The Gift Poured Out April 11

Isaiah 53:4-11 (NIRV).
 
He suffered the things we should have suffered. He took on himself the pain that should have been ours. But we thought God was punishing him. We thought God was wounding him and making him suffer.
 
But the servant was pierced because we had sinned. He was crushed because we had done what was evil. He was punished to make us whole again. His wounds have healed us.
 
All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us.
 
He was treated badly and made to suffer. But he didn’t open his mouth. He was led away like a lamb to be killed. Sheep are silent while their wool is being cut off. In the same way, he didn’t open his mouth. He was arrested and sentenced to death. Then he was taken away. He was cut off from this life.
 
He was punished for the sins of my people. Who among those who were living at that time
tried to stop what was happening? He was given a grave with those who were evil. But his body was buried in the tomb of a rich man.
 
He was killed even though he hadn’t harmed anyone. And he had never lied to anyone. The Lord says, “It was my plan to crush him and cause him to suffer. I made his life an offering to pay for sin.
 
But he will see all his children after him. In fact, he will continue to live. My plan will be brought about through him. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life. And he will be satisfied. (Isaiah 53:4-11)
 
Amazingly, these words from Isaiah were written about Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth to live, die, and be raised from the dead. Yet they perfectly describe the details of The Gift, Jesus being poured out to rescue you and me from the certain eternal death and separation from God that we were trapped in because of our sin. “All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own way. And the Lord has placed on his servant the sins of all of us.” (Verse 6) All of humanity needs the Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
Everything about God and His Word (the Bible) is miraculous and to be taken seriously. God shows us His heart, His plan, and the way He has provided for us to live with Him now and forever through His Word. “But the servant was pierced because we had sinned. He was crushed because we had done what was evil. He was punished to make us whole again. His wounds have healed us.” (Verse 5) The Gift, right here, pouring Himself out for us to be healed, forgiven, and filled with peace. Will you receive The Gift right now? Oh how Jesus loves you!

 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

Oh Jesus! My heart is so full of the deepest gratitude for Your sacrificial love that drove You to the cross to die in such pain and agony for me. Thank You that, even though You lived a perfect and sinless life, You allowed all of our sin to be thrust upon You as You were *assigned a grave with the wicked.* How can I do anything right now with this knowledge filling my heart, but bow down my life, surrendered completely to You everyday that I am given the gift of life here on this earth? Oh God, come and help me pour out my life as worship before You because You have poured out Your life for me!



The Gift Poured Out April 10

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20  

 

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:24
 
Do you belong to Jesus? Are you living in the Son of God? Are you remaining in His love? When we choose to receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we belong to Him, we live in Him, and are *called* by Him to obediently follow His example found in Philippians 2:8 – He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
 
Of course, our death on the cross isn’t on a physical cross like Jesus’ death was. However, we are called, just the same, to follow our Savior’s example here. God’s ways are always opposite of our human ways of being and thinking. Jesus, God on earth living as a human, didn’t live into His human passions and desires, but gave them up to be obedient to His Father, obedient to death – even death on a cross.
 
We are not *called* to simply coast through this life, chasing after our own selfish dreams, passions, and desires, while enjoying the comfort of our sins being forgiven, and enjoying the hope of living with God forever. No! God has so much more for us, His children.
 
Jesus *called* us to live an abundant life, which only comes when we willingly lay down our life, like He did. When we give up our passions and desires, there’s room for Jesus to fill us up with His passions and desires. This is when we see as God sees and we think as God thinks. Life becomes invigorating and we begin to actively pour out our life, showing others the way to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, helping those in need, giving up what we want for what God wants. Our focus becomes bringing God honor and glory and bringing as many people as we can into a relationship with God, adding fruit to His Kingdom! This adventurous way of living for God brings us a deep and fulfilling sense purpose that chasing our own dreams, passions, and desires never, ever could. When we give up our life, crucify our passions and desires, we enter into the abundantly blessed life that only obedience to God can bring.
 

Today’s Verses

 

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20  
 

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:24
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer


Oh God, Your ways are so different than my ways. I am desperate for You to come and teach me Your ways of living. I want the abundant, adventurous life You have planned for me. So, I pray that You will come and replace my dreams, passions, and desires with Your dreams, passions, and desires. When I start slipping into my own way of living, come close and speak to my heart, remind me of what my true purpose on this earth is. Help me pour out my life as worship before You! Help me lead others into a relationship with You. I choose to lay my life down, as Jesus did, so I can participate with You in the abundant life You have planned for me today!


