April 9 - Divorce

Read: Matthew 5:31-32

"It was also said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce." (Matthew 5:31 ESV)

Divorce is such a terribly tragic thing. It is the unravelling, the death, of something brought together under a covenant, blessing, and vows. When a married couple divorces it is the death of not only the present state of that marriage, but also the death of all of their future together.

It seems like we see a lot of this today. Think about it for a second. How many people do you know that are divorced? How many people even in your own family have experienced its affects? Perhaps you yourself have experienced divorce first hand.

The church is not an exception, which is a terrible indictment upon our call to reflect Christ. Jesus loved the church so much that he died so it would come into being. And the bible tells us that one day he will return for his bride. What if he changed his mind? What if he decided he would rather divorce the church rather than put up with it for the rest of eternity? Thankfully he has already told us that he would never leave nor forsake us.

We live in a culture where it is too easy to walk out on stuff. Covenants and commitments mean very little. People give up on each other at home, socially, and in the church. I believe God made it possible to live a better way. A way full of commitment, covenant, and communal attachment. All we have to do to experience it is divorce our own selfishness and continually walk into his awaiting merciful grace.

April 8 - Throw It Away

Read: Matthew 5:27-30

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. (Matthew 5:29 ESV)

I remember watching the press conference several years ago after a lost hiker had been found. He had been faced with a life or death situation as a result of an accident and made the decision to amputate his arm after getting it trapped. I listened as he described his situation, the decision making process, and finally the procedure he used to remove his arm. He could have kept his arm, stayed trapped, and died. Or, he could remove his arm through a terribly painful self-inflicted wound and try to make it to safety. It was a horrible dilemma, but the choice to remove his arm saved his life.

Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount about voluntarily removing body parts reminds me of that hiker. The thought of literally removing body parts to avoid hell is sobering, and admittedly a little disturbing. But what if it didn't have to come to that?

Couldn't the same principle Jesus is speaking of be applied to the things in our lives that lead us toward sin? Let me give you an example. If a certain type of movie caused us to think sinful thoughts or pursue sinful acts wouldn't it be better to just stop watching movies than to cut your eye out?

In the old days people called this principle holiness. And yes, some strange things have been done in pursuit of holiness, but I would rather be found to be strange than spend an eternity in hell. In the past this meant getting rid of a lot of stuff. As I find myself striving to be more like Jesus, I find myself pursuing authentic holiness. This isn't something made up by men with a long list of rules and how to's. It is, however, a reverent walk with Christ. One in which I long to be both sensitive and obedient. Ridding myself of distractions and hindrances along the way.

April 7 - Be Reconciled

Read: Matthew 5:21-26

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23, 24 ESV)

Have you ever had a really bad argument with someone? What about one that ended so badly you felt really distant at the end of it? Some things happen between people that drive an unhealthy wedge-like space into the relationship.

During his Sermon on the Mount Jesus told his followers that in order to worship to their fullest potential they didn't to do so without any unreconciled relationships. Whoa! It makes sense if you think about it. Why? Because the thing that creates unreconciled hearts is sin.

Sin separated us from God. Jesus came to bring reconciliation to that relationship. But he also came so that we could be reconciled to one another. Further, he expects that of us if we are going to worship him. And while disagreement or discord may sometimes be incredibly difficult to avoid, we should always yearn for reconciliation. It might not come in the way that we would hope for, but God knows our hearts.

April 6 - Exceeding Righteousness

Read: Matthew 5:17-20

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20 ESV)

The scribes and Pharisees have gotten nearly 2000 years worth of bad press from Christianity. They are often painted as the primary antagonists in the Gospels. And while they certainly went to ridiculous lengths to make Jesus' life difficult, at one time they were thought to be the pinnacle of righteousness among the Jews.

During his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his followers that their righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees. That it was the only way in which they would be able to enter God's kingdom. For those of us who are familiar with the Gospel stories that seems like an easy achievement, but for the people who heard Jesus make this pronouncement, it was probably a fairly difficult thing to imagine.

I believe Jesus' purpose for this statement was to call his followers to an authentic relationship with God. A life of love and service to God that surpassed all of the rules and stifling Law that the Pharisees were so fond of in favor of a life-giving Spirit-empowered walk with the Father. A call to embrace the Spirit of the Law, not by adding a bunch of man made statutes to it, but by embracing what it means to show love to one anther.

It also means that we are to be fully devoted followers of Jesus. After all, the only righteousness we have is his. If we are saved by his merciful grace, and covered by his own righteousness then I'd say that is a pretty sure bet for having surpassed that of the scribes and Pharisees.

