Colossians 2:13-19

Father, make me more like Jesus.

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Just look, Father!  There are glimpses into who You are and what You do right here in these few verses, like snapshots of Your character:

“GOD MADE ME ALIVE WITH CHRIST”  (v 13 NIV)

Lord, I remember a swimming pool You allowed me to enjoy several years ago.  There was a time when the pool became full of algae and other things.  Some of us swam in it once when it was like that.  (I still remember putting my foot into a big glob of algae on the wall in the deep end — AAAK!)  Eventually it had to be drained and the surfaces scraped clean.  Then, new, clean water could be put back into it.  After the whole task was done, we could swim without concern in the fresh water.  The pool had been made alive again with our splashing, diving, swimming and playing.

When I was dead in my sins and swimming in my sinful nature, You chose to clean me up, to remove the scum in me and to fill me up with Your Son, Jesus!  Thanks so much for life in Him!!

“HE FORGAVE ME ALL MY SINS” (v 13 NIV)

Much like an accused person standing before a judge in a courtroom, hearing the charges against her being read, there was a list of charges against me.  Over and over I had fallen short of Your design for me, of Your will for me.  You took that list of charges, Lord, and tattooed them on the body of You Son.  Then, You allowed that list to be nailed to the cross as Jesus was crucified.  The payment I owed for those charges against me was my own death; but when my “eyes” look to Jesus on the cross, the only message visible is “PAID IN FULL.”  And from His lips, He spoke to You about me:  “Father, forgive them…”

Thank You for forgiving ALL my sins.  Lord, instill in me an ever-growing desire to refuse to play with sin.  Make it more important to me to be holy than to be “comfy,” to be blameless than to be accepted, to have Your will as my aim when I go out and about instead of just fun and good times.  You have said, “Be holy as You are holy.”  And You say that You are the One who makes me holy, that You work all things for my good, that You’ve come to give me life abundantly.  So, if I choose to pursue good times here on my own, I miss out on the best times that sticking close to You can bring.  Give me a double-order of the kind of true fun there is in living my life with You making the plans and guiding my choices.

“HAVING DISARMED THE POWERS AND AUTHORITIES”  (v 15 NIV)

There is NONE like You, Father.  You are all-powerful, majestic, glorious, the great God and ruler of all creation.  AND YOU are my Daddy!  That’s SO cool!!

Nothing can harm me; nothing can separate me from Your love for me.  The ruler of this world has no weapon that can take me out because You are my shield and Fortress.  Sin and death were his biggest guns; yet You’ve rendered them inoperable.  Thanks for allowing me to share in Your victory.

“REALITY … IS FOUND IN CHRIST”  (v 17 NIV)

All other ways of living are like false images projected into a room, seeming real, but are actually hollow and fabricated.  True life, real life, reality is found ONLY as I choose to live in Christ, to follow Your will, Lord.  Anything else is just a game.  Thank You for the truth of Your Word and for the realness of Your presence with me when I choose to notice You and to commune with You throughout a day.

“AS GOD CAUSES IT TO GROW”  (v 19 NIV)

Thank You, Father, for being the One who brings growth.  You cause me to grow.  You cause others to grow.  We are not responsible for, nor able to, produce growth in one another.  That’s YOUR role.  You simply call us to spur one another on, to encourage one another, to teach and admonish one another, so that we are a crop that’s weeded, watered, and fertilized, ready for the growth You’ll bring and the harvest You and we will enjoy.

Thank You, Father, for letting me see You, to know You. Thanks…
…for the life You give me,
…for the forgiveness You’ve given me,
…for the confidence that comes from knowing You are in control,
…for the reality of You–You’re real, You’re true and You’ll never fail me,
…for the growth You bring as You make me just like Jesus! Amen.

Ephesians 2:1-10

Jesus, be the Lord over ALL my life.
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You have seen who I was, Father, and You didn’t leave me alone.

