As You Go – Pray 04-13-20

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

April 13th, 2020

Two men. Same betrayal. Different outcomes.
“But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” Mark 16:7

Monday, post- Easter, is where we live life today in our story of redemption and forgiveness. The cross couldn’t destroy Jesus on Friday. The grave couldn’t hold him on Sunday. Now, sin can’t define us on Monday. Although we celebrated Easter in a new fashion yesterday, we viewed the same story of hope and victory filling the screens. We know without a doubt that our Monday is filled with a future completely under God’s control.

The darkness of Friday captured the stories of two men. Both men were guilty of betrayal but experienced  totally different outcomes. Monday for Peter and Judas, disciples of Jesus, ended up totally different. Matthew captures the essence of their stories well:

Peter: “Surely you are also one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I DO NOT KNOW THE MAN!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:73b-75)

Judas: “When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27:3-5)

The shame and guilt of betrayal hung heavy upon both men’s shoulders. Years of listening, questioning and following Jesus was gone in a flash. Driven by fear and greed, these once trusted disciples betrayed their friend, mentor and Savior.

Monday never came for Judas as he sought forgiveness in the wrong place. Guilt overwhelmed him to repent yet he sought forgiveness from religion and not from the one who could forgive and restore. His betrayal ended without forgiveness and no hope for Monday.

Monday came for Peter. This once proud and arrogant follower of Jesus betrayed the one he loved on that dark Friday night. The agony of the weekend left him empty and hopeless. He literally ran to the one who could restore and redeem his life. At the hands of Jesus, Peter, the broken man, received forgiveness and a new life.

“No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. We shall of course be very muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out, and the clean clothes are in the airing cupboard. The only fatal thing is to lose one’s temper and give it up. It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present to us: it is the very sign of His presence.” Adapted from Noticing the Dirt by C.S. Lewis

By the time Peter got home he was very muddy and tattered but he noticed the dirt. Two men. Same betrayal. Different outcomes. For one, death, the other, forgiveness. Peter chose the only one who could make a difference. Peter found life again to live on Monday.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23)
God is great,

Pastor Lynn Burton

The Book of John_Day 15

Does your life need some pruning?

Read – John 15

Continuing His parting words to His friends, Jesus explains that the way to stay connected to God is by following His example. He also warns that they will be hated and misunderstood.

Pruning is the process of cutting limbs from a plant to keep it healthy and productive. If there are branches that are not producing any fruit, they will be cut off completely. As we follow Jesus, we also require pruning in order to grow and change.

Love is a fruit. Patience, kindness, gentleness, joy, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control are all fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). These characteristics are evident in people who are connected to Jesus, the vine.

What others see is a reflection of what’s going on inside of us. As a follower of Jesus, others should see fruit in your life. If you are not seeing fruit in your life, maybe it’s time to connect with Jesus. Get connected to the source that will give you abundant life and produce that fruit in you.

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).

If you are in a season of pruning, it is because you are connecting to Jesus. You are growing, you are changing, and Jesus is making you into something more beautiful, something richer and better than what you already are. Jesus is not content with letting you stay the way you are — He wants more for you. He wants the absolute best for your life! 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Jesus cares for you, and although the process may be painful and uncomfortable, He is not OK with letting you stay where you are when something more beautiful is waiting. Jesus will perfect you because He is concerned for you.

Is there evidence of fruit in your life?  What are some practical ways to stay connected and growing in a relationship with Jesus?

The Book of John_Day 14

How to show Jesus you love him

Read – John 14

Jesus gives final instructions to His friends, explaining what they should do when He’s gone and tipping them off about the Counselor who is to come.

Obedience is not easy. Submitting to someone’s authority can be difficult. It may seem easier at times to do what we feel is right. In John 14, Jesus is clear about who is in charge — He is obedient to the Father. 

We can find a concise definition of obedience in James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” An important part of obedience is reading the Bible. However, reading words is just the first part of being obedient. The more important part is putting those words into action. When we read about giving generously to the poor, we actually go do it. When we read about forgiving our neighbor, we actually forgive them. This is true obedience.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

In John 14:15–23, Jesus tells us why obedience is such a big deal. He connects our obedience to our love for Him. He declares that our love for Him will give us a desire to be obedient. As we learn more about Him and fall deeper in love with Him, we will want nothing more than to be just like Him. The love of God prompts our obedience, not the other way around.

What areas of your life don’t look much like Jesus?  What is one thing you can do today to make your life look more like Jesus’ life?

The Book of John_Day 13

This is what forgiveness looks like

Read – John 13

Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, and they share one last meal together. Jesus warns Peter about the separation to come, but Peter doesn’t understand.

We’ve all had to wrestle with forgiveness. We can’t escape hurt feelings or being wronged, and neither could Jesus. In John 13, Jesus models forgiveness in a way that doesn’t allow us to hold grudges. He is sitting at the table with His disciples, fully aware that Judas and Peter are about to betray Him.

