Monday, March 31 – “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) Your actions will always reveal who you are. Who is Jesus, based on his actions? The Savior of all of us sinners, separated from God. Jesus didn’t come to save the righteous, the rich and famous, the educated, the refined or the religious. Jesus came to save everyone who was separated from God because of sin. In other words – all of us!
Tuesday, April 1 – “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.” (Matthew 9:10) This was no April Fool’s joke. Jesus made it a habit to hang out with the people who both needed him and wanted to be with him. Which, in turn, made the religious leaders of his day very angry. They were offended that Jesus wasn’t hanging out with them. Yet, unlike the tax collectors and the sinners, the religious leaders neither felt they needed Jesus or had any desire to be with Jesus.
Wednesday, April 2 – “All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’” (Luke 19:7) To mutter means “to utter words indistinctly or in a low tone, often as if talking to oneself; murmur.” The people’s self-talk wasn’t a question of inquiry. The people didn’t ponder why Jesus went to be a quest of a sinner, which would leave the door open to transformation. They simply judged Jesus, slamming the door on any chance of transformation. Pay attention to your muttering.
Thursday, April 3 – “And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.” (Matthew 18:13) Jesus’ teaching that God pursues the lost sheep (you and me) is the most revolutionary idea of Christianity. In Jesus’ day the main teaching was that God only received the sinner who came to God the right way, all on their own. (Sound familiar?) But, let’s be real, which one of us sinners can come to God the right way, all on our own? God actively seeks the lost. Now that’s revolutionary!
Friday, April 4 – “So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: ‘Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.’” (Luke 7:6) A centurion would’ve been seen as an outsider, a sinner, a Gentile, not worthy of a good Jewish rabbis’ time. But this was precisely who Jesus was going to see. Jesus doesn’t desire to be with you, because of who you are or who the world tells you that you are. Jesus desires to be with you because of who Jesus is. In Jesus’ eyes you are worthy!
Saturday, April 5 – “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) Having it our own way is our cultural rallying cry. We pride ourselves in the possibility of doing whatever we want and being whoever we want. Which is a good thing. But, this very same good thing can and will prevent you from experiencing the great that God has in store for you. Jesus came to die so that you can be all that God has created and gifted you to be. This is truly having it our own way.
You try to eat right. You drink plenty of water. you exercise. don't forget your spirit - feed it!
daily devotions
