Passion Week Devos: Saturday

On By BrianIn Holidays

Saturday: Pain of Loss and Failure – Struggling Without Hope
Read Luke 22:31-34, 22:54-62, 23:50-56

Prayer: Father, I cannot imagine this day for Peter.  What was it like for him to lose Jesus and fail him all in one day?  To struggle without hope?  And Father, if Jesus had remained in the grave, I too would be without hope.  All would be lost.  Help me today to remember how hopeless life would be without the glorious news that tomorrow brings.  Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What would your life be like if Jesus had stayed in the grave?

Praise: No singing today.  Wait with anticipation for tomorrow.

 

Passion Week Devos: Friday

On By BrianIn Holidays

Good Friday (in 3 parts)

Morning: Plot – The Plans of God and Men
Read Luke 22:1-6, 22:47-53, 22:63-23:16

Prayer: Father, how shamefully they treated your Son.  Judas plotted against him and betrayed his friend.  The religious leaders plotted against him and made a mockery of justice to have their own way.  And yet all their plots were part of your bigger plot to save me.  Thank you for my Savior.  Amen.

Noon: Pardon – In My Place
Read Luke 23:17-25

Prayer: Father, Barabbas should have died that day, but Jesus died in his place.  The cross should have been mine, but Jesus died in my place.  He died for my sins, for my rebellion.  He who was perfect paid the penalty for my sins that I might go free.  Jesus, thank you for taking my place.  Amen.

Evening: Passion – Remember the Cross
Read Luke 23:26-49

Prayer: Father, words are so cheap, but thank you for the cross.  Thank you for forgiveness.  Thank you for the hope of paradise.  Thank you for Jesus.  Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: How does reflecting on Christ’s passion fuel your love for him?

Praise: Spend some time singing songs about the cross.

 

Passion Week Devos: Thursday

On By BrianIn Holidays

Thursday (in 3 parts)

Morning: Passover – The New Covenant
Read Luke 22:7-23

Prayer: Father, thank you for the new covenant you have made with me through Jesus Christ.  Thank you that his body was broken and his blood poured out to pay for my sins that I might walk with you.  Thank you for the regular reminder given to us in the Lord’s Supper.  Amen.

Noon: Perfect Servant – Follow His Example
Read Luke 22:24-30

Prayer: Father, your Son came to serve, and too often I join the disciples seeking to be the greatest, seeking to exalt myself.  Help me to humbly serve as Jesus served.  Help me to be a servant to my family, to your church, wherever I go.  Amen.

Evening: Prayer – God’s Will, Not Mine
Read Luke 22:35-46

Prayer: Father, like the disciples I too am weak, and I need your help to overcome temptation.  Awaken me from my spiritual slumber that I might pray.  Let me join my Savior in seeking your will.  Too often my way is not your way.  Help me to submit to your way no matter what the cost.  Dear Father, not my will, but yours be done.  Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: In what current situations do you need to submit to his will?

Praise: Sing “Have Thine Own Way Lord”

 

Passion Week Devos: Wednesday

On By BrianIn Holidays

Wednesday: Prophecy – Be Alert
Read Luke 19:41-44, 21:5-38

Prayer: Father, your Son predicted the Fall of Jerusalem, and it happened.  Your Son predicted his return – help me to be ready.  Help me to be alert.  While I wait, help me to be ready and watchful for opportunities to bear witness for Christ.  Help me not to get so weighed down with the cares of this life that I fail to be alert to your opportunities and your return.  Even so, come Lord Jesus!  Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What keeps us from being more alert to his coming?

Praise: Sing “Christ Returneth!”

Passion Week Devos: Tuesday

On By BrianIn Holidays

Tuesday: Predictions – Take Up Your Cross
Read Luke 9:18-27, 18:31-34

Prayer: Father, your Son knew what was coming, yet he willingly gave himself up for me.  He was rejected, mocked, shamefully treated, spit upon, flogged, and killed for my sins.  Let me give myself for him.  Help me deny myself – stop living for myself, and take up my cross – be willing to suffer for Christ, and follow him wherever he leads.  Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What are some practical daily examples of what it might look like to deny yourself for Christ?

Praise: Sing “Am I A Soldier of the Cross”

Passion Week Devos: Monday

On By BrianIn Holidays

Monday: His Preaching – Give all to Him
Read Luke 19:45-21:4

Prayer: Father, they dragged buying and selling even into your house. How easy it is for me to get caught up in the buying and selling of our culture. Help me be like the widow who willingly gave all to you. All that I have is from you; it is yours – do with it as you please. Even my life is from you, and you made me in your likeness, so help me give myself to you – even as your Son gave himself for me. Amen.

Reflect/Discuss: What would it look like to live according to this prayer?

Praise: Sing “Take My Life”

Reflections on Exodus 11-13

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God prepares the people for a final plague. All the firstborn sons in Egypt will die, but God provides a way of escape for Israel.

  • Passover – Israel must sacrifice a lamb, and place the blood on the doorposts so that God’s judgment might pass them by. Christ was sacrificed as our Passover Lamb so that God’s judgment might pass us by (I Corinthians 5:7). Stop and thank God for your Passover Lamb.
  • Redeemed from slavery – God redeemed the people of Israel from slavery, bringing them out of Egypt with great power. This is a wonderful picture of what God has done for us through Jesus. God has redeemed us from our slavery to sin through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. Stop and praise God for your deliverance – and go live like a person freed from sin!
  • Remember – The people of Israel were called to remember what God had done for them through a week-long festival which included the Passover. God wants us to remember our salvation too. It is no mistake that Jesus initiated the Lord’s Supper while celebrating Passover. The Lord’s Supper is a regular reminder to us of what Christ has done for us. Remember…and celebrate!

Sermon Songs: Ephesians 3:14-19

On By BrianIn Ephesians Hymns

MusicNotes

Before the Lord we bend the knee
with humble reverence
Responding to His great mercy
and with real earnestness
Before our Father now we come
as His own family
We ask that He would bless us from
the wealth of His glory

We pray now for the Spirit’s power
His strength to us impart
Transform us as Christ dwells each hour
within each longing heart
Help us to know Christ’s matchless love
so vast in every way
With the fullness of God above
fill us more every day

(To the tune of “We Sing The Greatness Of Our God”)

Reflections on Exodus 8-10

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

The battle of the gods continues. Notice:

  • God is exalted – God sends frogs. The magicians helpfully send more! God sends gnats, but the magicians cannot. They tell Pharaoh that “This is the finger of God.” Indeed the magicians cannot mimic any more of God’s plagues. Instead, the plague of boils comes upon them so that they can longer stand against Moses. The representatives of the Egyptians gods are defeated, showing the defeat of the gods too. None can best God’s awesome power. And by his power, he is exalted in Egypt. Ponder the great power of God, and stop to worship.
  • Humility – In the face of God’s power, Pharaoh should have humbled himself, but he refused. Instead, Pharaoh continued to exalt himself (9:17, 10:3). In what ways are you exalting yourself? How do you need to humble yourself before the LORD?
  • God’s sovereignty and man’s choice – Again and again, we read that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. God is sovereign over all. And yet we also read that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. Pharaoh could not blame God; he was responsible for his own choices. God is sovereign in your life, but you can’t blame God for your poor choices. What bad choices do you need to repent of? What choices are before you today?