Tell Them By Bishop Donald Hilliard

Josh McDowell writes "An executive 'head hunter' who goes out and hires corporate executives for other firms once told me, 'When I get an executive I'm trying to hire for someone else, I like to disarm him. I offer him a drink, take my coat off, then my vest, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed."

"Then when I think I've got him relaxed I lean over, look him square in the eye and say - what's the purpose in your life?' It's amazing how top executives fall apart on that question.' Well, I was interviewing this fellow the other day, had him all disarmed with my feet up on my desk talking about football. Then I leaned over and said - what's the purpose in your life, Bob? Without blinking an eye he said 'To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.' For the first time in my career I was speechless."

There are basically five reasons why we don't share our faith more often, and not one of them will hold up when we stand before Christ:

(1) We think it's the preacher's job.
(2) We aren't sure of our salvation.
(3) We fear being rejected.
(4) We've never taken responsibility for learning how.
(5) Our love for Christ has grown cold.

But not Paul: he said, "Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him."

Can you say that?

Scripture Of The Day: "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some." - 1 Corinthians 9:22 (ESV)

Saved By Her Enemy

Don Teague and RafRaf Barrack were as different as could be. Then September 11th happened, and a war intertwined their lives.

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/vod/AS58v2_WS

Kari Jobe singing "You Are For Me"

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/vod/AS58v2_WS

From Faith to Faith By Bishop Keith Butler

One way to grow in your walk with God is to never allow the things you've learned in the Word of God to get away from you. When you are introduced to more truth from the Bible, take it and add it to what you're now walking in. What you already know is a foundation on which to build. Therefore, don't throw away or forget the old. New truth does not negate the old. It is but another brick to add to the strong foundation of your spiritual house.

To walk in the blessings of God you must have faith. Therefore, it is important that we hold on to our faith and not let it slip away from us. Let's read the text from the Amplified Bible: "Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths t hat we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away."

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." - Hebrews 2:1(KJV)

Now notice what Paul says here (I believe that Paul is the writer of Hebrews). He says we ought to give more earnest heed to the truths we have already heard. He said we ought to pay more attention to what we already know.

In other words, what we know, we don't throw away. We don't have to get a new revelation. I've heard people say, "I don't need all that faith stuff anymore. I don't need all that confession stuff anymore. I'm past that; I'm into a deeper revelation."

But you're always going to need faith. And you're always going to have to deal with the ramifications of the words of your mouth whether you know it or not. And let me tell you, when you let these things slip away - when you let them get away from you - you pay the price.

In fact, Paul said in our text that we ought to pay even more attention to these things.

So often people learn something, they move on to something else and forget about what they've already learned. You should always be adding to the house, so to speak. This way, when the trials of life come they won't even be able to shake you. You'll stand strong in the Word of God.

Scripture Of The Day: "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." - Hebrews 2:1(KJV)

The Giving of Life, Part 1‏ - Bruce Wells

How many of us aren't familiar with the miracle of a blood transfusion? It's the method of transferring blood from one person to another. Through this physical process there is literally a transference of life. Recognizing this physical phenomenon, we shouldn't think it strange that blood should be associated with spiritual life given to us through the atoning death of our Lord Jesus.

LIFEBLOOD

Life--that mysterious quality which science has never been able fully to define--immediately brings to mind the blood. This vital fluid courses through the flesh of us all, bringing the food and oxygen which sustains bodily functions. The blood also fights disease that enters the body and assists in getting rid of waste products.

In an average human being, it circulates twice every minute. As the heart pumps the blood through the network of arteries, capillaries and veins, every cell in the body is continually supplied and cleansed. No part of the flesh can live without being in contact with this Red Stream of Life!

Truly it is amazing!

Though medical research has probed deep into its mystery, there is still locked within its elements a secret known only to the Creator. Yet, whatever remains hidden it is clear that the blood is the essential ingredient of physical life. In a very real way life becomes visible through the blood.

We can understand then the Bible's speaking of "blood of your lives" or "lifeblood" (Genesis 9:5; 1 Chronicles 11:19; Isaiah 63:3). The phrase "born of bloods" conveys the same idea of human life (literal translation of term in John 1:13; and Acts 17:26). There are rare occasions when the words blood and life can be used interchangeably, as in Leviticus 19:16 when we are told to "stand against the blood" of our neighbor. Here blood clearly refers to the man's life, and is so translated in some versions (RSV, NASB).

In the same vein, since the heart is the center of the blood circulatory system, it becomes the ideal example of life. The term is used in this way hundreds of times in the Bible to designate the total personality of man.

Because of this it can be said that out of the heart proceed evil thoughts (Matthew 15:19); sinners should rend (tear) their hearts (Joel 2:13); we must believe with our heart (Romans 10:10); or God will take away the stony heart and give a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19).

Dr. Christian Barnard, who, in 1967, performed the first human heart transplant in history, tells of one of his heart-transplant patients asking to see the removed organ. Dr. Barnard had hospital staff bring the large bottle from the lab where the old heart had been placed. As the man looked at the big muscle which once pumped life through his body, the famed surgeon suddenly realized that this was the first time in human experience that a person had ever seen his own heart.

It was indeed an historic moment. But for the patient the sensation must have been even more moving, for the old heart was worn out. Had it not been replaced, life would soon have been extinct. After a long pause, the grateful man looked up and said, "I'm glad that I don't have that old heart anymore."

Certainly, we are no better than our heart, whether it relates to the body or the soul. Where the heart is weak and the blood diseased, life is in danger. But where the heart is strong and the blood is pure, life is full of health and overflowing with joy. This is what Christ wants to give to every person.

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! Precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. ---Robert Lowery

____________________________________________________________________

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

Why is there a natural relationship between life and blood?

What does Paul mean when he prays that Christ may dwell in our heart? Ephesians 3:17.

What is a true heart according to Hebrews 10:22?

The Unity Of The Faith

By Pastor Andre Butler

The phrase "unity of the faith" implies that the faith is defined by its unity. Christianity is supposed to bring about unity. Before you were saved, you lived in a world that was splintered, a world that was fighting against itself. When you became a Christian, you were born into a family that is supposed to be unified.
The word "unity" means oneness, and in this scripture we see that God wills that the church, indeed, the Body of Christ, becomes unified. How are all of us--from different backgrounds and with different ideas and different walks of life--supposed to be unified?

This happens when we grow up spiritually, when our love walk has developed to a place where we are able to be in unity with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Now they may do things we do not like--they may get on our nerves or stab us in the back--but when we have grown spiritually to the point of loving our neighbor as Christ loved us, we will be able to stay in the oneness of the faith, which is unity.

Every person has a human body. If you do not have a human body, you do not have a legal right to operate on this planet. When one part of your natural body fights against another part of your body--and that actually what happens when people have certain diseases--the body can no longer be effective. In fact, the body may no longer operate. Likewise, the body of Christ cannot survive when its members are fighting one against another. It is supposed to operate as one. There should be no schism, no division, in the body.

It is not the will of God that there be so many denominations in the body of Christ that you can't remember all the names. It is not the will of God that this denomination fights against that denomination. It is not the will of God that people within the local church fight one another. No, God's plan is that the body be one. And since that is true, it is important that we do what is necessary to keep ourselves unified, to operate as one.

The Body of Christ is a big Holy Ghost gang. We are to be unified when we go before the world. If Satan wants to pick off one of us, he has to deal with all of us. First Corinthians 12 says that if one us suffers, we all are suffering; if one of us is rejoicing, we all are rejoicing. When the world sees believers, God's desire is that they see us all walking in unity, prospering in every area of life, and producing for Him.

Jesus intends for our unity to be not only a spiritual reality but a literal reality--something people can see. When this is the case, it will cause them to not only believe in God, but in His son Jesus Christ. Our unity is a sign and a wonder to the world.
Scripture Of The Day: "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it." - 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NKJV)

Resurrection Wounds

Devotional By Bishop Vashti McKenzie



“When he had said this he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” John 20: 20


In the movie Madea’s Family Reunion, a song sung by Rachael Ferrell and lyrics by J. Carlock goes something like this: “As time passes they begin to multiply adding up secretly like the rings of an old oak tree; there are wounds in the way; some old, some new all stifling debilitating and cruel and some are passed down from elder to youth – they don’t belong to you.

