Timing

Timing

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. . . . [Y]ou did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.” Luke 19:41-42, 44b

Jerusalem represented the heart and soul of the people that God had chosen as His own, and Jesus was overcome with emotion at the sight of this city. Even as the people welcomed Christ upon his entry to the city, he was grieved by the knowledge that they did not understand the complete nature of His mission. They did not “recognize the time of God’s coming” to them.

Today, most of the people of Copperas Cove do not understand who Jesus is and what God has done for them. Will you join me in praying that, this Easter, they will “recognize the time of God’s coming” and respond to Christ? Will you pray for your neighbors and seek opportunities to introduce them to Jesus?

Father, there are people around me who need You desperately, but they don’t recognize it. I pray for my neighbors and ask that you would use me to reach them for Christ. Please give me an opportunity today to represent You.

Praying with you,
Jim

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' [Jesus commented], 'I tell you that this man, rather than the other [the Pharisee] went home justified before God.'" Luke 18:13-14

We all need God's mercy but sometimes we become so proud of our spirituality that we become self-confident rather than God-dependent. It is the humble, God-dependent people who find their life filled with God's mercy. The proud, self-confident people find their life filled with distorted, sinful self-centeredness. Whether we are a "notorious sinner" or a "self-righteous Pharisee" we stand in equal need of God's mercy. Either way we can receive such mercy and the joy of a right relationship with God if we will simply pray, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

Father God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Limitless Love

If he (your brother) sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him. - Luke 17:4

This goes beyond turning the other cheek. Jesus is demanding that we forgive the offenses of our brothers without hesitation, reservation or qualification. My reaction to this instruction from Jesus was similar to the disciples’. I’m incapable of that Lord, give me more faith!

This kind of radical forgiveness cannot be manufactured in the heart of sinful man. God is both the author and source of this kind of love. I only know of this unconditional kind of love because God has extended it to me. Moreover, I am only capable of forgiving this freely because of His work in my heart.

Father, thank you! I am so very grateful for the love that you have shown me; forgiving me over and over again. I need your help. I want to follow your example and obey your command but I am powerless without you. Give me the faith to walk in the freedom of forgiving those who have wronged me.

Your Servant,

Matt

Mixed Up Price Tags

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight." Luke 16:14-15

Who switched the price tags? How did we get caught up in this materialistic rat race of desiring and pursuing the wrong things? Our world teaches us to value the things that satisfy our personal lusts. But God looks at these things as cheap and unimpressive. He really doesn't care about the square footage of our houses, the style of our clothing, the model and year of the car in our driveway, the size of our television, or the other toys that we possess. The values of God are eloquently stated in Micah 6:8, "O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God" (NLT). These are things that God values and delights to find in our lives. What do you value?

Father, I confess that I often get the price tags mixed up and place high value on cheap things. As I walk through this mixed up world help me to keep focused on the things in which you delight.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Does Your God Celebrate?

"'Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:23-24

By the three parables in Luke 15, Jesus answered the Pharisees' complaint about His welcoming sinners by painting a picture of God as One who celebrates. Religious people tend to picture God as stern and demanding both toward themselves and others. Therefore they have little tolerance of sinners. But Jesus ate and drank with sinners and rejoiced in their coming to Him because Jesus' God celebrates when a sinner repents and comes to new life. How do I view God and how does that affect my attitude toward others? If I see God as one who celebrates the repentance of a sinner then I will welcome sinners and seek their repentance along with Him.

Father, I thank You that You celebrate and rejoice! Grow your heart for sinners in me that I may welcome them, seek their repentance, and rejoice with You.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark

Casual Discipleship

Luke 14:25-33
33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

As I was reading this particular chapter this afternoon, these set of passages stuck out to me. I wonder in my life what I have put in place of my relationship with Christ. In these few verses Christ lays out for us the cost of being a true disciple. Have you ever thought about what it means to truly follow Christ? He wants everything. I must confess there have been times in my life when I have hesitated and been skeptical to give everything over to God. I have been a casual disciple. What I mean by that is that my priorities have become out of line. The world has got the best of me and Christ has moved down on the list. These verses convict me and remind me that nothing, not even my family, needs to come before my relationship with Christ. Wow, that is hard to swallow!!!

Father, help me because I am weak. I know that I cannot let everything go on my own. Teach me to value my relationship with You as the most important part in my life.

Your Servant
Chris

Taking Up Space or Bearing Fruit?

"Then he told this parable: 'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard. "for three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up this soil?' 'Sir,'the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" Luke 13:6-9

As the vineyard owner looked for fruit on his fig tree so God seeks fruit in our lives. A fig tree that bears no figs takes up valuable space in the vineyard. It requires extra cultivation and care to become fruitful or else it is to be cut down to make room for another tree. Our purpose as Christ followers is to bear kingdom fruit that glorifies the Father. To become more fruitful we need to submit to the hand of the Gardner (the Father, see John 15:1) in order to allow Him to prune, cultivate, and fertilize our life for fruitfulness. May it never be said of us that we are only taking up valuable space but rather that through God's grace we are bearing the fruit He desires.

Father, I submit to your hand. Cultivate my life so that I may bear the fruit that You desire in the place where you have planted me.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark