Passion Week Devotions: Friday

Rules for Better Driving


Rule #13: Create Space--Use the "Two-Second-Plus Rule"
Guard your safety by actively creating space around your vehicle, never allowing yourself to get "boxed in." Adequate space creates time and helps you avoid collisions. Maintain at LEAST two seconds of driving distance, more if you can.

Many of us learned the "Two Second Rule" in our driver's ed class, and it's a great rule for driving. But it's deadly when it comes to following Jesus.

In Luke 22:54, Peter makes the mistake of his life.

"Then seizing Him, they led Him away and took Him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance."

Sadly, most of us at times do the same thing. We don't want to get "boxed in." We try to "create space"--space in our friendships, space in our marriages, space from our church, and even space from the Lord.

But you see, in the Christian life, it's never about how far we can go. It's about how close we can get.

Passion Week Devotions: Thursday

"When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer...' "
Luke 22: 14-15

In speaking of His fervent desire, Jesus reveals His passion.

Passion is defined as "a strong or powerful emotion towards someone or something."

To Jesus, we are that passion.

In this passage, Jesus explains to His disciples that His fervent desire, His heart of hearts, is to spend time with them. Quality time spent telling them the things to come, loving on them, speaking the truth into them, and showing them what is really important.

In verse 16, Jesus tells the disciples that He won't share this meal with them again until the Kingdom of God comes. Can you imagine the anticipation that must have been in His voice as He looked forward to that day?

Church, my hope and prayer for us today is that the truth of this would penetrate us. We are His fervent desire. That has not changed. Despite how we feel or what we think we should be doing, all He wants to do is dine with us.

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
Revelation 3:20

Passion Week Devotions: Wednesday

For this day of the Passion Week, the Scriptures are silent.

Not a bad place to start.

"Be still, and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

"But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him."
Habakkuk 2:20

"Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated those He has invited."
Zephaniah 1:7

We are invited to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. To be still and know that He is God.

If the pace of life, the noise of the kids, and the complaining of co-workers is getting you down, maybe it's time to do what Jesus did. Be silent and just listen to that still, small voice longing to refresh your spirit.

Passion Week Devotions: Tuesday

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Luke 21:33

Yesterday we looked at what we should be hanging on to--"every word He said."

Today, we're going to look at why.

Luke 21:33 tells us that the words of God will never pass away. They are as applicable to our lives today as they were to the people who heard them spoken by Jesus 2,000 years ago.

This Word tells us in verse 34 to "be on guard" so that our hearts will not be weighed down with the worries of the world. And in verse 36, we're told to "keep on the alert," praying that we may have strength to escape the things that are coming.

Church, they are coming!

It has been said that we are either in a trial, about to go through a trial, or just finishing a trial. My prayer for you is that, whatever circumstances you are in, you are fully equipped for it. That your eyes may be open, looking forward to standing before the Son of Man. Ready to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Passion Week Devotions: Monday

"...and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said."
Luke 19:48

Oh, that this would be said of us! And yet, we seem to have no problem holding on to everything else in our lives but His word.

The boxes of stuff piled up in the garage that I tell myself, "I might use someday," even though someday never seems to come.

The clothes in my closet that I still hope to be able to fit into again.

The fear that keeps me from reaching out like I should.

The finances that seem to never be enough.

The bitterness of a previous hurt that eats at my soul.

Sound familiar?

Yet I know the truth:

"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb."

Psalm 19: 7-10

And if this isn't enough to get us to hold on to His words, think about what Jesus "hung" onto for our sake...Paul tells us in Galatians 3:13,

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us -- for it is written, 'CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE.'"

What more of a reason do we need to do as those early disciples did, and hang onto His every word?!

The question is, what are you holding on to instead?