• I WAS dead in my sins and disobedience (v 1). 
• I USED TO live in those sins, USED TO follow “the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (v 2). 
• I LIVED among those who are disobedient, “gratifying the cravings of my sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts” (v 3). 
• I WAS by nature an object of Your wrath.

Because of YOUR GREAT LOVE for me, and because You are rich in mercy,
YOU MADE ME ALIVE WITH CHRIST!
…even when I was dead in my sin–it’s by Your grace that I’ve been saved.
YOU RAISED ME UP WITH CHRIST!
YOU SEATED ME WITH CHRIST in the heavenly realms!
SO THAT — “in the coming ages You might show the incomparable riches of Your grace, expressed in Your kindness to me in Christ Jesus” for it’s by grace that I’m saved, through faith.

I am Your workmanship … molded by Your hands, crafted by Your fingers, loved by Your heart … filled with Who You are. You have prepared me to do good works in Your kingdom here. You prepare me for what You have prepared for me. May I serve You with loyalty and fervor as You keep making me just like Jesus. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5

Thank You, Lord, that You love me like no other.

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“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down–when we die and leave these bodies–we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands … We are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.  So our aim is to please Him always, … For we must all stand before Christ to be judged.  We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.  It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others…” (5:1, 8-11 NLT)

Being human can sometimes be frustrating, Father, especially when “our aim is to please [You] always” (v 9).  My intentions, my passion, my focus can be intensely set on You and I can be moving in the direction of Your will, and then some lie, ploy, or subtle attack by the enemy of my soul can work its way into me.  There are times, before I’ve even seen it lurking about, that the tangling vines of sin get such a grip on me.  Papa! Only YOU by Your grace can free me from its clutches!  Every time I cry out to You and You free me from such sin, I am reminded of the price You paid so that I could know that freedom … so that I could know You personally … so that I’d tell others about You.

Make me aware of the lives touching mine who need to hear of this freedom You offer them as well.  Help me to see others through Your eyes.  Move me to step toward them with Your Message of new and eternal life.

“Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us.  Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live.  He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live to please themselves.  Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them … All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to Himself through what Christ did … For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (5:14-15, 18, 21 NLT)

Thank You for offering Your Son in my place, so that You and I, Father, could be reconciled.  My sin sent Jesus to the cross.  Your love kept Jesus on the cross.  May that same love move me daily to carry the Message of the cross to those who need to hear it the most and to those who think they need it the least.  Use me as You will, Father, and keep on making me just like Jesus.  Amen.

2 Corinthians 4

Thank You, Lord, that You love me like no other.

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“…since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.” (4:1 NIV)

“Since God has so generously let us in on what He is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times.” (4:1 MSG)

Wherever You place me, each time You place me into some sort of ministry role — whether it’s interpersonal, vocational, short term, long term — the main point is that it’s YOU who supplies the role and it’s YOU alone who can sustain me in that role until You’re done molding and shaping me through each season of service.

“But this precious treasure — this light and power that now shine within us — is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies.  So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.” (4:7 NLT)

All that I am comes solely from You, Father.  You are my Maker.  My weak body is not a sign that You made a mistake; rather, because there are cracks in this jar of clay, Your light within me can shine through.  Even light poking through cracks can illuminate a dark room … Just as Your light in me can help others I encounter to see You more clearly, and can bring understanding of You and Your longing for them to know You intimately.  Here I am, Lord; use me as Your vessel.

