With Me in Paradise
Blog, Devotions

This is part 2 of our series on Jesus’ last words.  You can find part 1 here.

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 (NLT)

During Jesus’ last hours before his death, He hanged on a cross between two common criminals.

Both heard the crowd and soldiers scorning and mocking him. Jesus was innocent. He had done nothing wrong and yet he was suffering the same disgraceful fate as these two justly condemned deplorables next to him.

One of the criminals responded by joining in with those insulting Jesus. The other responded by confessing his own sin and begging Jesus for mercy. Continue reading With Me in Paradise →

Impossible Forgiveness
Blog, Devotions

As we enter into the final stretch of lent, we continue to prepare ourselves for Easter.

Over the next week, ending on Good Friday, your pastoral staff will be putting out a short meditation on one of the seven last words of Jesus before he passed.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34a; NLT)

An Uncommon Prayer

It’s very common for someone facing death to pray, but the content of Jesus’ prayer is what is so odd. For those suffering and being executed, two responses were typical. Continue reading Impossible Forgiveness →

Who Are You Leaving Behind?
Articles, Devotions

There is a reason that Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission. “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matthew 28:16b-20a). The time for Jesus’ earthly ministry was coming to an end. The time for his ministry from heaven was about to begin. His work would continue – starting in Jerusalem, and then Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth – through those he left behind whom he trained and were then empowered by his promised gift from the Father, the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8). Continue reading Who Are You Leaving Behind? →

Sin’s Spiritual Self-Absorption
Devotions

But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. (Romans 6:22)

A couple of years ago I received a significant insight during my quiet time that has always stuck with me. There I was – reading my Bible, saying my prayers, writing down thoughts as they came to mind – when it struck me: The vast majority of my quiet time has been spent on myself! I was horrified. Instead of spending my time focused on the Lord, or on my family, or on my church, or ministry, or any of the many other things I should be praying about, I was confessing sin to God, asking Him to forgive me, begging him to give me strength to overcome this, that, or the other. Not that there’s anything wrong with praying these things when they’re needed, but what became clear to me this particular day was the sheer spiritual self-absorption of sin. Continue reading Sin’s Spiritual Self-Absorption →

Know Thy Foe
Devotions

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood… (Ephesians 6:12a)

As Christians, we are at war. There is no denying it or avoiding it. Pretending it isn’t true doesn’t win a single battle, nor does focusing all our attention on the wrong target. For many, the ultimate battlefield can be found at the ballot box, but they would be mistaken. For others, our greatest foes reside in the Middle East, or in China, or in North Korea. They too are misled. Indeed, who we elect into office has vast ramifications for the direction of our country and the geopolitical powers that be often pose existential threats to the lives of many. But as Christians we are warned by the Apostle Paul that the real battle is not with flesh and blood but with the devil and the spiritual powers and principalities of this present darkness. Continue reading Know Thy Foe →

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