Delightsome Land

I Live God-First by Worshipping Passage to Read The Wedding Celebration, Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24. Point to Ponder Imagine throwing a wonderful wedding feast. How would you feel if you offered invitations to your family and friends but nobody came? Yet that’s exactly what happens in this story, told in two different parables by Jesus. A king invited a bunch of friends to a wedding celebration for his son, but they dismissed the invitation and went their different ways, one guy to his farm, another to his business. Luke’s version gives a fair amount of color and detail here. It paints a picture of people who are just too busy and self-absorbed to come to the party. One guy RSVPs by saying he can’t make it because he just bought a new piece of property; too much to do there. Another says he’s busy with his livestock. Then another one says he’s just gotten married himself and can’t possibly come. I would like us to consider these parables as if they are about

Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?” — knowing that it was the Lord. — John 21:12 It had been a tough morning, to be sure. Following Jesus’ death, several disciples returned to their regularly scheduled programming. They got up early, took their fishing nets, and… nothing. Not a bite. Until some guy stood on the shore and called out a weird suggestion to throw their nets in from the other side of the boat. I wonder if any of them grumbled briefly, “What difference does it make which side of the boat we throw the nets from? Who is this guy?” But by then, they were desperate enough to try anything. Suddenly, when their nets were heavy, the same question took on a different meaning, because they knew the answer. John shouted, “It is the Lord!” and Peter could not get to Jesus fast enough. Other than suggesting that they add some of the fresh catch to His spread, Jesus’ sole response was “Come and eat bre

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! — Revelation 1:18 Flowers! Easter lilies! Speak to me this morning the same sweet lesson of immortality you have been speaking to so many sorrowing souls for years. Wise old Book! Let me read again in your pages the steady assurance that “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Poets! Recite for me your verses that resound the gospel of eternal life in every line. Singers! Break forth once more into hymns of joy — let me hear again my favorite resurrection songs. Trees, blossoms, and birds; and seas, skies, and winds — whisper it, sound it anew, sing it, echo it, let it beat and resonate through every atom and particle on earth, and let the air be filled with it. Let it be told and retold again and again, until hope rises to become conviction, and conviction becomes the certainty of knowing. Let it be told until, like Paul, even when we face our death, we will go triumphantly, with our

Trust in Me at all times. I know the pain and sorrow you are feeling, and I want you to pour out your heart in My Presence. You need to release all those emotions in a safe place. Demonstrate your trust in Me by opening your heart to Me; as you do so, I promise to keep you safe. Remember that I am a Man of sorrows, fully acquainted with grief. Because of all I suffered, I can empathize with you and share your pain. As you pour out your emotions in My Presence, your heavy burden grows lighter. You no longer carry your sorrows alone. You release them to Me, and I then relieve and refresh your soul. Moreover, as your heavy heart grows lighter, you are freed to learn more of Me: who I really am. Come to Me and get to know Me in ever-increasing depth and breadth. You will find that I am indeed a Refuge — a safe place flooded with eternal Love. Linger a while in My Presence, letting My Love soak into your soul. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out yo

Get up, we must go. Look, here comes the man who has turned against Me. The words were spoken to Judas. But they could have been spoken to anyone. They could have been spoken to John, to Peter, to James. They could have been spoken to Thomas, to Andrew, to Nathanael. They could have been spoken to the Roman soldiers, to the Jewish leaders. They could have been spoken to Pilate, to Herod, to Caiaphas. They could have been spoken to every person who praised Him last Sunday but abandoned Him tonight. Everyone turned against Jesus that night. Everyone. Judas did. What was your motive, Judas? Why did you do it? Were you trying to call His hand? Did you want the money? Were you seeking some attention? And why, dear Judas, why did it have to be a kiss? You could have pointed. You could have just called His name. But you put your lips to His cheek and kissed. A snake kills with his mouth. The people did. The crowd turned on Jesus. We wonder who was in the crowd.