March 30 - Gladly Perplexed

Read: Mark 6:14-20

When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. (Mark 6:20b ESV)

Herod just didn't get it. He didn't know how to take John, didn't know who he was, what he was up to, or why he was so perplexed. Ultimately he threw John in prison for his preaching against Herod's sinful lifestyle. Yet even after that he regarded John as a holy man.

The cool thing about John is that he modeled exactly what Jesus wanted out of the disciples. John went before Jesus preparing people for the Kingdom of God, just as the disciples were charged to do when they were sent out, and just as we are charged to do today. John did it with great gusto.

Even today we can share the truth of the Gospel in a way that is perplexing to people. In fact, I completely believe that when we actually commit ourselves to lovingly sharing the fullness of the Good News it will perplex people. It will cause them to begin to question things in their lives that are out of order, and that separate them from God's truth.

Unfortunately Herod did not ultimately respond to the Gospel in a positive way, but that didn't keep John the Baptizer from sharing the fullness of truth. As you share your faith with those around you may not be met with positive response either. You might meet some gladly perplexed people too. Press on. Keep sharing. It is worth it.

March 28 - More Than A Prophet

Read: Luke 7:24-28

What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (Luke 7:26 ESV)

Jesus emphatically declared his cousin John the Baptizer to be the greatest man ever born of a woman. That's pretty high praise coming from the highest of sources. And Jesus let the crowds know it. He reminded those listening of John's importance.

As a prophet John was God's voice in his day. In fact, he was the fulfillment of a prophecy from Isaiah which specifically talked about a voice preparing the way for The Lord. John was important not just because he was that prophet, and not just because he fulfilled prophecy, but because he stood against religious corruption.

Jesus himself was regularly called a prophet, sometimes he was even, like John, mistaken for a resurrected Old Testament prophet. Actually, they were both far more than prophets. John was the transitional figure between the Old and New Covenant. He preached the message of the soon coming Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah.

It is incredibly reassuring to know that Jesus was not just a man. He was not just a prophet. John was the greatest man that ever lived. Jesus was the only God-man that ever lived.

March 27 - In That Hour

Read: Luke 7:19-23

In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. (Luke 7:21 ESV)

While John the Baptizer was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel he reached out to Jesus via his disciples. I believe that he was looking for further encouragement and assurance regarding the true identity of his cousin. He got the assurance he was looking for.

John's disciples showed up in the middle of Jesus performing many miracles in the area where he was ministering. They witnessed people with diseases who were cleansed. The saw people purged of plagues. They witnessed Jesus cast out evil spirits. They even saw the blind regain sight. And it was all done within a short amount of time. It must have been an incredible day.

Sometimes we need to go to Jesus for assurance. Not because we are necessarily doubting him, although if we're honest we do probably face those moments as well, but because we are looking for encouragement. Jesus is the best place to go for assurance. He is the best place to go for encouragement.

The fact of the matter is that we will all face seasons where we feel as if we're imprisoned. I those moments we can take all of our doubts, insecurities, and questions to Christ. He is able to answer the questions, calm the fears, and deal with our doubts. Sometimes it may seem to take us a bit to overcome those things, but I truly believe that when we take them to him he will begin to work in us and for us that very hour.

March 26 - Offended

Read: Matthew 11:2-6

And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. (Matthew 11:6 ESV)

Jesus' cousin John the Baptizer had already seen proof of Jesus' identity as the foretold Messiah. John himself was a prophesied child. He was the one sent as a voice that would prepare the people for the coming of The Lord. Still, when John found himself imprisoned he reached out to Jesus for one more confirmation. Jesus did not disappoint.

John's followers went to Jesus per the Baptizer's request and returned to share news of the incredible things Jesus was doing. Miracles were happening. The kind of which had never been seen before among the Jews. This was Jesus' testimony about himself as to the power and confirmation of his true identity as Messiah. As John's disciples parted Jesus offered one last comment, "blessed is the one who is not offended by me."

Jesus' words may sound strange at first but they would have been incredibly encouraging to John. John was arrested because his preaching offended a powerful man. Jesus in essence was issuing John a confirming statement. This same message holds true for us today.

We live in an age when many people find the message of the unmitigated Gospel offensive. They don't know how to handle the truth of the idea that mankind is responsible for their sinfulness, that all have sinned, and that Jesus is the only answer to the sin problem. So people often try to change the message to be less offensive by leaving out or altering the portions which would appear offensive.