The Gift Poured Out April 9

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

John 15:9-14

 

Jesus laid His life down for us, His friends. Jesus demonstrated the greatest, deepest, and most perfect love there is when He died on the cross for us. He didn’t hold anything back, Jesus gave up everything for you and for me. But He didn’t stop there. Jesus, very clearly, shows us how to live a life that is filled up to overflowing with His love and joy each and every day of our lives in today’s verses.
 
“Remain!” Jesus walked on this earth remaining in His Father’s love by keeping His Father’s commands. The Father sent Jesus to the earth to fulfill a very specific purpose, to be the sacrifice that would bring His children back into an intimate relationship with Him. Philippians 2:8, from yesterday, says, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Jesus walked in relationship with the Father, He obeyed the Father, and fulfilled His purpose and His joy is complete!
 
In today’s verses, Jesus is teaching us to live the way He lived while He was on this earth. He lived the example, showing us how to remain in His love, by keeping His commands, obeying His teachings, and walking in relationship with God, just as He did. What is the command in these verses? “Love each other as I have loved you.” Jesus is teaching us to live selfless lives, sacrificially pouring out His love into all the people He brings into our lives. When we let go of our self-centered nature and love selflessly, not with our love, but with the love of Christ, Jesus blesses us by pouring His joy, a complete joy, into our hearts. What a beautiful way to live!
 
I hear many people who don’t live in relationship with the Father talking about hoping to get into Heaven because they love people. They are deceived into thinking it’s all about their love. Loving others doesn’t bring us into a relationship with God. In John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” It’s only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we come into the Father’s love. Then we choose to keep God’s commands, allowing Him to show us how He created us to live. This is how we remain in His beautiful love and then His joy fills up our hearts. It’s all about God’s love flowing into us and then out through us to others. This is only accomplished through our personal relationship with God.
 

Today’s Verses

 

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

John 15:9-14
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

 
Thank You for loving me so much that You laid Your life down to save me. Thank You for setting the example of selflessly loving others while You were here on earth. Change my heart to love sacrificially like You did, Jesus. Help me love my enemies and the people I don’t feel like loving. I want to live my life in obedience to the Father and remain safely tucked away in Your love. Show me what needs to change and help me change it. Come and fill my heart to overflowing with Your complete joy and love as I walk with You.


The Gift Poured Out April 8

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8
 
Instead of using His, “God Nature,” to His advantage, Jesus chose to make Himself nothing. Jesus chose to take on the nature of a servant and come to earth in the form of the humans that He created. Jesus chose to, “Make Himself nothing,” so that the Father’s glory would be revealed, but also so that we could come back into a close relationship with the Father.
 
Relationship! That’s the lens everything comes through here. Jesus showed us how to let go of our prideful nature, by letting go of His God Nature. He demonstrated how to take on the nature of a servant by serving and loving the people in His life while He walked on this earth so that we would know how to love and serve the people who come into our lives. Jesus set the example of being obedient to the Father, “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!”
 
It’s only through our relationship with God that we are enabled to follow the examples of Jesus in these verses and put on the humble, servant, and obedient mindset of Jesus Christ within our relationships. Again, God is commanding us to do something we cannot do on our own, so that we can’t boast. It’s only through His Spirit at work in us, filling us up, that we can truly let go of our pride and clothe ourselves with humility toward the people in our lives. But when we do, our relationships become deeper, more fulfilling, and protected. God’s way of living always brings us to a place where we are living an abundantly blessed life. I’ve turned the following verses into a prayer that I pray daily, asking God to help me live with the mindset of Christ in my relationships.
 
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5b, 6) Let’s pray today, being inspired by God’s Word.
 

Today’s Verses

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

Oh God, help me humble myself under Your might hand so that I can be clothed with the humility of Christ as I interact with the people in my life. Enable me, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to let go of my prideful nature. Replace my prideful heart with Christ’s humble heart. Help me live through the lens of humbly serving those around me with Christ’s love. Make me aware of the traps that Satan sets to pull me back into my prideful way of living. Help me obediently lay down my pride, move past the snare, and continue loving people with a humble heart. Thank You!



The Gift Poured Out April 7

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Romans 8:34

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 4:15
 
Jesus does not condemn us! He gently, continually calls to us to come and follow Him. Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses because He lived and died in the weakened state of being human! Over the past week we’ve been reading about several broken and imperfect people who encountered Jesus as He walked on our earth. The rich young man, who chose to keep his earthly treasure instead of following Jesus. Judas Iscariot who betrayed his friend, Jesus. Mary who was filled with evil spirits, until Jesus freed her. Peter who waffled from being “Peter the Brave” to “Peter the Scared.” Finally, Thomas who chose to say, “Unless I see, I will not believe.” Jesus showed great love and compassion to each of these people. He didn’t condemn them for their weaknesses and failures. He invited them into relationship, He washed their feet, He freed them, He lovingly warned them and taught them. They made the choice to either follow Jesus or walk away from Jesus.
 
