Loving Jesus Style

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Devotion:  In the concluding words of the Gospel of Matthew, we encounter the Great Commission, a timeless directive that has propelled the church forward through the ages. Matthew 28:18-20 encapsulates the essence of Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples, a profound call to action that resonates with every believer’s heart and forms a crucial part of our faith journey.  Jesus begins by declaring, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This assertion of supreme authority sets the stage for the mission He is about to impart. It reminds us that the one who commands us is the sovereign ruler over all cr...

  Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) 11  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Devotion: Jeremiah, a prophet who lived in a tumultuous era of Israel’s history, serves as a beacon of hope for us today. The people of Judah had strayed from God, indulging in idolatry and disobedience. As a consequence, Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, overtook Judah and Jerusalem, leading to their exile (Jeremiah 25:1-11). This reminds me of a time when I felt distant from God due to my own mistakes, but His faithfulness and love brought me back. Yet, even in their captivity, God remained faithful. He had a plan for His people that extended beyond their immediate circumstances. Jeremiah 29:11 was written specifically for those in exile, but its promises resonate with us today. This verse is a reminder that God's plans are always for our welfare, even in the midst of challenging situations. Thought...

  Scripture: Luke 21:29-33 (ESV) 29  And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30  As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Devotion:             This parable about the fig tree occurs in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Pages of ink have been spilled on the meaning of this little story, and we are no closer to fully understanding it than Jesus’ disciples were. So, my comments here are not dogmatic but are meant to show my understanding of these verses; you may decipher and apply them as the Lord leads you.           ...

  Scripture: Isaiah 1:18-20 (ESV) 18  “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord :        though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;        though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19      If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20      , but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”   Devotion:               In this brief selection from the beginning of Isaiah, we see God willing to reason with His people. This passage begins with a promise that no matter how bad our sins are, God plans to make them disappear. For Christians reading this passage, it seems to foreshadow the cross and resurrection. Under the old covenant, sins could never be dealt w...

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV) 13  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  14  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  15  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.  16  And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  17  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Devotion:             Jesus’ birth, which we just celebrated, marked a new beginning for humankind. Today, we consider Jesus’ baptism and its meaning to those called to believe in His name. We also mark the beginning of a new calendar year today. It seems we are in a ...

  Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 (ESV) In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29  But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34  And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35  And the angel answered her, ...

Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-14 (ESV) 10  Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz:  11  “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”  12  But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.”  13  And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?  14  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Devotion:             Let us prepare our hearts to celebrate the advent of Jesus in our world by looking at this prophecy from Isaiah. Verse 14 contains a familiar promise that comes from the Lord himself using Isaiah as His mouthpiece. We look first at verse 10 where the Lord speaks to the king Ahaz telling Ahaz that the Lord is willing to give a sign of His love and faithfulness to the king.    ...

  Scripture: Jerimiah 23:5-6 (ESV) 5   “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  6  In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ Devotion:             This passage of scripture is widely believed to be a prophecy of the coming Messiah. In it Jerimiah tells of a day when God will raise up one from the line of King David to rule with power and authority. All wisdom to execute justice having been given to this person He will reign as a king over Israel. Seeing Jesus’ coming through this scripture proves difficult for us. While Jesus did come from the line of David, He refused to be made King and instead chose to suffer as a servant on behalf of the peopl...