DAY #90: Luk 2:41-3:14

As the passage begins today, we need to understand that according to God’s law, every male was required to go to Jerusalem three times a year for the great festivals (Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16). In the spring, the Passover was celebrated, followed immediately by the week-long Festival of Unleavened Bread. Passover commemorated the night of the Jews’ escape from Egypt when God had killed the Egyptian firstborn but had passed over Israelite homes (Exodus 12:21-36).

Every year, along with other Jewish families, Jesus and his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Again there is attention to the law—Jesus grew up in a home where God’s laws were obeyed and annual festivals observed. So, the year when Jesus was twelve years old was no different, and the family set off for the festival as usual.

Those who attended the festivals usually traveled in caravans for protection from robbers along the Palestine roads. It was customary for the women and children to travel at the front of the caravan, with the men bringing up the rear. A twelve-year-old boy conceivably could have been in either group, and both Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was with the other one. Their caravan probably included a large number of people. So it was not until they were ready to strike camp that Mary and Joseph checked for Jesus among the other travelers, only to discover that he was not in the crowd but had stayed behind in Jerusalem.

When Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus was not among the travelers, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him. The three days that elapsed probably refers to one day in travel away from the city, one day for them to return, then finding him on the third day. Certainly to their great relief, they found him in the Temple. And what was Jesus doing in the Temple?

He was teaching, and the depth of his wisdom, amazed the other teachers that assembled.
While Jesus undoubtedly felt bad that he had caused his parents distress, it made perfect sense to him that he would be in his Father’s house, that is, in the Temple.

Jesus was making a distinction between his earthly father and his heavenly Father. Jesus understood his identity with God, but also was not yet supposed to go about his earthly ministry (that did not happen until he was thirty years old). In the meantime, Jesus lived a human life, obeying his parents, growing up, studying, and learning. As she had with the words of the shepherds at Jesus’ birth, Mary stored all these things in her heart.

While the Bible does not record any events of the next eighteen years of Jesus’ life, Jesus undoubtedly was learning and maturing. He grew physically (in height) and mentally (in wisdom), he related to other people (loved by all who knew him), and he was loved by God. A full human life is balanced. It was important to Jesus—and it should be important to all believers—to develop fully in each of these key areas: physical, mental, social, and spiritual.

As chapter 3 begins, we see Luke, once again, gave his Roman audience a historical context for his narrative. Tiberius, the Roman emperor, ruled from a.d. 14–37. Pilate was the Roman governor responsible for the province of Judea from a.d. 26–36. Originally, Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, had been assigned this portion to rule after his father died, but he ruled so poorly that his subjects petitioned for him to be removed. The Romans installed a governor in a.d. 6 and eventually Pilate held this post.

It was during this time that a message from God came to John. There had not been a prophet in Israel for more than four hundred years. It was widely believed that when the Messiah would come, prophecy would reappear (Joel 2:28-29; Malachi 3:1; 4:5). With the arrival of John, prophecy returned to Israel, and this was a sign to the people. God gave John his message, and from that point, John brought that message to the people.

News that a prophet had burst onto the scene excited the people. There was a sense that God was doing a work. The prophet Isaiah called his people to repentance. The second half of the book of Isaiah focuses on the promise of salvation—the coming of the Messiah and the arrival of a man who would announce this coming (Isaiah 40:3).

John the Baptist was, in fact, that voice shouting in the wilderness, announcing the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist called all humankind to prepare to meet Jesus. John's preaching can sounds harsh at times, but his astonishing frankness made him popular with the people but unpopular with the religious establishment. His message was simple; confession of sins and a changed life are inseparable. Faith without deeds is dead. Those who believe must also truly turn from sin, proving by the way they live that they have really turned from their sin and turned to God.

God’s message hasn’t changed since the Old Testament—people will be judged for their unproductive lives. Just as a fruit tree is expected to bear fruit, God’s people should produce a crop of good deeds. John said that people who claim to believe God but don’t live for God are like unproductive trees that will be cut down. The ax of God’s judgment is poised and ready to do its work, cutting down those trees that do not bear good fruit (Psalm 74:5-6; Jeremiah 46:22). Not only will the trees be chopped down, but they will be thrown into the fire, signifying complete destruction.

John’s powerful message even reached soldiers. And when the soldiers asked what they should do, John told them to quit some of their activities—such as extorting money from people and accusing people of things they didn’t do. As with the tax collectors, they were told to control their greed by being content with their pay. Again, his message was simple - your walk must match your talk.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

So many things from today. Jesus at 12 years old - a junior Higher - teaching in the temple. The obedience of Mary and Joseph to raise Jesus in a godly home. But for me today, the message of John and a call to repentance - a call to live your values and live out your faith. Well, that message so resonates with my soul. Lord, I long to be your man. I know how often I fail and fall short. I am intimately familiar with my sin and hypocrisy. Yet, I want my life to match the message. I know you have called me to set the pace and example.

Forgive me Lord when I fall short. Thank you for your grace and mercy and forgiveness. Help me God to be Your man today. Help me boldly and lovingly proclaim Your message. Lord, bring people to COV to hear the Good News. Prepare their hearts to receive the message and Lord give them courage to respond to that message.

"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." John 12:32 (NIV)

Lord, we will lift You up at COV. Draw people to you.

DAY #89: Luke 2:21-40

12 consecutive days of working out. Eating great (healthy) and dropping a few pounds. I am on the way to getting back into shape. How are you doing with your goals?

In today's passage, we see that every Jewish boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day after birth (Leviticus 12:3). Circumcision symbolized the Jews’ separation from Gentiles and their unique relationship with God (Genesis 17:9-14). So eight days later, Mary and Joseph took the child to be circumcised. They named him Jesus, just as the angel had told Mary.

For forty days after the birth of a son and eighty days after the birth of a daughter, the mother was ceremonially unclean and could not enter the Temple. The purification offering was given at the end of her time of separation. Mary and Joseph were to bring an offering—a lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering. The priest would sacrifice these animals and declare the woman to be clean. If a lamb was too expensive, the law said that the parents could sacrifice “either a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

Luke introduced another person who would be divinely told of the Messiah’s arrival and who would confirm the baby’s identity. Simeon was spiritually in tune with God: righteous, devout, expecting the Messiah to come. He had all his life held on to God’s promise of a coming deliverer, so through the Holy Spirit, God promised that Simeon would not die before seeing the Lord’s Messiah.

When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to present him to the Lord, Simeon was there—having been led by the Spirit to be at the Temple on that particular day. God was ordaining this meeting, in keeping with his promise to Simeon. Mary and Joseph arrived in the Temple to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required. There, the Spirit of God led Simeon to recognize this baby as the Savior.

Another person who recognized this special baby arrived on the scene, as Simeon was giving his words of prophecy to Joseph and Mary. It was Anna, a prophet (one sent from god to proclaim his truth). Anna had been a widow for most of her life; never remarrying but instead focusing her attention on worshiping God with fasting and prayer. Her lifestyle of worshiping, fasting, and praying indicates a woman of faith and strict devotion. While Luke did not record any exact words spoken by Anna, he wrote that she began praising God. As a second witness to the identity of this child, Anna praised God, as she perceived that this baby was the promised King to come and deliver Jerusalem.

Luke again mentioned the fact that Joseph and Mary had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord. Jesus was the Son of God, but his earthly parents had fulfilled everything that God’s law required regarding the birth of firstborn sons. They then returned home to Nazareth in Galilee, from where they had come to register for the census.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

When I read about Simeon and Anna, I am moved by the faithfulness of God. He does not forget His promises - even if they seem slow in coming to fruition. I am reminded of Habakkuk 2:3. From the Living Bible it says...

"But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!"

