Presuming on Grace?
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, Caiaphas spoke treacherously about Me. At the same time, he also unwittingly spoke God’s truth about My mission: Caiaphas, the High Priest That Year: …it’s better… that one man should die for the people so the whole nation won’t perish. … As high priest that year, Caiaphas prophesied (without knowing it) that Jesus would die on behalf of the entire nation, and not just for the children of Israel — He would die so all God’s children could be gathered from the four corners of the world into one people. (John 11:50-52) Many of My own people would reject Me (John 1:10-11) and have Me crucified by the Romans (Acts 2:22-23; Acts 3:13-15). However, My death and resurrection would draw all kinds of people — Jews and non-Jews alike (John 12:32-33) — to Me as disciples. I didn’t die just for one group, but I died for the sins of all people (1 John 2:1-2). I want you to hear My loving, but firm, words of truth. No group, no race, no country, and no region can grow calloused and presume they are the only recipients of heaven’s grace! We — Father, Son, and Spirit — called Abraham to be the father of a new nation. This nation was to live in a special relationship with Us and be a blessing to all nations of the world (Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites, received Our promises and shared in the blessings of Our covenants. We called Israel to be a light to the nations. Israel was to be a blessing to those trapped in the darkness of sin, paganism, and ignorance. Yet throughout Our long history of loving patience with Our chosen people, you will find exceptional person after exceptional person who was not an Israelite by race. And each of these remarkable people became part of Israel’s great story of faith — people like Rahab, Ruth, and several centurions you meet in the New Testament. So as I near My chosen city that is about to reject Me, you shouldn’t be surprised by the thankful outsider in the story below. This outsider is the only one who returns to thank me. Years earlier, Moses had repeatedly warned the Israelite people never to forget all that their great I AM had done for them. Regardless, how quickly they did forget. So I ask you not to presume on the grace you have received. Don’t assume that Our blessings are yours by national privilege, racial preference, religious heritage, or your own righteousness. As Hosea declared and the apostle Paul repeatedly pointed out, My righteous people will live by faith. What’s more, that faith will motivate them to take the grace they have received and share it with others. Verses to Live As you read the verses below, think back on the blessings that you have received. Ask yourself if you are more like the nine insiders who didn’t offer thanks for their healing or the one outsider who returned to thank Me. Jesus was still pressing toward Jerusalem, taking a road that went along the border between Samaria (considered undesirable territory) and Galilee. On the outskirts of a border town along this road, He was greeted from a distance by a group of 10 people who were under quarantine because of an ugly and disgusting skin disease known as leprosy. Lepers (shouting across the distance): Jesus, Master, show mercy to us! Jesus: Go now and present yourselves to the priests for inspection of your disease. They went, and before they reached the priests, their skin disease was healed, leaving no trace of the disease that scarred them and separated them from the community. One of them, the instant he realized he had been healed, turned and ran back to Jesus, shouting praises to God. He prostrated himself facedown at Jesus’ feet. Leper: Thank You! Thank You! Now this fellow happened to be, not a Jew, but a Samaritan. Jesus: Didn’t all ten receive the same healing this fellow did? Where are the other nine? Was the only one who came back to give God praise an outsider? (to the Samaritan man) Get up, and go your way. Your faith has made you healthy again. (Luke 17:11-19) Response in Prayer O Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. I want the reign of Your grace to completely capture my heart and continue to change my attitudes, my words, and my actions to reflect my deep appreciation for the grace You have given me. I recognize that I am saved by Your grace. I trust that Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection defeated the power of sin and death, purchasing my pardon and making me Your child. May I never presume on Your amazing grace, O Lord! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Genesis 3:15
[The LORD God said to the serpent,] “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” —Genesis 3:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God’s words are his curse upon the serpent who tempted and lured Eve and Adam to sin. Satan is the personality behind the serpent. Even in this curse, even in recognition of a struggle between the woman’s offspring and Satan, even in the face of destruction and decay unleashed in God’s once perfect world, the LORD embeds the promise of his better future for us. That future comes to us in Jesus! Satan appeared to win the battle at the Cross, but after three days passed, the LORD’s resurrection changed everything. Jesus’ triumph over death left Satan powerless to make death the final word for Jesus or for us. The Evil One’s most strategic plan to bring damnation on us all left the old snake with a crushed head at the doorway of Jesus’ empty tomb! What follows is a video that was originally used on Sunday, March 15, 2020. This was the beginning of COVID social distancing practices and was part of our ministry to bless God’s people during this dark time when many could not assemble. We will keep the ToGather videos with our devotionals for your added blessing! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Thank you, dear Father, for taking the stinger out of death and establishing an assured hope for my future. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead and that you will raise me and bless me with life forever in your presence. For this enduring victory, I praise you in Jesus’ name. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Unbound
