Tag: devotion

Astronomical Measures

Old Testament: Joshua 9-10

Poetry: Psalm 49

New Testament: 1 Corinthians 4

My inner science nerd was more excited than a kid in a free candy store last week as I donned my (un)fashionable cardboard glasses in preparation for a once-in-a-lifetime event: for the first time in over 200 years, my Midwest residence would be within the path of totality for a total solar eclipse – an alignment promised to not reoccur in this area for three quarters of a century. Seven years ago, we watched a partial eclipse (around 90% totality) from our home, which was very… underwhelming. However, after learning that there is a vast difference between even 99 and 100% totality, I bought into the hype and prepared for amazement. We hosted a watch party on our church property and our friends even flew in from Alaska to experience it with us! The weather was abnormally lovely for April. As the coverage increased, we detected a cool wind breaking through the warm air, and then street lights began to light up. Then, the millisecond that it reached total coverage, a wave of deep twilight blanketed the field and an evening chill washed over us; I could instantly sense the distinct change in my peripheral vision from behind the safety of my glasses. For about 3 minutes, we eschewed our disposable spectacles as we stared into the void of the sun, soaking in the uniqueness of a mid-afternoon that felt like a near-midnight. We were awed by the surreal experience and applauded the workmanship of our Creator! And then, as suddenly as it had been hidden, the sun again commenced its glorious shine, changing the temporary night back into day. 

Our reading in Joshua today tells of another rare astronomical event – “the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day” while Joshua fought the Amorites. There are many theories about what actually went down on the day the sun didn’t, from an annular eclipse (which even secular scientists agree did occur in Canaan around that time) to a variation in rotation speed and everything in between (you can start your rabbit hole dive here), but what is most important is that God did something very miraculous to help Joshua win the battle. God was on Joshua’s side, and he took “astronomical” measures to help Joshua do what God had called him to do. Joshua and his men put forth the effort as wise and persistent soldiers, but they called on God for a miracle to help them win the battle – and He did, in an awesome display of His power. “There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!” (Joshua 10:14, NIV)

God fought for His people, and God fights for us. God is on our side, and He loves to show up in mighty ways. BUT… God usually expects us to be actively involved as well. Joshua had to go out and fight the battle – many of them, actually – and God showed up, often miraculously. This is a good reminder for our own lives. God has given us gifts and abilities, and He wants us to be engaged and active in this life. (For example, we don’t really have a legitimate reason to complain about not having a job if we’ve never submitted any applications, right?) Sometimes the best and only thing we can do is pray and let God work, but often, we will pray while we fight right there on the battlefield, trusting in God’s supernatural provision. He still performs miracles! 

In whatever battles you will face, remember that God is with you and still works in miraculous ways. Keep your eyes open to see His handwork in your life! 

-Rachel Cain

Reflection: 

– Watch for God moments in your day and thank him for them. It might be something as small as a daffodil field to bring a smile to your face as you drive to work, or as large as seeing God’s might during a solar eclipse. Either way, praise Him in all those moments! 

– How can you depend on God more to fight your battles? How might God be calling you to be more engaged in the battles yourself?

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Keep Walking

OT – Joshua 5-6

Poetry – Psalm 47

NT – 1 Corinthians 2

Keep walking, but you won’t knock down our wall. 

Keep walking, but she isn’t gonna fall! 

It’s plain to see your brains are very small 

to think walking will be knocking down our wall.

– the Pea soldiers, from Veggie Tales “Josh and the Big Wall”

I’ve never been in the military (even preschool gymnastics was beyond my capabilities, and let’s just say I was usually a last pick in gym class), but even I can imagine that the mighty Israelite soldiers felt mighty silly walking around the city once a day for six days. Just walking behind the ark. And blowing some trumpets. Wow, fierce. I wonder if they wondered what God was thinking? Had they accidentally signed up for the (mostly-silent) marching band instead of the military? But on the seventh day – seven is the biblical number of completion – they marched around the city seven times, and then, a different kind of trumpet blast sounded, and Joshua ordered everyone to shout. And then, the wall collapsed. The mighty, impenetrable wall of the great city of Jericho, along with everything inside (save Rahab and her family), became a pile of rubble. Yet again, the people obeyed what seemed like ridiculous commands for an impossible task, and God worked through it all. I don’t know why God chose to take over Jericho in such a strange way, but I bet part of the reason was to display His awesome power and make sure everyone knew that He was the One True God. 