As time passes, they begin to accrue, a strange sort of value; some you don’t think that are worth holding on to; cause you don’t want to change who you are: there are wounds in the way”
There are times in our lives when we have allowed our wounding to get in the way of our living. Jesus did not allow his wounds to get in the way of the resurrection.

John’s gospel indicates that Jesus met with his disciples after the resurrection. Initially, he had sent them news of the resurrection and now he comes himself. The disciples were locked behind closed doors perhaps to encourage each other, pray or develop a new strategy to do damage control of the horrific events on that fateful Friday. Wounds tend to do two things - they will either cause you to hide or try to hurt someone. Hurt people can hurt other people.

Although the disciples were on lock down, Jesus appears to them and shows them his wounds. Some scholars in a majority opinion believe that Jesus showed his wounds to prove that he was the same Jesus that hung on the cross and rose from the grave. The wounds proved that he was who he said he was. He was the risen Christ and not an impostor. The wounds were the evidence, the tell tale signs of the resurrection. They were validation of his life and teachings. The wounds spoke of the resurrection: Jesus is not just a good guy, another prophet or teacher, but he is the Son of God who said he was going to suffer and die and said he would rise on the third day.

His wounds were the fulfillment of what Isaiah spoke as in he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity. Jesus bore the marks of his affliction and ours in his body. Flora Slosson Wirellner writes that showing the wounds were acts of mercy- swift acts for friends who were confused, who misunderstood those struggling to understand what was happening.

The resurrection did not blot out the wounds, erase the wounds, and reverse the wounds. Jesus rose from the grave in spite of the wounding with the scars and the sores that were produced by the hurt and pain of a brutal public crucifixion. The wounds themselves are a sign of healing - scabs formed over the abrasions where his skin was scraped off as he stumbled along the apian way carrying the cross. The wounds were a sign of healing – the lacerations where his flesh had been torn open by the leather whips. Penetrating wounds from the spear in his side- the clots that had formed over the bleeding holes in his hands, and feet that indicated healing. Like stretch marks on a woman’s belly show the at one time new life stretch the skin to its breaking point but now healed the scar remains.

Jesus showed his wounds. They identify him with the human condition. God fully entered into our daily life through his son; entered into the daily injustice and pain of exclusionary idioms– he passionately carries our wounds in his body and longs for our healing. The wounds remind us that God, through his son Jesus Christ, will never ignore or negate nor minimalize the human condition. He will never be beyond our reach or cry. Jesus suffered for us then and suffers for us now.

Jesus shows his wounds – they more than validate his resurrection. He also demonstrates that in spite of all that happened to him on Calvary – he did not let his wounds get in the way.
The wounds of his descend did not prevent his assent; the wounds of his demise did not get in the way of his come back; the wounds of his downfall did not prevent his uprising. The wounds from his humiliation did not prevent his elevation; the wounds of his agitation did not get in the way of the wounds of his motivation; the wounds of his crucifixion did not get in the way of his glorification. The wounds did not get in the way.

It is an encouragement that as we celebrate another resurrection Sunday, to never let our wounds get in the way!

Scripture Of The Day: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was brused for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5v

EASTER: DAY 47

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 47 (Easter Sunday)
WHY DO YOU LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD? HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!

Colossians 2:13-15

You were dead because of your sins and
because your sinful nature was not yet
cut away. Then God made you alive with
Christ, for he forgave all our sins.

He canceled the record of the charges
against us and took it away by nailing
it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed
the spiritual rulers and authorities.
He shamed them publicly by his victory
over them on the cross. (NLT)


MEDITATION by Connie Kennemer


A stunning poem, Jesus of the Scars, written by Edward Shillito, has both haunted me and helped me. As the Lenten Season reaches its climax today, two lines of this fine work capture the mystery and the marvel of the resurrection:

The other gods were strong, but Thou wast weak; They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne... (emphasis added)

And stumble, he did. This was anything but a coronation scene.

As a child raised in church, I was uncomfortable with the crucifixion and all the gore it entailed. Ashamed to say it, I just didn’t have the stomach for it. The resurrection represented God’s victory over sin through the death of his Son and I believed that. But for years, I struggled to embrace the cruel period between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

If we were privy to the conversations of those who walked with Jesus—disciples, friends, family, his mother—might we not hear strained emotions that match our own? I think so. If this was the greatest spiritual victory in the history of the world, few saw it coming. Good Friday was coronation covered and victory veiled.

Four years ago, my husband and I lost our only son, Todd, to suicide after his brave and belittling battle with bipolar disorder. Rex and I were shocked and confused. I wonder if Jesus’ followers found themselves in a similar state of shock following the crucifixion. I get their panic reaction. I wanted to bolt—to run—as well. And I, too, detected no immediate evidence of God at work. I saw what everyone else saw: defeat and despair.

But three days in the grave changed everything! God lives beyond time and calendars. Three days were enough to shame Satan and remind him that he is no match and no threat to Almighty God.

Todd’s death is still our greatest and deepest wound…but we are inching past the “three days.” Our current reality painfully speaks of new life and weaves threads of redemption. We continue to see traces of Todd’s legacy in the lives of those we influence, grieve with, and mentor in this peculiar place full of broken minds and broken hearts. Few here see hope on the horizon. Fewer still know that victory has already been secured and the enemy defeated.

As followers of Christ we all live with the wounds, the thorns, and the stripes of sin’s curse. But we are also living on the other side of Good Friday.

Today is Resurrection Sunday and we are compelled to proclaim publicly—it is finished. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!


REFLECTION


Where in your experience have God’s ways been shrouded?


How has the Holy Spirit revealed his presence in life’s chaos?


Take time today to celebrate and commemorate Jesus’ conquest over sin’s curse.

HOLY WEEK : DAY 46

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 46 (Holy Saturday)


Matthew 27:39-42

People passing along the road jeered,
shaking their heads in mock lament:
"You bragged that you could tear
down the Temple and then rebuild it in
three days—so show us your stuff! Save
yourself! If you're really God's Son, come
down from that cross!"

The high priests, along with the religion
scholars and leaders, were right there
mixing it up with the rest of them, having
a great time poking fun at him:

"He saved others—he can't save himself!
King of Israel, is he? Then let him get
down from that cross. We'll all become
believers then!” (The Message)




MEDITATION BY Tim Roehl


The crowd at the cross watched the most important event in human history,
and almost everyone missed the point!

It makes me ask, “How can people be so close to the cross…so close to Jesus’ saving sacrifice that fulfilled prophecy; reconciled sinful humanity and holy deity; defeated sin, death, hell, and Satan; and opened the door for us to have an eternal abundant relationship with him…and wind up walking away from him?”

I’ve met many people over the years who did the same thing. My heart has ached when I saw them profess a desire for God, but then resist truly surrendering to him.

This passage gives us clues to why this happens; it boils downs to our
expectations in our encounter with Jesus. In essence, we have some “hoops” that Jesus has to jump through in order for him to be worthy of our trust. We say with the crowd at the cross, "Show us your stuff…we’ll all become believers then!”

So what do these hoops look like? I’ve heard many say…

"I need to feel that God is real.”

"If Jesus answers my prayer the way I want, when I want, then I'll believe."

"Well, God knows my habits and beliefs, and he is love, so he understands."

"If Jesus proves that he is going to provide my needs, then I can trust him."

For many, God is only worthy of trust if these conditions are met. All these hoops are smoke screens for unwilling hearts. Every proof Jesus needed to provide was accomplished on the cross…and in failing their “tests,” he passed the only test that mattered for our salvation. I wish I could say I’ve never been guilty of trying to make Jesus jump through my hoops—putting my expectations on him instead of humbly meeting his. However, I’ve done that more than I want to admit.

Today, as you reflect on the crowd at the cross and become part of that crowd, consider the expectations you place on Jesus that hinder your commitment to him. Don’t make him jump through your hoops. Cross the bridge he’s made with that cross.




REFLECTION


When you think about expectations and making Jesus jump through hoops, what personal experiences come to mind?


What unfair or false expectations might be holding you back from truly experiencing what Jesus has done for you on the cross? As you identify them, lay them down at the cross and humbly receive what Jesus has for you.


Who can you encourage at this time and tell them how Jesus has worked in your own life?

