Day Two | The Book of Acts

Acts 2

Devotional by Garrett Hall

Read Acts 2

Acts 2

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.⁶And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” ¹²And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost

¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
¹⁸even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
¹⁹And I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
²⁰the sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
²¹And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

²²“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ²⁴God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
    for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
²⁶therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
    my flesh also will dwell in hope.
²⁷For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
    or let your Holy One see corruption.
²⁸You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

²⁹“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,³¹he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³²This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. ³³Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
³⁵ until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

³⁶Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

³⁷Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” ⁴¹So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴²And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Devotional

Today, we read about two monumental events in church history. The coming of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s sermon at Pentecost. These are two incredible events because (1) the Holy Spirit is now able to indwell believers when previously he would only rest on someone for a period of time (see the Prophets), and (2) Peter’s sermon at Pentecost is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, sermons ever preached.

However, I want to direct our focus to verses 42-47 and the fellowship of the believers. I want us to frame this in the context of a Life Group and see how the actions of the early church mirror our own Life Group core values: Invite, Learn, and Love.

First, we invite people into our lives so that they will invite Jesus into theirs. The early church “broke bread together and had fellowship with one another” (v. 42). They also attended the temple together and shared meals in each other’s homes. Because of this, they found favor with all people (v. 46-47).
Second, we learn to follow Jesus. Similarly, the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (v. 42).
Third, we love others by caring and ministering to them in the context of biblical community. Acts 2:44-45 states, “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” (v. 44-45). It’s important to note that the early church exercised voluntary generosity, it was not mandated.

How are you living out these core values in your Life Group?

Devotional, Holy Week 2023

Mary Magdalene | Holy Week 2023

Day 8: Mary Magdalene

Devotional by Abigail O’Neel

Read John 20:11-18

John 20:11-18

¹¹But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹²And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,^[a] “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Devotional

You likely don’t jump into an intimate relationship with someone without first growing in a knowledge of who they are. Most people view familiarity as a prerequisite to intimacy, and in most situations, I think this a healthy take on relationships. In today’s text, though, I dare to differ. Sometimes intimacy begets familiarity.

Mary Magdalene stands weeping outside the entrance of the tomb where her Savior lay. The same Savior whom Luke tells us delivered her from seven demons (Luke 8:2). Her weeping only intensifies as she notices that the body of her Savior has been moved. The angels inquire about her weeping, to which she responds, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

My Lord. To Mary, Jesus was not just simply the Lord, a lord, or even Israel’s Lord. He was her Lord. She knew him intimately. She had followed him from Galilee (Matthew 27:57) to the cross (John 19:25) and now, to the tomb. This intimate love led her wherever He was, and because of this, she became one of the first to see Him alive. Of course, she does not recognize Him at first. Perhaps that is because, as some theologians would suggest, her tears impeded her ability to see who was so clearly standing before her, but you better believe she recognized her Lord the moment she heard His voice. “Mary,” He said to her. “Rabboni!” she responded and immediately clung to Him. Like sheep who recognize the voice of their shepherd, Mary recognized the voice of her Savior. Intimacy begot familiarity.

Jesus was Mary’s beloved Lord, whose death broke her heart. He was her Savior, who delivered her from darkness. He was her teacher (“Rabboni!”), who taught her while he was still in Galilee (Luke 24:6). And now, upon her recognition of Him, Jesus became her brother and her sender (John 20:17-18). “Go to my brothers and say to them,” Jesus commands Mary, and to the brothers she obediently went, proclaiming, “I have seen the Lord!”

Questions

1. Like Mary Magdalene, can you confidently say that Jesus Christ is your Lord?

2. Is there anyone in your life to whom you need to obediently go and proclaim, “I have seen the Lord”?3. Is your love for the Lord so intimate that you desire to be wherever He is? How can you daily stir such an intimate affection for Him?

Read This

In Luke 8:1-3, we learn that several women were among Jesus’ followers. Check out this article by Rebecca McLaughlin to learn more about two of these women who followed Jesus.