Psalm 47 even sounds like a song of praise that might have been shared after conquering Jericho: “He subdued the nations under us… He chose our inheritance for us… God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets…”

All of our lives should reflect back to the power of God. In our New Testament reading today, Paul also says, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might rest not on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (I Cor 2:4-5) Just like when God made it clear that it was only by His power – not the marches and shouts – that the walls fell down, God likes to use ordinary, untrained people to do His biggest work, so His might is evident through their humility. 


God displays His power by working in big ways through us. He doesn’t NEED us; after all, God created the whole world without any input from mankind! But He wants to use us as part of HisStory, to help tell the world the greater message of His saving power. Will you join in the Greatest Mission of all time? 

-Rachel Cain

Reflection Questions

  1. How will you join in the Greatest Mission of all time?
  2. How/when have you seen God at work doing what seemed impossible in a way that you wouldn’t have expected? Who did He use in the mission?

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Rahab – Used by God

Old Testament: Joshua 2

Poetry: Psalm 44

New Testament: Romans 15

Isn’t it funny how you can read the same passage of scripture numerous times and still find new nuggets within it? I know the story of Rahab quite well, and since I love studying strong women of the Bible, I even read a historical fiction novella about her (“Unashamed” by Francine Rivers, if you’re interested). Still, I discovered a rabbit trail of new insight into Rahab through an oft-overlooked Bible feature: the footnote. 

In the first verse of Joshua 2 (NIV), upon noticing a footnote following the word “prostitute,” I glanced to the bottom of the page to find this clarification: “or possibly, an innkeeper.” Excuse me? “Innkeeper” and “prostitute” are very different occupations! As I dug deeper, I found respectable commentaries arguing on both sides of the fence why one interpretation was definitely more likely than the other, and some even suggested that she operated both an inn and a brothel. In either case, Rahab was a Gentile who, because she met many travelers, was privy to a lot of information about the happenings outside her city walls, including the miraculous power of the God of Israel. When the king’s men came to inquire about the spies, she not only hid them, but committed treason by leading the guards astray to chase after the spies, knowing full well they were hiding on her roof. Rahab risked her life to protect the spies, and the spies honored her request to spare her life (and the lives of her family) when they would later take over Jericho. Not only was her physical life spared, but Rahab married Salmon (who was perhaps one of the spies), became grafted into God’s chosen people, and is mentioned as an ancestor to Jesus. 

Let’s assume that she was a prostitute, as many interpretations of the Bible seem to imply. This woman was super important to the success of God’s people. Though we think she had a dark past, Rahab feared and trusted God perhaps even more than the Israelites did. How cool is it that God used not only a Gentile, but a promiscuous one at that, to help His people gain their Promised Land! It really gives us all hope that God can use us no matter our histories. In Romans 15, Paul reminds his readers that he is preaching not only to his fellow Jews, but also to help the Gentiles know about the saving power of Jesus. Thank God that his grace is for all of us! 

Psalm 44 ties well into this storyline of conquering Jericho, confirming over and over again that it is only by God’s power that people throughout history have conquered their enemies: “They did not conquer the lands with their swords; it was not their own strength that gave them victory. It was by your mighty power that they succeeded… only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes… it is you who gives us victory over our enemies.” (Psalm 44:3,5,7)

I’ll close with this blessing for your day from Romans 15:13 (NIV): “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 

-Rachel Cain

Reflections: 

– God has a history of using “unworthy” people (like Rahab) for His glory. Reflect on your life, your unworthiness. How has God used your story for His glory? In what ways can you allow Him to do that even more in the coming years? 