HOLY WEEK: DAY 45

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 45 (Good Friday)


Mark 15:33-39

And when the sixth hour had come, there
was darkness over the whole land until
the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour
Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,
lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God,
my God, why have you forsaken me?" And
some of the bystanders hearing it said, "
Behold, he is calling Elijah." And someone
ran and filled a sponge with sour wine,
put it on a reed and gave it to him to
drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether
Elijah will come to take him down."

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed
his last. And the curtain of the temple was
torn in two, from top to bottom. And when
the centurion, who stood facing him, saw
that in this way he breathed his last, he said,
"Truly this man was the Son of God!" (ESV)


MEDITATION BY Darren Prince


In our journey to encounter Jesus through the season of Lent, we come at last to his final moments on the cross. And even though we knew where this path would lead us, we find ourselves startled by it once again: stunned to see a tortured, bloodied Savior breathing his final breath alone. Agonized. Abandoned.

If anyone ever mistakenly thought that following Jesus was a journey of self-fulfillment, they’d do well to take another look at Christ on the cross. There, in his final hours, he is crucified, mocked, and left for dead.

Far from what the political pundits had predicted or feared, the Triumphal Entry on Sunday takes a sharp turn into the darkened hours of Friday. Rather than a coronation, he is taunted, spat upon, and crowned with thorns. Who could have expected that his finest hour would be his loneliest? And what does it mean to encounter the Messiah who is crying out, “My God—why have you forsaken me!”

This is the mystery of Christ’s work on the cross proclaimed: that in his hour of abandonment, he became our sin and suffered its brutal consequences. In his moment of separation from God the Father, our gateway to relationship was kicked wide open. His scream of loneliness, deservedly ours, becomes the victory yell that heralds true encounter. The curtain of the temple is ripped in two. The people of earth are reunited with the One who inhabits the Holy of Holies.

This scripture appropriately captures humankind’s two most likely responses. One person mocks Jesus’ helplessness, “Let Elijah pull him down!” It’s tempting to keep Jesus’ desperation for God at arm’s length, lest it hit too close to home—a little humor to put some distance between Jesus’ self-emptying surrender and my own consuming loneliness.

But another, the centurion, is stunned into immediate belief. He hears the Son cry out for the Father and instantly realizes what he’s witnessed. You can almost hear him choking out his proclamation of faith: “Surely, this man was the Son of God!”

With the reality of Christ’s work on the cross before you, which response is yours? You’ve come this far in the journey toward Easter—is this the encounter you hoped for?




REFLECTION


Slowly read back through the events of Good Friday in Mark 15. As you consider this day, what are you drawn to? What are you challenged by?


Read over Psalm 22–the psalm Jesus was likely quoting in his final moments on the cross. How does this psalm inform your understanding of Christ’s experiences on Good Friday?


Consider the two responses offered by the bystander and the centurion in Mark 15. How are you similarly moved to respond?

HOLY WEEK: DAY 44

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 44 (Maundy Thursday)


Matthew 26:36-42

Then Jesus went with them to a garden called
Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here
while I go over there and pray.”

Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,
he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he
said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay
here and vigil with me.” Going a little ahead, he
fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is
any way, get me out of this. But please, not what
I want. You, what do you want?” When he came
back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep.
He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a
single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t
wander into temptation without even knowing
you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is
eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s
another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping
by the fire.” He then left them a second time.

Again he prayed, "My Father, if there is no other
way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm
ready. Do it your way." (The Message)


MEDITATION BY Szabolcs Kerekes


Imagine that you are on a road. You are a disciple who in the present walks toward Easter, just as the disciples walked with Jesus toward his suffering.

Read the passage from Matthew. Be silent in your heart. Do not try to analyze the words, but let them in.

Imagine these words as a mirror that showed something within you.

Stay in silence for a few minutes.

What did you see in yourself? Speak to Jesus about it.

Think of Jesus as a human and identify yourself with him. Jesus was a stranger among his people. They didn’t even notice him. On a long road, you are transient in this world, looking for your true home.

Jesus was born as an infant. He was a baby in body and in soul. He studied at a synagogue, learned a profession, and grew and developed through stages just like us. Though he was God’s son, he learned trusting obedience through good and bad experiences, just as we do.

In this story, he enters into a place of total loneliness and darkness. Even his father abandons him.

Similarly, you will experience loneliness and darkness sometime on your path. This part of the Gospel is not only the story of our salvation, but also his story of pain and suffering. He was alone in darkness.

Read now the story again.

You are a child of God. The story is a mirror in which you can see yourself at a point in your life whether or not you already entered that time of loneliness and darkness.

Read the passage.

Be silent in your heart. Do not try to analyze the words but let them in.

What did you see about yourself? Speak to Jesus about it.

Hold these things dearly, deep within yourself.




REFLECTION


How do you relate to Jesus being human?


What loneliness or darkness have you experienced that you know Jesus understood and carried you through?


Who in your life needs to know about Jesus' pain and suffering? How can you encourage them?

HOLY WEEK: DAY 43

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 43


John 13:4-5

…[Jesus] got up from the table, took off
his outer robe, and tied a towel around
himself. Then he poured water into a
basin and began to wash the disciples’
feet and to wipe them with the towel
that was tied around him. (NRSV)


MEDITATION BY Jenny Jack


I am comfortable with God as judge. I’m comfortable with God as comforter. I’m even comfortable with God who laughs and weeps and sings. But I have a hard time understanding the God who kneels down and serves.

What is it about this concept that is so contrary to what I think God “should” be like? What is it that is so difficult to let him get down and clean the dirt from beneath my toes, and then respond to the invitation to do the same for others? Doesn’t he want me to strategize, to work hard, and to change my little corner of the world?

For Maundy Thursday in 2008, a group of us offered free shoe shining on the main pedestrian street in Glasgow—we thought actually washing people’s feet might be a little too much for strangers on the street to agree to! With each pair of shoes to be shined, there was a body and a soul attached, and an interaction that took place. One of the guys would kneel down on the concrete and prepare his kit, while the receiver would cautiously place a foot on the stool. This one sheepishly hid his dirty soles beneath the chair until the last moment; that one confidently placed his feet in tennis shoes on the stool. One sat down and told the story of her 80+ years; another looked desperately for anything that wasn’t a pair of eyes to look at. One little girl even got her rain boots shined. Many were delightfully surprised that folks from the church were offering to serve them. All were moved in some direction through the interaction that took place.

It struck me that the disciples must have felt something akin to these emotions. We know how Peter felt, but what about the others? What did they feel when Jesus exhorted them, “If I, your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14), thus instituting the act of service as a core value for those who follow him?

I think it is easy for us today to say with Peter, “You shall never wash my feet!” Not because we don’t think we need it, but because we fear it. Our feet—and the hidden closets of our souls, for that matter—are cracked and dry, with dirt and grime caked into them, and we don’t want him to have to wade through all that junk. It’s easier to create strategies, to form ideas, and dream dreams than to look the God of the universe in the eyes when he kneels down to serve us, or to obey his command to look one another in the eyes and serve each other.

Before we get to any of our agendas, let us be willing to wrap the towel around us and serve…to look for the ones in front of us, and invite them to encounter the God who kneels down.


REFLECTION


What are the cracked and dirty places that you find it difficult to let God cleanse?


Take a moment to just be open to him in one of those places.


How is he inviting you to serve someone today?

HOLY WEEK: DAY 42

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 42


Mark 14:3-8

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the
home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman
came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,
made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the
perfume on his head. Some of those present were
saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste
of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a
year's wages and the money given to the poor." And
they rebuked her harshly.

"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering
her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor
you will always have with you, and you can help them
any time you want. But you will not always have me.
She did what she could. She poured perfume on my
body beforehand to prepare for my burial." (NIV)


MEDITATION BY Gary Mayes


I would like to believe that I am a generous person, that I would be willing to let go of people and give away possessions with liberality. I would like to believe I belong in the company of those whose overwhelming gratitude for the life and work of Jesus makes it easy to give away all they have.

But, to be honest, I am not so sure I am that guy. When I read about the actions of this unnamed woman in Mark 14, I find it easy to wonder about the fiscal responsibility of her actions.

Sure, this passage raises a host of small unanswered questions. Was she a guest or a party-crasher? Who was she and why did Mark keep it a secret? What it is like to give away an entire year’s wages in a single act? What does nard smell like?

