My CRM lent devotional encouraged me to think about the response of the Centurion who witnessed the crucifixion. Certainly he must of seen, even supervised many crucifixions. It’s not likely that the blood & the anguish were the reason for his statement. Perhaps he was involved with the handling of Jesus through the various trials including his sentence by Pilate. It says in Matthew the darkness, the earth shaking, & the commotion really got his attention. Maybe Jesus’s behavior on the cross also revealed to him that there was something different about this man. As I reflect on the words of the centurion I think it is the same for you & me. The Holy Spirit reveals the truth we see & hear about Jesus. Then we like the centurion declare “Surely He is the Son of God”

Prayer our true work

Why pray?

God knows everything & nothing can stand against His will.

Yet we see Jesus praying & He instructs us to pray. Virtually everyone else we see in scripture is praying & encouraging us to as well. Pray without ceasing. Pray in the Spirit in all occasions. We see random & planned prayers, & we even read in Revelation of a bowl containing the prayers of the saints. So our Prayers seem to affect things.

Do you think it’s possible that His will is for our will & His will to be in unity before some things happen?

If we pray for things like His mercy, healing, wholeness, help, & wisdom for ourselves & others, aren’t we really asking for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?

If prayer is conversation with almighty God, don’t you think we should do some listening? In our stillness before Him, aren’t we shaped by His desires? Haven’t you found that to be true?

Is prayer then part of the work we were created to do?

If we see it as true work that we are called to do, then it becomes less discretionary & more an indication of our relationship with Him & our desire to see His kingdom come.

Don’t you think so?

Paid in full

Many people struggle with believing that their sins were fully paid for by Jesus’ death. For some reason they must either believe that their sins are just too bad, or Jesus didn’t pay enough. The question then becomes what more could he have done? What higher price could be paid than to die a horrible humiliating death on a cross?

The truth is as Jesus said from that cross “it is finished” there is no other penalty, it is sufficient, complete. God has declared it so.

As we consider the cross today lets remember that Christ doesn’t have to do anything more for us. It is we who need to lay it down, we can then experience the purity & freedom that has been purchased for us.

Not too strange for Jesus

Think of a time recently when you have encountered the presence of your King in the hungry, the stranger, or the sick. Is there a stranger who seems just a little too strange for you? Or a sick person a little too sick for your comfort? How many do we avoid welcoming because we think they may cost a little too much? We look to the death & resurrection of Jesus’ as the way & cost paid for us to enter into His Kingdom. I’m sure glad that I was not too strange for Jesus.

No better

Sometimes I find myself really getting ticked off at people like Quran burners that jeopardize the lives of brothers & sisters in other parts of the world. Who protest at the graves of fallen soldiers, & those who pitch miracle healing water that’s been “prayed over for 17 days”. I just can’t see how anyone could see this as Christ like behavior. Then I consider all the times I have miss represented Jesus in my own behavior. How many people have walked away from an encounter with me hurt, confused, angry, or empty. Is my sin any better? This week as I consider the Cross & Resurrection I will remember & be glad that my sins were nailed on that cross too, along with yours, and theirs.

Humility

Jesus, in Luke chapter 14:7 is teaching about humility. It would seem then that it can be a learned behavior. He even suggests we can choose to be humble. There certainly have been occasions when I have been humbled, sometimes when I didn’t even think I was trying to exalt myself. I’m also pretty sure being humble is not just being shy & introverted.

So here are a couple of questions.
• What does our culture think about humbleness?
• Will humbleness get you a good performance review at work?
• Why do you think Jesus wants us to be humble?
• Do you ever think about needing to increase your humility? Towards God too?
• Do you have enough examples to learn from?

I have had some reasons to think about this lately. Thought perhaps you have also.