Devotional, Holy Week 2023

The Disciples | Holy Week 2023

Day 7: The Disciples

Devotional by Lori Mosser

Read Luke 24:36-49

Luke 23:36-49

^{³⁶As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate before them. ⁴⁴Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day, rise from the dead, ⁴⁷and that repentance forthe forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”}

Devotional

When my family moved into a new home last summer, I posted photos on my Instagram story of the progress we were making while unpacking boxes and decorating. The images made the rooms look so “perfect,” but many times, there were still piles of boxes to unpack behind the scenes that no one could see. One day, I showed a picture of my entryway, perfectly decorated. But the next picture I posted was a view with my camera backed up about five feet to show all the trash and boxes still lingering. It wasn’t very pretty. I was trying to show “Instagram vs. Reality” and make the point that, at times, what you see or read on social media is too good to be true; things are not always what they seem to be.

Today’s Scripture explains what happened when Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection. Many of His followers were in disbelief, even frightened, and thought they saw a ghost. They were not sure if what they saw before their eyes was real. But in Luke 24:38, Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” The disciples were hesitant to believe because it was too good to be true! However, Jesus is the real deal, nothing fake. Jesus proved He was the risen Christ by showing His hands and feet and fulfilling the words He spoke to them before his death (Luke 24:44). We, too, can have no doubt when it comes to Jesus.

Jesus went on to tell His disciples in verse forty-eight, “You are witnesses of these things.” They were instructed to share their personal experience of the risen Christ. Jesus is the real deal, and we are called to share His story with others, just like the disciples.

Maybe you have experienced a situation that caused you to doubt what you believe about Christ or the Bible. I know there have been times of doubt in my own life. But doubts can allow you to grow deeper in your faith if they are handled properly. Don’t be afraid to look further into God’s Word for the answers you seek. He will respond to your questions with compassion and kindness.

Questions

1. Have you ever doubted Jesus only to experience Him do something that seemed “too good to be true?”

2. Have you shared that testimony with others?3. If so, what was their reaction? If not, share your testimony with your Life Group this week.

Read This

For further reading on the subject of doubt, check out this article by Focus on the Family.

Devotional, Holy Week 2023

The Penitent Thief | Holy Week 2023

Day 6: The Penitent Thief

Devotional by Jeremy Hamblen

Read Luke 23:32-43

Luke 23:32-43

³²Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ³³And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. ³⁵And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” ³⁶The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine ³⁷and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Devotional

If there’s one thing we know in Houston, it’s disaster. Hurricanes, floods, ice storms, and heatwaves – each season comes with its own slot on the roulette wheel of catastrophe. If you’ve ever done relief work in these situations, you know there’s an uncomfortable strangeness to the frozen nature of time at ground zero: people still in the clothes they wore to bed, dishes in the sink, and personal effects indiscriminately strewn about. Still, no one apologizes for the mess, and no one makes mention of it – it’s just the nature of rescue. When disaster strikes, we come just as we are.

The thieves on the cross were headed for disaster. Like Jesus, these violent robbers had been beaten, nailed to a wooden beam, and hung in public humiliation. This was only the beginning of their slow march towards a protracted death by asphyxiation – the real cruelty of the infamous Roman crucifixion. Staring down the inevitable outcome of their just desserts, each breath shallower than the last, one of the thieves noticed…something.

The Man on the middle cross had stuck out since sunrise. His demeanor was different, the measure of brutality He received was different, and the case against Him especially seemed different. But here He was, praying for their forgiveness, even as the abuse continued to pile up. It was then, suddenly, miraculously, that one thief turned penitent, proclaiming the innocence of Jesus, admitting his own guilt, and calling out the guilt of others. Naked and ashamed before the perfect Lamb, with nothing to bring and no time to make right, his unvarnished request was his profession of faith.

He came just as he was.

It’s easy to try and add to the Gospel because God calls us to so much more, but it all starts and ends with faith. We don’t need to try to clean ourselves before collapsing into His mercy because it is only by His mercy that we are cleansed, and it is offered to us on mercifully simple terms: grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. That’s all the penitent thief needed on the cross, and because of the cross, that’s all Christ requires of us, no matter how far we are, and no matter how late we feel. All we have to do is come, just as we are.

“Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”

Questions

1. Anyone can make a promise, but Jesus’ words, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise,” carried significant meaning because of His authority. In fact, His authority was a primary reason He was on the cross (He taught as one with authority, acted as one with authority, and claimed to be a King). How can Christ’s authority over our lives and our world bring us comfort and joy?

