May 19 - Why Jesus

For nearly six months I've been writing daily devotions that I have come to call "A Year With Jesus". They are the result of a couple of years of devoted study to the Gospels, Old Testament prophecy, and New Testament letters. All of it is because of my deep devotion to Jesus. With all of the distractions in this life why choose Jesus? Some do not. Still others believe Jesus chooses you. I think the biblical authors actually reveal that it is a bit of both. But for my part why do I love, cherish, and serve Jesus?

I will say outright that I wish I could do better, but for what it's worth I try to give my life and service to the work of Christ. I do this because at the core of my being I believe that Jesus Christ was a first century carpenter, rabbi, missionary, preacher, and miracle worker. I believe he was, and is, the unique Son of God that all of the Bible points to. I believe he lived perfectly. Loved exquisitely. Suffered unjustly. And died, only to be raised to life.

In my heart I have come to believe that the resurrection of Jesus is the penultimate event of human history. It changes everything. It sure changed me.

May 18 - They Could Not

Read: Matthew 17:14-20

And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." (Matthew 17:16 ESV)

Jesus was well-known and highly regarded for his many miraculous deeds. People came from all over the region to be ministered to and healed by the Lord. Jesus even passed along that authority and power to his disciples. But for some reason they were unable to heal the epileptic.

It must have been an utterly defeating moment for the boy's parents. All of their hopes were riding on the disciples' willingness and ability to minister to their son. And they the disciples fell short. They could not do it.

How often do we fail those who are looking to us for answers? I know I do frequently. But the truth is that I just miss the mark sometimes. And usually my issue is the same as that of the disciples. Usually when I miss it, it is a faith problem.

Jesus said that with just the tiniest measure of authentic faith the impossible becomes probable. That is bewildering to say the least. It challenges us right at the root of the issue. Is the supernatural real? Jesus believed it was so. He believed that a true position of faith had the ability to change things.

Yes, I have failed. And will probably do so again. Someone will come to me needing prayer, counsel, or biblical instruction and I will let them down. I will do my best, and it won't be good enough. They will need more, and Jesus is there to meet their need. Because even when Christ's followers cannot, he most definitely can.

May 17 - On Water

Read: Matthew 14:22-32; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. (John 6:19 ESV)

Jesus' disciples saw and experienced things on a regular basis that were incredibly unique. They witnessed miracles, partook in the miraculous, and saw supernatural things happen frequently. So why were they frightened when he was walking on the water?

Think about the guys that followed Jesus. Many of them were fishermen. They were living in a time when travel by boat was extremely commonplace. They lived in a region near a large body of water. Not one of them had ever seen someone walk upon on the water before.

We see airplanes a lot. Sometimes we fly in them to get somewhere. They have become a large part of our logistical infrastructure. But, it would be almost unbelievable to personally see someone who was able to fly through the air under their own power. We are not mentally prepared for that.

In the same way Jesus' followers constantly struggled to come to terms with his frequent ability to bend, break, or supersede the normally static laws of nature. The supernatural can be alarming and jarring when you are so highly conditioned to ignore it as a possibility. Jesus lives, rules, and operates within both the natural and supernatural. He can and did work beyond physics and natural order because his authority is founded and collaborative with the same power and authority that wrought the incredible systematic truths of things like physics and biochemistry. Jesus' power would be terrifying if possessed by anyone other than the loving son of God.

May 16 - You Feed Them

Read: Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14

But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." (Luke 9:13 ESV)

Jesus was withdrawing to a secluded area to speak with his disciples following their return from being sent out to preach. But the crowds always learned where Jesus was, they always followed him, he always welcomed them, he always taught them, and he always healed them.

Jesus taught the people all day long. But the disciples were not as compassionate toward the crowds as Christ was. They wanted Jesus to send the people away. Jesus replied by commanding his followers to feed the crowds. Why did Jesus tell the apostles to feed the gathering? I think it was to force them to acknowledge their own inability, which they did.

When we position ourselves to acknowledge our inability, God will position us to be a conduit or agent for His immeasurable ability. When they recognized their weakness Jesus showed his power. When the apostles decided to obey is when the miraculous happened. Jesus satisfies those who realize their need for him. Jesus is always more than enough.