“So we’re not giving up.  How could we!  Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace.  These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.  There’s far more here than meets the eye.  The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow.  But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” (4:16-18 MSG)

Thank You for unfolding Your grace before me, toward me, around me, and in me EVERY day.  How amazing to consider what You have in store for me, Father.  Certainly, what You have is far greater than anything I could imagine.  Just the thought of getting to be with You is a hope that spurs me onward.  Keep on molding me.  “Take my heart and form it.  Take my mind, transform it.  Take my will, conform it to Yours, to Yours, Oh Lord.” (from “Holiness” by Vineyard Singers on More Love, More Power)  Whatever it takes, Lord, make me just like Jesus.  Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:12-58

Yes, Lord! My life is in YOUR hands.
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“…Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,…in Christ all will be made alive …
When you sow, you don’t plant the body that will be, but just a seed,…
But God gives it a body AS HE HAS DETERMINED, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body…
so it will be with the resurrection of the dead.
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised IMPERISHABLE;
it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in GLORY;
it is sown in weakness, it is raised in POWER;
it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (15:20, 22, 37-38, 42-44 NIV)

What a wondrous Day that will be, Father, when we all get to see YOU face to face!  How fantastic to think that even the very best that we’ve known here in this life can’t compare to that which You have awaiting us in our life after this life on earth!

This body I have now will one day die; and You’ll exchange it for one that can never die.

This body has been enslaved and dishonored by sin; but the new one You have for me will be gloriously unbound and free.

This body is frail; but that new one will be a powerful reflection of You.

This body is a natural, human address, a temporary dwelling for who I truly am in You; yet one day I’ll reside in a spiritual body just like Jesus’  (Php. 3:20-21)

Thank You for making my resurrection possible through Your Son’s death, burial and resurrection, as He conquered the “last enemy” (15:26 NIV), death, so that I might know new, abundant, and eternal life with YOU!  Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Yes, Lord! My life is in YOUR hands.

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“…Christ DIED for our sins according to the Scriptures,…
He was BURIED…
He was RAISED on the third day according to the Scriptures,…
He APPEARED to [several followers].” (v 3-8 NIV)

Thank You, Father, for conveying this message of hope (assurance) and mercy and freedom.  This path Jesus took was His path of victory over sin and death, as He won that battle for me!  Thank You so much, Jesus!

• Your death stripped away my sin.
• Your burial put aside my old self.
• Your resurrection birthed my new self.
• Your appearing modeled the witnessing You call me to.
• Your ascension sets the stage for Your return to take me Home.

“…by the grace of God I am what I am…yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (v 10 NIV)

Thank You for Your grace toward me, Father.  Were it not for grace, I shudder to think of where or what I’d be.

You saw me before I was even born, and by Your grace, You chose then to love me.

You saw me in my sin, and by Your grace, You chose to forgive me.

You see me in my frail humanity, and by Your grace, You choose to transform me.

It’s by Your grace alone, Lord, that I am who I am, and that I am becoming who I will be, as You keep making me just like Jesus.  Amen.

1 Corinthians 7 (Part 1)

Yes, Lord! My life is in YOUR hands.

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Excerpts from 1 Cor. 7 in The Message:

“Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me–a simpler life in many ways!  But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is.  God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others.

“I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me.  But if they can’t manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married.  The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.

“…don’t be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else.  Where you are right now is God’s place for you.  Live and obey and love and believe right there.  God, not your marital status, defines your life….

“The really important thing is obeying God’s call, following His commands….Because of the current pressures on us from all sides, I think it would probably be best to stay just as you are.  Are you married?  Stay married.  Are you unmarried?  Don’t get married.  But there’s certainly no sin in getting married….All I am saying is that when you marry, you take on additional stress in an already stressful time, and I want to spare you if possible.

“I do want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence.  There is no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily.  Keep it simple–in marriage, grief, joy, whatever.  Even in ordinary things–your daily routines of shopping, and so on.  Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you.  This world as you see it is on its way out.

“I want you to live as free of complications as possible.  When you’re unmarried, you’re free to concentrate on simply pleasing the Master.  Marriage involves you in all the nuts and bolts of domestic life and in wanting to please your spouse, leading to so many more demands on your attention.  The time and energy that married people spend on caring for and nurturing each other, the unmarried can spend in becoming whole and holy instruments of God….All I want is for you to be able to develop a way of life in which you can spend plenty of time together with the Master without a lot of distractions.…Marriage is spiritually and morally right and not inferior to singleness in any way, although as I indicated earlier, because of the times we live in, I do have pastoral reasons for encouraging singleness.”