– Can you think of anyone in your life whom you would have judged as unworthy, whom God has saved for his glory? Praise God for His faithfulness to all of us! 

– For further reading about Rahab, check out this article: https://tidings.org/articles/her-name-is-rahab/

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Feelings

Old Testament Reading:  Deuteronomy 33-34 

*Poetry Reading:  Psalm 42

New Testament Reading:  Romans 13

You’ve had the opportunity to read Psalm 42 for the last few days and maybe you have some ideas of why God included this in His Word to us. 

One commentary titled this Psalm as “Honest prayer from a discouraged saint” (Enduring Word).  You can see that the Psalmist was discouraged when writing these verses:  “My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (3).  “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” (5a).  “As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’” (10).

Satan taunts us, trying to make us doubt God’s goodness and His omnipresence.  His ploy works far too often.  We look at this world and see the sorrow, stress, and sinfulness that is everywhere and it is easy to become discouraged and to doubt. 

The Psalmist recognizes that he is feeling cast down and in turmoil.  He brings those feelings to God in verse 9a, “I say to God, my rock: ‘Why have you forgotten me?’”.  While he honestly tells God he’s feeling forgotten by Him, he still has confidence in Him and shows that in calling him “God, my rock”.  God can handle our honest outpouring of emotions – even the really big, overwhelming ones! 

The Psalmist responds to these feelings by remembering a time of praising God (4), telling himself he will praise Him again (5, 11), recalling God’s love (8), and telling himself to hope in God (5, 11).  Rather than dwelling on what is wrong, he chooses to believe what he knows to be true and to hope in that.  He knows God is trustworthy and able to save.  Even when he doesn’t feel it. 

Feelings are fickle.  They come and go; swing up and down.  Feelings are not dependable.  But they are real.  The evil in this world is also real.  And we can become discouraged just like the Psalmist did.  God wanted us to have an example of how to handle these feelings.  And to ultimately choose to hope in Him.

Amy Blanchard

Reflection Questions

  1. Are you discouraged?  Why – what is making you feel that way?  Tell God about it.  Then take some time to counter that feeling with a reminder that God is always with you and will always love you.   There is hope!
  2. For all living things, water means life or death.  This Psalm begins with a word picture of a deer panting for water.  It brings to mind a desperation – in this picture, a desperation of being thirsty and needing water to survive.  Then he says that just like that deer, his soul thirsts for God and he asks when he shall appear before God.  Again, reflecting a desperation, this time not for water, but for fellowship with God.  Have you ever been desperate for a closeness with God?  I find that the more time I spend with Him, the more I crave that connection.  If God seems distant to you, try spending some quality time with Him. 
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Overtaken!

*Old Testament Reading:  Deuteronomy 27-28

*Poetry Reading:  Job 41

New Testament Reading:  Romans 9

To keep up with our reading in Job, starting back in chapter 38, God began His rebuttal to Job.  God is still giving Job examples of his greatness and Job’s lowliness.  He’s still responding in chapter 41.  God could go on so much longer with His “Were you there when…”, “Who determined…”, “Do you know…”, “Can you….” questions.  After a brief allowance for Job to respond in chapter 40, God jumps right back in with his proclamations.  It certainly explains why God told Job to put on his big boy pants before he began (“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?  Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” Job 38:2-3)!  More to come tomorrow….

Back in Deuteronomy 11, God tells the Israelites about the events that are now taking place in chapters 27 & 28.  Deut. 11:29: “And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.”  Can you imagine?  Two groups of men standing on different mountains shouting the blessings and curses which God will send based on their choices?  Clearly God takes accountability seriously! 

After reading the curses in 27:6 (and there are some pretty odd and icky ones), it wraps up with a very broad umbrella, “Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them”.  God wasn’t going to allow any loopholes here!