May 15 - Peace Speaker

Read: Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39 ESV)

I have been in a few terrifying storms. It kind of comes with the territory when you live in Arkansas. Still, I have never been in a storm that was so bad I feared for my life. I have also never been stuck out in open water during a storm. As such, it is pretty hard for me to imagine the kind of fear the disciples were experiencing. But, I have been through some pretty trying times in my life. And while I haven't experienced the kind of palpable fear produced by a literal storm, I have weathered a few stormy seasons. I have found myself fearing the precarious nature of my situation. I have found myself asking Jesus to save me from the storm.

Growing up my best friend's mom used to always sing this song talking about Jesus as the peace speaker. It was a beautiful song, but I never really understood the fullness of the words until late in my college career when I entered a very difficult season of life. Jesus was undoubtedly my peace speaker in those days. Even on the days when I was consumed or distracted by the violent environment of my troubles Jesus was working on my behalf. He was speaking peace into my life, into my future, and into my situation.

Looking back on those days now it is hard to imagine having made it through some of life's tough moments without being able to call upon the peace speaker. Like the disciples in the boat, it is reassuring to know that Jesus makes the difference. Also, like the disciples, I can't always understand what Jesus does; but I have found another kind of freedom in not being burdened with the selfish or prideful desire to want to. Jesus speaks peace into chaos and order into confusion. I hope that I can always listen.

May 14 - Rest in Jesus

Read: Matthew 11:28-30

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

Rural farm life is a very laborious lifestyle. There are tons of things that must consistently and regularly be done to keep the various animals and plants. It is taxing over time. It is hard but honest work.

Jesus was familiar with hard work. He grew up in the home of a carpenter. In all likelihood he was trained as a carpenter. What kind of labor was he talking about resting from?

Jesus was speaking to a people group who were being taxed, both literally and figuratively, at every angle. The Romans taxed them, their own king taxed them, and even the religious system, the Temple priests, taxed them. He was speaking to a group of people who were intimately familiar with the notion of working in vain.

The Jews strained under the yoke of an oppressively cruel occupying military force. They struggled beneath the inexhaustible appetite of a wicked royal dynasty. The one place that should have been their champion, the one place that should have offered answers, and a respite for their souls, was the Temple; but it was perhaps the heaviest yoke of all. The Temple had become such a horribly corrupt system of extortion and entrapment that the devout were enslaved to empty promises that brandished a ludicrous price tag. All of that sounds eerily familiar.

Jesus offered an alternative. He announced that he was the way to God. He demonstrated power and authority in keeping with that claim. And then he offered it free of charge. He offered rest. He offered change.

That sounds pretty good to me. I could use a rest like that. What about you?

May 13 - Gaining Brothers

Read: Matthew 18:15-20

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. (Matthew 18:15 ESV)

A lot of the language used in describing the early community of Christ followers was familial in nature. Brother and sister were words regularly used to refer to fellow believers. This is the kind of brother Jesus was speaking of.

There will be times in this life in which we find ourselves at odds with fellow believers. Usually it will be a difference of opinion or a misunderstanding, but there are also times when this tension will be a result of a moral failing. We have an obligation to address the sins of those we care about.

Too often in the Christian culture we paint sin as something incredibly easy to deal with, but the truth is that sin is anything but easy. Obviously we are supposed to take our sins before Christ as a matter of repentance and forgiveness. But what about dealing with them friend-to-friend and brother-to-brother?

Jesus advocated one-on-one confrontations. Upfront personal conversations are best. Sitting with someone and talking the issue out always reveals the honest nature of those involved. It cuts through the potential miscommunications and lays all of the cards on the table. Hopefully in a way that brings healing and restoration to the relationship, and points the one who has sinned toward redemption.

May 12 - The Last Days

Read: Luke 17:20-37

For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. (Luke 17:24 ESV)

Opinions on end times events are widely, and sometimes wildly, speculative. Many claim to hold the answers. Some of those making such claims may have answers. I don't. But Jesus had something to say about it too.

One thing I am pretty sure about concerning end times events is that Jesus will rule and reign an actual earthly kingdom. It will be time when the now spiritual kingdom of God will be made manifest as a literal earthly rule upon this world. Many varying beliefs exist concerning the events that will lead to this eventuality. Nearly all agree upon the notion of Jesus reigning and ruling a physical kingdom in conjunction with his spiritual kingdom.

