dry wood calamity

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-14

devotional post # 2077

Luke 23:26-31

Luk 23:26 And as they led him off, they grabbed one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
Luk 23:27 And a large crowd there followed him, consisting of the local people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.
Luk 23:28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not cry for me, but cry for yourselves and for your children.
Luk 23:29 Because notice, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate are the barren and the uteruses that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
Luk 23:30 At that time they will start saying to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’
Luk 23:31 Because if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

dry wood calamity

Jesus warned of a great calamity that would come upon Jerusalem in the future. It is difficult to say which calamity he had in mind. He may have been referring to the destruction of Jerusalem he predicted that would take place within a generation – 70 AD. Or, he may have been looking further into the future to the WWII holocaust. Either way, his point was that the choices made by his generation would come back to them in the form of unspeakable tragedy.

LORD, help us to make choices today which will bless us and our descendants tomorrow.

Posted in discipleship, faithfulness, future | Tagged | Leave a comment

prevailing injustice

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-13

devotional post # 2076

Luke 23:13-25

Luk 23:13 Pilate then collected together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
Luk 23:14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as if he were misleading the people. But after examining him before you, notice, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him.
Luk 23:15 Neither did Herod, because he sent him back to us. Notice, nothing deserving death has been done by him.
Luk 23:16 I will therefore punish and release him.”
Luk 23:17
Luk 23:18 But they all yelled out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”–
Luk 23:19 a man who had been thrown into prison for a rebellion started in the city and for murder.
Luk 23:20 Pilate spoke out to them once more, wanting to release Jesus,
Luk 23:21 but they kept yelling, “Crucify, crucify him!”
Luk 23:22 A third time he asked them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.”
Luk 23:23 But they were insistent, demanding with loud yells that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed.
Luk 23:24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.
Luk 23:25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their purpose.

prevailing injustice

Neither Pilate nor Herod had found Jesus guilty of anything deserving death, but the loud yells of the chief priests and rulers prevailed over the concept of justice. It is often that way among us. What we know to be right is sacrificed to the highest bidder. Justice did not demand that the Lord be murdered that way. But injustice prevailed because its was the loudest voice.

The next time you catch yourself getting louder to make your case, stop and consider.

LORD, give us the wisdom to listen to voices other than the loudest, so that justice might prevail.

Posted in conscience, discernment, justice | Tagged | Leave a comment

entertainment and advancement

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-12

devotional post # 2075

Luke 23:6-12

Luk 23:6 After Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
Luk 23:7 Then, when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.
Luk 23:8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, because he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.
Luk 23:9 So he questioned him for a long time, but he made no answer.
Luk 23:10 The chief priests and the scribes stood nearby, forcefully accusing him.
Luk 23:11 Also, Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.
Luk 23:12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that same day, because before this they had been opponents of each other.

entertainment and advancement

Both Pilate and Herod treated Jesus as an object of their own amusement, and were only concerned with how they could use him for their own political advancement. I cannot help but draw a comparison to the way many in the world associate with the church for the same purposes: entertainment and advancement. He is the creator of all and Lord of all. But all some want from Jesus is to have their ears tickled every Sunday by some “good” preaching, or to find a friendly group they can use to advance your standing in the community.

LORD, forgive us for using you for our own purposes.

Posted in church, Jesus Christ | Tagged | Leave a comment

the dishonesty test

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-11

devotional post # 2074

Luke 23:1-5
Luk 23:1 Then the whole company of them got up and brought him before Pilate.
Luk 23:2 And they started accusing him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and preventing us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”
Luk 23:3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he responded to him, “You have said so.”
Luk 23:4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no cause to condemn this man.”
Luk 23:5 But they were insistent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”

the dishonesty test

Jesus’ accusers revealed the motivations of their hearts by the lies they told about him. Some people are habitual liars, but most people only lie for their own protection or benefit. The Jews in Jesus’ time had no love for Caesar, and obeyed him only out of fear. But they feared Jesus more. His claim to be the Christ forced them to choose between the lordship of Caesar and his lordship. Their dishonesty in their accusations showed what side they had chosen.

LORD, give us pure hearts singularly devoted to you.

Posted in honesty, loyalty, truth | Tagged | Leave a comment

what condemned a generation

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-10

devotional post # 2073

Luke 22:66-71

Luk 22:66 When day came, the group of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said,
Luk 22:67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe,
Luk 22:68 and if I ask you, you will not respond.
Luk 22:69 But starting now, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
Luk 22:70 Then they all asked, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.”
Luk 22:71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

what condemned a generation

There were four things that condemned Christ’s generation, and we can see them all in this text:

  1. They sat in judgment of Christ, rather than subject themselves to his judgment.
  2. They demanded proof of Jesus’ identity, but were not prepared to consider that proof.
  3. They refused to respond to the call to believe in Jesus
  4. They looked for an excuse not to believe, rather than a reason to believe.

Our generation is doing the same thing.

LORD, bring revival to our generation, before it is too late.

Posted in criticism, discernment, judgment | Tagged | Leave a comment

police brutality

Posted on July 9, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-9

devotional post # 2072

Luke 22:63-65

Luk 22:63 Now the men who were tormenting Jesus were ridiculing him as they beat him.
Luk 22:64 They also blindfolded him and kept telling him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”
Luk 22:65 And they said many other things against him, insulting him.

police brutality

Society naturally recoils when its police, who are to serve and protect, use their authority to brutalize and insult without restraint. These men were the temple police. They should have been models of integrity. Even if they did not know who their prisoner was, they had no excuse for how they treated him.