Jesus' words are a clear warning. The Gospel will offend. Those with too much pride will reject its truth for their own comfort. They will harden their hearts. Those who embrace the offensiveness of Jesus will instead be changed by it. They will find freedom in the fact that although we are all sinful, and we are all responsible for our sin, Jesus offers us a way out. Truly blessed indeed are those who are not offended by Jesus.

March 25 - The Good Portion?

Read: Luke 10:38-42

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. (Luke 10:39 ESV)

Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and began to serve his needs and offer hospitality. Her sister Mary was captivated by Jesus and sat at his feet listening to his teaching. Martha didn't like it at all. In her opinion Mary had left her to do all the work. Jesus' gentle rebuke of Martha's complaining speaks volumes. Martha was blessed by her service to The Lord, but Mary was more blessed by sitting at his feet to enjoy his presence.

This brief story sheds light on a big question among some Christians today. What is more important: serving Jesus through your actions, or serving him through abiding in his presence? The answers are as varied as the lives of those who ask the question.

Truthfully, there isn't a blanket answer that fits the life of every believer and every scenario. The story of Mary and Martha shows us that in this specific example Jesus was very pleased with Mary's decision to simply enjoy his presence. However, it is also clear that at other points Scripture is very clear about the need for us to actually doing something.

The big idea found here I believe is that we cannot assume that the way we connect to Jesus or serve him is how everyone else must do it. Let me be clear, I believe everyone must connect to Jesus. He is after all the "way, the truth, and the life". But let us not assume that the good portion is the same for everyone. Where Jesus calls one to instruction and abiding, he may call someone else to action and serving.

March 23 - How Do You Read It?

Read: Luke 10:25-28 He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" (Luke 10:26 ESV)

A lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test. This was a guy who's sole job was to know the Law of Moses inside and out. He was out to find a loophole or other kind of weakness in Jesus's theology by asking him how to attain eternal life. Jesus' response was great, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"

Jesus was about to share a big truth with the lawyer, but first he wanted to hear the self-appointed inquisitor's own worldview. Jesus wanted to give the guy a chance to lay out his own presuppositions. I can almost hear Jesus' sarcasm as he looked at the man and basically said, "You're the expert. Why don't you tell me?"

A big question we all face in our Spiritual growth is How do we read it? Because we should all be reading the Bible. We should want to spend time in His book in some form. But how are we doing that? Do we only read it when we have a point to prove? Do we only go looking for scripture that will back up our particular line of reasoning? Or, do we do the healthy thing, the right thing, do we read the Holy Scriptures and allow them to change our thoughts and habits? How we read it matters. How do you read it?

March 21 - The Bigger Deal

Read: Luke 10:17-20

Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20 ESV)

They returned triumphant. They felt victorious. Inspite of some of the rejection and hard heartedness of men, the disciples had done a great work. People had been healed, demons had been cast out, and the gospel message had went forth in preparation for Jesus.

I imagine that this group, mostly comprised of men marginalized by the religious establishment, felt pretty good about themselves. Jesus' words to them don't ring out as a form of correction but as cuationary concern. Of course he wanted them to heal and cast out demons. He was the one that empowered them to do it. The real matter to be rejoiced over was salvation.

In ministry it is really easy to get caught up in the wins. When things are going extremely well you start to ride a wave of success that feels awesome. Knowing God has empowered you to succeed and seeing it happen creates an opportunity to led pride sneak in. Whether you're in vocational ministry or not it is easy to let this kind of thing happen during successful seasons of life.

We must celebrate success, often. We must share stories of life change and the miraculous as they happen. But let us never forget that for each one of us the biggest cause for rejoicing in our life is the salvation of our souls.

March 20 - Reject

Read: Luke 10:13-16

"The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me." (Luke 10:16 ESV)

Sharing the truth about Jesus is guaranteed to set you up for opposition. There will be people who do not like what you have to say. There will be those who disdain how you say it. There will be many who simply reject the notion that God holds them accountable for their actions. Acceptance and rejection are staples of Christianity.

Even in your own journey through faith you must ultimately decide on the ideas which you will accept or reject. Theological questions, life issues, and other things to be wrestled with internally have to pass through the filters in your mind until they are received or they are rejected. Jesus himself must never be rejected. He tears through all internal filters and ideas. He is the main idea.

As the seventy-two sent ones travelled the countryside sharing the message of Jesus they faced rejection. There was a crooked religious heirarchy that shunned them. There was an occupying pagan force that ridiculed them. There were their own countrymen that misunderstood them.