Would to God that He would build that kind of patience and perseverance and forbearance into my life. Would to God that He would give me staying power when it comes to praying for people and waiting on His promises. Would to God that I would not be driven by a "Fast-food, instant gratification, I want it now" desire. Lord, give me Your strength and power today. Give me Your heart for people.

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident!" Psalm 57:7 (AMP)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV)

DAY #88: March 29, 2009 - Luke 2:1-20

A Roman census (registration) was taken to aid military conscription or tax collection. The Jews didn’t have to serve in the Roman army, but they could not avoid paying taxes. Augustus’s decree went out in God’s perfect timing and according to God’s perfect plan to bring his Son into the world. No one had a choice about participating in the census. Thus all returned to their own towns to register. Joseph went to Bethlehem, a journey of about seventy or eighty miles. Bethlehem was where King David grew up (1 Samuel 16; 17:12; 20:6).

God controls all history. By the decree of Emperor Augustus, Jesus was born in the very town prophesied for his birth (Micah 5:2), even though his parents did not live there. Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because Joseph was a descendant of King David. In fact, both Joseph and Mary were descendants of David. Old Testament prophets predicted that the Messiah would be born in David’s royal line (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 33:15; Ezekiel 37:24; Hosea 3:5).

In simple, direct language, Luke presented the Christmas story: no trees or lights, just a manger and animals and a too-crowded inn. It isn’t surprising that there was no room for them in the village inn considering the number of travelers flocking to various cities during the time of this census.

At some time during their visit in Bethlehem, the promised child was born. Mary wrapped the baby in strips of cloth, which were bands of cloth that were used to keep a baby warm and give it a sense of security. These cloths were believed to protect its internal organs. This custom of wrapping infants is still practiced in many Mideastern countries. Then Mary laid him in a manger, an animal’s feeding trough.


From the dirty manger, Luke moved to the fields outside the village. It was night. Shepherds were there, guarding their flocks of sheep. Among the occupations, shepherding had a lowly place. They were outcasts, not allowed in the city and not trusted by the general public, for often they were thieves. Luke gave this story about the shepherds for a reason. Jesus would come, not to the proud and powerful, but to the outcasts, the humble, those considered “last” on the social lists. To these men God brought the first news of his Son’s arrival.


As these shepherds were living in the fields under the sky, suddenly a bright light broke through the darkness. An angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. “Glory” refers to the majesty and splendor accompanying God’s presence (Exodus 16:7; 24:17; Psalm 63:2; Isaiah 40:5).


The angel explained the substance of the “good news” that he brought: A child had just been born in Bethlehem. The Savior of the World. For the Greeks and Romans, the word “savior” could be applied to their gods as well as to great military or political leaders. Julius Caesar was called a “savior.” The basic meaning of the word was readily understood by the Jews as well as Gentiles.

The shepherds were not told to look in a palace or in a wealthy home—indeed, they would not have gotten past the gates if they had. But they could go to the poor stable, receive acceptance from a poor couple, and discover the miracle baby.

After their anthem of praise, the angels returned to heaven, and the shepherds wanted to go and see this wonderful thing that has happened. They hurried into the village of Bethlehem to find the baby. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said—thus becoming the first witnesses of the gospel message.


The shepherds had to get back to their fields and flocks before their sheep wandered off into the night. As they did so, they were glorifying and praising God. They knew that they had been privileged to be the first to see the promised child - Messiah.



SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)


Thank you Lord for sending us your Son. I am in awe of the humble way in which Jesus came. The King of the universe born in a barn, sleeping in a trough. Lord, keep me humble. Strip me of pride and haughtiness and any sense of self-importance.


Lord, draw people to COV this morning. Speak to their hearts and encourage them to be bold and courageous in inviting their friends to COV for Easter. Remind each of us of the destiny for all who reject You and Your offer of Salvation.


Lord, give me eyes to see the needs of others today and the heart /willingness to meet those needs.

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)

DAY #87: March 28, 2009 - Luke 1 57-80

Elizabeth gave birth to a boy, just as the angel Gabriel had said. In observance of the law, when the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised. God had commanded circumcision when he was beginning to form his holy nation (Genesis 17:4-14), and he had reaffirmed it through Moses (Leviticus 12:1-3).

The day of circumcision was also the day when parents would formally announce the child’s name. Family lines and family names were important to the Jews. The people naturally assumed the child would receive Zechariah’s name or at least a family name. Thus, they were surprised that Elizabeth wanted to name the boy John. Apparently Zechariah had communicated to Elizabeth all that the angel had told him, so she knew what the child’s name was to be. Zechariah and Elizabeth knew what family and friends did not know—that John had been given his name by God, and that he had a God-given mission to fulfill.

After fulfilling God’s command spoken through the angel that he name the child John, instantly Zechariah could speak again. With his first words, he began praising God. The last words Zechariah had spoken months before had been words of doubt; his first words when all was being fulfilled, even the name of the child, were words of praise to God for all God had done and all he would do through this special child. It was obvious to everyone that the hand of the Lord was on John in a special way.

Zechariah praised God because he sent a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David. The Jews were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, but they thought he would come to save them from the powerful Roman Empire. They were ready for a military Savior, but not for a peaceful Messiah who would conquer sin. Zechariah’s words would come true, but in a different manner than most expected. Thirty years later, when Jesus began his public ministry, he would be misunderstood and rejected for not being the mighty warrior for whom the Jews had been hoping.

After recalling hundreds of years of God’s sovereign work in history, beginning with Abraham and going on into eternity, Zechariah personalized the story. His son had been chosen for a key role in the drama of the ages. Although God has unlimited power, he chooses to work through frail humans. His son, John, would prepare the way for the Messiah, telling his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.

Luke briefly gave a glimpse of John’s growing-up years. John became strong in spirit (moral character and love for God). That John lived out in the wilderness refers to his isolation from people as he prepared for ministry. His parents, already old when he was conceived, presumably did not live very long into his growing-up years. John would have been on his own. Suffice it to say that this alone time with God was all part of the Lord's plan to ready John for the work ahead.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I remember a time when Drew was young and he came home from school in tears. He had a rough day. He felt all alone at school. As he was sharing with me, I distinctly remember God whispering to my heart - "This is part of my plan for Drew. He has to know how to go through these "alone" times and rely completely upon me."

So, that's what I shared with Drew. As I see the man of God that Drew is becoming, I look back with gratefulness that the Lord was teaching him and preparing him in those hard days. As a parent, it is so very hard at times to see your kids go through rough times, but it is in those times that God teaches them and prepares them and refines them. The same is true with us. We can run and delay what God is trying to do in us or we can go through these times of testing - knowing that God is working His plan.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Thank God that John had the parents he did. Thank God that John went through those alone time in life to become the one who prepared the way for our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, prepare the people of COV for the work you have for them to do. Raise up men and women who will follow Your call upon their lives.

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)

DAY #86: March 27, 2009 - Luke 1:39-56

The interweaving of the lives of Elizabeth and Mary before their children were born is a touching picture of God’s grace upon his servants. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. How they must have talked, wondering at what God was doing in their lives and what he was planning for their very special children.

Elizabeth had not even yet been told that Mary was pregnant. Elizabeth spoke words given to her by the Spirit as she recognized Mary’s blessed condition, knowing that Mary had been specially chosen by God, much as Elizabeth had.

The Holy Spirit reveled to Elizabeth the identity of Mary’s child, for she knew that this child was also blessed—God’s Son, the promised Messiah, with a unique identity and role to fulfill. Mary would be the mother of the Lord. Mary humbly understood that she was just a lowly servant girl chosen by God. She recognized that what he was doing in her life would have a profound impact on the world and future generations. Mary focused on God’s power, holiness, and mercy. Her insight into God’s character formed the basis for her confidence in him.