But if I could only ask one question, I would ask this woman, “Would you tell me the story of what Jesus did in your life to cause such extraordinary gratitude?”

You see, over the course of time, I find it easy to become practiced in measured religious expression and expectations. I quickly learn the boundaries of normal behavior in my church and settle in. I restrain myself to an unwritten code of acceptable decorum. Intellectually, my appreciation for all Jesus has done runs deep, but practically my expressions of gratitude and adoration are tempered by others’ opinions of propriety. In contrast, these actions of an unnamed woman stagger me.

I wonder if I forget how radically my life has been transformed. Or if I have settled for a level of adoration that is puny and pathetic compared to the scope of life I gained through Jesus on the cross.

I wonder what unrestrained worship and sacrificial thanksgiving might look like if I gave no thought to the opinion of “others in the room.”

With the breaking of a bottle, one woman shattered the illusion that worship is a managed or measured activity. She re-fragranced the entire room, and by her example invites us to respond to Jesus without restraint.

Lord, help me live with great awareness of your sacrifice, and help me give my life away accordingly.




REFLECTION


How has your life been radically altered by the presence and work of Jesus?


If you were to put words to your gratitude and adoration for all Jesus has done, what would you say to him as he prepared for the cross?


Just as Simon the Leper made this encounter possible by hosting the party, are there any people you should invite over for dinner in order to begin exposing them to the Savior who has given you life?

HOLY WEEK: DAY 2

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 41


MATTHEW 25:34-36, 40

Then the King will say to those on his
right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was
a stranger and you welcomed me… 'Truly,
I say to you, as you did it to one of the
least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
(ESV)


MEDITATION BY Mariah Nix


It had been a while since I’d been able to attend our team’s weekly Wednesday Bible study. The group is comprised of a mix of homeless folks, seminary students, and people living in hotels—all of whom come to eat a free meal at our church. So it was with surprise and joy that I walked in and saw Connie following along intently as someone read the Bible aloud.

Connie had come to the dinners at the church for about a year before I ever spoke to her. She would stand in line for food with her scarf wrapped around her head, sunglasses on, and a withered piece of cardboard held up as a shield between her and whoever might be on the other side. She would sit alone on the floor in a corner behind her cart of possessions.

Gradually, we began to interact. I would go visit her in her spot to ask about her day and she would answer me briefly from behind the cardboard.

Then last year on Good Friday during our church potluck, the doorbell rang and I opened it to find Connie standing ready to come in. She was confused, thinking it to be Wednesday. I invited her in to eat and to worship with us, but she was unsure since this wasn’t the set time when she was “welcome.”
I assured her that we would love her company. So she joined us and sat at my table. Halfway through the meal, she said abruptly, “You know, you must be a real Christian.” I prayed that the small piece of hospitality we were offering would speak to her about the deep love of Christ.

Since that night, Connie has begun to open up—moving from her spot on the floor to a table, setting her cardboard shield down while she eats, befriending a seminary student that comes each week, telling us lots of stories of her life and travels, and giving me plenty of parenting advice. I felt like we had reached new heights a few weeks ago when I saw her join our Bible study.

During Holy Week, we look to Jesus’ death and resurrection, which are the most important events of history, through which Christ made it possible for us to enter into his Kingdom. It is a Kingdom prepared for us before the foundation of the world, where the thirsty are forever given satisfying drink and the strangers are welcomed home. Jesus instructed us to be hungry-feeding, sick-visiting people in the world because that’s the kind of King he is. And, mysteriously, we encounter the presence of our King in the face of the stranger. I look forward to the day when I get to look into the face of my King as he says, “Welcome, for you welcomed me.” And I hope Connie will be there too, gazing into the face of her King, hearing him say, “Welcome.”




REFLECTION


Think of a time recently when you have encountered the presence of your King in the hungry, the stranger, the sick, or the imprisoned.


Is there a stranger who seems just a little too strange, or a sick person who is just a little too sick for your comfort whom you have avoided though God is asking you to welcome them? What steps can you take to welcome them?


What do you look forward to about the moment when the King says to you, “Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you?”

HOLY WEEK

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 40 (Palm Sunday)


Matthew 21:5, 8-9

'…Look, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey…
' A very large crowd…cut branches
from the trees and spread them on
the road…shouting, 'Hosanna to the
Son of David! Blessed is the one who
comes in the name of the Lord!' (NRSV)

MEDITATION BY Mike Crow


Levi, a follower of Jesus, had heard the stories passed on through the generations about a new king. Imagine with me how he may have seen the events in 33 A.D.

A few days ago, Pilate rode into Jerusalem, placing an extra regiment of Roman troops on the temple porticoes to prevent the violent nationalist uprisings that so often occur at Passover. The walls rumbled as they marched into the city, usurping control of our worship! Pilgrims flooded Jerusalem from every direction. Some joined the crowd as we followed Jesus on a donkey across the Kidron Valley, waving palms—our national symbol—and shouting: “Hosanna! Deliver us, Son of David! Hosanna!”

When Solomon, son of David, was made king, he too rode a donkey across the Kidron Valley. Zechariah told us to rejoice when our king came on a donkey. But the rest of his prophecy stuns me: I will remove the war-horses from Jerusalem and break the battle bows. Could it be? Has the Day of the Lord finally come? The whole city is stirred, urgently asking, “Who is this Jesus?”

Some say he’s the royal son of David who conquered Jerusalem and made it his capital—the ideal leader. Some say he’s a prophet like Elijah who destroyed the pagan prophets of Baal—a religious reformer. Others see him as a great wonder-worker and try to crown him king, hoping he’ll defeat Rome and make Israel a prosperous superpower. Many—who admire the piety of the Pharisees—admire Jesus even more, sparking animosity against him. His exposure of their self-important virtues and aloof condemnation of others’ vices further inflames them. Mocking Jesus, they plot his death. Those who seem most pious resent Jesus the most!

Scattered revolutionaries, styling themselves zealots, scorn Jesus because he does not advocate force against Rome. They confuse loyalty to country with loyalty to God, loving the nation over Jesus himself. The Sadducean high priests, an illegitimate priesthood who collaborate with Rome, guard their status jealously. Known for their elitist abuse of power, they ridicule Jesus and try to erase him from history. The Essenes, a priestly protest movement compiling the Dead Sea Scrolls, ignore Jesus. They are so isolationist and preoccupied with interpreting current events in light of prophecy, they simply miss what God is doing, right under their noses. Others ask, “Where are Jesus’ weapons? War–horses? Soldiers? If Jesus does not fight the Romans with force—the only language they understand—how will he overcome them?”

The responses to Jesus vary widely. Yet each response seems to come from some gut-level reaction, some deep cavern within. It makes me wonder: "Why am I following Jesus?"




REFLECTION


How do people today react to Jesus’ claim to kingship in their lives? Do you see any parallels to the reactions in Jesus’ day?


Imagine yourself in the place of each group mentioned. What obstacle would you need to overcome to be a loyal follower of Jesus?


Take a moment to submit those obstacles to Jesus as your king. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the heart of a faithful subject to his rule.

TRANSFORM: DAY 39

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 39


Psalm 86:11-12

Teach me your way, O LORD and I will
walk in your truth; Give me an undivided
heart, That I may fear your name. I will
praise you, O LORD my God, with all my
heart; I will glorify your name forever. (NIV)


MEDITATION BY Arthur Stewart


Our world lives under a curse that is so pervasive in our lives, we seldom recognize it. I call it the curse of the divided heart. In me, it manifests in good intentions not being as noble as I think, well-made plans that are fatally flawed, and words or actions that betray what is deep inside me.

We all, from our first ancestors onward, are torn between good or evil, black or white, today or tomorrow, win or lose, me or you. These are the polarities we find ourselves between, often faced with choosing one or the other. The tricky part is these choices are not nearly as extreme or obvious as they might seem. Deep down, our heart struggles with itself, because it wants to choose or do more than one thing. In Romans 7, Paul compares this to a war within ourselves.

David—Israel’s greatest king—anguished over this dilemma himself. We know his life was full of people and opportunities that could—and did—pull him in different directions. The Bible recounts his victories and travails, often the result of choices he made from his heart. We also find his honest wrestling with this condition throughout the psalms.