Many people try to use the story of the penitent thief as a reason they can “beat the system” by waiting until their deathbed to repent and turn to Jesus. What would you say to someone to caution them against this outlook?
The penitent thief was Jesus’ last companion on earth, crucified together at a conversational distance. The thief defended Him in His presence, and then petitioned His forgiveness directly. Jesus responded in kind. Even in that brief and final encounter, the thief’s rescue was about a relationship – just between the two of them. What can this tell us about the importance of our relationship with Jesus in our everyday lives?

Watch This

Enjoy this extremely uplifting Gospel presentation by folksy-Scottish preacher Alistair Begg who imagines the scene in Heaven upon the entry of the penitent thief.

Devotional, Holy Week 2023

Pilate | Holy Week 2023

Day 5: Pilate

Devotional by Mark Lanier

Read John 18:37-38a

John 18:37-38a

³⁷Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “you say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” ³⁸Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Devotional

Some people have a knack for the obvious. Others can have something staring them in the face and miss it all together. I put Pilate in the “others” category.

Pilate was going through his routine day, having come 75 miles from his home base in Caesarea into Jerusalem to deal with administrative matters. As the procurator over the region, Pilate was in charge of keeping the peace and administering the judgement of Rome.

Dealing with Jesus wasn’t on Pilate’s agenda. Jesus was an issue that had just come up. Certain Jewish authorities were quite upset over Jesus, and they wanted Pilate to deal with him. The easiest way was to paint Jesus as one leading a rebellion, one claiming to be a king in opposition to Rome and Caesar. This accusation elevated Jesus to a status requiring Pilate’s personal attention.

Pilate questioned Jesus, “Are you really claiming to be a king?” Jesus replied, “Those are your words. I came into the world to bear witness to the truth.” Jesus added that anyone, regardless of status or placement in the Roman Empire, who would hear and listen to Jesus, would be part of the truth.

Here was Pilate’s big moment. Pilate had a one-on-one encounter with the Son of God. Pilate had an opportunity to ask the question that most atheists demand – “If God is real, have him appear for me and tell me!” Yet Pilate blew it. He couldn’t see the truth that was standing right before him. With a chance to dialogue with God, to get life right, to find forgiveness, to have a relationship with God fully restored, to do an about face and find faith, with all of those chances and more, Pilate missed it. Pilate turned the opportunity into a humdrum, dismissive, almost cynical reply: “What is truth?”

Truth was staring Pilate in the face, and he did nothing with it. He was too blind to see what was right in front of him. Am I?

Questions

Jesus stands before me in this passage today. Do I see Him for who He is?
Do I seize this moment to address Him as God or do I dismiss Him too?

Pray This

Lord, I pray that my encounters with You would lead to a more intimate and personal relationship with You. Help me to seek Lord, I embrace You today as my Lord, my God and the truth I need in my life. Guide me for Your name’s sake. In Jesus name, amen.

Devotional, Holy Week 2023

Simon of Cyrene | Holy Week 2023

Day 4: Simon of Cyrene

Devotional by Alex Jones

Read Luke 23:26

Luke 23:26

“And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.”

Devotional

Life is full of interruptions. On a daily basis, we face decisions, situations, and circumstances that we don’t expect. We can all relate to feeling flustered or thrown off when our life doesn’t happen according to plan. As Christians, we are reminded throughout Scripture that we are not in control—we may plan our way, but God establishes our steps. Although the Bible is clear that we should expect the unexpected, we still sometimes find ourselves reluctant to the ways of God. We so often forget that our all-powerful God is on the throne intentionally directing our path. God can use even the seemingly mundane to change our lives. This was just the case for a man named Simon from Cyrene.

On his journey to Jerusalem for Passover, Simon was interrupted by Roman soldiers who seized him and commanded him to carry the cross of Jesus. This abrupt burden placed on Simon was surely frustrating and inconvenient but ultimately led to an intimate encounter with Jesus. As Simon picked up the blood-stained cross, he experienced the presence of the Son of God. He heard the words of Jesus as he spoke truth to the crowd who followed him. He experienced Jesus’ humility as Jesus surrendered Himself to God’s will. Most importantly, we are told that Simon followed behind Jesus. Simon was the first to live out the calling to “take up his cross” and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24-26). Simon walked away from his encounter with Jesus knowing Him more deeply and following Him more closely.