Chapter 28 begins with the blessings they will receive IF they “faithfully obey the voice of the Lord”.  These are really nice.  This is where we want to pause and feel good about our loving God.  28:2 says, “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

Sadly, we don’t get to sit with this image of a loving, blessing-giving God for long.  They jump right back into more curses.  And in verse 45 he uses the same phrasing, “All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord…”.   

Remember, the Levites are proclaiming these loudly from facing mountains.  Participating in the yelling or just listening to it, I imagine you would feel like the matter of us choosing to obey God or not is very important to God.  They were obviously making a big deal out of it.  Our choices matter. 

Deuteronomy 27:9-10 says, Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, “Keep silence and hear, O Israel: this day you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 You shall therefore obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and his statutes, which I command you today.”  Moses commands the Israelites to obey.  We have a choice – God gave us a free will to choose to obey or not.  Moses simply tells the Israelites that since they are God’s people, they shall obey Him.  If it were only that simple to do!  But, isn’t it?  Well, it should be. 

Amy Blanchard

Reflection Questions

  1. I read this beautiful definition of being overtaken by blessings, “the blessings of the Lord will be so abundant, that they will chase us down.”  Have you ever felt overtaken by blessings? 
  2. Listening to the voice of the Lord your God will change you – your thoughts and behaviors and attitudes.  If you are not seeing that change, first honestly look at if you are really listening to God’s voice.  Read the curses.  Read the blessings.  And make your choice.
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Why NOT Me?

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 23 & 24

*Poetry Reading:  Job 39

New Testament Reading:  Romans 7

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If you’ve been reading along in Job you have watched terrible tragedy come upon Job time after time.  You have seen his friends come to be with him.   You have heard those same friends accuse Job of sinning; all of their advice coming from the perspective that he needs to repent in order for God to end his punishment.  You have also heard Job defend himself, holding fast to his innocence.  He boldly tells his friends what he would do if God would answer him. 

  • 23:4-7:  I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.  Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?   No; he would pay attention to me. There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
  • 31:35-37:  Oh, that I had one to hear me!  (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)
        Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!   Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;
        I would bind it on me as a crown; I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

Job 39 is part of a “rant” by God that puts Job in his place.  God first joins in the conversation between Job and his friends in Job 38:3, “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.”  God repeats this in Job 40:7, “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” 

We will look at God’s reply and Job’s response in a couple of days.  Today, I want to focus on a few other thoughts. 

First, God is BIG and we are small. 

  • Omniscient – God is all-knowing – we are ignorant
  • Omnipotent – God is all-powerful – we are weak
  • Omnipresent – God is everywhere, all the time – we are limited

We need to keep these differences in mind at all times.  This is what allows us to fully trust in God and His plan for our lives. 

Second, we need to have a proper perspective of our lives on this earth. 

  •  2 Timothy 3:12a:  “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”
  • John 16:33:  “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Both of these verses are directed to those who are in Christ.  The Bible’s perspective is that we will face trials and persecution.  It is much more difficult to face those trials when we have the perspective that it shouldn’t happen to us.  Sin, evil, suffering – these are normal for this life.  They should be expected.  If we are in Christ, our perspective and expectations should be that these things should happen to us.

Having the right perspective of who we are compared to God and what expectations we should have regarding life in this age will help us trust God as we face whatever circumstances come our way. 

Amy Blanchard

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you accept that you are ignorant, weak, and limited….at least in comparison with God?  He wants us to depend on Him, to trust in Him, and to let His power be seen in us (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).  To do this, we need to begin to see how great God is.
  2. I desire to live a godly life.  I am in Christ.  I still don’t want to be persecuted.  However, I am trying to accept that if I am living a godly life, I will face persecution.  Are you trusting God to bring you peace in your troubles? 
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What Faith Brings

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 17 & 18

Poetry: Job 36

New Testament: Romans 4

Today, in Romans 4, Paul takes us way back to a patriarch of our faith – Abraham.  Abraham was and continues to be a key figure in the grand scheme of the world.  Three of the main religions in the world can trace their lineage back to the man himself.  He was a special man whom God made special arrangements with a couple thousand years before Jesus was born.  Abraham is the central focus all throughout Romans chapter 4 – pretty impressive for a man who lived 2,000 years before Paul wrote this letter.  Abraham is the central focus, as Paul finds common ground in Abraham – for the Jews and Gentiles.