I join David in crying out, “Transform me Lord! Your way is different than ours—beautiful, mysterious, holy.” If we could only learn this way, we could live differently, better. I could get out of this struggle I have against my own self. I could live the way he created me to be. The key, as David knew so well, is our heart. But the wholeness he desired can only be given by God. We can’t will it; our hearts must be healed by One far greater than us. This is more than just learning to do right instead of wrong. This is a heart transplant!

David is asking for a heart like God’s. If we were to possess one, we would know God deeply, fear and honor him, praise him with all our heart…forever. It would resonate with God’s, sing to it, dance with it. This is what we all want because this is what we were made for. Our hearts are meant to be undivided and eternal, connecting us to our Creator at the deepest level possible.

Jesus shows us what it can and should look like. I’ve often asked how Jesus chose who to heal (or not), where to go, what to say. Maybe he didn’t choose. Perhaps he knew because his heart was not divided but completely given and bound to the Father. Indeed, the way, truth, and life is the One we join with David in seeking. He is the One with the power to transform our hearts, not simply by instructions or actions, but by perfectly living out the heart of God and making the way for us to do the same.

Teach me your way of undivided love; wholehearted for all, no internal struggle, no favorites—this is true and eternal life. Free me from this curse of needing to choose, except to choose you. Join me with your limitless heart of love, changing mine to be like yours. May it be so, now and forever. Amen.

REFLECTION


Re-read the psalm several times slowly. What divides your heart? What might God be saying to you about these things?


Take some time to picture what life with an undivided heart would look like for you.


Write out a prayer in response to God.

TRANSFORM: DAY 38

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 38


Job 42:1-6

Job answered GOD: "I'm convinced: You
can do anything and everything. Nothing
and no one can upset your plans. You
asked, 'Who is this muddying the water,
ignorantly confusing the issue, second-
guessing my purposes?'

I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on
about things far beyond me, made small
talk about wonders way over my head.
You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the
talking. Let me ask the questions. You
give the answers.' I admit I once lived by
rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—
from my own eyes and ears! I'm sorry—
forgive me. I'll never do that again, I
promise! I'll never again live on crusts of
hearsay, crumbs of rumor." (The Message)

MEDITATION by Steve Hall


I feel for Job. He had things going well, everything in its place. The future was bright…until God allowed Satan to make an example of him. We often use Job’s challenges to define our understanding of suffering and the work of the devil. My problem is I often feel too much like Job, but not for the reasons you might think.

Job had his life under control. The need for control was his problem, as it is often mine. After the opening account of the destruction of his family and fortune, we see Job trying to understand why things are happening so he can get his life back under control. He “muddies the waters” and has a meltdown as he faces his inability to control the situation, and even finds himself “second-guessing” God for answers (Job 40:2).

In May 2006, my wife, Sally, and I were in our final interview with CRM. During the interview, our son, Josh, called and told us that our house was being robbed. The next day after accepting the call to Enterprise International, we learned that Sally had colon cancer. She had surgery the next month. Like Job, I was no longer in control. Past ministry experience and my familiarity with cancer protocols were no match for the growing black hole in my spiritual equilibrium.

When God challenges Job about the movements of the universe (Job 38-42), Job gains God’s perspective and relinquishes his need for control into the omnipotent hands of the Divine. He states, “I’m convinced, no one can upset your plans.” Job then gives the reason behind his habit of seeking control and failing to trust. He has only presumed to know God intimately. He says, “I have lived by rumors but now I have it all firsthand.”

Like Job, I, too need to seek God on his terms. As the doctor finds cancer, or when the surgery is followed by 15 days in the hospital with my bride fighting for her life, my own strength fails. I can’t fix it, and the successes of the past no longer matter as I seek God with no veneer, no pretense—just dependence.

Now looking back, I wish I had known what Jesus knew when he hung on the cross. His intentional intimacy with the Father allowed him to release his pain and fears into God’s will. His lack of need to control proclaims, “Forgive them, Father, they don’t understand.” May we become more like Jesus, transformed everyday as we seek God more intimately.




REFLECTION


How do you respond when life feels difficult or out of control?


What events in your past led you to lose control and seek intimacy with the Father?


When we get the control factor aligned in our lives, we usually have some repenting to do. Where are you trying to be in control and need to release, relax, and repent?

TRANSFORM: DAY 37

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 37


Mark 2:21-22

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth
on an old garment. If they do, the new
piece will pull away from the old, making
the tear worse. And people do not pour
new wine into old wineskins. If they do,
the wine will burst the skins, and both
the wine and the wineskins will be ruined.
No, they pour new wine into new
wineskins." (TNIV)




MEDITATION BY Rob Yackley


A few years ago, a friend visited our missional community in South Africa to talk about the church in our changing world. Daniel began by asking us this question: “What was the last church you attended?” While most of us instinctively responded by naming the church where we last attended a worship service, the youngest guy in the room responded in a whole different light. His answer signaled that he had actually begun to imagine a new reality.

Ryan replied, “Well, when I came downstairs this morning and was cooking breakfast with some of you, I was experiencing church in the kitchen. And then when we met in the lounge to pray; I was experiencing church there too. And now as we’re sitting here in this room having this conversation, I’m experiencing church again. So to answer your question, the last church I attended has been the one I’ve been with all morning.” Ryan’s answer revealed more than just a new way of thinking. It revealed an insight about church that was actually allowing the Spirit of God to breathe fresh life into him and us—life that was taking hold and not tearing away at the seams.

The lesson in the parable of the wineskin is straightforward: whenever the Spirit breathes fresh life into God’s people, they will need to create new forms and expressions to take it in and live it out. But letting go of what is familiar to forge something new is neither simple nor popular.

In the verses surrounding this parable, we find Jesus and his followers under serious scrutiny. They’re hanging out with sketchy characters. They’re feasting instead of fasting. They’re blurring the lines between the secular and the sacred. You can almost hear their detractors saying, “Hey, you aren’t taking your faith very seriously. In fact, you’re exhibiting a wholesale lack of respect and commitment to the way we do things around here.”

Jesus responds to these criticisms with this parable that challenges the religious status quo and marks the end of an era. He implies that it’s actually impossible to hold fresh movements of God in the structures and practices we’ve depended on in the past. Jesus challenges us to let go of the familiar routines that have shaped our experience and our identity and imagine a new reality in order to take in all that God is up to. A simple upgrade to the way we “do church” today won’t work any better than a simple upgrade of Judaism would have worked then.

It is one thing to give up something that’s inherently bad for us—whether for Lent or for the long run. It is another thing to shed something from our lives that feels core to our identity and our sense of belonging. But that is exactly what Jesus asks us to do in the parable of the wineskins.




REFLECTION


If you are not being criticized for following Jesus, why might that be?


What religious routines are you holding onto that need to be torn out of your experience to make room for God?


What would a life-giving community of faith look like to you?

TRANSFORM: DAY 36

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 36


Psalm 86:1-4

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy. Preserve
my soul, for I am a godly man; O you my
God, save your servant who trusts in you.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, For to you I
cry all day long. Make glad the soul of
your servant, For to you, O Lord, I lift up
my soul. (NASB)

MEDITATION BY Joyce Lievano


Nobody likes affliction, and pain is not a welcome companion. But such experiences are powerful magnets, drawing us to cry out to the Listener, the Eternal Father, and Sustainer of the Universe.

My husband, Francisco, has lived this psalmist's prayer throughout his personal experiences with hardship, pain, and affliction. His family lived on
the border of Colombia and Venezuela on a steep hill in a house with no running water. Orphaned by a father at the age of 10, Francisco worked to help his mother take care of their family of five. As the eldest son, he needed to carry water up to their house from a nearby stream. He had jobs such as collecting flowering branches and tying them up to make brooms, taking rocks out of the stream to sell, and selling vegetables at the market. Going to school was not an option, so he applied himself to learn on his own. Using the Bible, Francisco’s mother taught him the alphabet; he then taught himself to read. Later, a missionary tutored him.

He also learned how to preach under the guiding example of another missionary. During his adolescent years, the missionary sent Francisco to preach in neighboring mountain towns with no Gospel witness. When Francisco was not selected for military service at 18, he consecrated his life to serve God and his people.