Simon’s encounter led to deeper intimacy with his Creator. In the same way, when we are faced with unexpected interruptions, we may also be just one moment away from knowing God more deeply. His ways are not our ways as He is intentionally working through every area of our lives. The same God who ordained Simon’s steps continues to go before each of us. No matter the difficulty or burden placed on us, Jesus promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. So, in the midst of your next frustrating interruption, seek to understand how God may be at work in you. We may not be able to control our circumstances, but we can control our response.

Questions

1. When you feel interrupted or inconvenienced, what is your natural response? What steps can you take to trust God in those moments?

2. How are you following Jesus daily?

3. What areas of your life hinder you from following him fully?

Pray This

Lord, I pray that my encounters with You would lead to a more intimate and personal relationship with You. Help me to seek You regardless of my burdens. As I deny myself and follow You, I will trust and believe that Your way is better. May I draw near to You as You draw near to me. Lead me to look more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devotional, Holy Week 2023

Judas Iscariot | Holy Week 2023

Day 3: Judas Iscariot

Devotional by Shauna Wallace

Read Matthew 26:46-56

Matthew 26:46-56

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

^{⁴⁶Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” ⁴⁷While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” ⁴⁹And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁵⁰Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.”Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. ⁵¹And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵²Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” ⁵⁵At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. ⁵⁶But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.}

Devotional

Judas makes me uncomfortable. I want to peg his flaw as blindness to his atrocity, because how does a disciple, one of the twelve, a friend who had a seat at the table with Jesus and managed the ministry’s money, become memorialized as Jesus’ betrayer?

For three years, he walked with Jesus and saw a lot of the things he did. When he and his armed cohort of Jesus’ religious enemies approached Jesus in the Garden—a place Judas knew, “for Jesus often met there with his disciples” (John 18:2)—he greeted Jesus as Rabbi, then planted the kiss of death on Jesus’ face. It was the sign that sealed the deal he’d already made with the devil (see John 13:2 and 27), and it betrayed the truth about him.

That’s what betrayals do. They reveal the truth, and they start long before the acts that make them known. They start with our affections.

Judas may have looked the part of a Jesus follower, but he was an indignant thief who didn’t care about the poor (see Matthew 22:8 and John 12:4-6). He dipped his hand in the money bag long before he dipped it in the bowl with Jesus at the Last Supper, the very thing Jesus used to identify him as “My betrayer” (Matthew 26:46). Judas feared man and loved money, affections we may deem relatively harmless, along with ours. But here’s another truth: seemingly harmless affections eventually lead to painful betrayals.

Maybe you don’t struggle with fear of man or love of money. I do. Maybe you are honest and care for the poor. I’m not always great at this. Regardless of what may divide our loyalty to Jesus, we can all learn from Judas and from Jesus’ sobering words to His disciples after the Lord’s Supper just prior to the Garden scene: “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered’” (Matthew 26:31).

All fall away and go astray to our own way (see Isaiah 53:6).

They did.

We do.

When Judas called Jesus, “Rabbi” (or teacher), he left out, “Lord”. Judas’ kiss was the outward evidence of his inward loyalty to another master. Jesus may be a lot of things to us. If He is Lord, He desires and deserves to be our single affection. Lord of all.

Questions

Is Jesus your Lord and master—is He Lord of all the affections of your heart?
What affections trump your allegiance to Christ, even in ways the devil wants you to consider harmless?
By the power of the Holy Spirit, what is one way you could surrender one of your divided affections to Jesus today?