Now it’s our turn. We’re the broken and imperfect people, living in the weaknesses of our human nature. We’ve been scarred by our failures, wounded by people, and we’ve fallen into sin as we have given into temptation. Just like the 5 people we’ve been reading about, it’s up to us. Are we going to choose to run to Jesus, or are we going to walk away from Him? That’s the question that needs to be answered.
 
God knows, whether we know it or not, that we need to be saved! He walked among us and was tempted by Satan as He lived here on earth, but He did not sin like we do. Our High Priest, Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses. He relates to us because He lived and died as one of us. Because Jesus didn’t sin, because He died and rose again, He conquered sin and death! In Christ Jesus we also conquer sin and death! Without Jesus we live into sin and death, we have no hope of eternity with God.
 
But when we choose Jesus, we come into relationship with the High Priest Who is at the right hand of God, interceding for us. He is advocating for us, fighting for us! Because of Jesus, we become more than conquerors over sin and eternal death! We live victoriously over sin because Jesus is the expert Who lived a sinless life! He helps us overcome the sin that so easily traps us! He understands, Jesus gets how difficult it is for us down here, because He walked in our shoes. Jesus is the only hope and help we have! Jesus is the only hope and help we need.
 

Today’s Verses

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Romans 8:34

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 4:15

 

Scripture Inspired Prayer


Thank You for being my Perfect, Sinless sacrifice! Thank You for being my Empathetic, Powerful High Priest Who conquered sin and death. Thank You for Your obedience to the Father, becoming the only One who lived a sinless life. I am so very grateful that You, Jesus understand me because You were human once. Thank You for being my loving Savior, Who doesn’t condemn, but draws me close to Your heart, whispering Your love, Your peace, and Your joy into my heart. Empower me to live my life for You, with You, and in You!


The Gift Poured Out April 6

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 20:24-28
 
In his weakness, after hearing the disciples excitedly proclaim that they had seen Jesus, Thomas made the choice, “Unless I see…., I will not believe.”
 
But what was Jesus’ response to Thomas’ doubts? “Jesus came.” Jesus showed Thomas such beautiful compassion, gentleness, patience, and kindness by coming right over to Thomas in all of HIs glory. Jesus then invited Thomas to touch His scars. Jesus invited Thomas to reach out and touch His side.
 
Even though Thomas’ doubts were not pleasing to God, Jesus came and met him where he was. Jesus walked right into the middle of Thomas’ weak faith and gave him the tangible evidence that he demanded. Jesus then encouraged Thomas with the words, “Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas’ response to Jesus was complete and total surrender, “My Lord and my God!”
 
Jesus never changes. Again and again, just like Jesus walked right into the middle of Thomas’ weakness and failure, Jesus walks right into the middle of our weaknesses and failures in all of His glory. He comes, filled with the same beautiful compassion, gentleness, patience, and kindness that He brought to Thomas. His message is the same to us, “Stop doubting and believe.”
 
Are you believing the lie that you’re stuck in a failure? “Stop doubting and believe!” Run to Jesus, your Lord and your God, again and ask for forgiveness. The truth is that He will forgive you each and every time you fail Him, each and every time you fall into that same old sin. His grace never, ever fails or ends.
 
Are you living into your weaknesses, instead of relying on God’s strength? Run to Jesus, your Lord and your God, again asking Him to be strong where you are weak. This brings Him great glory! It becomes about His power in you, not your weakness. Let Him fill you up to overflowing with, “That same power that raised Christ from the dead.” Let’s pray and listen to God today and begin living victorious, faith filled lives, keeping our eyes on Jesus!
 

Today’s Verses

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 20:24-28
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer


Jesus, my Lord and my God I need You, right now in this moment, to come to me like You came to Thomas. I need Your complete and full forgiveness to wash me clean. Thank You! Help me stop doubting and instead, start believing that Your forgiveness is for me, and that Your forgiveness never ends. Christ Jesus come and fill up all of my many, many weaknesses with Your power and strength so that I am walking in You and You’re walking in me. Help me keep my eyes off of my weaknesses. Enable me to turn my focus onto You instead. You are my God! You are my Lord! You are my Savior! Thank You for Your gentle restoration, Your loving patience and kindness that brings me back into intimacy with You again and again.


