The best around the web this week that I found deals with spiritual disciplines – habits that help us grow in love for God and people, and indeed that are expressions of our love for God and people.
Coram Deo reminds us of the need to keep it simple, coming back to the basic disciplines of life. Chris Brauns calls us to consistent prayer with a quote from Bryan Chappell. He Is My Delight gives a great example for compassion in outreach.
The book of Judges gives us a repeated example of grace. The people rebel against God, and so God sends judgment. Finally, the people call out for help. God could have let them continue to suffer the results of their sin. He could have let the enemy continue to dominate them. Instead, God shows his grace. He raises up judges through whom he rescues his people. God sends deliverance. Likewise we too have rebelled against God and deserve only judgment. But if we cry out to him, God will send us deliverance. He has raised up Jesus to rescue us from our sin and the devil. We don’t deserve it, but God sends his grace.
The book of Joshua continues to show forth the grace of God.
God showed his grace to Joshua by promising that he would be with Joshua wherever he went. God would not leave him or forsake him. This indeed is grace, and we know that it is true for us as well. Jesus promised to be with us always to the end of the age. So whatever we face, we need not fear or be dismayed. We can be strong and courageous for God is with us!
God also showed his grace to Rahab. As one of the Canaanites, she was to be wiped out, but God showed her grace, sparing her life. She even is found in the genealogy of David and Jesus. We too deserve only judgment, but God has poured out his grace upon us through Jesus, making us part of his family.
God showed his grace to Israel by bringing them into the Promised Land. And he will one day show his grace to us by bringing us to a new Promised Land – the new heaven and earth where there will be no more suffering, pain, sin, or death. In Jesus, truly we have been given grace upon grace.
Deuteronomy is Moses’ review of Israel’s history and God’s commands for the generation about to enter the Promised Land. In this book, there are some wonderful examples of grace.
God is a great God who is near to Israel and hears them when they call upon him (4:7). In the same way, God is near to us today. By his Spirit, he is present with us always. No matter what we face, God is with us. And he hears us when we pray. He is not to busy to listen to our cares. And as a great God he has the power to answer our prayers. Yet as sinners we do not deserve his presence or his listening ear. That he gives us both is all grace.
God delivered the people from slavery in Egypt (5:6). In the same way, God has delivered us from slavery to sin. Once we were in bondage to sin, but now we are free to live for Christ. Again we did not deserve this, but he has poured out his grace upon us.
God chose Israel to be his treasured possession – not because they were great, but simply because God chose to love them (7:6-8). They were not lovable (indeed they were repeatedly rebellious), but God chose to love them. In the same way, while we were still sinners, God loved us, and saved us, and chose us as his treasured people (Romans 5:8, I Peter 2:9-10). Ponder what it means to be chosen as God’s treasured people! Grace.
God promised the people that another prophet like Moses would come (18:15-19). And so he has come – our Lord Jesus Christ who revealed to us the way of God. Where would we be without Christ? Lost forever. But he did come – and that is grace.
Finally, God gave the people good things for them to enjoy (26:11). And so he showers good things upon us to enjoy. That is grace.
And how should we respond? “…worship before the Lord your God. And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you…” (26:10-11). As we ponder God’s amazing grace, let us rejoice and worship the Lord today!
As I continue to trace God’s grace through the Bible, let me share a couple of examples from the book of Numbers.
Israel rebels against God by refusing to enter the Promised Land. God could have wiped them out then and there, indeed he threatens to do it. But Moses intercedes, and God spares them. How many times do we rebel against God? How often do we sin? How often do we fail to do what God calls us to do? Yet through Christ God forgives and spares us again and again. That’s grace.
Not only does God spare them, but he chooses to bless them. Balaam is hired by Israel’s enemy to curse Israel. Instead God requires Balaam to bless his people. God teaches Aaron and his sons a blessing to say for the people of Israel, and the people will be blessed. In how many ways does God bless us as his people today? As the songs tells us – count your many blessings! Every blessing we receive – that’s grace!
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.
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 23:16-25
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.
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”
Wednesday: Prophecy – Be Alert
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!”
Note: Reflections for Thursday and Friday will be in three parts – morning, afternoon, and evening.
Tuesday: Predictions – Take Up Your Cross
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”
Brian J. Mikul 