Note from Jesus Dear Precious One, Yesterday I talked to you about the importance of My grace leading you to forgive those who have wounded you. That is hard. Today I want to talk to you about one of My greatest enemies (1 Corinthians 15:24-26) and one of the primary reasons I came to earth and walked as God among you. I came to defeat the power of sin and death and the hold they have over you. Please know I hurt when grief rips apart your life and tears huge and gaping holes in your heart. My weeping at Martha’s and Mary’s pain, detailed in the verses below, is a reminder to you. While you shouldn’t “grieve like people who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13 NLT), death still can wound you even when your faith is rich and full. I knew that I was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, yet the grief of his two sisters tore at My heart. I know the great resurrection life I will share with everyone who dies and belongs to Me, yet the grief of each person’s family and friends still tears at My heart! There are many things about John’s account of My raising Lazarus to life that can bless you and challenge you: The fact that people die doesn’t mean I do not love them and those who love them. People’s death is not a sign that I don’t hear the prayers of their loved ones. People who die with faith in Me have not really died; just their bodies die. They are still connected intimately to Me and will be with Me throughout eternity. I hurt deeply with the death of those who love Me, and I hurt and I am intensely troubled for their families’ pain as well. There are even more messages for you to hear, but one clear message from Me to you today is this: death should not hold you hostage if you belong to Me! Listen to the last words in the verses below referring to Lazarus, who had been dead, and let them reverberate in your heart: Untie him, and let him go. Verses to Live Before you read the account about Lazarus, I want to remind you of two passages in your New Testament that speak to the truth that death should not hold you hostage. I want you to hear both of them so that you have their echo of My truth in your heart as you read John’s account that follows: Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NLT) Since we, the children, are all creatures of flesh and blood, Jesus took on flesh and blood, so that by dying He could destroy the one who held power over death — the devil — and destroy the fear of death that has always held people captive. (Hebrews 2:14-15) I hurt when you hurt because of grief, but please know that all grief for those who belong to Me will ultimately be caught up in glory on the day when the Father will wipe every tear from your eyes (Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:4): There was a certain man who was very ill. He was known as Lazarus from Bethany, which is the hometown of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary did a beautiful thing for Jesus. She anointed the Lord with a pleasant-smelling oil and wiped His feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus became deathly ill, so the sisters immediately sent a message to Jesus which said, “Lord, the one You love is very ill.” Jesus heard the message. Jesus: His sickness will not end in his death but will bring great glory to God. As these events unfold, the Son of God will be exalted. Jesus dearly loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. However, after receiving this news, He waited two more days where He was. Jesus (speaking to the disciples): It is time to return to Judea. Disciples: Teacher, the last time You were there, some Jews attempted to execute You by crushing You with stones. Why would You go back? Jesus: There are 12 hours of daylight, correct? If anyone walks in the day, that person does not stumble because he or she sees the light of the world. If anyone walks at night, he will trip and fall because he does not have the light within. (Jesus briefly pauses.) Our friend Lazarus has gone to sleep, so I will go to awaken him. Disciples: Lord, if he is sleeping, then he will be all right. Jesus used “sleep” as a metaphor for death, but the disciples took Him literally and did not understand. Then Jesus spoke plainly. Jesus: Lazarus is dead, and I am grateful for your sakes that I was not there when he died. Now you will see and believe. Gather yourselves, and let’s go to him. Thomas, the Twin (to the disciples): Let’s go so we can die with Him. As Jesus was approaching Bethany (which is about two miles east of Jerusalem), He heard that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days. Now many people had come to comfort Mary and Martha as they mourned the loss of their brother. Martha went to meet Jesus when word arrived that He was approaching Bethany, but Mary stayed behind at the house. Martha: Lord, if You had been with us, my brother would not have died. Even so I still believe that anything You ask of God will be done. Jesus: Your brother will rise to life. Martha: I know. He will rise again when everyone is resurrected