Mary pictured God’s strength, in her poetic words, as being revealed to the sinful world as he scatters the proud, brings down the princes, and sends the rich away with empty hands. By contrast, God’s power shows in his mercy to his own—lifting up the lowly and filling the hungry with good things. Oh what a God we serve.

Because travel was not easy, long visits were customary. Mary must have been a great help to Elizabeth, who was experiencing the discomforts of being pregnant in her old age. In addition, Elizabeth certainly helped Mary. During these three months, Mary surely discussed with Elizabeth how to handle what would be an extremely difficult social predicament. She would have to return home and explain her pregnancy to her family and her fiancé. When Mary went back to her own home, three months pregnant, she would be even more strengthened in her faith by Elizabeth’s faith, ready to face all that the future would hold.

SO WHAT? (what will I with what I have read today?)

Once again, I am so impressed with the faith and life of Mary and Elizabeth. Thank God for these women. The picture of thier friendship and mutual encourgament is one we need to take to heart. We need each other. We are better together. We can't practice all of the "one-anothers" of the New Testament on our own. Lord, contiue to build the fellowship and community here at COV.

Lord, keeping nudging the people of COV to join a LIFE group, drop their guard, open their hearts and let people into their lives.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 13:34-35

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Romans 12:10

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Romans 12:16

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8

“Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another…” Romans 14:13

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

“… serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Ephesians 4:2

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”. Ephesians 4:32

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
Hebrews 10:24

“Brothers, do not slander one another…” James 4:11

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9

“… All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

“This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.” 1 John 3:11

“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." 1 John 3:23

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:11-12

“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.” 2 John 1:5

DAY #85: March 26, 2009 - Luke 1:26-28

Six months after Gabriel delivered God’s message to Zechariah, God sent the angel with another message, this time to a virgin named Mary. The angel Gabriel had also appeared to the prophet Daniel more than five hundred years earlier (Daniel 8:15-17; 9:21). Each time Gabriel appeared, he brought important messages from God. This time was no exception.

Nazareth in Galilee was Joseph’s and Mary’s hometown. Mary was not a prophet or a priest; she was not in God’s Temple performing acts of service. Instead, she was simply a young woman who was living at home and planning her wedding, for she was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. In ancient Jewish marriages, the word “engaged” or “betrothed” had a different meaning than today.

First, the two families would agree to the union and negotiate the betrothal, including a price for the bride which would be paid to the bride’s father. Next, a public announcement would be made. At this point, the couple was “pledged” to each other. This is similar to engagement today, except that it was much more binding. At this point, even though the couple was not officially married, their relationship could be broken only through death or divorce.

Sexual relations were not yet permitted. This second step lasted for a year. During that time, the couple would live separately, with their parents. This waiting period would demonstrate the bride’s purity. If she were found to be pregnant during that time, the marriage could be annulled. After this waiting time, the couple would be married and begin living together. What Mary was about to hear from the angel would have significant impact on her engagement.

Gabriel told Mary that God had decided to bless her. The words did not point out any special virtue in Mary—she was not sinless. God chose Mary, blessed her, and she humbly accepted his call to be the mother of Jesus. Gabriel explained that this child would grow in her womb, be born as all human children are born, and be named Jesus. This son will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

The word “Son” was a designation of the Messiah, the long-awaited Savior (Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:9-16; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7; 11:1-3). Jesus, a Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, was a common name meaning “Yahweh saves.” Just as Joshua had led Israel into the Promised Land, so Jesus would lead his people into eternal life.

Unlike Zechariah who desired a sign as proof of the angel’s words, Mary’s question displayed her faith. She merely asked how this miraculous event could occur because she was a virgin. She was engaged to be married and probably planned on having children. Engagements usually occurred when girls were in their early teens. Mary may have been as young as thirteen when this event took place.

The birth of Jesus to a virgin is a miracle that many people find difficult to believe. Jesus’ miracles, transfiguration, and resurrection were all actual, historical events that defy explanation. They were acts of God in a human world. Christians’ faith, however, rests not on the virgin birth—faith rests on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not on his virgin birth.

Gabriel explained how Mary would become pregnant and yet remain a virgin. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you—these words picture the powerful presence of God coming upon Mary. This would indeed be a special baby, for he will be holy. Jesus was born without the sin that had entered the world through Adam. He was born holy, just as Adam had been created sinless.

Through the birth of Jesus, God himself entered the world in human form.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Why did God choose Mary? It wasn't because of her education because she didn't have any. And it wasn't because of her wealth because she was poor. And it wasn't because she was mature because she was a teenager. God chose Mary because she trusted God. As i think about how Mary's story relates to us, here's what i see today;

You've got to want to do His will, more than anything else. You've got to say, "I want God's plan for my life." We talk about this all the time here at COV that God has a custom plan for you. But it's not automatic. God made you for a purpose but you could miss that purpose. You must chose to cooperate with God's purpose for your life or you'll miss it.

The second thing that stands out to me in this passage is that there is always a cost in following God's plan for your life. If you were to say to God, "God, I want to be closer to You. I want to be more in Your will, in Your plan." It's going to cost you. You're going to have to give up some stuff. There will always be a cost, there will always be risks and it will always require faith and you're going to have to step out and do some things in the unknown that you're scared to do. Stepping out in faith.

Mary decided to take the chance, to risk, to pay the cost. Mary said, "God, I'm willing to do whatever You want." The first thing it cost her was her reputation. She was a virgin. She was pregnant. She was engaged to be married to Joseph. How are you going to explain that to everybody in the community? She gave up her reputation. Jesus was thirty years old before He started doing miracles to validate He was who He said He was.

The point is: If you get serious about God's plan for your life -- there are going to be people who'll misunderstand you and there will be people who misjudge you and there will be people who criticize you. You are going to be different. Count on it. God's purpose and plan for my life includes some problems. They're not accidental. They're part of the plan. And that's part of the cost. There's always a cost.

Jesus is very up front about the cost. Jesus said, "No one can be My disciple who doesn't carry his own cross - don't begin until you count the cost." Jesus said, Don't commit your life until you have really considered it.

Lord, raise up men and women who willing to pay the cost to be your disciples.

DAY #84: March 25, 2009 - Luke 1:5-25

As a good historian should, Luke gave his readers the historical setting. The story begins when Herod was king of Judea. This was Herod the Great, confirmed by the Roman Senate as king of the Jews but never accepted by the Jewish people as their king (although half-Jewish, Herod was not part of the royal line of David). For the Jews living in Judea, this was a time of oppression.

Zechariah was a priest, a minister of God who worked at the Temple managing its upkeep, teaching the people the Scriptures, and directing the worship services. At this time there were about twenty thousand priests throughout the country. Priests were divided into twenty-four separate groups of about one thousand each, according to David’s instructions (1 Chronicles 24:3-19). Zechariah was a member of the order (or division) of Abijah. Each division served in the Jerusalem Temple twice each year for one week.

Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Elizabeth descended directly from Aaron, brother of Moses and Israel’s first high priest (Exodus 28:1). Zechariah and Elizabeth both were righteous in God’s eyes. This does not mean that they were sinless, but that they loved God and obeyed him. But they had no children.

Each morning, one of the priests would enter the Holy Place in the Temple to burn incense, which was burned twice daily. Lots were cast to decide who would enter the sanctuary, and one day during that week Zechariah was chosen by lot. Offering the incense before the Lord was considered a great privilege. A priest was allowed to do so only once in his lifetime; many priests never had the opportunity. But it was not by chance that Zechariah was on duty and that he was chosen that day to enter the Holy Place.

As Zechariah discharged his duty in the Holy Place, an angel of the Lord appeared. This was not a dream or a vision; the angel was a royal herald of God. The angel appeared in visible form and spoke audible words to the priest. The angel’s first words to him were, “don’t be afraid.” While Zechariah had been burning incense on the altar, he had also been praying, most likely for Israel’s deliverance and for the coming of the Messiah. The angel’s awesome words must have astounded him: “God has heard your prayer.”

