5/17/2024 0 Comments When No One Notices…God SeesAlthough the writer issues a strong warning to his hearers about the dangers of turning away from Christ, he is confident that those he addresses will not fall away. Why? Even if others don’t notice or recognize, he knows that God is just and will not forget the Hebrew Christians’ diligence, love, and service-all of which testify that they have truly entrusted themselves to Christ by faith. The author here wants each one of his readers to persevere in their faith so that they can “have the full assurance of hope until the end”. By persevering in service and love, we demonstrate our faith in Christ through which we will “inherit the promises” of God.
Questions for further thought: 1. How does it feel to know that God sees the valuable work you’re doing, even if you feel underappreciated? 2. Talk about some ways you find your worth and value. Who does God say you are, and how does this impact the way you view yourself? Challenge: Is there someone in your life who you need to appreciate? Do something in appreciation for them this week.
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5/16/2024 0 Comments Jesus Sees Our MotivesJesus commands His followers to find their satisfaction and security in God rather than anything else. Whether we are giving to the needy or praying, Jesus wants His disciples to avoid outward displays that bring praise to ourselves. He also warns us against trying to use robotic routines in order to get God to do what we want. Giving to the needy and praying should result from trust in God’s Fatherly affection, and when we do these things secretly it is a sign that we have a healthy confidence in Him. Following Christ’s instructions here will help protect us from doing these things with self-absorbed and greedy motives.
Questions for further thought: 1. Why do you give? 2. Describe a time when you were craving some form of appreciation that you thought was coming and never did. What did God teach you through that experience? Challenge: Here is a good check of motivation. With your next good deed ask, “Would I still do this if no one would ever know I did it?” 5/15/2024 0 Comments Jesus Praised…Jesus OpposedIsn’t it interesting to find that Jesus experienced the two extremes of gleeful praise to wrathful indignation. Jesus has just returned to Galilee after being tempted by Satan and He preaches and teaches powerfully in the power of the Spirit. News about Him spread throughout the countryside and “everyone praised Him” (v.15) and “all spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips”. (v.22). Now as He continued to teach, He had gone to Nazareth where He had been brought up. Now everyone was enamored with His teaching until He suggests that Gentiles might be in line for God’s favor. Jesus’ remarks filled the people of Nazareth with rage as it was unspeakable that God would choose to reach Gentiles rather than Jews. The attitude of the crowd was one of disdain as they sought to drive Him over a cliff. How quickly attitudes can change when Jesus doesn’t seem to be tracking with us.
Questions for further thought: 1. Describe a time when you ignored a section of Scripture because it hit too close to home. 2. How did that turn out? Challenge: Help us to receive all the teachings of Scripture in reverence and obedience no matter if we agree with them or not. In the teaching about the healing of the ten lepers, Jesus continues to teach us about faith. Isn’t it interesting that all of them asked for God’s mercy, but only one proved to have an attitude of gratitude: a humble and worshipful faith. The rest, while justly excited and jovial, forgot to thank the One who had ultimately healed them. I sense this principle can apply to our lives today. Our worshipful response-or lack thereof- proves whether or not we understand God’s great mercy and goodness. The first and greatest response to the gospel is worshipful faith that is grateful for grace. When you or I trust Jesus with this type of humble faith, we find the grace and mercy we so desperately desire.
Questions for further thought: 1. In what ways have you taken Jesus for granted? 2. How can you cultivate an attitude of gratitude for the great things Jesus has done? Challenge: Focus your attention on Jesus and pray that God would increase your faith in Him by increasing your confidence in His greatness and His ability to do great things. 5/13/2024 0 Comments The Reality of Jesus on DisplayI have always been interested in this story. Twelve-year-old Jesus gets left behind in Jerusalem as his band of family members return home. As they slowly became aware that He was not with them, they returned to find Him. So where was the young lad? Was He hanging out by the stables and the horses? Nope. Was He at the local playground with the children playing and frolicking? No again. He was in the temple courts (His Father’s house v. 49) listening and learning and sharing about His Father’s kingdom. The hearers were amazed and were delighted with His grasp of the subject matter. Even His parents were astonished. He was appreciated and revered and “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (v.52). But we know that wouldn’t last forever. Soon, He would be chastised and mocked for the very thing He was now being praised for.