This day in history: Jesus was crucified. The Creator took the fall for the created. The Innocent One bore the punishment for the convicted; and the Saviour of all mankind spread open His arms in love for you and I, when he died on that cross - lifting the heavy weight of our sins onto himself. Hallelujah the story doesn’t end there... Three days later, He rose again and from that day on, the cross we are asked to carry is no longer heavy. I’ve heard it said before that nails didn’t hold Him to the cross…love did. So when you listen to the Easter story this year and pass over the name ‘Simon of Cyrene', remember this: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light’…. Matthew 11.30 I pray that this Easter season for you and your family is filled with stories of salvation, with a revelation of the significance of the cross and the incredible depth of His love.

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. — Acts 4:12 What is the ultimate victory of the cross? That it could not hold the Savior of the world, who triumphed over sin and death, winning salvation for mankind. The resurrection story of Jesus Christ is what gives meaning and power to the cross. What a failure Christianity would be if it could not carry our hopes beyond the coldness and depths of the grave. You see, the resurrection means the salvation of our souls. What does the resurrection mean to you? Many have never thought about it. Some believe that Jesus died leaving a legacy of “Do good to your neighbor,” never believing that He was raised from the dead. Others think the resurrection was a hoax. There are those who question whether Jesus even existed. True believers in Jesus Christ have no doubt that He lived among us, died for our sins, and after three days was resurrected to life,

Matthew 21:10 It was only a matter of days before He would be crucified, and Jesus had just entered Jerusalem. The crowd had been waving palm branches and shouting His praise. The onlookers weren’t sure what was happening. in Matthew’s words, When [Jesus] had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, ‘Who is this?’ — Matthew 21:10 “Who is this?” This question does not belong only in first-century Jerusalem. Throughout the centuries and continuing today, people have been opinionating and speculating on the identity of Jesus of Nazareth. Some say He was a sort of guru, a wise and gentle teacher of trite platitudes and object lessons. Others say Jesus was one in a long line of prophets. And more than one apologist has argued that there are only three possibilities as to Christ’s identity: He was a liar, falsely claiming to be God; He was a lunatic, bona fide crazy and delusional, out of touch with reality; or He was, in fact, who He said He was, the Son of God, Lor

So what do you do if you’re a fan who wants to be a follower but your heart just isn’t in it? You want to come after Christ with a passionate pursuit, but the truth is you feel apathetic and indifferent. You don’t want to feel that way, but you do. I was recently doing some research on what are known as “The Seven Deadly Sins.” They don’t appear as a list anywhere in Scripture, and I was curious to know how that list was developed. It turns out that years ago the literacy rate was quite low and people weren't reading the Bible for themselves. Some of the early Church leaders got together and made a list of the worst sins so at least people would know what not to do. As I was reading about their thinking behind the seven deadly sins I discovered something about the one sin on that list that always seemed out of place to me. They have “sloth” listed as a deadly sin. It has never seemed that deadly to me. I’ve always thought of sloth as laziness. You know, not changing th

Marks of Faith Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree. Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, “We heard Him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.'” But not even then did their testimony agree. And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What d

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. —Psalm 145:3–5 NLT The television host leaned over to make sure the microphone was close to the precocious girl’s mouth. He’d just asked her, along with a panel of other school-aged children, about the real meaning of Easter. Her classmates’ answers ranged from getting candy and trinkets from the Easter Bunny to marking the official beginning of spring. This youngster seemed to have an answer that was more spiritual and accurate than the others: “Easter is the time when Jesus died on a cross for our sins and got buried in a tomb.” “That’s right!” the host responded. “But He didn’t stay in the grave, did He, honey? Tell the audience what happened next.” “Oh, that’s easy!” she exclaimed. “He rose from the dead

“Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” That statement by Green Bay Packers football legend Vince Lombardi is so true. We’ve all experienced it: the end of the day comes and, with it, the end of our energy and often the end of our courage for whatever the next day may hold. Great heroes of the Bible have experienced it. Even the mighty prophet Elijah. Our first several encounters with Elijah reveal a fiery man of God, a man unafraid to take on conflict, a man who unhesitatingly took care of the business at hand with, I would venture, a bit of swagger in his step. When Queen Jezebel found out about all the trouble Elijah had been causing, she threatened his life. I would expect the bold Elijah of Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) to tell her, “Bring it!” — but that isn’t what he did. Elijah turned and ran. After a day’s journey into the wilderness of Judah, Elijah sat down under a broom tree and cried out to God: It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life. — 1 Kings 19:4