The Gift Poured Out April 5

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

John 20:11-16

 

During Jesus’ ministry He healed many people both spiritually and physically. Mary, (called Magdalene because of where she was from) who is in today’s verses, was one whom Jesus healed spiritually.
 
Luke 8:1b-2 The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out.
 
Before Jesus, Mary was a mess. She was filled with seven demons, ruled by Satan, she was filled with evil. All of that changed in an instant when Jesus spoke, commanding the demons to come out of her. She was clean, free, and so grateful! Jesus became her Savior and her Lord that wonderful day that she was miraculously released from the hold of Satan. Mary followed Jesus, walked with Him, and was taught by Him. Her life became peaceful and meaningful because of Jesus.
 
Now we find Mary outside of Jesus’ tomb, weeping, filled with grief after watching her Lord and Savior, Jesus dying on the cross. Mary’s world has fallen apart. Once more she’s in a desperate place. Isn’t it beautiful? Mary is set free again, this time from her grief, when Jesus speaks her name, “Mary.” Instantly Mary recognizes Jesus, and He’s alive! He’s ALIVE! This truth comes flooding into Mary’s heart when Jesus calls to her personally by name. How does Mary respond to Jesus when He calls her? “She turned toward Him.” As Mary turns toward Jesus, immediately her hope is restored and joy replaces grief!
 
Just like Mary, as we live this life, we find ourselves living in peaceful and meaningful times. Suddenly, we’re in a desperate place, everything in our world has fallen apart. Only Jesus can restore our hope. Only Jesus can fill us with joy to replace the grief.
 
Our Holy God speaks to us, just like He spoke to Mary by the tomb. Our Savior calls us by name, just like He called to Mary during her suffering. Slow down and turn toward Jesus, as Mary did, and ask Him to speak His comfort, peace, hope, joy, and love into your heart. He will do it because He loves you.
 

Today’s Verses

 

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

John 20:11-16

Scripture Inspired Prayer

 
Thank You for setting me free from sin and death, like you did Mary. Thank You for speaking to me in personal ways. Change my heart so that I learn to always turn toward You, Jesus when You speak to me. Forgive me for the times I’ve chosen to ignore You. You are alive and living in my heart, and I am so grateful that I never, ever have to be separated from You and Your powerful love! This knowledge brings me great joy, holy hope, and wonderful peace. Jesus come and flood my heart again and again with Your loving voice, speaking Your truth into, and over my life all day, every day! I truly love You with my whole heart!


The Gift Poured Out April 3

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas,  one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
 
When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest,  cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!”  And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Luke 22:47- 51
 
Such confusion! Such pain! Such anger! The disciples, who’d walked with, and been taught by Jesus for the past three years, still didn’t understand. Their eyes couldn’t see, “The Great Rescue Plan,” yet. So, out of their humanness they wanted to take matters into their own hands and fight for Jesus! In fact, one of them did just that and cut off the servant’s ear.
 
Our natural response is to sit back and judge the disciples for their natural response in this situation. We know the whole story after it was played out. But remember, the disciples were right in the middle of their story. So before we judge, let’s consider our response when we’re right in the middle of our story and things are not going as we had planned, when the hard times hit us, when we’re left in confusion, anger, and pain. If we’re not careful we’ll let our humanness take over and respond in a similar way as the disciples did, taking matters into our own hands.
 
Over and over in the Bible we’re encouraged to, “keep our eyes on Jesus,” not the circumstances that surround us. God’s plan for Jesus was for Him to walk through the pain, suffering, and death He was about to go through because it was the only way for us to be fully restored to Him. It was for our good, even though looking through human eyes, it was something horrendous that must be stopped no matter the cost.
 
Keeping our eyes on Jesus in the middle of the disciple’s story, what do we see? We see gentle correction after the disciple cut off the servant’s ear when Jesus spoke, “No more of this.” We also see mercy and grace being poured out in the midst of suffering. Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed him.As we keep our eyes on Jesus in the middle of our story, we will experience the same gentle correction, mercy and grace poured out into our lives through whatever circumstances come into our story. God will use the positive and the bad situations for our good, if we keep our eyes on Jesus and keep our hearts open to God.
 

Today’s Verse

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas,  one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
 
When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”  And one of them struck the servant of the high priest,  cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!”  And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Luke 22:47- 51
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

 
Jesus, it’s so encouraging to see Your gentle correction given to Your imperfect disciples, and Your grace and mercy poured out in healing one of Your enemies in today’s verses. You are trustworthy, good and kind! Help me learn to keep my eyes on You, Jesus as I walk through the variety of circumstances that come into my story. Please come and teach me Your way so I can rely on Your faithfulness always and not on my own human understanding of things. As I go through hardships fill me up with Your courage and strength, and come close with the comfort of Your love.


