40 Days to the Cross - Day 10

Day 10 The Resurrection

Scripture

Matthew 22:23-33 (HCSB) ²³ The same day some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to Him and questioned Him: ²⁴ “Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁵ Now there were seven brothers among us. The first got married and died. Having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ The same happened to the second also, and the third, and so to all seven. ²⁷ Then last of all the woman died. ²⁸ Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had married her.” ²⁹ Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. ³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. ³¹ Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God: ³² I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” ³³ And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-40

Devotion

In the last few devotions we have seen Jesus talking to the Pharisees and the Herodians, and now He is confronted by the Sadducees. Jesus has spent time confronting many theological positions in this last week. Jesus is very concerned about right theology because having the right theology is literally the difference between heaven and hell for people.

The Sadducees propose a ridiculous scenario to try to argue the point that there is no resurrection. A woman is married and widowed 6 times. The question is, if there is a resurrection, which man would be her husband?

Jesus explains that they are in trouble for two reasons. One, they did not understand the Scriptures. They had a presupposition that there was no resurrection. The Bible clearly indicates that there is. Two, they do not understand the power of God. God has something much better in mind for us that marriage in relationships in heaven.

How about you? How is your theology? Do you find yourself asking God questions that come from a faulty understanding of Scripture? Do you fail to understand the power of God?

Questions

What questions do you have about God that could be answered by a thorough study of the Scriptures?

How can you plan to find these answers in the next week?

What will you do to give glory to God and His power?

Prayer

Dear God: Help me to understand you and Your ways more. Amen

40 Days to the Cross - Day 9

Day 9 Paying Taxes
Scripture
Matthew 22:15-22 (HCSB) 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap Him by what He said. 16 They sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You defer to no one, for You don’t show partiality. 17 Tell us, therefore, what You think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But perceiving their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing Me, hypocrites? 19 Show Me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” He asked them. 21 “Caesar’s,” they said to Him. Then He said to them, “Therefore, give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.
Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:9-19

Devotion
Jesus has had a time with the Pharisees, now another group comes on the scene - the Herodians. Herodians were those who favored the Herodian house to overcome the yoke of Rome and restore Israel. They try here to trick Jesus – another one of those questions that does not have a good answer. Jesus again diffuses the question with questions of his own.
Jesus points out that there are proper times to pay taxes to Caesar. They were using Ceasar’s coins, Rome was providing them with roads, with peace and with a stable government. So, Jesus reasons, give to Rome what they deserve. However, he does not say that you do so but not give to God. Give to God what you owe him as well.
We too, should respect the government and pay our taxes. But we, like those who challenged Jesus must remember to give to God what is His. So what are the things that are God’s anyway? Oh. My. That would be everything.

Questions
What do you need to give to God this week?
How can you make a plan to give it.
What is stopping you from giving God all this is due to Him?

Prayer
Dear God: Help me to give you all I have: my time, my talents and my money. Amen

40 Days to the Cross - Day 8

Day 8 The Wedding Banquet

Scripture

Matthew 22:1-14 (HCSB) ¹ Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: ² “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. ³ He sent out his slaves to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come. ⁴ Again, he sent out other slaves, and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: Look, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet. ’ ⁵ “But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business. ⁶ And the others seized his slaves, treated them outrageously and killed them. ⁷ The king was enraged, so he sent out his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned down their city. ⁸ “Then he told his slaves, ‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. ⁹ Therefore, go to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ ¹⁰ So those slaves went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests. ¹¹ But when the king came in to view the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding. ¹² So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. ¹³ “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Devotion

The Kingdom is like a banquet! Sounds great! But wait. Those who were invited chose not to come. But there is good news - The King sent someone to invite others to come – fill the house with guests. But then comes bad news again - some who came were not properly clothed for the banquet.

For us this means there is the good news that we are invited to come to the King through the Son, but there is the caution that we must be “dressed properly” – that is we must have “put on” Jesus Christ!

Many want to wait until that day and pleas their case before God, but in this story the man was speechless. He had nothing to say. God has put His terms on salvation, and it is only through Jesus !

Come to the banquet – come to Jesus!

Questions

What can you remember about coming to Jesus?

How does knowing Jesus effect your life today?

What can you do to plan to share the answers to those questions with someone who needs to be invited to the banquet?