Specifically, Paul looks at how Abraham attained his status as righteous, as somehow, someway Abraham was justified (declared righteous) in the eyes of God.  Was it through his works?  Was it through some other means?  Paul reveals to us that Abraham was not justified by his works; rather, he was justified by his belief/faith.  Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 when he writes, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” (Romans 4:3 ESV).

Context is key.  What in the world was going on in Genesis 15?  I’m glad you asked!  To save you a bit of time, I’ll refresh your memory.  In Genesis 15, Abraham had already left his home to travel to the land that God would show him.  God then told Abraham, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them… so shall your offspring be,” (Genesis 15:5).  Unfortunately for myself and most of you reading this, surrounding lights mute the starry sky at night.  However, God told this to Abraham long before the fateful invention of the light bulb.  If not too cloudy or humid, Abraham would have viewed a starry sky like many of us never have.  I can only imagine the sight of a starry sky that is not infiltrated by the invention of the lightbulb. 

The idea of Abraham’s descendants being as numerous as the stars of the sky is great and all except for the fact that Abraham is getting up there in age and has ZERO children!  How in the world is an old man with no children supposed to have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky?!  If you are anything like me, then you would appreciate logic, reason, and common sense.  This bold statement totally goes against sound logic, reason, and common sense.  I get a bit uncomfortable reflecting on how I would respond in those circumstances.  What would be your response if you were put in Abraham’s shoes?  Abraham’s response was simple: “And he believed the LORD,” (Genesis 15:6).  Boom!  End of story.  Abraham believed in God.  And Abraham believed God. If God told him his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, then somehow, someway God would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.  Because of Abraham’s belief, God “counted it to him as righteousness,” (Genesis 15:6).

That is the moral of the story here that Paul brings our attention to.  We are justified by what we put our faith/belief in.  We all put our belief in someone/something whether it be ourself, our spouse, our finances, our parents, our home, or God himself.  You are justified if you put your faith in God.  Abraham chose to put his faith in God, as he was “fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised,” (Genesis 4:21).  Because of this, Abraham was counted as righteous.  You and I have that same offer today.  Let me ask you, are you putting your faith in God?

-Kyle McClain

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you appreciate most about Abraham?
  2. What is the difference between believing in God and believing God? Where are you?
  3. Are you putting your faith in God?
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A Pretty Awesome Formula

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 15 & 16

Poetry: Job 35

New Testament: Romans 3

Remember that time that you held an imaginary debate or argument in your mind with either an imaginary figure or your spouse, coworker, boss, or friend?  We have all been there before.  Evidently, Paul has been there before as well.  Except this time, Paul records this imaginary debate in Romans 3.  How exciting! 

Romans 3:1-8 gives the impression that Paul is debating an imaginary figure on how the Jews fit into the bigger picture.  Paul’s conclusion to this mini debate is that the Jews are not better off, “For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,” (Romans 1:9 ESV).  There we have it.  All of mankind is under sin.  This conjoins the Jews and the Greeks together.  If you don’t believe Paul, no need to worry.  Paul has plenty of ammunition to help prove this point.  Paul quotes a number of scriptures from the Old Testament in the following verses to bring home this point.

After Paul’s introduction, his letter to the saints at Rome has been rather gloomy thus far.  However, verse 21 is where we start to see a shift.  Paul recognizes that we are all under sin… “BUT NOW…”.  This is where it gets fun!  This passage in Romans 3:21-31 can preach!  Essentially, this is a teaching on the doctrine of salvation, as the righteousness of God is revealed through faith in Christ Jesus for all who believe.