But look at Jesus, quietly taking it. He could have encouraged his disciples to get the population to riot, and the millions in the city at the time could have burned and looted it. It would not have solved anything. The real problem we all face is sin, and sin’s solution required a Savior going to the cross.

LORD, thank you for quietly taking the insults, and rescuing us from ourselves.

Posted in gentleness, integrity, Jesus Christ, violence | Tagged | Leave a comment

ashamed of being ashamed

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-8

devotional post # 2071

Luke 22:54-62

Luk 22:54 Then they arrested him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance.
Luk 22:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
Luk 22:56 Then a servant girl, when she saw him as he sat in the light and stared at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
Luk 22:57 But he denied it. This is what he said: “Woman, I do not know him.”
Luk 22:58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
Luk 22:59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.”
Luk 22:60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And at once, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
Luk 22:61 And the Lord turned around and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the statement of the Lord, that he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
Luk 22:62 And he went out and cried bitterly.

ashamed of being ashamed

The wisdom of Jesus’ words, and the power demonstrated by his miracles, and the holiness he demonstrated in his personal life had given Peter no reason to be ashamed — until now. Peter had just seen his master led away to be tried as a criminal. The pride with which he had just boasted of his never dying loyalty to Christ melted away like butter on a summer day. He was curious about what would happen at Jesus’ trial, but he wanted to keep his distance, because he was ashamed.

Cock-a-doodle doo. “What am I saying? I just told this servant girl that I do not know Jesus. How can I deny him like that?

Cock-a-doodle doo. “Again? What is wrong with me? Where is my backbone?

Cock-a-doole doo. “Three times? Didn’t Jesus say something about a rooster? Wait. He’s turning around. He seems to be looking straight at me? Does he know? Of course he knows. He is Jesus, and I just denied knowing him three times.”

LORD, we also feel shame for those times we have chosen the comfort of anonymity rather than confess our devotion to you.

Posted in commitment, shame | Tagged | Leave a comment

when darkness has the right

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-7

devotional post # 2070

Luke 22:47-53

Luk 22:47 While he was still talking, notice a crowd coming up, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, coming before them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him,
Luk 22:48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you hand over the Son of Man by kissing him with a kiss?”
Luk 22:49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”
Luk 22:50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and took off his right ear.
Luk 22:51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him.
Luk 22:52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
Luk 22:53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not try to arrest me. But this is your hour, and darkness has the right.”

when darkness has the right

I pray that all your life you will know God’s protection and provision. But I also warn you that some days might come upon you when you will be sure all the rules have been rewritten. Your friends may seem to misunderstand you, or even betray you. Your enemies may seem to have the right to mistreat you, or worse. What do you do on those strange, surreal times, when darkness seems to have been given the right to oppress you? It is okay to cry out against injustice. But it will also help to realize that God is in control of even that chaotic situation. If darkness seems to have the right to overpower you, you can be assured that it has that right for only an hour. Its power is only temporary.

LORD, give us the strength to endure the tough times, and keep our faith in you.

Posted in courage, perseverance, suffering | Tagged | Leave a comment

defensive posture

Posted on July 6, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-6

devotional post # 2069

Luke 22:39-46

Luk 22:39 And he came out and went, to the Mount of Olives like he used to, and the disciples followed him.
Luk 22:40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not go through tough times.”
Luk 22:41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,
Luk 22:42 saying, “Father, if you are have planned it, take this cup away from me. However, I want not what I want, but what you want to happen.”
Luk 22:43 But an angel from the sky appeared to him, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44 And being in agony he prayed more fervently; and his sweat became like drops of blood pouring on the ground.
Luk 22:45 And when he got up from praying, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping from depression,
Luk 22:46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into tough times.”

defensive posture

Some people wonder how the disciples could be so insensitive as to fall asleep when their lord is in such turmoil. I don’t. If I were there, I would be doing the same thing. My reflexes are to shut down emotionally when facing an intensely emotional experience. It is sometimes frustrating to those around me. For me, it is a defense against the pain. But Jesus challenged his disciples on that day to snap out of that defensive posture and address their depression head-on through prayer. That was the only way to prepare for the tough testing time that was to come.

LORD, show us how to use prayer as our defensive posture.

Posted in perseverance, prayer | Tagged | 1 Comment

paradigm change in evangelism

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Jefferson Vann

july-5

devotional post # 2068

Luke 22:35-38

Luk 22:35 And he said to them, “When I sent you out without moneybag or backpack or sandals, did you come up short of anything?” They said, “Nothing.”
Luk 22:36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a backpack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
Luk 22:37 Because I am telling you that this Scripture must be fulfilled by me: ‘And he was numbered with the criminals.’ Because what is written about me has its fulfillment.”
Luk 22:38 And they said, “Notice, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”

paradigm change in evangelism

When Jesus had previously sent his disciples out to preach the gospel, it was to audiences that considered them holy men, because of their association with Christ. But after his arrest and trial, conviction and crucifixion, his reputation would no longer automatically give them an audience. The disciples would no longer be able to assume that someone in a village or city would take them in to protect them and provide for them. They now had to provide for their own protection and provision.

LORD, when we send others to preach your word, give us the wisdom to provide the proper support for them.

Posted in evangelism, missions, preparation | Tagged | Leave a comment