Father, may my heart and mind be wholly devoted to You above all else, above all other relationships in my life.  May YOU be at the center of those relationships, so that each one may glorify You!  Amen.

1 Corinthians 6

Yes, Lord! My life is in YOUR hands.
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“Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims…
“Since the Master honors you with a body, honor Him with your body! … remember that your bodies are created with the same dignity as the Master’s body …
“…OR didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. GOD OWNS THE WHOLE WORKS. So let people see God in and through your body.” (v 12-15, 19-20 MSG)

Several years ago, Lord, You helped me learn to sing a song that said, “I am not my own. I belong to You … I can’t explain how belonging to You can make me truly free. But I’ll remain in the joy that I knew when I first came to see Your love for me … There’s still one truth that I can know: I am not my own. I belong to You.”*

Some might look at the verses in this portion of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and see chains which bind a person and hold her back. But that’s not what it means for YOU to own all of me. When YOU are the Lord and Master of my life, You set me free from all other masters. You supply security, assurance, and peace to me simply because I’m Yours.

Thank You for calling me Your own, for paying the price to redeem me from being a slave to sin. Make all of me a reflection of the You in me, Jesus. Amen.

* from “I Belong to You” as sung by Kathy Troccoli on Heart and Soul, (c) 1984 Reunion Records

Romans 15

Eyes speak so easily, Lord.  Let the eyes You’ve created for me master the words, “Jesus loves you.”

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“…God wants the combination of His steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever He will do next.  May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all” (v 4-5 MSG).

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus” (v 4-5 NIV).

ENDURANCE – God’s “steady, constant calling” (Peterson, The Message)*

ENCOURAGEMENT – God’s “warm, personal counsel” (Peterson)

HOPE  – “alert for whatever He will do next” (Peterson)

The purpose of Your Word unfolds here: to teach me, to instill Your character in me.  Intrinsic to You are endurance and encouragement–these are part of Your character.  From the riches of who You are, You reach out to me with gifts of the same.  You are “dependably steady,” enduring through everything. In Your Word, You are steadily, constantly calling me to follow you always.  You are “warmly personal,” full of encouragement, as You set forth “warm, personal counsel” in Your Word, that’s applicable to EVERYthing I have or will ever face, as You keep me “alert for whatever You’ll do next.”

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (v 13 NIV)

“God of hope” –that’s YOU, Papa!  Not that You’re the Subject of hope, but You’re the AUTHOR of it.  “Hope…finds its expression in endurance under trial,” (Vines, p. 563).**  “It is ‘an anchor of the soul’ (Hebrews 6:18-19), staying in place amidst the storms of this life. It is a purifying power (1 John 3:3).

Write on the pages of my heart, the narrative of Your hope as it infiltrates my being.  When the trials come, may You pen how hope spurs me onward, enduring the trying circumstances.  When the storms rage, Your prose can convey how Your hope anchors my life and assists me in riding out the storm.  With “confident expectation” (Vines, p. 562)** set on You, I watch You unfold each chapter of my life and desire for You to purify my heart and mind, just like Jesus’ (1 John 3:3) … until You pen THE END of this life, and begin the sequel set in eternity.  Amen.

*The Message, contemporary paraphrase of the New Testament by Eugene Peterson

**An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by  W.E. Vine

When He Speaks

One day, when Jesus was visiting Simon, the Pharisee, having a meal at his house … a lady came in. She kept sobbing, kissing Jesus’ feet and washing them with her tears and perfume. Simon tried to tell Jesus what a sinful woman that was at His feet. But Jesus cut him off, and told him this story: “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?” Simon answered correctly, “the one who was forgiven the most.”

