus and commitment as a faithful follower of King Jesus.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
A Living Savior
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he has risen!" Luke 24:5-6
He is alive! Because He was not there (in the tomb) He is here (with us). Have you embraced His presence today? Are you living in fellowship with Him? Or do we live more as if we honor a noble dead man whose dreams and memory we seek to carry on?
Father, I thank you that you were not there in the tomb and that you are here with me in this very moment. I embrace your presence so that I might live and serve with You today.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
He is alive! Because He was not there (in the tomb) He is here (with us). Have you embraced His presence today? Are you living in fellowship with Him? Or do we live more as if we honor a noble dead man whose dreams and memory we seek to carry on?
Father, I thank you that you were not there in the tomb and that you are here with me in this very moment. I embrace your presence so that I might live and serve with You today.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Monday, April 6, 2009
More Than Words
"When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what are they doing.'" Luke 23:33-34
How amazing it is that Jesus' first words from the cross were words of forgiveness and yet it is not surprising because the cross is all about forgiveness. Jesus spoke forgiveness from the cross. Jesus secured forgiveness through the cross. The words He spoke required that He die for sinners so that we could indeed realize the forgiveness of God in our lives. Our dollar bill used to be backed by gold so that it was certain that the promise represented by the bill was good because of the gold that stood behind it. God's promise of forgiveness to us (see 1 John 1:9) is good because it is backed by the power of the cross.
Father, I thank you for the sure promise of forgiveness backed by the power of the cross. During this Holy Week show me any sin in my life that needs to be confessed and forgiven. Draw me near you through the cross of Christ.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
How amazing it is that Jesus' first words from the cross were words of forgiveness and yet it is not surprising because the cross is all about forgiveness. Jesus spoke forgiveness from the cross. Jesus secured forgiveness through the cross. The words He spoke required that He die for sinners so that we could indeed realize the forgiveness of God in our lives. Our dollar bill used to be backed by gold so that it was certain that the promise represented by the bill was good because of the gold that stood behind it. God's promise of forgiveness to us (see 1 John 1:9) is good because it is backed by the power of the cross.
Father, I thank you for the sure promise of forgiveness backed by the power of the cross. During this Holy Week show me any sin in my life that needs to be confessed and forgiven. Draw me near you through the cross of Christ.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Sunday, April 5, 2009
"And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." Luke 22:44
As we reflect on the suffering of Jesus this passion week, our tendency may be to reflect on the outward sufferings of Jesus (i.e. the flogging, the thorns, the blows, the nails, the spear, etc.). But perhaps His greater suffering was inward. He agonized over the cross as He prayed in the garden. So great was His anguish and so intense was his praying that His sweat was filled with blood. We cannot we fully comprehend the depth of his anguish but we can be grateful that He endured it for our sake. Without His suffering inwardly and outwardly we would have no salvation.
Lord Jesus, I thank you that you suffered the deep agony of the cross for my sake. Draw me close to you through this Holy Week.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
As we reflect on the suffering of Jesus this passion week, our tendency may be to reflect on the outward sufferings of Jesus (i.e. the flogging, the thorns, the blows, the nails, the spear, etc.). But perhaps His greater suffering was inward. He agonized over the cross as He prayed in the garden. So great was His anguish and so intense was his praying that His sweat was filled with blood. We cannot we fully comprehend the depth of his anguish but we can be grateful that He endured it for our sake. Without His suffering inwardly and outwardly we would have no salvation.
Lord Jesus, I thank you that you suffered the deep agony of the cross for my sake. Draw me close to you through this Holy Week.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Thursday, April 2, 2009
When Little Becomes Much
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Luke 21:3-4
The widow gave far less than others and yet she gave far more because she gave all she had. We don't have to have much to give much. You may think that what you can give, whether money or ability, doesn't amount to much in comparison to what others are able to give but if you give yourself fully to the Lord He will take great delight in your offering. It is not the amount of what we give that impresses our Lord but the amount of the sacrifice that is represented by our gift.
Father, I thank You for all the blessings that you have given me and pray that You will help me to give back to You all in the spirit of the poor widow.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
The widow gave far less than others and yet she gave far more because she gave all she had. We don't have to have much to give much. You may think that what you can give, whether money or ability, doesn't amount to much in comparison to what others are able to give but if you give yourself fully to the Lord He will take great delight in your offering. It is not the amount of what we give that impresses our Lord but the amount of the sacrifice that is represented by our gift.
Father, I thank You for all the blessings that you have given me and pray that You will help me to give back to You all in the spirit of the poor widow.
I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Living in Two Worlds
"[Jesus] said to them, 'Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.'"
Luke 20:25
With the dawn of April comes tax time and so how timely are these words of Jesus. From our money which bears the seal of the United States of America we owe to our government what is due for the services and freedoms that we enjoy. But we also owe to our God that which bears His seal and image--our lives. We can be loyal Americans and faithful Christians but we must recognize the proper place of each authority. To the United States we owe something; to God we owe everything. It is not something to our country, something to God, and the rest is ours. All is God's, even what we give to our country in obedience to Him, and so all is to be used under His authority and for His glory.
Father, I have been created in your image and sealed with the blood of your Son. I am yours by creation and redemption and therefore I confess that all I have and all I am are yours. Help me daily to give you fully what is yours.
I'm praying for you.
Mark
Luke 20:25
With the dawn of April comes tax time and so how timely are these words of Jesus. From our money which bears the seal of the United States of America we owe to our government what is due for the services and freedoms that we enjoy. But we also owe to our God that which bears His seal and image--our lives. We can be loyal Americans and faithful Christians but we must recognize the proper place of each authority. To the United States we owe something; to God we owe everything. It is not something to our country, something to God, and the rest is ours. All is God's, even what we give to our country in obedience to Him, and so all is to be used under His authority and for His glory.
Father, I have been created in your image and sealed with the blood of your Son. I am yours by creation and redemption and therefore I confess that all I have and all I am are yours. Help me daily to give you fully what is yours.
I'm praying for you.
Mark
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