Then the angel said - “Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son.” The angel even told Zechariah what to name the baby. John means “the LORD is gracious.” Through the birth of this son, God was gracious to Zechariah and Elizabeth, and ultimately to all people, for this son would prepare people’s hearts for the Messiah. The special son to be born to Zechariah and Elizabeth would fulfill a predetermined purpose before God. John was to be set apart for special service to God. He may have been forbidden to drink wine as part of the Nazirite vow, an ancient vow of consecration to God (Numbers 6:1-8).

John’s role was to be almost identical to that of an Old Testament prophet—to encourage people to turn away from sin and back to the Lord. The angel explained to Zechariah that John would go before God with the spirit and power of Elijah, a great prophet who was known for not mincing words and for standing up to evil rulers.

Zechariah’s response to the angel’s word came perilously close to doubt. Zechariah wanted more than the word of this heavenly visitor, he wanted a sign: How can I know this will happen? Zechariah saw only the obstacle—he and Elizabeth were both past childbearing years, so he reminded the angel of this fact as if it had somehow been overlooked.

The angel explained that he himself was sign enough for Zechariah. “I am Gabriel,” he exclaimed, “I stand in the very presence of God.” Gabriel had come with an extremely important message—Gabriel himself described it as good news. The old priest ought not have doubted anything the angel said.

When Zechariah came out of the temple, he could not pronounce the blessing because he couldn't speak to them. Zechariah would remain silent until his promised son arrived. Zechariah completed his term of service (a week) and then returned home. True to the angel’s words, Elizabeth became pregnant. Zechariah and Elizabeth had been childless for many years, but God was waiting for the right time to encourage them and take away their disgrace. Elizabeth realized that in this impossible pregnancy, God had performed a miracle. She praised God.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is eerily similar to Abraham and Sarah. God can do anything - for anybody - at anytime. The question is, will we trust him and will we believe Him and will we have faith in Him and His promises???

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

Lord, I absolutely, 100 believe that you have a plan for every life.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Lord, I will follow you and pursue you and work to make Your plans come to fruition. I rededicate my life to You this morning and to fulfilling Your purposes for my life. Lord, build COV. Build our people into mighty men and women of God. Build our children and build our students. Give us a heart to reach those who don't know you. Lord, I will hang on to the vision You have given me for our church and people.

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24 (NIV)

DAY #83: March 24, 2009 - Mark 16:14-Luke 1:4

Finally, Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples together (Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, had killed himself). Once again, Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief. Every time he had told them he would die, he had also told them that he would rise again. In spite of all they had seen and heard, somehow they just couldn't believe.

While the book of Mark closes, the gospel (Good News) does not end. Rather, it continues in the lives of Jesus’ followers. Jesus’ command is to go everywhere and preach the Good News. This is called the Great Commission. God had given Jesus authority over heaven and earth. On the basis of that authority, Jesus told his disciples to make more disciples as they preached, baptized, and taught. With this same authority, Jesus still commands us to tell everyone everywhere the Good News.

The disciples were commanded to baptize people because baptism unites a believer with Jesus Christ in his or her death to sin and resurrection to new life. It is not the water of baptism that saves, but God’s grace accepted through faith in Christ. Baptism does not save you, rather it symbolizes submission to Christ, a willingness to live God’s way, and identification with Christ's death, burial and Resurrection.

As the disciples stood and watched, Jesus was taken up into heaven. Jesus’ physical presence left the disciples, but the Holy Spirit soon came to comfort them and empower them to spread the gospel. Jesus’ work of salvation was completed, and He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand where he has authority over heaven and earth. While Jesus’ work on earth was completed, the disciples’ work was just beginning. These doubting, stubborn disciples turned into powerful preachers who went everywhere and preached. God worked with them—giving them peace, strength through persecutions, and confirmation of their message with miraculous signs.

Mark’s Gospel emphasizes Christ’s power, as well as his servanthood. Jesus’ life and teaching turned the world upside down. The world sees power as a way to gain control over others. But Jesus, with all authority and power in heaven and earth, chose to serve others. He held children in his arms, healed the sick, acted patiently with his hardheaded disciples, and died for the sins of the world. Following Jesus means receiving this same power to serve. As believers, we are called to be servants of Christ. As Christ served, so we are to serve.

Luke opens his Gospel with the explanation that, though he was not himself an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry, he wanted the eyewitness accounts to be preserved accurately and the foundations of Christian belief transmitted intact to the next generations. This is evident in his Gospel, for thirty percent of it is new information—not contained in the other three Gospels. As you read this Gospel, watch the way Luke carefully presents all the evidence surrounding Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to Theophilus, a Gentile Christian.

Luke perceived a need to put the facts from these other written sources into an account written especially for a Gentile believer who needed to understand Jesus’ story. Believers today owe the Gospels and the book of Acts to writers who, like Luke, took the carefully preserved oral information from eyewitnesses and wrote it down.

Theophilus literally means “one who loves God.” While this may be a general term for all believers, it is a proper name and with the title, most honorable, indicates a person of some rank or distinction. The book of Acts, also written by Luke, is likewise addressed to Theophilus.
Luke, as an educated Gentile believer and a medical doctor, paid attention to details: he carefully investigated all of these accounts from the beginning, and then wrote a careful summary. Luke wanted to reassure Theophilus of the truth of all he had been taught.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I must tell others the Good News of Jesus. What is the Good News? He came, He died and He rose again.

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NIV)

This is the time for the church to stand tall. This is the time for the people of God to speak up. The hope for the world is Jesus Christ. Lord, put that on the hearts of the people of COV. Give us the courage to invite people to hear that message and receive that hope. Burden our hearts with the lostness of people. Break our hearts with the things that break your heart.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10 (NIV)

"When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV)

Lord, raise up people to go out and bring in the harvest.

DAY #82: March 23, 2009 - Mark 15:42-16:13

The Sabbath began at sundown on Friday and ended at sundown on Saturday. Jesus died just a few hours before sundown on Friday. It was against Jewish law to do physical work or to travel on the Sabbath, so the day before was the day of preparation for the Sabbath.

It was also against Jewish law to let a dead body remain exposed overnight (Deuteronomy 21:23). As evening and the Sabbath approached, Joseph from Arimathea (a town about twenty miles from Jerusalem) asked for Jesus’ body so he could give it a proper burial. Although an honored member of the high council, Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus. That he was waiting for the Kingdom of God suggests that Joseph was a Pharisee, who hoped for God’s deliverance. Joseph gathered his courage and went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body in order to bury it. He went directly to Pilate who alone could give permission to take down the body. He had to hurry; Sabbath was fast approaching.

Joseph bought a linen cloth; Nicodemus brought spices. The body was carefully taken down from the cross, wrapped in layers of cloth with the spices in between, and laid in a tomb. Jesus was given a burial fit for a king.

This tomb was probably a man-made cave carved out of one of the many limestone hills in the area around Jerusalem. It was large enough to walk into (John 20:6). Matthew records that this was Joseph’s own previously unused tomb (Matthew 27:60). Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus’ body, placed it in the tomb, and rolled a stone across the entrance. The religious leaders also watched where Jesus was buried. They stationed guards by the tomb and sealed the stone to make sure that no one would steal Jesus’ body and claim he had risen from the dead. All of these actions give us verification that Jesus truly had died.

Two of the women who had been at the cross followed these men as they carried Jesus’ body to the tomb. They wanted to know where Jesus’ body was laid because they planned to return after the Sabbath with their own spices to anoint Jesus’ body. Anointing a body was a sign of love, devotion, and respect. Bringing spices to the tomb would be like bringing flowers to a grave today.