After pointing out to Simon all that the woman had been doing since she arrived, He said, “She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.” Then, He spoke to her–the first words recorded–and said, “I forgive your sins. … Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50 MSG)

When we take our wounded and wayward lives (hearts, minds, bodies, spirits) to Jesus, what healing! what pardon! what freedom there is to be found when He speaks forgiveness and peace to us! He wipes the stain away. He affirms our faith. He sends us out in peace, free from the chains we came into His presence wearing.

“I, even I,” said our Daddy, “am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remember your sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25). “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Is 43:18-19a). “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist” (Is 44:22).

Though we know in our minds that all sin is sin, sometimes the shadow of our chains lurks around when the sin was one of “those” sins … the kind that come with an “open to the public” sign plastered all over them (even when you didn’t post it!). Still, sin is sin and His forgiveness is real forgiveness.

David Seamands once wrote, “When God forgives, He buries your sins in the sea of His forgiveness and forgetfulness. As Corrie ten Boom says, ‘He then puts a sign on the bank which says: NO FISHING ALLOWED.’ You have no right to dredge up anything that God has forgiven and forgotten. He has put it behind His back.” He chooses to forget.

Romans 7

Eyes speak so easily, Lord.  Let the eyes You’ve created for me master the words, “Jesus loves you.”

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“…The law [of God] started out as an excellent piece of work.  What happened, though, was that sin found a way to pervert the command into a temptation, making a piece of ‘forbidden fruit’ out of it.  The law…instead of being used to guide me, was used [by my enemy] to seduce me… the very command that was supposed to guide me into life was cleverly used to trip me up, throwing me headlong… Sin simply did what sin is so famous for doing: Using the good as a cover to tempt me to do what would finally destroy me.” (v 9-13 MSG)

How true, Father!  When I know what I’m not supposed to do, it’s then that that activity becomes more appealing.  I may have been totally oblivious to it before, but when You say, “No, don’t do that,” I get to thinking I WANT to do that.

“What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.  So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary… I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight.  Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.” (v 19-24 MSG)

Sometimes, Lord, no matter how deeply I love You and desire to do Your will, there seem to be moments when my old nature of sin rears its head and strikes.  It’s more like a small prick that releases a tendency toward rebellion within me.  As the toxin works its way through me, what I don’t want to do, becomes what I just did.  How desperately I need You and Your antidote for this poison in my being!

“I’ve tried everything and nothing helps.  I’m at the end of my rope.  Is there no one who can do anything for me?  Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does.  He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.” (v 24-25 MSG)

Thank You, Father, for Your antidote of grace through Jesus!  Thank You for the victory over sin that can be mine through my faith in Him and my acceptance of His sacrifice from my sin.

Thank You for Your Spirit that convicts me of sin and strengthens me to avoid it and to remain faithful to You instead (1 Cor 10:13)

Thank You for Your Word that tells me how to obey Your will.

Thank You for Your work in my life as You fashion me to be just like Jesus.  Amen.

Acts 28

Father, make a difference in my heart that’s daily evident in my life.

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“The brothers there had heard that we were coming and they traveled … to meet us.  At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged.” (v 15)

After a long treacherous trip and a bit of refreshing along the way, Paul was more than ready to see kindred souls.  It’s the sense of family that comes among us, Your children, Lord, when we encounter one another.  Thanks for the times when You’ve allowed my life to connect with others who know You — whether I’ve hardly known them or known them well.

ASSURED

“It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” (v 20)

The “hope of Israel” was Your Son, Lord.  It’s like what Paul wrote to the Philippians, “…it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ” (Php 1:13 NIV).  No matter what state in which he found himself, Paul knew where his hope was.  Since the word “hope” most often denotes “assurance” when used in Your Word, here Paul expressed the assurance he had in knowing that even his chains were part of Your sovereign will … I have that same assurance available to me, don’t I? … Would You help me to relish it as much or more than Paul did, Father?

CONVICTED

“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” (v 28)

Paul knew exactly what You had called him to do and he knew that You had been carrying him along to do it.  He was seeing evidence of Your handiwork all around him, even in the one who guarded him.  He was convicted to carry out Your plan for his life right up to his death.