Prayer

Dear God: help me share with others that they are invited too! Amen

40 Days to the Cross - Day 7

Day 7 The Vineyard
Scripture
Matthew 21:33-46 (HCSB) 33 “Listen to another parable: There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it to tenant farmers and went away. 34 When the grape harvest drew near, he sent his slaves to the farmers to collect his fruit. 35 But the farmers took his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first group, and they did the same to them. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance!’ 39 So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?” 41 “He will completely destroy those terrible men,” they told Him, “and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his produce at the harvest.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruit. [ 44 Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder!”] 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they knew He was speaking about them. 46 Although they were looking for a way to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they regarded Him as a prophet.
Also at Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19

Devotion
Jesus spoke directly to the leaders of Israel. The condemnation is graphic. THE SON is asking them what should be done with those who mistreat and disrespect the son. They just do not get it. Epic fail.
Verse 45 tells us that they knew he was talking about them, and yet, the Pharisees still did not understand that they were at fault, not Him.
Have you ever been there before? Ever misunderstood the message being sent to you by a friend, or worse, by God? Have you ever thought you were in the right, but when you look back in retrospect you realize that you were grossly mistaken.
Have you ever wished you had responded better to the call of God when He called?
I wonder if the Pharisees ever had any regrets?

Questions
What has God spoken to you about that you rejected?
How can you work now to make it right?
What do you need to do to reconcile to someone today?

Prayer
Dear God: Please help me see the message from God and respond the first time He gives it to me. Amen

40 Days to the Cross - Day 6

Day 6 Doing the Will of the Father

Scripture

Matthew 21:28-32 (HCSB) ²⁸ “But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹ “He answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ Yet later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. “ ‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go. ³¹ “Which of the two did his father’s will?” “The first,” they said. Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you! ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.

Devotion

God’s ways are not our ways. We tend to put a lot of weight on “lip service.” Jesus seems to indicate that a person’s words are useless unless they are backed by action.

God is like the father sending his sons to work. He desires us to carry out His will. Some people are like the son who ultimately disobeyed. They promise but do not perform rightly and so are rejected by God. Some are like the son who ultimately obeyed. They rebel but later submit and so are accepted. Performance in the Kingdom takes priority over promise.

Questions

What have you promised God that you failed to follow through on?

How can you better make you actions match your promises?

What do you need to do today to be obedient to the Father?

Prayer

Dear God: Help me to follow through as an obedient child. Amen

40 Days to the Cross - Day 5

Day 5 Jesus Teaches

Scripture
Matthew 21:28-23:29; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4
Key Verses:
Mark 12:1 Then He began to speak to them in parables … Mark 12:17 … And they were amazed at Him.
Mark 12:37 … And the large crowd was listening to Him with delight.

Devotion
It was the last week of Jesus life. He knew that He was headed to the cross. He know that there was precious little time. The next few devotions will deal with some of the teaching that Jesus did this week. Notice that the scripture says he taught them in parables. He told stories to help his audience understand the truths of scripture. Notice that they were amazed and they listened to Jesus with delight. If we truly want to love God we must learn to treasure the teaching ministry like Jesus did. We must seek to teach others truths in such a way that they will understand, be amazed and listen with delight!

Questions
What have you taught others about the Word of God recently?
How will you plan to teach in the future?
What are ways you can teach so that others will understand?

Prayer
Dear God: Help us teach others important truths in ways they will understand. Amen.

40 Days to the Cross - Day 4

Day 4 Jesus’ Authority

Scripture

Matthew 21:23-27 (HCSB) ²³ When He entered the temple complex, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?” ²⁴ Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?” They began to argue among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought John was a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Also in Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8

Devotion

Jesus spoke with authority. When someone has authority they usually do not have to prove it. It is interesting that WHAT Jesus was doing – the miracles, the teachings, the healings – were not questioned. It was His authority to do these things that was questioned. Imagine that! “I know you healed this guy and that is fine and good, but what give you the right?”

Jesus counters their question with a question. If they answer that John’s ministry was from heaven, then they have to admit that Jesus authority is also. They refuse to answer.

What about us? Do we question the work of God around us so much that we lose site of the importance of the ministry at hand? Have we ever been guilty of wondering why someone else has the “right” to do ministry or share Christ? We must acknowledge the work of Jesus when we see it. Let’s not be Pharisees!

Questions

What is our attitude by those who are of another denomination when we see God working there?

How can we support and love our brothers and sisters in Christ?

What can you do this week to build harmony with your Christian friends?