Apparently, they were unaware that the tomb had been sealed and a guard set outside it . So as they approached the tomb, they remembered that the stone would be a problem. They wondered aloud who might be able to roll the stone away so that they could get in. When the women arrived at daybreak, Jesus had already risen. The large stone had already been rolled aside. Matthew records that there had been an earthquake and an angel of the Lord had descended from heaven, had rolled back the stone, and had sat on it.

The women entered the tomb. Once inside they were startled to see a young man clothed in a white robe. We learn from Matthew and John that this was an angel. When angels appeared to people, they looked like humans. The angel spoke reassuringly to the women. They were looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the human being who had been crucified. But Jesus was not there; he had been raised from the dead.

The women who had come to anoint a dead body were given another task, that of proclaiming the Resurrection to the frightened disciples. The disciples had deserted Jesus in the hour of trial, but the angel’s words held hope of renewal and forgiveness. The disciples were invited to meet Jesus in Galilee—there was work to do. The angel made special mention of Peter to show that, in spite of Peter’s denials, Jesus had not deserted him.

The women fled from the tomb, realizing that they had seen the results of an awesome miracle in the empty tomb and had been in the presence of an angel. They either went straight to the disciples with the news, saying nothing to anyone along the way, or for a time they said nothing out of fear, perhaps expecting the response of disbelief that they eventually did receive from the disciples when they told the story.

After the women had told the disciples about the Resurrection, and Peter and another disciple (presumably John) had gone to see for themselves, Mary Magdalene apparently had returned to the tomb and was weeping.

Although Mary Magdalene has been mentioned earlier in this Gospel as one of the women at the cross and at the tomb, Mark reminded his readers of the reason for her devotion to Jesus: He had cast out seven demons from her. This devoted woman was the first person who saw the resurrected Christ.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

He is ALIVE. The Resurrection makes all the difference. It proves that Jesus is who He said He was, and it shows that He has the power to beat death. I worship You this morning. Lord, I claim Ephesians 3:20 this morning for the people my family, for the people of COV, for my life.

"With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine." Ephesians 3:20 (NCV)

Lord, may Your power course through my veins and body today. I need your power to love and to serve and to overcome my own selfishness and self-centeredness today. I need your power to keep on keeping on. I need your power to lead humbly. I need your power to study. I need you power to work out and exercise. I need your power to say yes and I need your power to say no.

Lord, do a great work in my kids lives. Protect their hearts and make a way for them. Meet their needs and keep them humble. Lord, protect Sharon today. Walk with her and may Your power work through her in a mighty way. Thank you for the beautiful example she is to me and so many others. Raise up men and women at COV who will let Your power work in them today and this week. Do a great and mighty work in peoples hearts.

DAY #81: March 22, 2009 - Mark 15:22-41

Some scholars say Golgotha (translated Skull Hill) derived its name from its appearance, a hill with a stony top that might have been shaped like a skull. Golgotha is the Hebrew word for “skull.” The familiar name “Calvary” is derived from the Latin calvaria (also meaning “skull”). Golgotha may have been a regular place of execution in a prominent public place outside the city along a main road. Executions held there served as examples to the people and as a deterrent to criminals.

Mark’s words are simple and direct: They nailed him to the cross. Indeed, Mark’s Roman readers needed no elaborate description; they knew it all too well. Crucifixion, instituted by the Romans, was a feared and shameful form of execution. Death came by suffocation as the person lost strength and the weight of the body made breathing more and more difficult. Contrary to the discreet paintings of the Crucifixion, Jesus was crucified naked. Roman soldiers had the right to take for themselves the clothing of those crucified, so they gambled for Jesus’ clothes. This act had also been prophesied (Psalm 22:18).

An execution could provide hours of grisly entertainment for spectators. The Gospels describe various responses within the crowd as Jesus was dying. Some openly taunted him. His opponents gloated. Those who had the most information about Jesus rejected his claims, while one prisoner who had very little information placed his trust in him.

Jesus was placed on the cross at nine o’clock in the morning. A signboard stating the charge against him was fastened on his cross as a warning. Because Jesus was never found guilty, the only accusation placed on his sign was the “crime” of calling himself King of the Jews. This sign was meant to be ironic. A king, stripped and executed in public view, had obviously lost his kingdom forever. But Jesus, who turns the world’s wisdom upside down, was just coming into his Kingdom. His death and resurrection would strike the deathblow to Satan’s rule and would establish Christ’s eternal authority over the earth. Few people reading the sign that bleak day understood its real meaning, but the sign was absolutely true. Jesus is king of the Jews—and the Gentiles, and the whole universe.

When James and John had asked Jesus for the places of honor next to him in his Kingdom, Jesus had told them that they didn’t know what they were asking. Here, as Jesus was preparing to inaugurate his Kingdom through his death, the places on his right and on his left were taken by two criminals.

A person who wants to be close to Jesus must be prepared to suffer and die as he himself was doing. The way to the Kingdom is the way of the cross. If we want the glory of the Kingdom, we must be willing to be united with the crucified Christ. Insult was literally added to injury when it came to public crucifixion. People passing by shouted abuse at Jesus. They again used the twisted accusation that had been brought against Jesus at the council, taunting him that if he could boast of building the Temple in three days, surely he had the power to save himself from the fate of the cross. Ironically, Jesus was in the very process of fulfilling his own prophecy. His body was being destroyed, but in three days he would rise again. Because Jesus is the Son of God who always obeys the will of the Father, he did not come down from the cross to save himself. If he had done so, he could not have saved us.

Mark recorded the final scene of Jesus’ earthly life with graphic imagery. The dark sky was pierced by an anguished cry of abandonment. Those watching were gripped with awe. Jesus had been put on the cross at nine o’clock in the morning. Death by crucifixion was slow and excruciating, sometimes taking two or three days. Three hours passed while Jesus put up with abuse from bystanders. Then, at noon, darkness settled over the land for three hours. We do not know how this darkness occurred, but it is clear that God caused it. Nature testified to the gravity of Jesus’ death, while Jesus’ friends and enemies alike fell silent in the encircling gloom. The darkness on that Friday afternoon was both physical and spiritual. All nature seemed to mourn over the tragedy of the death of God’s Son.

Jesus did not ask this question in surprise or despair. He was quoting the first line of Psalm 22, a prophecy expressing the deep agony of the Messiah’s death for the world’s sin. Jesus knew that he would be temporarily separated from God the moment he took upon himself the sins of the world, because God cannot look on sin (Habakkuk 1:13). This separation was the “cup” Jesus dreaded drinking, as he prayed in Gethsemane. The physical agony was horrible, but the spiritual alienation from God was the ultimate torture. Jesus suffered this double death so that we would never have to experience eternal separation from God.

Jesus’ last words were, “It is finished!”. His work on the cross was complete. The Temple had three main parts—the courts, the Holy Place (where only the priests could enter), and the Most Holy Place, a place reserved by God for himself. It was in the Most Holy Place that the Ark of the Covenant, and God’s presence with it, rested. The room was entered only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, by the high priest as he made a sacrifice to gain forgiveness for the sins of all the nation (Leviticus 16:1-34). The curtain in the Temple was between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Symbolically, the curtain separated the holy God from sinful people. By tearing the curtain in two, God showed that Christ had opened the way for sinful people to reach the Holy God.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Eternal life in heaven with God is only possible because of the work that Jesus did on the cross. He did His all. What am I willing to do to get people into heaven? What price am I willing to make? What sacrifice is He calling me to bring in order for the work of God to be accomplished in the lives of people? Lord, today I say once again. I am yours. You name it and it is done.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Lord, draw people to COV this morning. Draw people into a right relationship with you. Open their eyes. Open their hearts. Give our people courage and boldness and faith in greater measure everyday.