Jesus prepared them for that eventuality. He told them that people would reject them. His point was not that they were rejecting the disciples so much as the fact that they were rejecting God himself. To reject those sent by Jesus is to reject Jesus, and to reject God. The wonderfully encouraging idea in this is that it also means that by accepting those sent by Jesus, you are accepting God.

March 19 - Regular People

Luke 10:1-12

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. (Luke 10:1 ESV)

Jesus selected seventy-two people from among those following him. Wait, what? What about those twelve apostle guys? Well, yeah. He had those guys too. There was probably some overlap. But Jesus took thirty-six pairs of followers and commissioned them to go ahead of him. They went into the towns and villages and healed the sick, cast out demons, and preached the powerful approach of the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, they did what Jesus did.

It's a really cool and powerful example to me. Jesus picked regular people. Not the religious types he frequently had conflict with. He then sent them into the places that he himself was planning to go and had them begin to do the very thing he was planning to do when he eventually got there. That's pretty incredible.

Jesus picks regular people. He uses regular folks. It's easy in America to point to super mega sized churches and their leaders as the modern rockstars of the faith. No doubt about it, many of them are doing astounding things in their communities. But I love the idea that Jesus held a massive schoolyard pick one day and chose seventy-two regular dudes to go do what he was about to do.

That all has a pretty clear implication to me about what we should be up to. We should be going to places and taking about Jesus. We should share his message, his love, and his power in those places. We should pray for the sick. We should believe Jesus to make the difference. We should preach the Kingdom of Heaven. We should believe Jesus to invite them to be a part.

March 18 - Rest

Read: Matthew 11:25-27

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 ESV)

We live in a face paced world. It is an age of instant gratification, rapid information, and rampant busyness. We pack our schedules full to bursting, and often with necessary things, but when do we rest?

Jesus spoke to the crowds about rest. He offered them rest from the insane nonsense that had been heaped upon them by the religious elite. He offered them change.

We need that same kind of change today. Sometimes it's from our own stupidity. Sometimes we are looking for a rest from the craziness that comes into our lifes from others. Jesus is a place we can go to and find rest. Whether it is an actual change in our schedule, or it is a total change of lifestyle—Christ is compelling us to see that our way leads to burdens and the broken backs of heavy living. He, in turn, offers rest. In the midst of this remarkably busy season of ministry a little rest sounds pretty good right about now.

March 17 - The Reason

Read: Mark 6:7-13

And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. (Mark 6:13 ESV)

I never really understood the reasoning for anointing people with oil when you're praying for them. But I didn't have to completely understand it. Jesus told his disciples to do it, they obeyed, and people were healed. Honestly, that's all the reasoning I really need.

Do you ever feel like there are things about this faith life that you don't know the reason for? If you're like me you probably think that way pretty often. Generally I am just crazy enough to believe that everything has a reason and a purpose. I am perplexed at some of the things in life that seem to be reasonless. Still, there are others who's reasons seem ridiculous.

What about your reason? If Jesus had a reason for teaching his disciples to anoint with oil he must have had a reason for most of the things he did. I certainly don't believe that he was bouncing around the Galilean countryside behaving at random. No, he had a reason for everything because he was sent with purpose. He ministered with purpose. He healed with purpose. He died with purpose. And behind every purpose there is a reason.

March 16 - Say and Do

Read: Luke 9:1-6

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. (Luke 9:1, 2 ESV)

Jesus gave them power and authority. The disciples became his ambassadors. They became his representatives everywhere they went. Not just in name either. He gave them authority, but also the power to back it up.

Everywhere that these men were to go they were to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel. And then to demonstrate that truth they were commanded to perform miracles. They would say something, and then they would do something that would demonstrate the legitimacy of their statements.

When we speak of Jesus do we offer action that shows the truth of our convictions? Shouldn't we? Christianity is not just about checking off a list of beliefs. It is also more than just running out and acting out of altruism. The Christ followers life is a balance of both. It is about proclamation and demonstration. It is saying and doing.

To fully embrace life as a disciple of Jesus is to embrace the power and authority Jesus gives us. That means saying who Jesus is to you, and then demonstrating the same thing.

March 15 - The Call

Read: Mark 3:13, 16-19

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. (Mark 3:13 ESV)

Growing up the word calling was used as a part of normative church vernacular. That's a churchy way of saying destiny. It was generally phrased as either a question such as What is your calling? Or a statement like I am called to (insert career description).