I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail. — Luke 22:32 On the night before His death, Jesus made this announcement: All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee. — Matthew 26:31-32 Translation? Your fall will be great, but My grace will be greater. You’ll find Me waiting for you in Galilee. The promise was lost on Peter: Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble. — Matthew 26:33 Not one of Peter’s finer moments. Arrogant. Self-sufficient. Peter’s trust was in Peter’s strength. Yet Peter’s strength would peter out. Jesus knew it. Satan would attack and test Peter. But Satan would never claim Peter. Why? Because Peter was strong? No, because Jesus was. I have prayed for you. — Luke 22:32 Jesus’ prayers hamstring Satan. Je

The heart of the Christian story revolves around suffering. Jesus suffered on the Cross for our sin, providing a way of redemption for us sinners. Suffering is something none of us want to go through, yet we are all prone to at some time in our lives. Are you walking a difficult path through suffering right now? At times it may seem like there’s no end in sight, but don’t lose hope — for there is an end, there is always an end if you’re a believer. If you’re having trouble sleeping because of your current state of suffering, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual, be reminded of God’s holy Word and the messages of hope within. While the heart of the Christian faith is about suffering, it also is about redemption. God takes broken things and makes them beautiful. He is the Creator of redemption. As you lie in bed wrestling with your suffering, it can be so hard — and seem almost cruel — to be told that your suffering will birth something beautiful. Yet the Lord

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. — Matthew 23:23 NIV Politics can be vicious, ruthless, and just plain dirty. Running for office, even staying in office, has become a cutthroat business. So it is nice when we see our politicians doing something for the less fortunate. Still, we may find ourselves questioning their motives. Only the Lord knows their hearts. Doing good in order to appear good is exactly what the Pharisees did, and Jesus called them out on it. He knew, for instance, that they gave their tithe simply so everyone would see and praise them, and then they neglected the more important aspects of being God’s people: the practice of justice, mercy, and faithfulness in their everyday lives, even when no one was looking.

Since Christians will live forever, they are told not to fear in the face of death. Paul says, Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? — 1 Corinthians 15:55 Since we know we will be with God forever, there is no more fear of death for the Christian of true faith. In fact, death is even beneficial to a Christian, because it sends him to God, with whom he is longing to be. Paul writes, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. — Philippians 1:21 The security of salvation is what liberates Christians to follow difficult teachings of Jesus and to self-sacrificially love one’s enemies, even being ready to die for them. That is why some Christians have been willing to go to tumultuous Muslim contexts and serve those who could do nothing for them, even in the face of death. Ronnie Smith was a Texan science teacher who decided to move his family to Benghazi when the Libyan revolution was underway. For a few years, he taught chemistry to high s

I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. — John 6:35 I have an old beat-up and marked-up copy of Thomas Watson’s All Things for Good , which I read often. Somehow I misplaced it weeks ago and had been hoping it would turn up. I finally came across it. Watson penned this book back in 1663. It is brief but weighty and never fails to yield manna. I just took a minute or two to flip carefully through the pages that could use some Scotch tape on the binding. As I did so, I saw a verse Watson referenced that immediately struck me. The verse is Job 22:21, and Watson rendered it, Acquaint now thyself with God, and be at peace, thereby good shall come unto thee. I want to give you four principles that will better acquaint you with God, the Father, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. These four truths will keep you going in any wilderness. They will also enable you to be at peace and thereby good shall come unto you. T

She had a tremble to her, the inner tremble you could feel with just a hand on her shoulder. I saw her in a grocery store. Had not seen her in some months. I asked about her kids and husband, and when I did, her eyes watered, her chin quivered, and the story spilled out. He’d left her. After twenty years of marriage, three kids, and a dozen moves, gone. Traded her in for a younger model. She did her best to maintain her composure but couldn’t. The grocery store produce section became a sanctuary of sorts. Right there between the tomatoes and the heads of lettuce, she wept. We prayed. Then I said, “You’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don’t be foolish or naive. But don’t despair either. With God’s help you will get through this.” Audacious of me, right? How dare I say such words? Where did I get the nerve to speak such a promise into tragedy? In a pit, actually. A deep, dark pit. So steep, the boy coul