After graduating from Bible school in Venezuela, Francisco continued his mountain treks and traveled non-stop for seven years. Severe persecution of Christians prevailed in Colombia then, and many believers died for their faith. At different times, Francisco's beverage was laced with poison, a bomb exploded at a church where he was sleeping, he was jailed, and he was chased by a man intent on killing him for preaching Christ. Once, two large men suddenly stood by Francisco at the pulpit to protect him. A drunk man, upset to learn that he was “dead in his trespasses and sin,” had walked up the aisle with his machete drawn. Upon hearing "but God, who is rich in mercy,” the man returned the machete to its sheath.

Then Francisco went through 27 years of personal crisis that prevented his itinerant speaking ministry. Limited to writing, editing, translating, and teaching at a Bible institute in Venezuela, Francisco learned meekness, gentleness, and humility as God developed in him a quiet spirit and a soft answer. He cultivated a deep, unmovable trust in God in spite of the daily storms. Soon after Francisco's personal crisis passed, invitations to preach came pouring in from all over Venezuela. Since then, Francisco has been traveling almost every weekend to preach.

Affliction may not be our choice, but our Lord inclines his ear to our cries. Jesus knows and understands our pain since he himself experienced agony. In the midst of difficult times, let us lift up our souls to him and allow him to conform us to his image.




REFLECTION


How do you respond to pain? How can you welcome it as a friend that will draw you to intimate communion with the God of mercy and comfort? In the middle of the storm, does your gladness come from God? Ask God for his joy, as you lift up your heart in worship and trust.


This psalm was probably on Jesus’ heart often. His example of total trust in the Father strengthens my feeble trust, as I “consider him who has endured…” (Hebrews 12:3).


How is God working in your character to prune, to cultivate, and to mold you into the likeness of Jesus?

TRANSFORM: DAY 35

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 35


Philippians 1:21

For to me, to live is
Christ and to die is gain. (NIV)




MEDITATION BY Christiana Rice


Several years ago, I had the opportunity to go to a restricted-access nation in Asia.

I packed my suitcase full of Bibles and ventured off on a 10-day trip with a small group of Japanese Christians. We traveled from city to city by bus or plane, delivering Bibles to home church leaders all over the country.

At our last stop, we visited an elderly pastor who had been arrested multiple times and had spent 18 years in prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in his city. Everything about this man pointed to Jesus: he breathed Jesus’ words, lived like Jesus lived, and his ultimate passion and pursuit in life was intimacy with Jesus—even in the face of persecution and death. I’ll never forget the light in his eyes as he introduced us to his faith community and told us of all the miracles they had seen as they served God together. As we left the pastor’s home, he handed me his business card with Revelation 2:10 written at the top. He pointed to the verse and said with a beaming smile, “This is my life verse!” It read, “Be thou faithful unto death.”

Later that night I looked up the scripture. The whole passage reads, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

The humanity of Christ came to life for me on this trip. When I picture Christ, sometimes he looks like an elderly Asian man with bright eyes and a beaming smile. My pastor friend followed the ways of Jesus in simplicity and purity—he practiced hospitality, pursued peace and justice, laid down his own needs for the needs of others, and loved his friends and enemies.

For him, to live was Christ. Yet anticipation, or even a longing for life beyond this world, meant hope for tomorrow, no matter what the circumstance.

Jesus came to earth to show us how to live and love…and how to die. As his followers, we learn to walk in sync with the rhythms of Jesus’ life and death, empowered by his Spirit moving in us. The deliverance of Jesus frees us from fear of death and instills in our souls a hope for life beyond this world.

Then we can say along with Paul, “…it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:20-21).




REFLECTION


Spend a moment reflecting on the humanity of Christ. In his journey to the cross, which of Jesus' experiences remind you of his humanity?


What does it look like to honor Christ with your body and be faithful even to the point of death?


Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a renewed hope for abundant life and eternal intimacy with Jesus.

TRASFORM 34

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 34


2 Corinthians 1:3-6

Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father
and the God who gives every possible
encouragement; he supports us in every
hardship, so that we are able to come to
the support of others, in every hardship
of theirs because of the encouragement
that we ourselves receive from God.

For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow
into our lives; so too does the encouragement
we receive through Christ. So if we have
hardships to undergo, this will contribute to
your encouragement and your salvation; if we
receive encouragement, this is to gain for you
the encouragement which enables you to bear
with perseverance the same sufferings as we do.
(New Jerusalem Bible)


MEDITATION BY Alastair Rundle


It was November 10, 2008. I had been receiving treatment for lymphoma, preparing for an autologous stem cell transplant in the New Year. This
journey was my family’s sole focus. The proximity of death was very real, and yet there was at work in us an awareness of a hope that reaches beyond the grave.

While I was praying that morning, an encouraging image came to mind. When sailors measured the depth of the ocean, they would throw a “sounding line” over the side of the boat that was notched at fathom intervals. When the weighted end of the line rested on the ocean floor, it was pulled back up, the notches counted, and the depth fathomed.

But the sounding line had its limits. Deep water required a “deep-sea lead,” but it was a time-consuming process. There were regions of the ocean that could not be measured. They were fathomless.

Suffering takes a person to the depths. Some suffering is measured with a "sounding line,” but great suffering is measured with a “deep-sea lead.” This kind is more time and life consuming, yet all suffering has a bottom and can be fathomed.

But the entirety of the ocean of God’s powerful love cannot be fathomed. It is just too deep. In it, our suffering dissolves and we find we are not crushed—as one would be in the depths of the ocean—but carried.

Later that day, as I left our laundromat, I noticed a man standing at the corner. As I turned to pass him, our eyes met. “How are you doing?” I asked.

He replied, “I don’t have anywhere to go. I’m homeless, man.” “I’m sorry to hear that, I said, life can be hard. But what about your inside, your soul, how are you doing?” “Oh! I guess I’m alright.”

Pointing to my bald head, I told him of my affliction and the treatment I was undergoing, sharing with him the image of the sounding line from that morning. “You see, there is a bottom to our suffering, but there is no limit to the depth of God’s love for us. He will carry you.” Tears ran down his cheeks and we embraced for a long time. “Thank you, man…and God bless you.”

When we share from hardship—from our suffering—and point to the fathomless love that enables us to bear it all, brothers are born, community is formed, and hope is kindled.




REFLECTION


In this season of Lent, how might God be asking you to let him transform your suffering, either current or past? Open your heart to him; he is able to carry you.


Remember a time when you received encouragement from God in the mist of hardship. What were the circumstances?


With whom might God be asking you to share the encouragement you have received?

TRANSFORM: DAY 33

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 33


2 Corinthians 5:14-17

For Christ's love compels us, because we
are convinced that one died for all, and
therefore all died. And he died for all, that
those who live should no longer live for
themselves but for him who died for them
and was raised again. So from now on
we regard no one from a worldly point of
view. Though we once regarded Christ in
this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come! (NIV)


MEDITATION BY Jon Moore


We at CRM are fond of saying that Christians have a choice to make in regards to this world—to withdraw or engage. We see ourselves as a community of engagement. The challenge of such a commitment is that when we engage, we are more personally burdened by the reality of fallen creation.

Everywhere we go or look, we see pain, dysfunction, pride, deceit, violence—
the list is familiar. We see it not only outside our door, but also inside our communities and relationships. As Paul told the Philippians, “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.”

I spend a lot of my time inside the internal workings of CRM, an organization of broken but redeemed people, straining with all their might to serve Christ and the Church. From time to time, I find myself reacting to the inevitable offenses and failures of others by focusing on the affront, experiencing discouragement and separating myself from them. But then I realize that Christ died for all, and that I must not derive my ultimate view of those around me from their brokenness, which is universal, but from the fact that Christ loves and desires to redeem all.

Paul tells us that if we are in Christ, we are new creations. In terms of inspiration and hope, this is huge. He doesn’t just mean we are renewed. If that was the scope of it, we would merely be a breath of fresh air in an old world. It’s bigger than that. Through us, God introduces something new into creation, something that wasn’t there before: lives that have the power to contradict and transcend the old world. As new creations, we can overcome, believe, and attempt things beyond the static metrics of a fallen creation.

Knowing that I am working alongside those who are part of Christ’s new creation changes my perspective. I view their earthly struggles through the compassion of Christ and expect that they will see my struggles in a similar way. I believe they can change the world in ways that others cannot, and I give thanks that I co-labor with them.