Pray This

Lord, I am humbled by Judas and how alike we are. I am of all who fall away, and when my affections pledge allegiance to the world and its things, I am vulnerable to painful betrayals. Just like Judas. It could have been me who planted a kiss on Jesus’ face while I kicked up my heel against Him. But by Your grace, you saved me, redeemed me, and started a work in me that You are faithful to finish to the end. Please forgive me for the ways I have betrayed You or harmed others, and help me as I forgive those whose divided affections have hurt me. Lord, my heart is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). Please forgive me for the wickedness in my own heart and accept the words of David in Psalm 19:12-13 as the cry of my heart today:

Devotional, Holy Week 2023

Jesus in the Garden | Holy Week 2023

Day 2: Jesus in the Garden

Devotional by Durell Comedy

Read Matthew 26:36-46

Matthew 26:36-46

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

³⁶Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” ³⁹And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? ⁴¹Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴²Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. ⁴⁵Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Devotional

I’m not the only person who’s had a hard time being vulnerable. Many of us find it challenging to be our truest selves even when surrounded by friends and family, those who know us best. Truth is, I have a constant fear of everyone (my wife included – haha) seeing me surrender to my frailty. They must ONLY see that I have it “all together” and that nothing will cause me to unravel. But let’s be real, how sustainable is this mindset? If we don’t express our fears, worries, and anxieties to someone, it’s only a matter of time before those issues gain control over us. In today’s reading, we get to walk alongside Christ during one of the most difficult moments in His life, where he, too, struggled to let even His own disciples know the heaviness of His heart.

After Jesus and His disciples finished having “The Last Supper” in the upper room together, they walked to the place called Gethsemane to pray and seek the Father. Jesus took James, John, and Peter aside and began to express the depth of the emotional anguish He was experiencing. He encouraged them to watch and pray with Him. What a beautiful picture of community and reminder to us that if the perfect Savior needed others’ prayers and support during challenging seasons, we do all the more. But Christ didn’t only share with His chosen disciples. He continued this confession with His Father, pleading for another path to walk or another cup to drink. Yet, his request was immediately bound in submission with the famous words “Not my will but Your will be done” (v. 39). This is an incredible demonstration of a Christ-like prayer: that it is acceptable to ask anything of and from our Father, knowing that His answer to us might be “no,” yet instantly committing to obeying God and His plan.

After Jesus returned from being alone and found His friends sleeping instead of praying (some friends, huh?), He isolated Himself again and prayed the exact same prayer to God twice more.

Repeatedly going to God in prayer shows us two things:

· Prayer is a weapon to battle temptation (see James 5:16)

· It shows our constant need to release our burdens to God (see Matt. 11:28-29).

Questions

1. When was the last time you were completely transparent with the Lord in prayer, allowing your emotions to help communicate a deep concern in your life?

2. Have you found others that you can be just as vulnerable with and that you can confide in on a regular basis?

3. When was a time in your life where you were obedient to God regardless of feelings or circumstances?

Pray This

Dear Lord, I’m grateful for the example of our Savior Jesus, who demonstrated obedience even unto death. Because of that death and resurrection, I have new and abundant life in You! Now help me God, by the power of Your Spirit, to live with a posture of immediate obedience to Your will and plan for my life. Even when I find myself in the struggle and pain of surrender, remind me that on the other side of obedience is joy and peace. I pray that I would constantly run to You with every one of my cares, knowing that You care for me. Surround me with those who will comfort and challenge me in Your ways and Your truth. I love You, God, not just with my words or emotions, but with and in every decision I make. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Devotional, The Essential Jesus

The Essential Jesus-Day 100

Thank you for joining us on this 100-day journey through the Bible. We’re at the finish line!

Now that we’re through day 100, we’ll be pushing pause on daily emails from CFBC, but we highly encourage you to ask the Lord where he wants you to go next in His Word. Should we begin a new plan in the future, you will be notified via email. God bless.

Luke 9:18-27

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

¹⁸Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” ¹⁹And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” ²⁰Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Jesus Foretells His Death

²¹And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, ²²saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²³And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ²⁵For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? ²⁶For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. ²⁷But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

Devotional, The Essential Jesus

The Essential Jesus-Day 99

Thank you for joining us on this 100-day journey through the Bible. We’re almost to the finish line!

Once we get through day 100, we’ll be pushing pause on daily emails from CFBC, but we highly encourage you to ask the Lord where he wants you to go next in His Word. Should we begin a new plan in the future, you will be notified via email. God bless.

Acts 9:1-19

The Conversion of Saul

9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ²and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. ⁴And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ⁵And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ⁶But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” ⁷The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. ⁸Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, ¹²and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” ¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. ¹⁶For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” ¹⁷So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; ¹⁹and taking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.