Loving Jesus Style

Scripture: Mark 5:35-43 (ESV) 35  While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36  But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37  And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38  They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39  And when he had entered, he said to them, v “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40  And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41  Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42  And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was ...

Scripture: Luke 7:11-15 (NLT) 11  Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. 12  A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. 13  When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. 14  Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” 15  Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Devotion:             As we approach this Easter season let us meditate on the stories of Jesus raising the dead. Today’s events happen in a small out of the way town called Nain. If we know little about Nazareth where Jesus grew up, we know even less about Nain. It is mentioned only here in our bibles. L...

Scripture: Romans 8:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus 2  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life as set you free from the law of sin and death Devotion:             As we begin Holy Week celebrations in the Christian church, we need to be reminded of just what holy week means. This scripture passage sums up the theme of the week concisely and forcefully. Before the advent of Christ and his atoning work on the cross and resurrection all people were subject to the law of sin and death. The Jewish cultic sacrifices were not able to save a person from their sins. We were held in bondage to the law of sin and death, and we were really without hope in the world.             When Jesus came and gave his very life for us on the cross and his later resurrection from the grave frees us from the sin...

Scripture: Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV) You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4      Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.               In today’s scripture Isaiah is showing what is necessary to live and have peace of mind. These words are full of comfort and the tender compassion of our God. God knows that in this world our minds will be distracted and drawn away from full contemplation on God. The enemy of our souls has done a masterful job organizing modern life to be full of shiny objects that capture our attention. Our screens, particularly our phones, often draw us in and set our minds on the latest news or gossip.               Living a life centered on Christ is becoming more and more difficult each day. The news of the day seems so urgent. We have...

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV) 16  So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Devotion:             The older I get the sicker I become. This is true of my friends as well. Time is not kind to our bodies. No matter how well we take care of them they just seem to wear out. We waste away as Paul puts it in the scripture above. I hope that I am not sounding overly pessimistic here. However, it is a simple fact of biology that no one lives forever. Even my 102-year-old aunt who it seemed might live forever. Is at last succumbing to the deterioration of her body.  ...

Scripture: James 1:12 (NIV) 12  Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. Devotion:             All over the world people are being put through various trials because of their faith in Jesus Christ. James begins his letter with words of encouragement to these suffering saints. Here he promises the crown of life to those who go through trials for Jesus’s sake and come out the other side with their faith in Jesus intact.             We in the U.S.A. have been very fortunate that for the most part persecution for our faith has been relatively rare and few have had to resist to the point of giving their lives for their faith in Christ. There are still many countries in the world where to be openly Christian can bring imprisonment or even dea...

  Scripture: Romans 12:14-21 (NRSV) 14  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15  Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16  Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17  Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20  No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Devotion:             Here in Romans chapter twelve, we run across ...