For that to come it means that he will return in identifiable form. Whether it is in his physical presence, his heavenly being, or whatever we do not know. Perhaps he will reappear in a form we cannot really comprehend. But when he does return it will be evident. It will change things. He will light up the world with his sudden glorious appearance.

To experience the fullness of the kingdom of God, not just in spirit but in this world, would be a glorious thing. It will be a glorious thing. This is the hope that we have in Christ, not that we should be afraid of these future eventualities; but so that we might lovingly and longingly aspire to such a pristine moment in our future history—even while we go about this life in pursuit of him.

May 11 - Own Your Cross

Read: Luke 14:25-27

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27 ESV)

Today crosses are fashion statements. People were them casually with little regard for their semblance or significance. In Jesus' era the cross was a multifaceted symbol of shame, disgust, torture, cruelty, and wickedness. That's the kind of cross Jesus was taking about carrying.

In the years since Jesus said those words many many people have given their lives for their faith in Jesus. In the years to come more are certain to experience a similar fate. This isn't what Jesus wants for his people. I can't imagine that he enjoys seeing his followers suffer today any more than he did then. But it is possibility.

Even though fatal martyrdom is a pretty far removed threat from our comfortable American existence that doesn't mean we don't have our cross to carry. Your faith in Jesus will mark you. It will set you apart. Often if may label you the outcast. Some will think you a fool. You have to be ok with that. You may get passed up for a promotion because of your faith. You may get demoted because of your faith. You have to be ok with that.

Taking up cross doesn't mean that we go looking for ways to voluntarily end our lives for the gospel. It also doesn't mean that we neglect our obligations and responsibilities. Taking up your cross means that you are willing to willfully follow Jesus into whatever situation he leads you into regardless of the possible or probable outcome.

May 10 - Soul Value

Read: Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 8:31-38; Luke 9:23-26

For what can a man give in return for his soul? (Mark 8:37 ESV)

What is the going rate for your soul? That's the core of the question Jesus asked his followers. In other words, what are you willing to trade for your soul?

I remember the old stories of blues guitarists that used to talk about trading their soul to learn to play the guitar. Of course they seem far-fetched, fanciful, and silly, but the truth is that people are casually trading their soul for inconsequential things on a regular basis. Money, fame, pleasure, reputation, distraction, and security are all distractions that consume. They often seem harmless enough, and they are not all inherently evil things. However, by our nature we are creatures of worship and we love to invest ourselves (to often unhealthy levels) in things that are of minimal or no actual benefit.

Jesus values your soul. In truth it is who you really are. You may not feel valued. Society and circumstances may have tried to train or teach you that you have no value, but it is a lie. Jesus values you so much that he wants to spend eternity with you. And he even died to make that happen.

Know your worth. Know your value. And please know the one who values you most.

May 9 - Adulterous Divorce

Read: Matthew 19:1-12 & Mark 10:1-12

And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." (Matthew 19:9 ESV)

Divorce is a tragic thing. Staggering statistics demonstrate its far reaching affects on our culture. And many who call themselves Christians have been tragically victimized by the saddening reality of divorce.

Jesus was very candid in his opinion concerning divorce. He didn't like it. He taught that the only reason why divorce was allowed was because the ancient Jews had been so stubborn that they demanded Moses to allow it. And apparently he did.

Jesus' thoughts on divorce would make some people very uncomfortable today. H said that it was only acceptable in cases that involved sexual immorality. That's a stern standard that raises the bar considerably, but he didn't stop there. He actually went on to declare that anyone who married a divorced person was committing adultery. Ouch. A tough standard indeed.

May 8 - Heaven

Read: John 14:1-14

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:3 ESV)

Jesus promised that heaven is a reality. Not only that, but he declared his intentions to gather his followers to himself at some appointed time. That in calling the redeemed he would bring us to his heavenly home. He would and will take us to the place for which he departed physical time and space to prepare.

Heaven is for real. It is a place. As much as we can either imagine or fathom it is a location. It is somewhere than can be arrived at, departed from, and dwelled in. It is the capital city of the Kingdom of God. The headquarters of the heavenly host of angel armies. The garrison for God's servants, messengers, and gathered children. In short, heaven is home.