DAY #80: March 21, 2009 - Mark 15:1-21

The entire high council of Jewish leaders had already reached their verdict, but they had to make the decision at a meeting during the daytime in accordance with their law. Thus very early in the morning, they made it official that Jesus was worthy of death. So Jesus was bound like a common criminal and sent off to Pilate, the Roman governor. The council had to get permission from Pilate in order to carry out the death penalty.

Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor for the regions of Samaria and Judea from a.d. 26–36. Jerusalem was located in Judea. Pilate’s normal residence was in Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea, but he was in Jerusalem because of the Passover festival. With the large crowds that flocked to the city for that celebration, Pilate and his soldiers came to help keep the peace. He stayed in his headquarters, called the Praetorium.

Pilate was a harsh governor who felt nothing but contempt for the Jews; they, in turn, felt the same about him. Pilate was not popular, but the religious leaders had no other way to get rid of Jesus. So they interrupted his breakfast on this early Friday morning, bringing a man whom they accused of treason against Rome! Ironically, when Jesus, a Jew, came before Pilate for trial, Pilate found him innocent.

Pilate asked Jesus directly if he claimed to be King of the Jews. Jesus’ answer was yes, but with a qualification attached. He wasn’t claiming kingship in any way that would threaten Pilate, Caesar, or the Empire. Jesus’ kingship was spiritual. Pilate could sense that the council’s case was embarrassingly weak and that the solemn rabbi standing before him was unlikely to lead a revolt against Rome.

Each year, during the Jews’ Passover festival, Pilate had made it a custom to release any prisoner they requested. Barabbas had taken part in a murder during an insurrection against the Roman government. Although he was a murderer, he may have been a hero among the Jews. Barabbas had no hope of acquittal, so he must have been surprised when the guards came to get him on that Friday morning.

Pilate asked if the people wanted the King of the Jews released. This is the second time Pilate used that title for Jesus, and he would use it again, probably in mockery. In any event, Pilate could see that this was a frame-up. Why else would these people, who hated him and the Roman Empire he represented, ask him to convict of treason and give the death penalty to one of their fellow Jews? Pilate understood that the Jewish leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.

The power of the religious leaders took precedence with the Jewish crowd who would hardly side with the Roman governor. The leading priests stirred up the mob to demand the release of Barabbas. This left Pilate wondering what to do with Jesus. The people made their choice, stated their preference, and confirmed their sin. This is just what the Jewish religious leaders wanted. Only slaves or those who were not Roman citizens could be executed by crucifixion. If Jesus was crucified, he would die the death of a rebel and slave, not of the king he claimed to be. In addition, crucifixion would put the responsibility for killing Jesus on the Romans; thus, the crowds would not blame the religious leaders.

Pilate decided to let the crowds crucify Jesus. Although Pilate washed his hands of responsibility, the guilt would remain. Pilate had no good excuse to condemn Jesus, but he was wanted to please the crowd. So he released Barabbas, then flogged Jesus before handing him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify him.

The flogging Jesus received could have killed him. The usual procedure was to bare the upper half of the victim’s body and tie his hands to a pillar before whipping him with a lead-tipped whip. The whip was made of leather thongs that connected pieces of bone and metal like a chain. The continued lashing with these sharp instruments tore at the victim’s skin, even baring the bones. This torture by flogging always would precede execution; thus, Jesus was flogged before he was sent to the cross. The Romans did it to weaken the prisoner so he would die more quickly on the cross.

The Romans had to execute Jesus, so the soldiers took him from the post where he had been flogged and led him, beaten and bleeding, back inside the Praetorium (Pilate’s headquarters). The entire battalion was called together, probably about two hundred men who had accompanied Pilate from Caesarea.

Someone found a purple robe and threw it around the shoulders of this supposed “king.” Someone else, with a brutal sense of humor, twisted some long, sharp thorns into a crown that was then jammed onto Jesus’ head. Matthew added that they put a stick in his hand, like a king’s scepter. They beat him, striking him on the head. They insulted him by spitting on him and kneeling down in mock worship. Yet even all of this had been prophesied (Isaiah 50:6; 52:14–53:6).

Jesus bore our sins on the cross, but was unable to bear his cross to the crest of Golgotha. He had been flogged and abused repeatedly since his arrest the previous night. A stranger was drafted to carry the timber for Jesus. Meanwhile, the soldiers who had just nailed three men to crosses gambled for the meager possessions they took from the condemned. Their gambling for the worthless benefits from their grisly work stands in stark contrast to the immeasurable benefits the Lord was making available to them as he hung dying above their heads.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

It is almost unbearable to behold the punishment that Jesus took upon Himself for my sin. No wonder He can identify with my pain and my suffering. No wonder He can sympathize with my loneliness and despair. I draw strength from His life.

"For I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power." Philippians 4:13 (LB)

"For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16 (ASV)

Today, I rededicate my life to you Lord. Anytime, anyplace, anywhere with anyone - I will sevre you. Everyday, give me a heart like David ...

21 Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" "To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped." 22 Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 23 O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you." 24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. 25 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped. 2 Samuel 24:21-25 (NIV)

DAY #79: March 20, 2009 - Mark 14:53-72

By now it was very early Friday morning, before daybreak. Jesus was taken under guard from the garden back into Jerusalem. First he was questioned by Annas, the former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas. Annas had been Israel’s high priest from a.d. 6 to 15, when he had been deposed by Roman rulers. Then Caiaphas had been appointed high priest. He held that position from a.d. 18 to 37. According to Jewish law, the office of high priest was held for life, but the Roman government had taken over the process of appointing all political and religious leaders. Caiaphas served for eighteen years, longer than most high priests, suggesting that he was gifted at cooperating with the Romans.

After that preliminary hearing, Jesus was taken to the high priest’s home. That all the religious leaders had been speedily assembled shows that this was a trial by the Jewish council of religious leaders consisting of seventy members plus the high priest. Because of their haste to complete the trial and see Jesus die before the Sabbath, less than twenty-four hours later, the religious leaders first met in Caiaphas’s home at night to accomplish the preliminaries before their more formal meeting in the Temple at daylight. They finally had Jesus where they wanted him, and they were determined to accomplish their plans as quickly as possible.

The trial by the Jewish leaders had two phases. This first phase occurred during the night; then another meeting was held “very early in the morning” to satisfy a law that allowed trials only during the daytime. That meeting was a mere formality held at daybreak, during which the verdict was given and Jesus was led off to the Roman procurator for sentencing. The Jewish council was the most powerful religious and political body of the Jewish people. Although the Romans controlled Israel’s government, they gave the people power to handle religious disputes and some civil disputes; so the council made many of the local decisions affecting daily life. But a death sentence had to be authorized by the Romans.

Upstairs in the high priest’s palace, the leading priests and the entire high council (meaning the group of seventy-one leaders of the Jews—priests and respected men) assembled in the middle of the night to get this trial under way, but they had a dilemma on their hands. They were trying to find witnesses who would testify against Jesus, so they could put him to death, but they couldn’t find any—only false witnesses who contradicted each other.

The obvious conclusion should have been that Jesus was innocent of any crime. But this was not a trial for justice; it was a trial to accomplish an evil purpose. These leaders held a trial, in keeping with all the trappings of their law, while their whole purpose was to kill Jesus. Ironically, these religious guardians of the law were breaking one of the Ten Commandments, “Do not testify falsely” (Exodus 20:16).

Finally they found some men who would testify against him with a lie regarding Jesus’ words about the Temple. These men twisted Jesus’ words because their testimony, even on this same point, did not agree. Caiaphas, the high priest, was getting frustrated. Now his only hope was to get Jesus to say something that would give them evidence to convict him. The religious leaders had tried and failed on prior occasions to trap Jesus with trick questions; Caiaphas tried to make up in intimidation what was lacking in evidence. He asked Jesus to answer his accusers and then to explain the accusations against him.