Jesus’ forgiveness extends beyond simply saying “I forgive you.” Forgiveness is not just something He says; it’s something He puts into action. Jesus kneels and serves them as He washes their feet, including Judas and Peter. He makes no exceptions. He offers His forgiveness to everyone, no matter what they have done or will do.

“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).

It’s easy read this chapter and be amazed that these men sat at the table with Jesus then turned their backs on Him. We can wonder how Jesus offers forgiveness to men like this, but falsely believe we cannot do the same to the people that have hurt us.

The game changer is realizing we are the same as the men at the table with Jesus. We are the ones who deny Him, and He washes our feet. We were far from God, denying Him with our life and deserting Him in our choices, yet He still came for us. That kind of grace cannot stop with the one who benefits from it — we must extend grace, too.


Have you accepted Jesus’ forgive- ness in your own life? Are there things you can’t believe Jesus would ever forgive you for?
To whom in your life do you need to extend forgiveness? How can you forgive that person today?

The Book of John_Day 12

Would you give it all?

Read – John 12

Mary washes Jesus’ feet with perfume. The next day, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey as crowds praise Him. Jesus explains why He’s going to die and makes a plea for the Jews to believe.

What would you consider your most valuable possession? Maybe it’s a car, a family heirloom, a computer, a phone, a video game console, maybe a pair of shoes, or and outfit. We all have things that we value and take great care to keep. In the beginning of John 12, we see the thing Mary considered precious — a bottle of expensive perfume. This perfume was not just a fragrance to Mary. It was worth nearly a year’s wages. Mary wasn’t just saving this perfume for a special day. This bottle was her financial security.

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (John 12:3).

In an act of worship, Mary poured her perfume onto Jesus’ feet. She knelt to the ground and washed His feet, ignoring the opinions of others. Mary gave radically. She gave not knowing if she’d be able to live through the day, but trusting Jesus anyway. She gave with such extravagance that the disciples told her she’d given too much.

To put Mary’s situation in today’s terms, it would be like going to church next Sunday, feeling called to give, and writing a check for your entire year’s salary! Yet, this is the same way God gave to us. He gave His best when He gave us Jesus. God not only calls us to radical faith, He calls us to radical giving.

What’s holding you back from pouring your security out at Jesus’ feet? Is there anything in your life you have not given to God?

The Book of John_Day 11

Jesus, where are you?

Read – John 11

Jesus’ friend Lazarus falls ill, but by the time Jesus reaches Lazarus’ house, it’s too late. Jesus weeps for His friend then raises Lazarus from the dead!

Have you ever wondered about God’s timing? You’re not alone. Some of Jesus’ close friends did, too. When Lazarus became deathly ill, his sisters, Mary and Martha, asked Jesus for help. They knew Jesus was traveling and His ministry was growing, but He was a close friend. Surely He could take a few minutes to heal their brother. But Jesus didn’t show up. Two days later when He arrived, it was too late. Lazarus was dead.

Martha and Mary were not only grief stricken, but deeply troubled by Jesus’ apparent lack of concern. “‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again’’ (John 11:21–23). Even hearing Jesus’ words, the sisters were probably wondering, “Lord, what are You thinking now?!”

“Whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:26).

As they traveled to Lazarus’ four-day-old gravesite, Martha questioned Jesus’ timing again. His response to her was clear, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” After thanking God Jesus called out loudly, “Lazarus, come out!” And he did. Lazarus, still wrapped in strips of linen, but fully alive, walked out of the tomb (John 11:38-44). 

Maybe you’ve questioned Jesus’ timing. You knew exactly when He needed to show up and what He needed to do, but it didn’t work out the way you had planned. Even when we don’t understand, He can be trusted.

Have you ever doubted God’s timing? What did you learn from that situation?  If you’re unsure about God’s plan or timing in a situation now, would you surrender it to Him?

The Book of John_Day 10

Why working harder doesn’t make you happier

Read – John 10

Jesus compares Himself to a good shepherd who feeds and cares for His sheep. Tired of Jesus’ metaphors, religious leaders corner Jesus at the temple and ask Him directly: Are you the Christ?

How can we live abundant lives? We all want that, don’t we? But we can’t answer how until we focus on the more important question: What — or who — is the source of abundant life?

Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Chasing anything other than Jesus will steal what God has blessed you with, kill your dreams, and destroy your purpose in life. Only Jesus can restore the blessings that have been stolen, bring life to dreams that have died, and give our lives purpose. Possessions come and go, as does the enjoyment they bring. The only way to experience joy that never leaves is to have something that cannot fail. An abundant life comes from Jesus, who never fails.

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).

When a reporter asked John D. Rockefeller how much money was enough to make him happy, the millionaire replied, “Just one dollar more.” Nothing on Earth is ever going to satisfy us. But if you ask anyone who has made Jesus the Lord of their life, they will tell you that they are blessed beyond anything they could have ever asked or imagined. A life apart from Jesus will always leave you lacking, but a life centered on Jesus is full of abundance.