Many are able to quote Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Paul is only halfway through his sentence when we have a verse break.  Don’t forget about verse 24: “And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”    Paul compares God’s grace to a gift.  Whenever you are given a gift from someone, you have two choices: you can receive it and open it or you can deny the gift.  I have many memories as a child of receiving gifts from my parents for Christmas, my birthday, or other special occasions.  Not once did I ever reject a gift that my parents gave me; I openly received the gifts every single time.  Nearly every child receives the gifts they are given without a second thought.  We need to mimic the attitude of a child here and gladly receive God’s gift of grace with open arms.  How do we receive God’s grace?  Well, fortunately for us, Paul tells us exactly how to receive that grace in the following verse.  Paul tells us that it is “to be received by faith,” (Romans 3:25).

Paul crams a lot in this short passage to conclude chapter three, as he talks about our salvation.  You can sum up Paul’s discussion in the following formula: sin + grace + faith = justification.  Paul will later reveal to his audience that the justification leads to eternal salvation. For you math nerds out there, that’s a pretty awesome formula.  For those of you not interested in math, trust me, that’s still a pretty awesome formula.

As we go through our lives, let’s remember to keep our arms open wide ready to receive God’s free gift of salvation.

-Kyle McClain

Reflection Questions

  1. Have you ever rejected a gift given to you? Have you rejected or gladly received God’s free gift of salvation? Who do you know who might need some more information or encouragement to receive this gift?
  2. How would you define and describe each of the words in the following formula: Sin + Grace + Faith = Justification. What is the importance of each one?
  3. In the gloomy moments of your life, how can Romans 3 lift your spirits and bring joy, hope and peace?
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A Beautiful Thing

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 5

Poetry: Job 29

New Testament: Mark 14

“Leave her alone, said Jesus. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” Mark 14:6

In Mark 14 we see the story of Jesus being anointed with  perfume. Jesus takes this beautiful moment and shows us just how great this event truly was. Mary’s actions may signal more than she knows. But, although she may not fully comprehend the messianic significance of her anointing, she appreciates Christ’s worth more than anyone else at the table. But Jesus receives the woman’s gift as a selfless act of love and devotion—an appropriate way to honor the Messiah. Jesus reveals that He will not be with them much longer, which references His soon death and burial.

Jesus says five things about it that mark it as an extremely beautiful act. First, he says, “she has done a beautiful thing to me”. The beauty of it lay in its extravagance. This woman did not spare any of the costly perfume but broke the flask and poured the whole quantity out on him. Judas, with his practical and corrupt mind, counted it up as worth three hundred denarii. A denarius was the day’s wage for a laborer. Three hundred days’ wages would be a tremendous sum. In the eyes of Judas, this woman wasted an enormous amount of money when she poured out the perfume on Jesus. It was such a lavish over the top act, and there lies the beauty of it. When have you done something extravagant and beautiful for Jesus?

Second, He said that it was a timely thing she had done. It was something that could only be done now. Any time you want to do good to the poor you can, because they are always around. And it is right to help the poor. But there are opportunities that come in our life that must be seized at that moment. Mary had sensed this and seized the moment to offer this gift, for such a time would never occur again. It was out of the sensitivity of her heart that she realized that the timing was right, and Jesus recognized this. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase timing is everything. Mary is preparing Jesus for his death. The timing was now.

Third, she did what she could. She could not fix Him a meal; there was no time for that. She could not make a garment for Him; there was no time for that. There was nothing else she could do to show her love but this. She did what she could. I am sure Jesus has called our attention to that because it is so practical for us. Someone said, “I can’t do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do I ought to do. And what I ought to do, I’m available to do”. Are you doing what you can? Or are you doing what’s easy? Are you doing at least what you are capable of for God and his son?

The fourth element of this act was that it was insightful. Jesus says she has anointed my body beforehand for burying. Many times, Jesus said to these disciples that He was going to die. Not one of them believed or understood him–except maybe Mary of Bethany. She could have understood that he was heading for burial. And since she could not be sure she would ever have the opportunity later to find his body and anoint it for burial, she did it now, as a loving act of service. Of all these friends who were around Him at this time, only this one had the sensitivity of heart to understand what was happening.

