Faithfully Yours Forever

Passage: John 11:28-37
Verse: John 11:36b (NIV 2011)
“See how he loved him!”

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus wept with Mary about the death of her brother, Lazarus.  Because Jesus wept, many of the Jews noted Jesus’ love for Lazarus, while other Jews wondered why Jesus had not chosen to miraculously save him.  I wonder what those Jews thought when Jesus, only a few moments later, raised Lazarus from the dead.  Actually, Scripture tells us.  Many chose to believe in Jesus, while others went to report the event to the religious leaders in the temple.  In John 11:48 we read of the religious leaders’ concerns.  They said, “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”  Who would not want someone to believe in Jesus?  What would possess them to fear the Roman’s more than they feared God? 

May we keep our eyes focused on the things from above.  May we be reminded that we, as Christians, are not of this world.  Let us not be conformed to the things of this world, but instead be transformed into the likeness of Jesus, the Christ.  Let us also remember, we have a heavenly home and a spiritual connection that transcends the limits of this physical world.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: John 11:17-27
Verse: John 11:25-26 (NIV 2011)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus said this to Martha, one of Lazarus’ sisters, just before He raised Lazarus from the dead.  What a miraculous event it must have been!  The crowd that had gathered to comfort Mary and Martha, after Lazarus’ death, must have been truly amazed!  As the anticipation of Easter or Resurrection Sunday builds, may we intimately sense the redemptive power of the work that Jesus did for us upon the cross.  May we have a deeper appreciation for what it means to lay down our life for the glory of God and to the benefit of others.  May we find the needed courage, faith, and desire to lay down our lives and really follow Jesus.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Today is Palm Sunday.  Palm Sunday traditionally marks the beginning of Holy Week.  Zechariah prophesies of the triumphal entry of Jesus, our King, into Jerusalem in Zechariah 9:9.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, many were gathering for the beginning of a weeklong celebration called the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  In John 12:13, it tells us that the crowd took palm branches and went out to meet him [Jesus], shouting,

“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

In addition, Palm Sunday is also referred to as Passion Sunday.  When we think of the word passion, we often think of an intense desire for, or love of, something.  However, when used in connection to Jesus and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, passion has a much more somber meaning.  The word comes from a Latin word, passio, meaning to suffer.  We should be reminded of the period of suffering, endured by Jesus, in between the Last Supper and His death on the cross.  While we may celebrate a triumphant entry of our King into Jerusalem, let us not forget the suffering that He endured for us.

Passage: John 10:40-42; 11:1-7
Verse: John 11:4b (NIV 2011)
“This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

This is the second time, recently, that we have read about something miraculously being done for the glory of God.  The first time was when we read about the man born blind.  One of Jesus’ disciples had asked who had sinned to cause this man to be blind, the blind man or the blind man’s parents.  Jesus said neither.  Instead, we learned that this had been done for God to be glorified through the work of His Son.  In the passage above, we read of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha.  Lazarus died, but was raised to new life by Jesus.  The written of death of Lazarus and the blindness of the man born blind were both used by God to demonstrate His power to heal and raise people from the dead.  May we recognize the miracles performed by God in our everyday lives, as well as those we may experience through extraordinary events.  When we witness such miracles, may we remember to give all the praise and glory to God.  In addition, may we look for opportunities to proclaim God’s glory and to share the glorious hope we have found through Christ.  (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Psalm 80:1-19
Verse: Psalm 80:19 (NIV 2011)
Restore us, LORD God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

The passage for today includes all of Psalm 80.  Oh, how the psalms can speak to us!  This psalm expresses what we, as believers in God, may feel from time to time.  We acknowledge what God has done for us by pulling us out of a pit and planting us on His solid ground.  We know we have been favored and blessed by God.  However, we wonder why He has placed us where we are.  We are faltering and feel unable to stand up under attacks from the outside.  At some point, we realize that God raised up Jesus, the Son of Man, to help us overcome our shortcomings.  We pray to be revived, restored, and to be saved.  May we trust in God to provide what we need.  May we believe in His infinite wisdom, grace, and mercy.  May we return to Him when we have strayed. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: Psalm 28:1-9
Verse: Psalm 28:7a (NIV 2011)
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

What a wonderful verse!  May we find needed comfort when we meditate upon the Word of God.  May we feed off of the strength that the Lord extends to us each day.  May we find protection under His outstretched arms.  May we truly trust in Him for all things, at all times.  May we forever praise Him.  In addition, when all is said and done, may I find My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: John 10:31-39
Verse: John 10:37 (NIV 2011)
Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.

We often read, in the Bible, how Jesus was all about doing the work of His heavenly Father.  In this passage, Jesus tells the religious leaders they can believe in Him because of His works.  In our earthly experiences, it is sometimes hard to know whom to believe.  By applying the same standard, as described in this passage, maybe we will know who is trustworthy and who is not.  In addition, may we believe in Jesus because of who He is… not needing to rely upon what He has actually done for us.  May we seek, just as Jesus did, to do the work of the our heavenly Father.  As we follow Jesus Christ’s example, may we be found worthy, through Christ, in the eyes of our heavenly Father. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: John 10:22-30
Verse: John 10:30 (NIV 2011)
I and the Father are one.

If we are looking to do the will of the Father, just as Jesus did, we need to look no farther than the examples and teachings of Jesus.  Building a relationship is about getting to know someone.  By design, we can know our heavenly Father better by getting to know Jesus – after all Jesus and the Father are one.  May we seek to know our heavenly Father better.  As we become more Christlike, may others note the similarities. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)

Passage: John 10:11-21
Verse: John 10:14 (NIV 2011)
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

A shepherd is responsible for the care of the flock.  The shepherd also guides the flock to safety when the flock is threatened.  As this caring relationship grows, between the flock and the shepherd, the flock begins to trust the shepherd more and more.  As the trust builds, the flock willingly listens to, and follows, the directions given to them by the shepherd.  May we look to Jesus, the good shepherd, for His provision, care, and protection.  May we trust Him to guide us in the big things, as well as the little things, we encounter in each and every day. (inspired by Reflecting God – Devotions for Holy Living, WordAction Publishing Company)