It took a long time for me to understand what exactly that meant for my life. I began my Christian life at a young age, and understood pretty early on that there was some kind of bigger plan for my life than the things I daydreamed about. It wasn't until nearly ten years later that I began active vocational full time ministry.

I remember the decision to step into this life as a career minister. I remember feeling the weight of the Holy Spirit and the way it felt to feel God speak that into my heart. It wasn't so much a mountain top experience for me. There was nothing overly sensational. I didn't hear Christ's voice ring out from a mountain like the disciples did. It was a lot more like a felt whisper urging me in my soul.

Looking back over a decade later I wonder what my life might have become had I not listened and obeyed the Call. Even the remote possibility of it nearly brings me to tears. The idea of it is deeply troubling and sad because of the incredible joy I have experienced in ministry. On the other hand, I feel tears of complete gladness. I am glad than when Jesus whispered the Call into my soul that I answered. I am glad I came to him, not just for forgiveness, not just for an eternal destination in the after life. I am glad I came to Jesus when he called so that in him I would find a purpose, passion, and plan. In him I became a disciple and a discipler.

What about your Call? Did Jesus say something? Have you quieted your life enough to even hear or does the busyness of it all drown out the sound of his voice?

March 14 - All Night

Read: Luke 6:12-16

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12 ESV)

Jesus had a big decision to make: Out of all the people that had started following him, who would become his apostles? To help him choose he did what we frequently see him do, he prayed. It wasn't a short prayer. It was a token acknowledgement of a scenario that was too large for him. It was an earnest search for guidance.

In the past my wife and I had a student that would ask to use our guest room as a place of prayer at night so as not to disturb his roommate. I nearly always obliged as these requests always came in the midst of a pressing situation in his life. In fact I have always admired his willingness to spend such a long time seeking God's guidance in the meaningful matters of life, as well as his faith in believing that he can hear from the Father in a way that is practical enough to act upon.

That's what Jesus did on the mountain that night. He prayed for an urgent need. He deliberated in the Spirit for quite a long time. He allowed God to guide him in a specific direction and he acted upon it.

What would it take for us to pray like that? I have to admit I rarely spend that kind of time in deliberate prayer. What kind of difference would it make in our decision making? When faced with life's tough choices would it make those choices easier? Perhaps not, but I believe that even in the most difficult of situations it would afford a measure of peace.

March 13 - Receivers

Read: Matthew 10: 40-42

Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. (Matthew 10:40 ESV)

Cell phone reception can get pretty spotty in the rural mountains I frequent. It has made for a few interesting stories over the years. Missed or mistaken words have created some interesting problems because reception, either actual or perceived, is a crucial element of conversation.

Christians are called that because they are "Christ-like" or at least they are supposed to be. People who bear the title are supposed to also bear the weight and responsibility of actually being authentic representatives of Christ to a world in desperate need of him.

So how are we representing? How are people receiving us?

I find it interesting that the bible paints an incredibly clear picture of Jesus being this guy who was really well received. I know I can't really compare on the reception scale. Why? What are we doing as his representatives to this world that is so completely off-putting to people? Is it pride? Arrogance?

Sure, some people completely confuse the issue. They are missing key parts of what is being said or shown. It is because they are not properly receiving. Their reception is bad. But sometimes those of us who should understand Jesus the best, do the poorest job of demonstrating him to those in our path. My prayer for you and I today is that what we say and do would be received as evidence for the authentic awesomeness of Christ.

March 12 - Lose to Find

Read: Matthew 10:34-39

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39 ESV)

The Christian life can at times seem full of paradoxical things. One such paradox is the notion of losing life and finding life. Jesus was pretty clear. If you think you have found your life, you're lost, but if you're willing to let go of everything...only then will you really begin to live.

This is the kind of life he invites us into. To live, love, and serve him with everything. That in this process we abandon previous notions of what we thought our life was supposed to look like, and instead offer ourselves as a willing servant to be used for his purposes.

I am thirty two years old and rarely feel like I have it all figured out. I am solid in my relationship with God. That is, I am committed to continually growing in affection and obedience toward God. Even in that I find that I certainly never seem to know exactly what's going on in life every step of the way. Much of it often still seems a mystery.

It's actually when I begin to embrace the mystery of God that I usually grow the most in Him. Why? Because when I'm willing to place my faith in Jesus and follow where he leads I am willing to walk toward or away from anything. In those moments I am willing to lose the comfort and security of life to chase him completely. It's when you wake up thinking and acting like you have it all figured our that you are really in trouble. Which side of that coin do you find yourself on today?