Father, what is that “one thing” You have for me to do in Your kingdom?  Have I been doing it and not recognizing it fully?  Have I been doing my own thing and not following You completely?  So many lives around me who need to know Your Son or know Him better … show me the niche You have for me and pump in that conviction like Paul had.

EMPOWERED

“Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (v 31).

Paul’s life was Yours; doing Your will was his life.  More and more, with each new dawn of Your mercy, may my will conform to Your will … May I know the reality each day of Your empowering presence within me as You keep on making me just like Jesus.  Amen.

Acts 22

Father, make a difference in my heart that’s daily evident in my life.

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“Then he said: ‘The God of our fathers has CHOSEN you to KNOW His will and to SEE the Righteous One and to HEAR words from His mouth.  You will BE HIS WITNESS to all men of what you have seen and heard.  And now what are you waiting for?  Get up be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.'” (v 14-16 NIV)

You let Paul know through Ananias’ words that You had chosen him for a particular purpose in Your kingdom.  Not until later did You reveal more of Your will for Paul’s life in You, but he could know that You’d had him on Your mind and had woven him into Your purposes.

Through Your Word, You’ve let me know much the same affirmations as You did to Paul.  You even used his pen to write them out so long ago so that I could read them: “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight … In Him we were also chosen … in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.” (Eph 1:4, 11-12 NIV).

Thank You for choosing me, Lord.  Thank You for making it possible for me to know Your will.  Thank You for allowing me to see You — in Your Word, in Your people, in Your creation.  Thank You for allowing me to hear Your words by reading the Bible and listening to Your Spirit.  You just keep right on shaping me to be more like Jesus.  Amen.

Luke 24

Father, thank You for Jesus and the life I have in Him!

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Your followers were facing one of the most perplexing times of their lives, Lord.  Having given up everything to follow You for three years, suddenly You were gone.  Their leader had been taken from them and they couldn’t fathom what had just taken place.

I’ve been there, too, Lord … following Your lead, walking through doors You’ve opened, listening for Your guidance.  Then, suddenly the way ahead seems unclear, unmarked, uncertain.  All that I have to go on are Your last words of direction, so I can only keep on following those.

“AS THEY TALKED AND DISCUSSED THESE THINGS WITH EACH OTHER, JESUS HIMSELF CAME UP AND WALKED WITH THEM; BUT THEY WERE KEPT FROM RECOGNIZING HIM.” (v 15-16 NIV)

For Your early followers, You did just what YOU knew they needed in order to comprehend Your plan.  You came alongside them, even though it wasn’t evident to them that it was You.  You spoke to them from what had been written about You in Your Word, bringing to the forefront of their minds the Scriptures they’d learned before.  You fellowshipped with them at different levels, until, at one point, the light came on and they recognized You.  Their reflection on what You’d been trying to say to them became richer.  Later, You continued to open “their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (v 45 NIV).  THEN, You gave them directions and assurance for the times ahead.

That’s the part I’m looking forward to, Lord — the directions and assurance.  Actually, I’m assured and convinced of Your presence, I’d just be glad to have the directions.  Yet, I know YOU and I’m sure that in YOUR time, I’ll recognize Your plan.  Until then, I’ll wait as You keep making me just like Jesus.  Amen.

Luke 23

Father, thank You for Jesus and the life I have in Him!

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“… FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.”

You knew ahead of time ALL that would be done to You, Jesus.  That’s what may have moved You somewhat to plead with Your Father for a less-painful way to do what must be done (Luke 22:42).  You knew how You’d be treated by the very humans You came to save and set free.

That day so long again held the most horrible physical pain for You.  You let Yourself be nailed to that cross because You chose to be the sacrifice for all sin for all time — including mine.  Oh, Jesus, thank You!  Thank You for dying for me.  Thank You for saving me.  Thank You for loving me … all the way to the cross!  Amen.