Scripture:
Genesis 33:4 “But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.”
Observation:
Wow, when I first read this, I thought about appreciating the depth and forgiveness of brotherhood (what we’re all called into as believers) – when I came back to write it down, I thought about Jeff. I miss him often and I know that when we meet again in heaven, this is the scene I expect.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the years we had with Jeff – tell him we wish he was here… Thank you also for Michael – help us make the most of each other.
Scripture:
Luke 19: 5-5 “When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the crowds were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.”
Observation:
On a somewhat frequent basis, Christ dines or otherwise interacts with “notorious” sinners. What an interesting description – did they actually describe people like that? Do we do that anymore? I guess we certainly shun people who have committed the right (or wrong) kind of sin. I’m not really sure who I could identify as a “notorious” sinner though. I mean there are the headlining creeps who kidnap, violate, and murder; there are the Bernie Madoff’s, who would probably be closely identified with Zacchaeus… I wonder if this is a city size thing – these were much smaller communities. Hmm… In any case, Christ hung out with people – drew them to him – who were so offensive in their sin that it was offensive to others that he even had dinner with them. As much as I can spend time with God in devotions, I know I will never come close to meeting anyone truly like Christ. I’m not sure I would’ve wanted to live during that time – I fear what my reaction to Christ would’ve been – but to be able to somehow watch these events unfold … I look forward to heaven.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for being who you are. For being bigger than even the biggest sinners, and for having such presence. Thank you also for the people in my life who do reflect bits of you – let those reflections change me, that I might become Christ-like.
Scripture:
Ezekiel 42-44 is a description of the holiness of God’s temple, set apart for only a few to be in its presence. Revelation 22 describes the holiness of God’s eternal kingdom where all will be invited, and those who come will live together with God.
Observation:
What a striking difference. The temple God describes and the surrounding restrictions about who may be in His presence and in what manner points to the pure holiness of God as well as the magnitude of our sin. Combine this picture with the kingdom God offers to those following Christ points to the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice. In Christ, we are made perfect, we are made holy.
Application:
Christ’s sacrifice and my acceptance of this gift means I owe him everything. Not in an indebted sense, but from a wellspring of gratitude. The passage to heaven – to a place of absolute purity – is incredible for a sinner like me. The permission and ability to see the face of God (Rev 22:4) is unprecedented but for a scant few.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the sacrifice you made so I can stand in your presence. Let my life reflect this gratitude.
Scripture:
John 19:17-18 “Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill. There they crucified him.”
Observation:
I can’t imagine how John must’ve felt as he wrote these words. On one hand, his description of the scourging and death of Christ is cold and dispassionate. There is nothing that describes Christ’s pain, nothing that describes the confusion John must’ve felt watching this unfold. On the other hand, John is writing this years after the fact – well after the resurrection. How interesting to talk about death from this perspective. I think Jeff died peacefully, but he is still gone. It still moves me to think about. I wonder how I would feel if I saw him again three days later. How would I feel about his death then?
I imagine that chain of events was particularly difficult for John to describe – perhaps merely recording the events was all he could compose himself enough to do. However, he still sat from the vantage point that Christ’s death removed his sin, that Christ rose from the dead, and that when John died he would be with Jesus in heaven. This is the context which frames my life as well. Christ has removed my sin, and whatever happens to me in life, I will be in heaven with Christ at the end.
Application:
The only reasonable context for my life is forgiveness, joy, and expectation. When my actions don’t reflect these gifts, I need to reevaluate.
Prayer:
Thank you God for sending your son, Thank you Jesus for dying for me, a sinner.
Scripture:
John 8:1-11 – Jesus Forgives an Adulterous Woman
Observation:
I’m having a hard time putting together a particular thought for today’s reading. My first thoughts were about vs. 9 “they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left.” I imagine the slipping away had more to do with wisdom than age, per se. I want that wisdom. Then I began to think about Jesus’ response to this woman (standing in the middle of crowd of people staring – all of them aware of her exact sin) who was probably an emotional wreck. He gives a simple opportunity for change – “I’ll not condemn you for your sin, but go, and sin no more.” What strikes me is not Jesus’ love, but the similarity of the Christian church to the pharisees. We go and find sinners, not to bring them to Christ, but to stone them with words of condemnation. We write bills and rally for laws to “prevent sin.” Then we stand on and quote these laws instead of relying on YOUR Word. What concerns me even more is that I wonder about our ability to walk away. It’s not just “the world” that needs Jesus to return, it’s the church too. We need a powerful rebuke and a new example of love.
Prayer:
Lord, if you see fit, when the opportunity and need arises, I submit my life, my voice to you for this purpose.