What do you strive for in life? How does what you strive for differ from what Jesus strived for?

The Book of John_Day 9

What has Jesus done for you?

Read – John 9

Jesus meets a blind man and heals him with a combination of dirt, spit, and the Holy Spirit. When the man’s neighbors learn about his healing, religious leaders come to Jesus looking for answers.

Can you imagine living with absolutely no vision? Your view of the world would be the images someone has patiently painted in your mind.

John 9 describes a man blind since birth. Some of Jesus’ disciples assumed the blindness had been brought on by sin, maybe his or maybe even the sin of his parents. Jesus assured them that the man’s troubles had not been caused by sin, but “…so the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3).

If you were blind, wouldn’t you be willing to try just about anything to be radically healed? Can’t you see yourself thinking, “Cover my eyes with a fresh mud pie made out of spit? Good plan!” Because that’s exactly what Jesus did. After covering the man’s eyes with mud Jesus told him to go wash his face. In an instant, his dark world became light.

“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5).

Religious leaders overlooked the healing miracle because they wanted to ensure it happened according to their regulations. Was this the same man who had been blind, the beggar? If so, who had healed him? Didn’t Jesus know He wasn’t supposed to heal people on the Sabbath? Their interrogation ended abruptly with the former blind man proclaiming, “I was blind, but now I see!” (John 9:25)

Everyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior has a before and after story. If you’ve gone from darkness to light, your story has been written so the works of God might be displayed in you. Your story is just as miraculous as the one in John 9. You were blind, and now you see.

The Book of John_Day 8

Who you know matters more than what you know

Read – John 8

When religious leaders bring an adulterous woman to Jesus for judgment, it becomes a lesson in not judging others. Jesus goes on to explain He is the eternal Son of God and they are illegitimate children.

Using the name God gave Himself in Exodus 3:14, Jesus makes an audacious claim: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58)! Jewish leaders heard this statement and became so angry they wanted Jesus dead. The Pharisees were considered the ultimate authority on God’s Word by the nation of Israel and had an incredible knowledge of the Scriptures. Jesus brushed off their personal attacks and reminded the Jewish leaders that they may know the Scripture but they do not know God.

“‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am’” (John 8:58)!

What a dangerous place to be — to know the Bible cover to cover yet not know God. In John 8, the Jewish leaders knew enough of the Bible to debate Jesus but failed to apply it to their lives. Reading and applying the Bible should always point us to Jesus. Knowing Jesus is more important than knowing Scripture.

When we know Scripture and apply it, we look like Jesus at the beginning of chapter 8. We shield the helpless, forgive the sinful, offer hope in hopeless situations, and rebuke self-righteousness. When Scripture is applied, it points us to Jesus instead of preparing us for debate.


While reading your Bible today and over the next few weeks, begin your time by asking God to meet with you and allow you to know Him, not just His words.

As You Go Pray 4/05/20

Unleashed – As You Go – Pray

Living Confidently Even When

“I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” Psalm 27:13-14

Lunch is ready, wash your hands. Now! The trademark mantra of Moms for generations. Now you hear the same words, wash your hands even if you simply touch the door handle. Wash hands! Keep your distance – six feet! Stay home! This is the new life we find ourselves in at this time. No one ever imagined we would be at this place. However, Jesus tells a most timely parable that could easily apply today.

“Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, what should I do, for I have no place to store my crops? Then he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21)

The man had life the way he wanted, all the things he would need for years to come. He made some good financial decisions only to wake up with the words, “You fool!,” and his world was gone.  In February we woke up to a world changed totally.  Life for us was good but then an unexpected, unprecedented, and deadly virus attacked the world. What we had was no longer there. The barns we built were gone.

Jesus parable would be filled with hopelessness and it is, if your focus is not on God. The man’s focus was on his treasure, not upon God. The same is said of anyone “who stores up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

However, to His disciples we are told, “not to worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.” (Luke 12:22) Jesus points to the sky and tells us to look, “the ravens; they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them.” If God can take care of birds, think about how he must care for you. He tells us, “of how much more value are you than the birds!” (Luke 12:24)

Living confidently in the midst of a crisis is not easy. Unfortunately, fear can overwhelm followers of Jesus. We have to be reminded often that God’s kingdom is greater than our struggle. To hear again the comforting words of Jesus as he tells us, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

C.S. Lewis tells about living confidently even when life seems hopeless. Replace his “crisis” with our crisis of the virus to keep in perspective Jesus words, “do not be afraid, little flock.”

“If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (any microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”

The days ahead may still be stressful yet our hope is secure in God. Our future may be uncertain but we stand on the unshakable ground of God’s Word. Our path may be rocky but we walk with Jesus in confidence. “Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.” (Psalm 33:18-19)

 

God is great,

Pastor Lynn Burton