Verse of the Day

Matthew 20:18-19 (NIV)

"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

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Verse of the Day

Hebrews 9:15 (NIV)

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

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Verse of the Day

Proverbs 11:30-31 (NIV)

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

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Verse of the Day

Malachi 4:2 (NIV)

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

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Verse of the Day

3 John 1:4 (NIV)

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

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Devotions: Matthew 26:31-35

Jesus Again Predicts Peter's Denial

Points:
Jesus then told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

"I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered"

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee - Then Peter said, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will". Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times". But Peter could not believe this and tells Jesus, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you". All the other disciples said the same thing.

Problems:
The problem in this passage is how the disciples declare their undying devotion to Jesus, but only a few hours later they will all scatter in the face of persecution. I think they truly believed that they would never abandon Jesus, and God may have intervened in this matter. Yet, the truth remains that the disciples would say they did not know Jesus and were not his friends.

Parallels:
Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34

Promises:
In this passage, Jesus promises that nothing will be able to stop the death and resurrection of the Christ. Even the disciples, who have vowed undying love and devotion to Him, will fall away from him so that many will benefit from the sacrifice that is about to take place.

Perils:
The perils I see in this passage have to do with the disciples and how they are sure that they are not the one who will "fall away" from Jesus. All of them except Judas have no idea of what is about to take place and the importance it will have on all mankind.

Precepts:
The command I find in this passage comes from the actions of the disciples. How can they protect Jesus and at the same time allow his sacrifice for the greater good of man? For this reason, I find that God may have intervened with the disciples and revealed to them the importance of what Jesus was about to go through. In this case, the precept is one of obedience. To not act on my own behalf, but do what is right for the greater benefit of all man.

Applications:
I can apply this message in my life today by being obedient to God and acting, not selfishly and for my own benefit, but for the greater good of all man. I should love my neighbor as my self and love my God with all of my strength, all of my mind, and all of my spirit. In this way I will continue to build my relationship with Him and recognize His voice. I can only hope that I will never "disown" my belief in the face of persecution, but I also know that I am human.

Verse of the Day

Ephesians 3:17-21 (NIV)

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

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Devotions: Matthew 26:17-30

The Lord's Supper

Points:
Jesus  and his disciples prepared for the Festival of Unleavened Bread by securing a room from a man in the city. At evening time Jesus sat down at the table with his 12 disciples. He told them that someone at the table would betray him. The disciples were distressed and each asked him if that disciple would be the one. "one of you who is eating with me now will betray me. For I, the Son of Man must die as the scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born". Then, as they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it, broke it apart, and gave it to the disciples saying, "Take it and eat it, for this is my body." Then Jesus took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. This he also gave to the disciples saying, "Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. Then Jesus said that he would not drink wine again "until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom".

Problems:
The biggest problem I see in this passage is the fact that one of Jesus' disciples will betray him to the authorities. But he does say that "I must die" to fulfill the prophesies and scriptures that were "declared long ago". So, if Jesus wasn't betrayed, would the prophecies have been fulfilled? Would the authorities have eventually found him or maybe he would have turned himself in?

Parallels:

Mk 14:12-16; Lk 22:7-13 26:20-24pp -- Mk 14:17-21 26:26-29pp -- Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:17-20; 1Co 11:23-25

Promises: 

Promises apparent in this passage is the "new covenant" between God and His people. Jesus' blood will be poured out to cleanse the sins of many. This is Jesus' and God's promise that we may be able to have a relationship with God regardless of our sinful nature as long as we profess Christ as our savior and repent.

Perils:

Jesus makes it clear that one of his disciples will betray him and that this betrayer will not be in such a good position. Jesus says, "But how terrible it will be for my betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born". What would've happened if the other disciples had found out who the betrayer was? The other perils I see are those who still refuse to acknowledge what Jesus has done for us and turn their backs on his sacrifice.

Precepts: 

The command or precept I find in this passage is the one of obedience. I should recognize the sacrifice that God has made for me and build my relationship with Him. The taking of holy communion is a "remembrance" of this sacrifice and I should partake in this to accept the blood and body of Jesus that was broken and spilled for me.