Questions for further thought: 1. When have you experienced chastisement for something you were once celebrated for? 2. How did you handle that situation? Challenge: Try to recall a time in which you were celebrated for something. Now try to recall an instance when you thought you should be celebrated, but weren’t. How did you react to God in those circumstances? Was it the same or completely different? 5/10/2024 0 Comments His Unfailing LovePastor Doug always ends his sermons with “Remember, God Loves You!” That love is always there, for you, the people who have hurt you and the people you have hurt. No matter what you do, or what has been done to you, the love of God expands beyond any boundaries. It is infinite. You cannot run away from it! That is worth celebrating!
Questions for further thought: 1. How has God shown his love to you recently? 2. How can you share that love with someone else? Challenge: Find an opportunity to share love with someone else, maybe even someone who is feeling closer to abuse and hurt than the love of God. 5/9/2024 0 Comments Jesus Takes All Our BurdensJesus is there for us. Isaiah prophesied that there would be someone who would take the punishment of our sins upon Him. Just like the people who have wounded us, we have wounded others. Our sins were cast upon that beaten body and forever removed from us.
Questions for further thought: 1. What is a burden you carry that needs to be nailed to the cross? 2. What does the present and the future look like if that burden were nailed to the cross? Challenge: A spiritual memory that stuck with me was writing down a sin on a post it note and physically nailing it to a cross. If you have a cross accessible, take a sheet of paper, hammer and nail and pin that sin to the cross 5/8/2024 0 Comments Moving on from the HurtWhen we have been hurt by someone else in the past, it is easier to hold on to that hurt than it is to let it go. Yet we are called to be kind and tenderhearted. Jesus modeled this when he was kind and tenderhearted to the very soldiers that mocked and killed him.
Questions for further thought: 1. Describe a time when you held on to the hurt a little too long. 2. Did you have any anguish while you were holding on? Was there any relief when you let go? Challenge: Is there another situation you are holding on to that you should let go? What is keeping you from letting go? Share your story with someone you trust if you need. You may need to seek counseling. That is okay. You will be better bringing it into the light instead of hiding it in the darkness. 5/7/2024 0 Comments The Forgiveness of JesusJesus was aware the Roman soldiers did not know the full purpose of the crucifixion. This was evidenced by divvying up his clothes through a game of chance. Jesus intervened by asking for the forgiveness of the soldiers. This request for forgiveness is an example of Jesus also intervening for us.
Questions for further thought: 1. What is a time when you did not realize you were hurting Jesus? 2. How has God forgiven you for the time you hurt Jesus? Challenge: Take some time to thank God for the good that has come after you have sinned and been forgiven. 5/6/2024 0 Comments The Abuse of JesusPontius Pilate ordered the Roman soldiers to flog Jesus. The result was not just a flogging, but also an abusive mocking (I don’t use the word “abuse” lightly.) In addition to the flogging, the soldiers dressed him up in a costume to make him look like a king. They gave Jesus a crown of thorns, a fake scepter, and a scarlet robe to make him appear regal. They then knelt before him to mock him even more. After mocking him, they spit on him, used the “scepter” to tap down the crown of thorns to make them dig in a little deeper, and they stripped the robe off his body (which was already full of open wounds from the whipping) and placed the original clothes back on those open wounds.
Questions for further thought: 1. How was Jesus physically abused? 2. How was Jesus emotionally abused? Challenge: Recall a time when you were wronged for something you did not deserve. How did it hurt you? Have you shared that burden with God? Take time to share with God the pain it caused. If needed, share with someone you can trust to help you release that to God. |
AuthorThis devotional is written every week by Hillcrest members. Archives
May 2024
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