Jesus refused to say anything. He had nothing to say to the group of liars who had spoken against him, and he had no reason to explain a bunch of false accusations. So he made no reply. With Jesus’ silence, the court proceedings ground to a halt. But Caiaphas had another tactic up the sleeve of his priestly robe. He decided to ask Jesus point blank, “Are you the Messiah?”

The council must have held its collective breath in anticipation. Here was the question that could make or break the entire plot. Would Jesus outright claim to be the Messiah, the Son of the blessed God? We may wonder why Jesus refused to answer the first question and then chose to answer this one. Matthew’s account points out that Caiaphas put Jesus under oath so that Jesus would be forced to answer by law (Leviticus 5:1); thus he would be forced to incriminate himself. Caiaphas’s action was unlawful in trial proceedings, but no one voiced that fact to him. As mentioned above, this trial had nothing to do with justice; it was merely a ploy to get rid of Jesus.

To the first questions, Jesus made no reply because the questions were based on confusing and erroneous evidence. Not answering was wiser than trying to clarify the fabricated accusations. But if Jesus had refused to answer the second question, it would have been tantamount to denying his deity and his mission. So Jesus answered without hesitation, “I am.” The two words, “I am,” both answered the high priest’s question and alluded to Jesus divinity.

Blasphemy was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:15-16). “Why do we need other witnesses?” asked Caiaphas without expecting any answer. Jesus had incriminated himself. Caiaphas asked for their verdict. The Jewish leaders had the evidence they wanted, so they all condemned him to death. Next some of the members of the council acted in a most brutish way. Jesus was blindfolded, and they took turns hitting him and then asking him to tell who it was that hit him. When they finished with Jesus, the guards came and also beat Jesus. Yet even this had been prophesied in Scripture (Isaiah 52:14). Jesus suffered great pain, humiliation, and brutality to take away our sin.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I am so very humbled. Jesus was brutalized for my sin.

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 53:3-10 (NIV)

What is my response to the price paid for MY sin?

"We try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act, so that no one can find fault with us and blame it on the Lord. 4 In fact, in everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure suffering and hardship and trouble of every kind." 2 Corinthians 6:3-4 (LB)

"We stand true to the Lord whether others honor us or despise us, whether they criticize us or commend us, or even when they call us liars." 2 Corinthians 6:8 (LB)

DAY #78: March 19, 2009 - Mark 14:32-52

After eating the meal, the disciples left Jerusalem and went out to Gethsemane. The garden was in the Kidron Valley just outside the eastern wall of Jerusalem and just below the Mount of Olives. Jesus told eight of the disciples to sit down while he went farther in to pray. The disciples must also have been physically and emotionally exhausted from trying to comprehend what would transpire. Instead of watching, they gave in to their exhaustion and fell asleep.

Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to stay and watch with him. Jesus knew Judas would soon arrive, and Jesus wanted to devote himself to prayer until that time came. Jesus went still farther into the garden to be alone with God. His agony was such that he threw himself on the ground before God in deep spiritual anguish, praying that if possible the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by—that his mission might be accomplished some other way. Hour figuratively refers to the entire event Jesus was facing. The “hour” and the “cup” were used synonymously. Yet Jesus humbly submitted to the Father’s will.

The physical suffering would be horrible enough, but what God’s Son feared most was the cup of spiritual suffering—taking on sin and being separated from God (Hebrews 5:7-9). Yet Jesus reaffirmed his desire to do what God wanted by saying, “Yet I want your will, not mine.”

Jesus got up from his prayer to return to the three disciples, who had fallen asleep. Jesus told the disciples that this was the time to keep alert and pray. Their inner desires and intentions would be, as they had previously boasted, to never deny Jesus and to die with him. Yet with all their human inadequacies, fears, and failures, the disciples would have difficulty carrying out those good intentions.

Jesus went away to pray a third time, only to come back and find the disciples had fallen asleep once more. The disciples had not taken the opportunity to pray, and there would be no more time to do so—His time had come. Even as Jesus spoke to his disciples to rouse them from their sleep, Judas arrived. The leading priests had issued the warrant for Jesus’ arrest, and Judas was acting as Jesus’ official accuser. The mob, armed with swords and clubs, came in the middle of the night when most of the people were asleep and they could arrest Jesus without commotion. Although there were no crowds to worry about, Jesus was surrounded by eleven loyal followers who the Temple guards feared might put up a fight.

Although it looked as if Satan were getting the upper hand, everything was proceeding according to God’s plan. It was time for Jesus to die. Peter didn’t realize that Jesus had to die in order to gain victory. But Jesus demonstrated perfect commitment to his Father’s will. His Kingdom would not be advanced with swords, but with faith and obedience.


Judas’s kiss marked a turning point for the disciples and Jesus’ loyal disciples deserted him and ran away. The teacher who had held forth in the Temple was now under arrest. The treasurer had become a traitor. The garden sanctuary that had always been “safe” was turned into the place of confrontation. What confusion! The disciples’ primary loyalty to Jesus should have kept them from running. But fear took its toll.

Only Mark records the incident of the young man who also fled the scene. Tradition says that this young man may have been John Mark, the writer of this Gospel, in whose home the Last Supper may have taken place. If that is true, at some point Mark had awakened from sleep and had followed the disciples to the garden. Perhaps soldiers had come to the house looking for Jesus and this young man had attempted to warn Jesus before the soldiers reached him. But in Gethsemane, Jesus had already been arrested and the disciples had fled. Someone grabbed this young man, perhaps hoping to use him as a witness. At that, the young man broke free from his captors grasp, escaped and ran away naked.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Stay alert. Don't fall asleep at the switch. Keep your head on a swivel, always on guard, always on duty and always ready. I am reminded on the admonition of Peter in his first book (1 Peter 5:8-9).

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

Peter must have thought back to that night in the Garden when he penned these words. I can imagine the regret and remorse at succumbing to the desire to sleep, rather than stay awake and be there for Jesus in His greatest hour of need.

Lord, it has been on my heart for some time now to get back in shape. Once again I will give my full effort to this task. If you are a reader of this blog, I ask you to pray for me and hold me accountable. I want to set the pace and I want/need to be the example of self control/self discipline and alertness. Track my progress in the "Read the New Testament in a Year" section of our Sunday bulletin. (At the bottom right hand side of the bulletin, there will be a circle with my current weight. That number should be dropping from week to week)

Now, let me ask you, what area of self - discipline do you need to grow in your life? The life of Jesus teaches us that we need to continually grow in four key disciplines of life. The intellectual , physical , spiritual and social arenas of life.

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2:52 (NIV)

Take a risk. Put your hide on the wall. Step out of the shadows and share. I dare you.

DAY #77: March 18, 2009 - Mark 14:1-31

In this pasage today, we read that Jesus was a guest of Simon. Mary brought a beautiful jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on Jesus’ head. It was a common custom at some Jewish meals for the honored guests to be anointed with oil, but it would not be so expensive. Such an anointing, with expensive oil, pictured a royal (messianic) anointing.

Because Judas was the treasurer of Jesus’ ministry and had embezzled funds, he no doubt wanted the perfume sold so that the proceeds could be put into his care. This event probably pushed Judas over the edge in his determination to betray Jesus. Jesus reprimanded the disciples, but comforted Mary. Jesus was affirming Mary’s unselfish act of worship. The essence of worshiping Christ is to regard him with utmost love, respect, and devotion, as well as to be willing to sacrifice to him what is most precious.