The Gift Poured Out April 2

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew 26:14-16


He (Jesus) got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

John 13:4-5

Yesterday we found a young man walking away from Jesus, rejecting Him. Today we find a friend betraying Jesus. Judas walked with Jesus on many journeys, ate and visited with Jesus, he was His friend, one of the chosen twelve. Yet, Judas allowed evil to come into his heart, and betrayed Jesus. Jesus knew that Judas was betraying him.
 
How did Jesus respond to His friend betraying Him? Jesus, God, Creator of the universe, knelt down before Judas and washed His filthy feet. Jesus’ humble attitude before His betrayer is beautiful, and is a powerful demonstration of Who our Holy God is. He is humble, unconditionally loving, kind, and gentle. Everything Jesus did while walking on this earth had a purpose.
 

Later that evening, Jesus said, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:12 – 17

Jesus set this bar really, really high! As followers of Christ, this is the standard Jesus has set for us. As always, Jesus established a way of living that is impossible for us to attain without the help of the Holy Spirit. It is not within our human nature to humbly kneel before people who betray us and figuratively wash their feet. Still, this is what’s expected of us.
 

The only way we live following Christ’s example of humility and unconditional love is by falling at His feet daily, asking Him to take away our pride, desires, and passions, and replace them with the Holy Spirit’s humbleness, desires, and passions. He will do this in our hearts every single day so we can walk through our day, touching people’s lives, demonstrating the humbleness and unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

Today’s Verses

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. Matthew 26:14-16


He (Jesus) got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

 John 13:4-5

Scripture Inspired Prayer

 
Jesus, Thank You for setting the example for such an impossible way of living for me. If it were possible, I’d be doing it with my own strength and in my own way. But, You have set this bar so high I know I can’t live this way without relying on You to do it in me and through me. So, I invite You to come into my heart, replace my pride with Your humbleness, replace my harshness with Your gentleness, replace my hatred with Your unconditional love, and replace my desires and passions with the desires and passions of the Holy Spirt! Enable me to love all people with Your love so they see You in me today.


The Gift Poured Out April 1

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these (God’s commandments)  I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him.  
“One thing you lack,” he said.  “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and

you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad,
 because he had great wealth.

 John 10:20-22
 
“Jesus looked at him and loved him.” It’s the same for you. Jesus sees you, right where you are in your “mess of a life,” or in your “well put together life.” He sees you and He loves you! Just as Jesus called this young man to come and follow Him, He’s calling you, He’s calling me because He loves us.  
 
This young man was living a good life, keeping all of God’s commandments. He was a good person. But Jesus looked deeply into this man’s heart and saw the “thing” blocking him from moving from “being just a good person” into an “intimate relationship” with God. So in His loving mercy Jesus revealed that “thing” to this young man. At that moment the young man chose the “thing” instead of Jesus. He walked away from Jesus, feeling sad.   Jesus calls us away from anything that we are holding onto as more important than Him. Not because He’s being mean or unfair, but because He sees us and loves us. He knows that we cannot experience the beautiful, intimate life with Him that He has planned for us when there is even one thing held as more important than Him in our hearts.  
 

Each and every time God has called me to give up something so I can move closer to Him, it has been hard and even painful. But every single time, as I’ve given that thing away, the gift, the treasure of intimacy with God I’ve received in return has caused that “thing” I once held so dear to my heart to become like sawdust in my mouth, of no value or worth whatsoever. I’ve been able to see it as the trap it was instead of as the treasure I thought it was. Today, let’s ask God to show us anything that is getting in the way of our intimate relationship with Him.  

Today’s Verse

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these (God’s commandments)  I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him.  
“One thing you lack,” he said.  “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and

you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad,
 because he had great wealth.

 John 10:20-22

 

 

Turning Scripture into Prayer

God I am so grateful that You are able to see all of my hidden stuff, and that You love me in spite of it all. I don’t want to follow the example of the young man in today’s verses. When you show me the “thing” You know I need to give away, help me obey so I can move in closer, and follow You with my whole heart. Now, Jesus I invite You to come and show me if there is something I am holding more dear to my heart than You. (pause and listen) Thank You. Show me how to release this, help me release it, so I can move in closer to You. So I can follow You with my whole, undivided heart. Thank You!