It isn't limbo. There isn't a waiting list. It isn't purgatory, it isn't hell, it isn't Texas, and it isn't the mall. It's not Jerusalem, Mecca, or near the Wailing Wall. The bible paints a picture of golden streets, pearly gates, and rainbow foundations. It is going to be a breathtaking display of grandeur that in truth we may barely even notice as we turn our fullest undiminished affections toward God.

There we will experience peace in full. Joy in earnest. Knowledge unadulterated. Love unfettered. Time unending. God Almighty. The Spirit in Fullness. And Jesus our Savior.

May 7 - Hell

Read: Mark 9:42-50 & John 14:1-3

"where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:48 ESV)

There have been countless sermons about hell. There have been books about hell. There are movies about hell. There are bumper stickers, songs, paintings, T-shirts, and a plethora of media portraying various imaginings of hell. I'm really and truly convinced that none of them get it entirely right.

Jesus spoke about it candidly. It is clearly a literal place. It is definitely not a place that you want to be. Jesus' descriptions of it make it out to sound truly horrendous.

But it is a place that is going to be a reality for anyone that has not entered into an authentic relationship with Jesus. Some people misguidedly trumpeted that information with a proud or arrogant kind of bravado, which is altogether sad. But that sadness is profoundly and shockingly eclipsed by the reality of hell. It is the reality of an eternal existence apart from God.

May 6 - At His Feet

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)

What is more important working for Jesus, or being with Jesus? That question lies at the heart of the story of Jesus' friends Mary and Martha. Martha was busy working to prepare hospitality for her guests while Mary simply sat at the Lord's feet to hear all that he had to say.

Jesus addressed the issue quite plainly. He said that Mary had chosen something wonderful. Se had elected to sit at his feet. She had chosen presence over productivity.

Sadly in today's culture we are obsessed with productivity. Accomplishment and busyness are the norm, but there is something especially wonderful about simply abiding in Jesus. Being with Jesus takes precedence.

This notion doesn't release from the responsibility of working hard to do the things God asks of us. It doesn't free us from the wonderful burden of Godly stewardship. In fact, actively pursuing God's presence will always set us up for success in other endeavors.

May 5 - Friends & Faith

Read: Matthew 9:2-8; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-26

And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. (Mark 2:3 ESV)

Story of Jesus and the paralytic is one of my favorites. Just imagine for a second if you'd been in Jesus' place. He was standing there teaching all of those people—it was a capacity crowd—and suddenly the roof opened up and a crippled man was lowered into the room.

Jesus had compassion on the paralytic. He healed him. He forgave his sins. But what if the paralytic's friends hadn't lowered him through the roof?

Who are you in this story? Certainly there have been times in my life when I was the paralytic. On many occasions I have found myself on the receiving end of an encounter with Jesus that was initiated by a loving friend. Sometimes that friend didn't even know what they did. Hopefully we all have friends like that. People who would tear apart houses and disturb the neighborhood, loved ones that would be willing to shake up the status quo a bit to initiate an encounter with the Prince of Peace.

What about all of those people around us that don't have anyone like that in their lives? There are millions, no billions, of people who need an encounter with Jesus. And every one of them needs at least one friend who would be willing to get out of their comfort zone and take them to Jesus.

Sometimes introducing someone to the King of Kings is about simply demonstrating an authentic lifestyle. At other times its about opening your mouth and sharing the truth. And then sometimes you just have to get them to a place where Jesus is. What will you do when the time comes to carry them to the One they need most of all?

May 4 - Fulfilling

Read: Luke 4:16-30

And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21 ESV)

Have you ever finished accomplishing or doing something and felt completely fulfilled? Fulfillment is a mysterious and elusive thing. Some people clamor and claw for it their entire lives.

I can't imagine being in the shoes of one of those people who had known Jesus his entire life and hearing him stand up to say that he was the fulfillment of Scripture. It probably would've been pretty tough to deal with. I mean the Bible basically says it was because the same crowd of people tried to kill him.

Jesus was unique. He was prophesied about. He was the Messiah. He was the fulfillment of Scripture. He found his fulfillment in Scripture.