Applications:

I can apply this message in my life today by recognizing the sacrifice that was made for me and all men. I should be asking myself daily what can I do to be worthy of such a sacrifice, but then I know that all I have to do is repent from sin, build my relationship with God, and give praise and worship to the Great I Am for creating me in His image and making me perfect in His eyes. Thank you Lord and give me the opportunities to glorify you in all that I do today.

Verse of the Day

2 Samuel 22:4 (NIV)

I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.

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Devotions: Matthew 26:14-16

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Points:
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples went to the leading priests and asked them how much they would pay him to turn Jesus over to them. "And they gave him 30 pieces of silver". From that point on, Judas was always looking for an opportunity for the right time and place to betray Jesus.

Problems:
The biggest problem here is that one of Jesus' inner circle of disciples was going to betray him to the Jewish leaders. These are Jesus' closest friends and followers, yet one was willing to betray the Son of God for 30 pieces of silver.

Parallels:
Mark 14:10,11; Luke 22:3-6

Promises:
The promise I see in this passage is one of fulfilling the Old Testament prophesies of the sacrifice of an innocent for the benefit of all man. Judas has been demonized for his role in this, but without his betrayal, the leaders would not have arrested Jesus and fulfilled the prophecy. Obviously the promise here is from God who promises man to bridge the gap between their sins and Him. Jesus was a "sin" offering for all of us that we may have a relationship with the Father.

Perils:
I see the perils in this passage, as the arrest and subsequent crucifixion of Jesus, of those who do not accept what he did for us. There was a reason for Jesus' death on the cross and those who do not believe or accept this fact will be cast out into the darkness.

Precepts:
The command or precept I find in this passage is for all Christians to accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. Jesus died for all sinners that we may have everlasting and eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.

Applications:
I can apply this message in my life today by believing that Jesus was the Son of God and that he died on the cross for me. Because of this beautiful sacrifice, there is a way for me to have a relationship with God regardless of my sins. Thank you Lord for loving me this much that you would send your only Son to die so I might live.

Verse of the Day

2 Peter 1:16 (NIV)

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

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Verse of the Day

Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NIV)

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

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Devotions: Matthew 26:6-13

A Woman Anoints Jesus With Perfume

Points:
At the home of Simon the Leper in Bethany, Jesus was anointed with expensive perfume by a woman in the house. After witnessing this, the disciples became upset with the woman and told her that she had wasted the perfume that could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor. Jesus then points out to them that the woman had done a "beautiful" thing for him. He said, "The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured the perfume on me, she prepared me for burial". Then Jesus told them that this gospel should always include the fact that this woman had done this for him and to do this will be in memory of her.

Problems:
The disciples were quick to chastise the woman for wasting a valuable commodity, but they failed to see her purpose. I wonder how the disciples felt after hearing Jesus tell them that she had done a good thing for him and why they hadn't performed some similar form of preparation?

Parallels:
Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-11

Promises:
In this passage Jesus makes the promise to the woman who had anointed him with the perfume that this act of hers will always be mentioned in the gospel. By doing this, Jesus has preserved the memory of this woman for others to witness. I am also relatively sure that this woman, by definition of this act, revered Jesus and recognized him as the Messiah. Not only will her actions be honored, but also her faith and belief.

Perils:
The perils I see here are those who had witnessed the miracles Jesus had performed and the prophecies he had spoken, but not even those who walked with him realized or even condoned the act of kindness that this woman had shown him. To me this message speaks of those who think they know Jesus and may even have a special relationship with him, but fail to show, in the most basic way, they understand what this means.

Precepts:
The precept or command I see in this passage is that we should not judge the actions of others. This woman was doing a most "beautiful" thing for Jesus, but others viewed her actions as wasteful and maybe even harmful. All we can do is to build our own relationship with Jesus and accept that others are doing what they need to do for this relationship as well.

Applications:
I can apply this message in my life today first to remember the woman who did such a wonderful thing for Jesus, and then to ask myself, "What have I done today that Jesus would want it written down somewhere for everyone to read about"? I cannot judge the relationship others have with Jesus, but I can nurture mine. This is the only thing that is important.

Verse of the Day

Hosea 6:1-2 (NIV)

"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.

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