Prayer

Dear God: help us to stand strong with the authority of Jesus wherever we see Him at work! Amen

40 Days to the Cross - Day 3

Day 3 The Withered Tree

Scripture
Matthew 21:18-22 (HCSB) 18 Early in the morning, as He was returning to the city, He was hungry. 19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” At once the fig tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw it, they were amazed and said, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” 21 Jesus answered them, “ I assure you: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Also at Mark 11:20-26

Devotion
It would be really easy to get to this passage and say – “WOW! Jesus can make a tree wither.” And then move on. Of course, it is true that Jesus can make a tree wither, but that is not the point He is trying to make to the disciples and to us! The point is that a fruitless tree is like a fruitless disciple – worthless. Another point is that if you exercise faith in your life, you will not be fruitless. God will use you in incredible ways.
If we are not careful as we seek to be “fruit bearing trees” we may go about it all wrong. We may seek the fruit. But trees do not start with the fruit. They must be cultivated and they must have fertilizer and they must have the sun and water. In the same way, we as disciples must continue to cultivate our relationship with Jesus so that as we are healthy, we will produce fruit. Healthy trees produce fruit. So should healthy disciples.

Questions
What are some areas of discipleship you could improve in your life?
How will you choose to improve?
What can you do today?

Prayer
Dear God: help me to be a healthy disciple who produces fruit! Amen

40 Days to the Cross - Day 2

During the Lenten season, I will share 40 Days to the Cross - events in chronological order from the last week of Jesus life.

Day 2
The House of Prayer
Scripture
Matthew 21:12-13 (HCSB) 12 Jesus went into the temple complex and drove out all those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers’ tables and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves!”
also Mark 11:15-18

Devotion
Jesus displays righteous indignation. We would just say He got angry. Thant may make you a bit uncomfortable – Jesus getting angry - but it is what it is. Jesus was angry. What makes Jesus angry?
Jesus is angered by the corruption of true worship.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus indicated that those who worship God should do so in spirit and truth. (John 4:24) here it seems that worship has been denigrated by those who change money in the outer court of the temple.
The practice started out, I am sure as a great “ministry” to those who needed to exchange their foreign currency for temple money to purchase sacrificial animals to worship God. However, it had turned into robbery as money changers would not give fair exchange.
But even with all of that, Jesus had a much more important concern. Jesus was concerned because the house of the Lord was supposed to be a house of prayer.
Jesus was angered because something had gotten in the way of prayer in the life of these worshippers.

So, now let’s get personal. What is it in your life that would anger Jesus? What is getting in the way of prayer in your life?

Questions
What is it? What keeps you from prayer?
How could you change something in your life – a habit, a place, something - that could make it easier to pray?
What will you do to make prayer a priority in your personal worship?

Prayer
Dear God: help me make prayer a priority in my life. Amen

40 Days to the Cross - Day 1

During the Lenten season, I will share 40 Days to the Cross - events in chronological order from the last week of Jesus life.

Day 1
The Entry into Jerusalem
Scripture
Matthew 21:1-11 (HCSB) 1 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus then sent two disciples, 2 telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you should say that the Lord needs them, and immediately he will send them.” 4 This took place so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: 5 Tell Daughter Zion, “See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt; then they laid their robes on them, and He sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their robes on the road; others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. 9 Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! 10 When He entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds kept saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee!”
Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19

Devotion
As the week begins, Jesus enters Jerusalem in a grand fashion. He does not enter on a white stallion, but rather on a donkey. And the crowds cheer him. They shout “Hosannah!” The crowds greeted and welcomed Jesus as the Messiah! The crowds were quoting a messianic psalm!
As we begin the Lenten season, what a better time to consider welcoming Christ as the Savior and Messiah of our lives! Can we sped the next 40 days seeking Him and His will for our lives? Will we be like the Jerusalem crowds and turn our cheers to jeers when things are not politically correct? Or will we continue to seek Him and share with others how they can welcome Him, too!

Questions
What are ways we can “welcome” Jesus in our lives today?
How have you specifically welcomed Him?
What can you do to help other welcome Him?

Prayer
Dear Jesus: I welcome you in my life as Messiah. Help me show the way to others. Amen

Integrity begins at home.

Job and His Family

1 There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters. 3 His estate included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to have banquets, each at his house in turn. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send [for his children] and purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought: Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts. This was Job’s regular practice.

Job 1:1-5 (HCSB)

Job was ...

a "man of perfect integrity"

... "feared God"

... "turned away from evil."

... "greatest man among all the people of the east."

The Bible then goes on to share about his compassionate concern for the purity of his family. Of all the illustrations that could be shared, the Bible shares how he cared for and discipled his children.

The evidence the Bible gives for his uprightness is how he dealt with his children.

the reminder for me is this...

If you want to be a man of integrity who fears God and turns away from evil, disciple your kids.