Posts with the category “devotions”

The Family in the Parking LotPicture a family pulling into the church parking lot on a future Sunday. The father gives a stern warning. The mother straightens clothes. The children are nervous. They a...  Read More

On the Mountain, Praying Through NightJesus went up on a mountain to pray. He continued all night in prayer to God. When morning came, He called His disciples to Him. From them, He chose twelve men. H...  Read More

The Traitor Who Heard It AllJudas Iscariot heard Jesus teach. He saw the miracles and traveled with the twelve. Jesus even washed his feet. Judas had a place among the apostles without a heart that tr...  Read More

Grace for the Growing HeartJesus named Simon, whom He also called Peter. This man had a heart to follow Jesus and a mouth that often arrived ahead of his brain. Jesus called him knowing full well that...  Read More

Chosen While Still FollowingJesus chose twelve men from among His disciples. They were already followers before He appointed them apostles. They were already learning and spending time with Him. He ca...  Read More

From Prayer to Purposeful ActionWhen morning came, Jesus called His disciples to Him. The night of prayer led directly to a morning of action. He did not stay on the mountain while the work waited bel...  Read More

The Mountain of All-Night PrayerJesus went up a mountain to pray. The crowds were growing. The opposition was hardening. Real needs and angry critics surrounded Him. In those demanding days, Jesus con...  Read More

The Miracle and the FuryThe man stretched out his hand and it was completely restored. It was whole, just like the other. You would expect the room to erupt in praise. Instead, it filled with fury. Th...  Read More

Anger and Grief Over Hard HeartsBefore Jesus healed the man, He looked around at the entire gathering. Mark’s gospel tells us Jesus felt both anger and grief. His anger was a righteous response to the...  Read More

 Stretch Forth Your HandJesus knew the critical thoughts of the religious leaders. He understood their hostility. Yet He did not allow their reaction to dictate His obedience to the Father. He called ...  Read More

Watching for an AccusationThe scribes and Pharisees fixed their eyes on Jesus. They watched for a miracle not with hope, but with hostility. They wanted to use the man’s healing as evidence against Je...  Read More

 A Withered Hand in the SynagogueJesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath. A man with a withered right hand was also there. The religious leaders watched Jesus closely. They were not hoping for a ...  Read More

Beyond the House RulesThe Pharisees were enforcing their house rules on everyone else. They treated their preferences as God’s requirements. Jesus confronted this error directly. He showed that God’s ...  Read More

Lord of the SabbathJesus did not end the debate with a story. He ended it with a declaration of His identity. He said, “The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” He claimed absolute authority over ...  Read More

Have You Not Read?Jesus answered the Pharisees with a question. “Have ye not read what David did?” He pointed them to a story in 1 Samuel they knew well. When David was hungry, he ate the sacred bread...  Read More

The Loudest Accusation Isn't Always RightThe Pharisees saw the disciples eating and immediately accused them. “Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?” They spoke with confidence...  Read More

 A Good Gift Becomes a Heavy BurdenJesus walked with His disciples through grain fields on the Sabbath. His hungry followers picked some heads of grain. They rubbed them in their hands and ate the ker...  Read More

From Spectator to WitnessLevi the tax collector heard Jesus say, "Follow me." He left his tax booth immediately. He did not just become a spectator. He prepared a feast and invited his friends to meet...  Read More

The Leaking Hose and the TapeA young man stood over a broken car engine. A cracked hose was leaking coolant. A mechanic pointed to the problem and said, "You need to replace that hose." But the young ...  Read More

The Man Who Prefers the OldJesus observed that a person who drinks old wine does not immediately want new wine. He says, ‘The old is good.’ This man has a settled preference. His taste is accustomed t...  Read More

 New Wine in Old WineskinsJesus gave another picture. He said no one puts new wine into old wineskins. New wine ferments and creates pressure. Old wineskins have already been stretched. They become br...  Read More

The New Patch on Old JeansJesus told a story about a new garment and an old one. He said no one tears a piece from a new garment to patch an old one. Doing so ruins the new garment. The new patch will...  Read More

Unpacking Your BagA little boy sat in a courtroom. His adoption was about to be finalized. He had learned not to get too comfortable and always kept a small bag packed. After the judge signed the pape...  Read More

The Cost of the CelebrationJesus knew a time was coming when the Bridegroom would be taken away. He told His disciples they would fast in those days. He could see beyond Levi’s house. He knew Judas wo...  Read More

The Bridegroom in the RoomJesus answered His critics with a question. He asked them if the wedding guests could fast while the bridegroom was with them. The answer was obvious. Of course not. A weddin...  Read More

 Jesus in Levi’s HouseLevi invited his friends to a meal. These were tax collectors and sinners, men everybody else looked down on. They expected the usual crowd and the same old stories. Then someone...  Read More

 The Man at the Wedding FeastThe religious leaders watched the meal at Levi’s house. They saw the plates passing and heard the conversations. They noted that Jesus’ disciples were eating and drinking....  Read More

The Chief of SinnersThe Pharisee named Saul met the risen Christ and became the apostle Paul. After years of preaching and planting churches, he never got over the mercy that saved him. He did not wri...  Read More

The Doctor and the SickThe religious leaders stood outside Levi’s house and complained. They asked the disciples, “Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?” They were disgusted. In their mi...  Read More

From One Table to AnotherLevi left his tax table and immediately set a dinner table. At the first table, people came because they had to. At the second, Levi invited them because he wanted them to mee...  Read More

Two Words That Change EverythingJesus stood before Levi’s booth and spoke two words: “Follow me.” This was not a suggestion to add religion to a crowded schedule. It was a command to leave his old dir...  Read More

At the Receipt of CustomLevi sat at his tax booth. Coins clinked on the table. People passed by, clutching their purses and looking at him with disgust. He was a traitor working for Rome, a man nobody...  Read More

 Carrying Your Old MatThe man who was paralyzed immediately rose up. He did not slowly sit up or ask for a walker. He stood, rolled up his mat, and lifted it onto his shoulder. He walked out through t...  Read More

The Son of Man’s AuthorityThe scribes and Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy in their hearts. They reasoned that only God can forgive sins. Jesus perceived their thoughts and answered them. He asked...  Read More

Forgiveness Before WalkingThe paralyzed man lay helpless before Jesus. Everyone saw his useless legs. Jesus saw his guilty soul. Jesus did not first say, “Rise and walk.” He said, “Man, thy sins are f...  Read More

Four Friends and a Roof-Torn FaithFour men carried a paralyzed friend on a mat. They believed Jesus could help him. When they arrived, the crowd blocked the door. They did not make excuses or decide t...  Read More

The Crowded House and Empty HeartsJesus taught in a crowded house. Pharisees and teachers of the law sat listening. They came from Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. They had not come hungry. They had com...  Read More

The Open Prison DoorYou may feel like a prisoner to your past. You may see the face of someone you swore you would never become. You may be shackled in a cell you cannot open. You are Barabbas. The se...  Read More

The Exchange at the CrossThe soldier unlocked Barabbas's chains. The iron fell from his wrists. Barabbas walked free. No probation officer followed him. No payment plan was arranged. He was free. But ...  Read More

The Crowd’s Chanting VoicePilate offered the crowd a choice. He asked them to choose between Barabbas and Jesus. Surely they would choose the popular preacher over a bloodthirsty murderer. But the chi...  Read More