As my eyes are opened to Christ's new creation, my burden feels lighter and my discouragement is transformed into hope. I am again excited to have been called to Christ’s work of making all things new.




REFLECTION


Who in your life causes you problems, work, stress, or embarrassment as they go about their tasks? Have you written them off as the “sum of their offenses?”


Who do you find yourself regularly offending as you go about your work or activities?


As a new creature, how can you respond to and move beyond the slights, affronts, and discourtesies that you experience from the new creatures that make up your community?

TRANSFORM: DAY 32

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 32


Ezekiel 36:25-28

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you,
and you will be clean; I will cleanse you
from all your filthiness and from all
your idols.

Moreover, I will give you a new heart
and put a new spirit within you; and
I will remove the heart of stone from
your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put my Spirit within you and cause
you to walk in my statutes, and you will
be careful to observe My ordinances.
You will live in the land that I gave to
your forefathers; so you will be My
people, and I will be your God. (NASB)


MEDITATION BY Larry Lighty


Words cannot fully convey the enormous impact this passage has had on my life. In the early years of my walk with God, the picture of the “heart transplant” evoked powerful responses deep within me.

Without condemnation, I was convicted anew of my fallen nature and of the sure knowledge that my stony heart would never enable me to adequately love him or live life his way.

It also uncovered and kindled in me a deep, holy longing to be “free from this body of death” and transformed into the person that he yearns for me to be. For decades, in fact, this passage helped fuel my hope and motivation for the long journey of faith, even in the face of the inevitable setbacks and challenges.

In my mid-50s now, I look back with gratitude on the ways he has brought forth growth and healing in me. Yet, I’ve also found myself as troubled as ever when I still slip up in certain areas that I’ve repeatedly tried to change. At those times, discouragement can set in even though I know he loves me unconditionally. Occasionally, I am even tempted to conclude that I am hopelessly stuck or too old to change. Yet, through this passage from Ezekiel, my hope is renewed.

First, it reminds me that God’s promise is not nullified by my setbacks. A new heart is mine, one that loves God and is responsive to him! It cannot help but beat more in synchrony with his heart as the years go by.

Second, this “transplant” is beyond a one-time event at my conversion. Other passages clarify that its outward manifestation is a step-by-step process that continues to emerge over time. In fact, I can glance back and see that I have been growing, mostly bit by bit, even in those areas that are more resistant to change.

Third, I’ve been struck with who the driving force is for the transformation promised in this passage: it is not you or me…it is him. It’s his work, not ours. He emphasizes this point six times in these few verses alone. While it’s true that he asks us to share his yoke, it’s also clear that he bears the brunt of the load.

For me, these insights bring renewed hope and encouragement, especially when the journey gets rough. I may find myself discouraged like the exiles in Babylon or the disciples in the dark hours before the resurrection, but I do well to remember that transformation, God’s triumph, is lingering just beyond the horizon.




REFLECTION


What aspects of this passage, if any, stir up yearning or other strong feelings in you?


Ponder again how crushed the disciples must have felt after Jesus’ crucifixion and burial; and how God planned to turn apparent tragedy into triumph and transformation.


Recall a time in your life when, despite your discouragement or despair, God opened a pathway for change or growth. What might be a next step you could take to better fuel your “heart of flesh?”

TRANSFORM:DAY 31

GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TO YOU, SO THAT IN ALL THINGS AT ALL TIMES HAVING ALL THAT YOU NEED, YOU WILL ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK.

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 31


John 20:24-29

Now Thomas (called 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 it.”

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!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have
seen me, you have believed; blessed are
those who have not seen and yet have
believed.” (NIV)


MEDITATION BY Dave Zovak


Thomas’ world was in chaos when he first heard his friends' wild claims. Everyone was reeling from Jesus’ midnight arrest, lightning trial, and brutal crucifixion. The once-bold and miracle-wielding disciples had been so shattered that they gathered in secret following Jesus’ death.

So when Thomas was told of Jesus’ resurrection, it’s not surprising he had trouble believing. Undoubtedly, a part of him wished to believe; however, he would need more than second-hand accounts to get him there.

As I reflect on this text, I can’t help but ponder why Jesus waited seven days to re-appear. Why the delay? Was Jesus busy?

I suspect Jesus knew his disciples, especially Thomas, needed time for their faith to grow. Even though they had come to love and trust him, appearing to them was something different. The disciples needed time to be transformed into people of resurrection faith.

When Jesus did appear a second time, he greeted Thomas with an invitation to examine and touch his crucifixion wounds. Thomas responded, not in defensiveness or lingering doubt, but with the bold proclamation of “Lord and God.”

Something had begun inside Thomas when he first heard the claims of his friends, even though his doubts limited his faith. Yet, God worked in him over the week, preparing him for more. His doubts hadn’t disqualified him from discipleship. In fact, they became the very means by which God would take Thomas into a deeper faith.

This is how God often works with me. Frequently, when God wants to lead me into new spiritual territory, I find myself in an unsettling time of spiritual confusion or insecurity. Due to my intellectual smugness and spiritual laziness, God wisely tills the soil of my soul by leading me into experiences that require faith and maturity beyond what I currently possess.

Confusion and doubts often precede a faith transformation. It was true for Thomas and it has been true for me. I used to dread feeling “out of my depth” in my faith, but I am learning to welcome it as I have experienced God’s transforming graces.




REFLECTION


Think of a time when you found it hard to believe in God’s power, goodness, or presence. How were your doubts and fears transformed into faith?


What current doubts might God be inviting you to acknowledge and bring to him?


Some historians have been kinder to Thomas and called him “Thomas the Believer” based on his bold faith declaration. What nickname would you like to be called?

TRANSFORM: DAY 30

GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TO YOU, SO THAT IN ALL THINGS AT ALL TIMES HAVING ALL THAT YOU NEED, YOU WILL ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK.

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 30


Galatians 4:6-7

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit
of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who
calls out, “Abba, Father.”

So you are no longer a slave, but a son;
and since you are a son, God has made
you also an heir. (NIV)

MEDITATION BY Bryan Ward


In recent years, God has helped me to accept my true identity—that I am his beloved child. I have learned more about being a beloved child of God from my experience as a father than I ever did from my experience of being a son. There is something about seeing the parent-child relationship from a father’s perspective that gives new meaning to what it means for me to be a son.

When children are young, they soak up the attention and love that surround them. They are carefree in the care of their parents. Then, somewhere in life, they seem to take upon themselves the expectations of their parents—
spoken or unspoken, real or imagined. I have seen this in my own life and now I see it in the lives of my children. Just the other day my son said to me, “You want me to be perfect!” Although I have never said that, he has gotten that expectation from somewhere. Again, real or imagined, it doesn't matter. If I don't speak truth into his heart, then the lie of “perfection” will not only affect the way my son relates to me, but also the way he processes life.

I have seen a similar pattern in my journey as a Christ-follower. Daily, I find myself fighting the idea that there is something I must do to please God, that there is some expectation that I must live up to—some level of maturity I must attain and some degree of success that I must achieve. Most of the time, I feel more responsible than responsive to God.

If these thoughts and expectations go unchecked, I find myself chasing illusions that only lead me farther from my heart. I find myself hiding from God out of guilt and shame. Rather than hiding, I am learning to invite God into those places where I go astray, struggle, or fall short of fulfilling his design for me.

Our heavenly Father desires to be invited into our lives so that we might walk through it with him, not alone without him. He has even put the Spirit in our hearts in order to assist us, to help us call upon his name—“Abba, Father.” It is a passionate cry for intimacy, belonging, and closeness. And the Father's answer to such a cry is always, “Come be with me.”

We will continue to look for transformation in all the wrong places until we transform the way we see the Father, his love, and his desires for us, until we transform the way we see ourselves—as true sons and daughters and the “apple of his eye.” This requires us to trust that he is who he says he is, that he always has our best interest in mind, and that he is ever-present and eager to be with us. Within such a relationship of trust, we can be carefree in the care of our Father. This is where genuine transformation begins.




REFLECTION


Imagine God thinking about you. What do you assume God feels when you come to mind? The author David G. Benner suggests “that when God thinks of you, love swells in his heart and a smile comes to his face” (Surrender To Love, p.16).


Take a few minutes to reflect on how you relate to God. In what areas of your life do you still relate to God more as a slave rather than a son or daughter?