Finally, what she did was deserving of being remembered. It was memorable. Jesus said, the story of this beautiful act will be told in memory of her wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world. Here we are today, two thousand years later, fulfilling this very word, telling again of the act of Mary of Bethany when she anointed our Lord’s head and feet.

I hope we can be as understanding and extravagant as Mary was. What can you do today to show your love and appreciation of Jesus? Something extravagant. Something with meaning.

-Andy Cisneros

Reflection Questions

  1. What is Jesus Christ’s worth to you? When have you done something extravagant and beautiful for Jesus? How can you – and will you – honor him?
  2. Are you doing what you can? Or are you doing what’s easy? Are you doing at least what you are capable of for God and his son?
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Are you ready for the day of Christ’s return?

Old Testament: Deuteronomy 4

Poetry: Job 28

New Testament: Mark 13

After Jesus’ death and resurrection Jesus ascends into heaven in Acts 1:11. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

In Mark 13:14–37, Jesus prepared his followers for intense persecution and tribulation in the days ahead and especially during the end times. He gives them hope to endure these trials by describing his glorious return as the conquering King of the universe (verses 24–27). To keep them from despairing in dark times, the Lord wants them to live in readiness for His second coming. “However,” Jesus states, “no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!” (verses 32–33).

“Day” and “hour” are often used in Scripture as references to time in general (see Matthew 7:22; 10:19; 24:42, 44, 50; 25:13; 26:45). But in Mark 13, Jesus focuses on a specific event in the future. Because no one knows the day or the hour of His return, Jesus stresses the need to pay attention, stay awake, and be ready at a moment’s notice. Multiple times in Mark 13, Jesus calls for people to be ready, to be watching: “Be on guard! Stay alert!” (verse 33), “Watch for his return” (verses 34), “You, too, must keep watch!” (verse 35), “Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning” (verse 36), and “Watch for him!” (verse 37).

The disciples wanted to know when the end would come (see Mark 13:3–4). But Jesus told them that even he did not know (verse 33). Jesus acknowledges God as omniscient alone. Since no other mortal knows the time of Jesus’ return, Jesus, as the perfect son of God didn’t know the day or hour of his return, nor did the angels in heaven, only God the Father. It is possible that Jesus, now in his glorified state, knows the day and hour of his return. But at that moment, speaking with his disciples, the information was not at Christ’s disposal. Later, just before His ascension, Jesus would remind them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). Jesus accepted his human limitations, and so must we. The thing that matters is being ready every day for his return. What is stopping you from being ready?

Believers of every age have experienced persecution, natural disasters, and earthly trials. We all have our cross to bear. We all have our issues to deal with. We know how difficult it can be to live in this world. Genuine disciples must understand that these challenges are a daily reality of life in a fallen world. Yet, believers are not without hope because, in the end, our victorious King will return for us. Romans 8:38-39“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 In the meantime, since no one knows the day or the hour, we are to watch and be ready for Him no matter what we must endure as we continue His mission of spreading the good news of God’s kingdom”. You don’t have to know the day or the hour. You just have to be ready. God has already supplied the victory through his son Jesus Christ

Many have tried to predict the day of Christ’s return, but Scripture is straightforward—no one knows the day or the hour. Jesus said to stay awake because his coming will be a surprise: “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed”. Now we might not know when Christ will return, but we should know when he has come to us and saved us. Do you remember that day? Do you remember that hour that your Lord and savior came to you? The day you accepted him? If not, I hope and pray that you search this day, this hour, to find Christ and know him completely. His day is coming soon. Are you ready?

-Andy Cisneros

Reflection Questions

  1. Are you ready for the return of Jesus Christ?
  2. What can you do to make preparations?
  3. What should we be looking for? Why did Jesus give us these warnings?
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