While you and I are not quite as unique, special, or privileged as Jesus —we too can find our fulfillment in God's purpose for our lives. There is something we are supposed to do. There's something we are supposed to accomplish. There is something God has promised. Finding that, doing that, hearing that, will lead us to the kind of fulfillment we can only have in God.

May 3 - What Happened?

Read: Matthew 13:1-23

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. (Matthew 13:16 ESV)

Did it work? Did you hear the Word of God and respond to it? Did it take root in your life? These are all questions Jesus asked the crowds that had gathered to listen to him.

What do you do when you hear the word of the Lord? Sometimes it depends on what it is exactly that we hear. Some truths are just harder to accept and implement than others. Sometimes we get confused, sometimes we get stubborn, sometimes we get fearful, and yet God is hoping that what he says and speaks to our hearts will take route. He wants us to let it change our lives.

The word Jesus used to describe people who were affected and changed by God is blessed. If you see what He is trying to say you are blessed. If you hear what He is trying to say you are blessed. It's not always easy to obey. Sometimes we just don't understand. But when we do obey we are blessed.

May 2 - With Authority

Read: Matthew 7:28, 29

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28, 29 ESV)

At the conclusion of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount the people were astonished. Many theologians estimate the number of people in the crowd to have been around 20,000 people. They had just heard Jesus teach on a wealth of subjects.

He had challenged many of their previous assumptions. He had moved them beyond their blind obedience of the Pharisaic rules. He had called them to true repentance, a life of fruit, and a close walk with the Father. He had taught them to do good for the sake of doing good, to pray in earnest, and to pursue the Kingdom of God. The crowds listened.

He captivated them, not just because he was a great communicator, which I'm sure he was, but he had their heartfelt attention because he possessed authority. He could speak into each of those situations because he had experiential knowledge. He knew what he was talking about. He didn't second guess himself. He didn't cover his tracks by brandishing the heavy handed doctrines of men. He spoke with authority.

In the not so infrequent moments when my faith is sometimes tough to wrestle with, whether it be emotionally, intellectually, or spiritually, I find the authority of Jesus a steadfast reassurance. That he experienced, taught, lived, and even passed on some representation of his authority is humbling. We who would call ourselves followers of Christ have a lot to live up to. Fortunately we have the final there to enable us along the way.

May 1 - Foolish Man

Read: Matthew 7:24-27

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. (Matthew 7:26 ESV)

Several months ago a good friend of mine was speaking to a group of students and I'll never forget one of the things he said, "You can't build your house on the beach and get angry at the ocean."

Jesus offered wise counsel to those listening to his Sermon on the Mount. In our modern age we have the Bible, which is more truth than any one person could ever hope to absorb in a lifetime. But how do we respond to this truth? It is our response that makes the difference.

Accepting Jesus' words means more than lip service or empty academic acknowledgement. Recognizing the truth behind Christ's teaching means acting on his words. It is the sound, and spiritually responsible action.

Rejecting his words is total folly. Sadly it is the course many choose. Jesus described them as people who build their lives on shifting sands. They build empires of neglect on foundations of disaster. It is sad. it is their choice. It is foolish.

April 30 - Not Everyone

Read: Matthew 7:21-23

"Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21 ESV)

As Jesus neared the end of his popular Sermon on the Mount he began to caution his listeners regarding some of the things that might keep them from experiencing the fullness of the kingdom of God. He declared that simply stating you were his follower was not enough. He taught that your life must show evidence. He also taught that you must do God's will.

I lost count of the number of times I have taught on the subject of God's will a long time ago. It is a frequently discussed topic in my field of ministry. But college students are not alone in their desire to find and pursue God's will for their lives.

Usually when we consider the phrase "God's will" we infer the ideas of location and occupation. I don't think Jesus was speaking to these two things during the Sermon on the Mount. I actually think he was talking about God's will for us in terms of the way we think and act.

Does our way of thinking—and by that I mean our attitude, our discipline, contentment, and secret thought life; do these things match up with what God desires for us? That's a tall order. We really can't do it, but I think the point Jesus was making is that he is asking us to try, and desiring for us to lean on him for help to do it. God's will in this sense is his desire for us to want him. His desire for us to worship him, and him alone.