How might your daily life look different if you lived in the freedom of a child who fully trusts and believes in their father? Take some time to consider this with your heavenly Father.

IGNITE: DAY 29

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 29


Psalm 118:22-24

The stone the builders rejected has
become the chief corner stone; this is the
LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made; Let us
rejoice and be glad in it. (NASB)


MEDITATION BY Samantha Baker Evens


When I was 16, I was privileged to actually watch the process of the placement of a cornerstone. I was in Kenya and the builders carefully squared off a large stone using a chisel, hammer, and a plumb line.

They then placed the stone in the corner of the building, checking each side and adjusting the placement. The entire process for placing the corners of two buildings took the majority of a day, but as soon as they were done, the walls went up quickly, each stone in line with the cornerstone.

Watching the builders at work, it was easy to see what would cause a builder to reject a stone. The builders looked for rocks that were large, weight-bearing stones, not flawed or cracked—rocks that were already roughly square to save themselves from having to chisel too much.

Jesus as the formerly rejected cornerstone was not flawed, but he did come in an unexpected shape and in atypical circumstances. Born in a manger and raised as the son of a carpenter, Jesus, the oddly shaped stone, didn't immediately heal the obvious ills of the world, but forgave sins and reconciled us to our Creator. He ushered in a Kingdom that is similarly odd and surprisingly shaped. Donald Kraybill memorably called it “The Upside-Down Kingdom.” In the Kingdom of God, the first are last and the last are first. Luke tells us that the wealthy weep and Matthew says the poor boast and are blessed. Giving a small donation can mean more than giving a large one; and James shows us that wealthy, talented, or important people are not shown partiality.

In the Kingdom, we look forward joyfully to those seasons when we are suffering and we do nice things for our enemies and those who actively try to hurt us, but we leave our family and our aged parents behind. Instead of worrying about not having enough, we give away what we have. Jesus said the more we lose ourselves, the more we find ourselves. And the Kingdom is not far away in space or time, but is already among us (Luke 17:21). We, too, try to live our lives according to Jesus' teachings, aligning ourselves with Christ. The challenge is to not avoid but to try to practice Jesus' continually uncomfortable words over the course of our entire faith journey.

A key spiritual discipline, therefore, in the upside-down Kingdom of the oddly shaped Christ is the practice of doing out-of-the-box Kingdom things. When we respond to Jesus' example and actively step out of our comfort zone—the status quo, what is expected, and what is normal—on a regular basis, we give God the opportunity to gradually chisel away attitudes and habits that are not life-giving and to bring our values and life practices in line with the Cornerstone.




REFLECTION


Consider doing one or more of the out-of-the-box Kingdom acts listed here:

Give money anonymously and directly to someone from a developing country who you will never meet or gain anything from and who can't thank you.


Spend some time this Lent offering different aspects of your life (work, family, home, school, theology, recreation, church, etc.) up to God one by one and give him permission to call you outside of what is comfortable or the status quo in each one.


Do something kind, with no expectation of return, for someone who really bugs you, or go through the uncomfortable and lengthy process of forgiving someone who has hurt you. (For help on this, see Linn, Linn, and Linn's book, Don't Forgive Too Soon: Extending the Two Hands that Heal.)

IGNITE: DAY 28

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 28


Romans 12:1-2

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies
a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable
to God, which is your spiritual service
of worship.

And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove what the
will of God is, that which is good and
acceptable and perfect. (NASB)




MEDITATION BY Steve Hubler


These words mark the turning point in Paul’s letter to the Romans. In the preceding chapters, Paul describes the unbounded mercy they had already received: Jesus suffered the death they deserved, granting them redemption and everlasting life. This act of immeasurable grace triggered the urgent appeal that follows. Paul pleads with them to present themselves to God without reservation and without condition, and to live as servants of his will. In this posture, they would find their minds renewed and God’s will accomplished through them.

Jesus modeled this life of submission and service as he sat alone in Gethsemane praying to his Father to be released from the cross. This was a leveraged moment—a moment in which one small act on his part resulted in an impact many times greater than the act itself.

With the specter of the cross before him, Jesus submitted to his Father’s sovereignty and said, “…not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:42). In that moment, Jesus presented himself to God without reservation and without condition. He denied everything that could compete with his allegiance to God’s will. He maintained the posture of a servant and chose the path of the cross. And in that one act, Jesus ignited a revolution against the bondage of sin in the souls of mankind. The will of God was done through him.

In this season of Lent, I’m reminded of a leveraged moment in my own life. During the recent economic boom, I found myself considering one more major purchase that would complete my version of the American dream. I would have the house, cars, toys, and vacations I'd always wanted. In that moment of decision, the voice of the world said, "Serve yourself." But the voice of God said, "Serve Me."

Thankfully, I chose to ignore the voice of the world. I didn't make that last purchase. Instead, I downsized my home, sold unneeded possessions, eliminated my debt and adopted a simple lifestyle. That choice has made all the difference. I am now free to respond to his immeasurable grace by living as
a servant of his will instead of my lifestyle.

After nearly 30 years of following Christ, I wish I could tell you I choose well every time, but that is not the case. Instead, I struggle daily with the desire to serve myself instead of God. But Jesus is faithful. In the wake of each selfish choice, the mercy of the cross compels me to return to the altar and offer
myself once again into his service. There, Christ rekindles my passion to be used by him in anticipation of one day seeing how great an impact was made for his Kingdom through my simple and flawed service to him.




REFLECTION


What was the last leveraged moment you experienced in which you had to choose between serving God and serving yourself?


In that moment, what was the voice of the world saying to you? What was God saying to you?


In view of the mercy of the cross that you have already received, what would have been your most reasonable response to the choice you faced? How might God have used that response to advance the purposes of his Kingdom?

IGNITE: DAY 27

SCRIPTURE READING - DAY 27


Colossians 2:6-7

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus
as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
rooted and built up in him, strengthened
in the faith as you were taught, and
overflowing with thankfulness. (TNIV)


MEDITATION BY Becca Rodgers


Pounding. Crashing. Relentless. I sit far back at the edge of my little stretch of beach and watch the waves.

They beat the shoreline, constantly changing and molding the long stretches of sand. Under their pressure, the landscape is ever turning and moving. Sometimes the waves are gentle and soothing, and other times their force is overpowering and raging with incredible strength.

Many people seek peace and solace in this place as they walk along the shoreline and touch the water’s edge daily, but few enter the waves. So often I am like these people. Even at God's invitation for intimacy, I do not enter the water because I don’t think the waves are worth the scars that come with building and strengthening against the sometimes gentle, sometimes terrifyingly painful shaping of God.

I watch as a woman limps past me weaving in and out of the waves. She is visibly scarred. Handicapped, one arm reaches crippled to the right while one knee will not bend. This broken woman reaches deep within to walk on the sand and in the water. She could spend her life begging to be made whole, never exposing her flaws to others. But she does not—she comes out of her house and courageously chooses the things that give her life. This woman, limping on the sand, enters the journey and the struggle, and she is breathtakingly beautiful.

A little girl comes to play in the water. This girl has a scar on her face, yet she captivates watchers as she giggles, reaches for her mother, and looks around at all who inhabit her stretch of beach. In high school, this girl will spend hours in the mirror covering her scar. She will hope, dream about, and pursue flawlessness. But for now she is free. All she needs is a glance from a stranger, and she pirouettes knowing that every eye is on her and she is the center of the world in that moment. Even the vast ocean loses attention when this little girl takes center stage. The scar that she carries makes her who she is, and she is breathtakingly beautiful.

As passersby looking at the waves, we know that God invites us to enter—not just to wade in the shallow water, but to allow him to completely engulf and shape us in the process. Yet we consider the cost too high. We have seen others scarred and bruised and we do not want to be so visibly broken, afraid of what the scars may do to us. But I want to be one of these beautifully scarred children of God. I don’t want to walk safely through my relationship with Christ, never encountering his shaping or carrying the mark of his correction. No matter the scars that I will carry, I want to enter the waves.

I am my Beloved’s, and his desire is for me.




REFLECTION


In picturing the image of water and waves, how is God speaking to you? What has he been saying to you within the past week?


What gentle waters or crashing waves has God used to build and strengthen you?


Are you willing to enter the waves and acquire scars? What steps do you need to take in response to his invitation for intimacy?