While the disciples misunderstood Jesus’ mission and constantly fought about places in the Kingdom and while the religious leaders stubbornly refused to believe in Jesus and plotted his death, this one quiet woman so loved Jesus and was so devoted to him that she considered no sacrifice too great for her beloved Master. She is an example to us all of unselfish devotion to our Savior.

The next evening (Wednesday or Thursday), Jesus arrived in Jerusalem with the twelve disciples. As Jesus and the disciples were eating, Jesus spoke the stunning words, “One of you will betray me.” The betrayer was one of his own chosen twelve disciples, one with whom the meal was being shared. Jesus’ words caused quite a stir among the disciples. They had heard Jesus tell them three different times that he would soon die, but that one of them would actually betray Jesus saddened them greatly.

Luke wrote that “Satan entered into Judas Iscariot” before he went to the religious leaders (Luke 22:3). However, Satan’s part in the betrayal of Jesus does not remove any of the responsibility from Judas. In God’s sovereign will and according to his timetable, he uses sinful men. But that doesn’t excuse their sin. All people will be held accountable for their choices and actions. Whatever Judas thought, Satan assumed that Jesus’ death would end Jesus’ mission and thwart God’s plan. Like Judas, Satan did not know that Jesus’ death and resurrection were the most important parts of God’s plan all along.

Jesus and the disciples were eating the bread, and Jesus took the loaf of unleavened bread, asked God’s blessing on it, and broke it. Jesus told the disciples to “Take it, for this is my body.” His words “this is my body” symbolize the spiritual nourishment believers obtain from a personal relationship with the Savior. Just as the Passover celebrated deliverance from slavery in Egypt, so the Lord’s Supper celebrates deliverance from sin by Christ’s death.

As with the bread, Jesus spoke words in figurative language. “This is my blood” means “This wine represents my blood.” Jesus’ blood, poured out on behalf of sinners, sealed the covenant between God and his people.

Under this new covenant, Jesus would die in the place of sinners. The old covenant was a shadow of the new, pointing forward to the day when Jesus himself would be the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. Rather than an unblemished lamb slain on the altar, the perfect Lamb of God was slain on the cross as a sinless sacrifice so that our sins could be forgiven once and for all. Those who accept Christ’s sacrifice and believe in him receive forgiveness. Now all people can come directly to God through faith because Jesus’ death has made us acceptable in God’s eyes.

Both Luke and John reported that Jesus predicted both the disciples’ abandonment and Peter’s denial while they were still having supper. True to form, Peter reacted strongly to Jesus’ prediction. He could not imagine the disciples abandoning Jesus. Least of all himself. But before we criticize Peter, we should first see ourselves in him. Peter reminds us how easy it is to profess our faith and how difficult it is to remain loyal under pressure.

Peter did not think it possible for him to actually deny any relationship with Jesus. Not only Peter, but all the disciples declared that they would never deny Jesus. A few hours later, however, they all scattered.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Much like yesterday when we read about the widow who gave everything she had (two copper coins) - today, we see Mary give all she had to worship Jesus. Mary came to Jesus with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

When I worship, what am I bringing? Besides my offering, I need to bring my life, my family, my gifts, my talents - everything I have and everything I am and lay them at His feet.

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." John 12:24-26 (NIV)

DAY #76: March 17, 2009 - Mark 13:14-37

Who would God have you invite and bring to Easter @ COV? Easter is the day that changes everything. Maybe this is the day that God will reach the people in your world.

In today's passage, we see that Mark urges his readers to understand Jesus’ words in light of the prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11). The sacrilegious object that causes desecration refers to the desecration of the Temple by God’s enemies. The sacrilegious object refers to pagan idolatry and sacrifice (Deuteronomy 29:16-18; 2 Kings 16:3-4; 23:12-14). The sacrilege would occur in the Temple itself and cause it to be abandoned.

The first fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy occurred in 168 b.c. by Antiochus Epiphanes. He sacrificed a pig to Zeus on the sacred Temple altar. This act incited the Maccabean wars. The second fulfillment occurred in a.d. 70 when the Roman army would destroy Jerusalem and desecrate the Temple. Some scholars say that the third fulfillment is yet to come. Jesus’ words may also look far forward to the end times when the Antichrist will commit the ultimate sacrilege by setting up an image of himself in the Temple and ordering everyone to worship it (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:14-15).

Many of Jesus’ followers (including Mark’s readers) would live during the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in a.d. 70. Jesus warned his followers to get out of Jerusalem and Judea and flee to the hills across the Jordan River when they saw the Temple being profaned. Jesus gave this warning to get out quickly for these will be days of greater horror than at any time since God created the world. The Jewish historian Josephus recorded that when the Romans sacked Jerusalem and devastated Judea, one hundred thousand Jews were taken prisoner and another 1.1 million died by slaughter and starvation. So many Jews were crucified that the hills were emptied of trees in order to build enough crosses.

While Jesus’ words could be taken as referring to the coming destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in a.d. 70, they are so emphatic and clear that they must point ultimately to the final period of tribulation at the end of the age, because, as he stated, it will never happen again.

After these cosmic events, all the people on earth will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds. Jesus’ return will be unmistakable; no one will wonder about his identity. Jesus’ Second Coming will not be as a humble, human carpenter, but as God’s Son with great power and glory.Upon his return to earth, Jesus will send out his angels to gather together his chosen ones from all over the world. The angels’ gathering of the elect signifies the triumphant enthronement of the Son of Man, who will be revealed in all his power and glory. When he comes, the whole world will know that Jesus is Lord, and Christians’ hope and faith will be vindicated.

The disciples, like anyone living in Palestine, knew how to interpret the coming of summer from the buds and leaves of the fig trees. In the same way, when the disciples see the events (described in 13:5-23), they would know that his return is very near. The fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy would assure the disciples that the other prophecies he had given regarding the end times would also come true.

Regarding the “when,” of his Second Coming, Jesus’ answer was blunt. He then pointed out that the mark of a disciple was not having inside information, but serving Christ faithfully. Spiritual vigilance becomes the essential theme of the entire chapter. Jesus’ servants must be so busy that they have no time to speculate about his schedule.

While Jesus had given general “signs” to observe regarding the coming of the end, he clearly explained to the disciples that the exact day or hour was not known by the angels or the Son (Jesus himself). When Jesus said that even he did not know the time of the end, he was affirming his humanity (Philippians 2:5-8). Of course, God the Father knows the time, and Jesus and the Father are one. But when Jesus became a man, he voluntarily gave up the unlimited use of his divine attributes. On earth, Jesus laid aside his divine prerogatives and submitted to the Father’s will. Thus, only the Father knows the exact time of Jesus’ return.

In the parable about watchfulness, Jesus described himself as a man who left home to go on a trip (Jesus would be returning to heaven). The disciples are the employees left behind to carry on their work. The gatekeeper is commanded to keep watch for the master’s return. The employees understand that they are in charge of themselves, had their own work to do, and would not want the homeowner to return suddenly and find them being lazy. Because they do not know when the homeowner will return, these employees must keep a sharp lookout so as not to be found sleeping.

Jesus’ followers would not want to be found spiritually lax, but instead conscientiously going about the work given by God for them to do. Each of us has enough assigned work to do that we shouldn’t be neutralized or paralyzed by fear or doubt. We do not need to worry about how other employees compare to us; instead, we should devote ourselves to doing what God has given us to do.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

This passage today is a clear shot across the bow of our lives to stay alert. This passage is clear teaching that I and everyone else who claims the name of Christ is responsible to do the work that He has assigned each of us to do. Would to God that every believer alive today would take to heart what Paul said in Acts 20:24 -

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."


Lord, work in the hearts of the people at COV in such a way, that they would feel the responsibility that has been entrusted to them as followers of You. In a culture where everyone is concerned about their rights and freedoms and privileges, raise up men and women at COV who will put Your concerns first in their lives.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)