Author Archives: smcalhoon
Lent Devotions
Lent Devotions
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April 10: Footwashing
Posted: 09 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT
Read: John 13:1-17
He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet. (v. 5 ESV)
Mike Rowe has become a television star by hosting a program called Dirty Jobs. Had he lived in Bible times, he could have done an episode on footwashing.
Apparently there was no servant in the Upper Room to wash everyone’s feet before the Passover meal. Maybe the disciples wondered among themselves whether one of them ought to volunteer. But no one did. It was too demeaning, too far beneath them. How then must they have felt when they saw Jesus get up and take the towel and basin himself? He, the Master, would serve them and do the slave’s work. Philippians 2:8 sums up Jesus’ entire life with one phrase: “he humbled himself.” Jesus humbled himself not only in becoming a man, but in the humble kind of man he became.
Oswald Chambers pointed out that Jesus’ final words to his followers were not, “I’ve had a most successful time on earth. I’ve addressed thousands of people and been the means of their salvation. Now you go and do the same kind of thing.” What he said instead was, “If I then your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Now that we know this, blessed are we if we do it. –David Bast
Prayer: Lord, forgive my pride. Teach me to serve.
Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/word/devotionals/.
Lent Devotions
Lent Devotions
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April 9: Assigned Seats
Posted: 08 Apr 2014 05:29 AM PDT
Read: Matthew 20:17-28
Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking.” (v. 22 ESV)
Be careful what you ask for; you might get it! Jesus’ disciples, though, still don’t “get it.” For the third time Jesus warns them about his impending suffering and death, but they aren’t really listening. After all, he’s the Messiah, heading toward Jerusalem. What else could Jesus be going there for, except to take his throne?
The mother of James and John, with her sons close behind, approaches Jesus and asks him to promise them the two thrones on either side of his. There is evidence in the gospels that this woman was Jesus’ aunt, Mary’s sister–which perhaps makes her audacity a little more understandable. Jesus rebuffs her: “You don’t know what you’re asking.” Then he puts a question to the brothers: “Can you drink the cup I’m going to drink?” “Sure,” James and John chirp. They really don’t get it. “Well, you will someday,” Jesus says rather grimly, “but those thrones are for the ones God has chosen.” Notice, Jesus does not deny that he will reign in glory, or that his faithful disciples will reign with him. He simply tells us that heaven’s thrones are assigned seats.
But before we worry about which seat is ours, we must drink the cup. The cross comes before the crown. –David Bast
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that though suffering is real, heaven is also real.
Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/word/devotionals/.
Lent Devotions
Lent Devotions
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April 8: Who’s Responsible?
Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:42 AM PDT
Read: Luke 22:14-23
The Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed! (v. 22 NRSV)
Mark Twain said he wanted an attorney who had only one arm. How come? So the attorney could never say, “On the other hand.”
Unfortunately, some truths require two hands. On the one hand, Judas’ betrayal is the fulfillment of God’s own plan: “The Son of Man is going as it has been determined.” But on the other hand, Judas is responsible for his treachery: “Woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
If the deed is inevitable, then how can Judas be responsible for it? And if Judas is responsible for it, then how can it be inevitable? Some truths require two hands.
How responsible are we for our actions? To some degree, I suppose, we are shaped by factors beyond our control: genetics, heredity, our upbringing. But I wince to hear people trace their sins to every door but their own, as though they were victims of providence.
It may be arrogant to suggest that we are masters of our fate. But it is ludicrous to believe that we are victims of fate. Not masters are we, nor victims, but co-creators. Let us not blame our genes or our parents for sins we could have avoided. –Lou Lotz
Prayer: Lord, when I am tempted, give me your strength.
Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/word/devotionals/.
Lent Devotions
Lent Devotions
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April 7: Your Self-assessment
Posted: 06 Apr 2014 05:49 AM PDT
Read: Luke 18:9-14
God, be merciful to me, a sinner! (v. 13 NRSV)
Everybody you know has a self-assessment. The question is: how do we arrive at our self-assessment?
The Pharisee considers himself a virtuous man. How does he arrive at his self-assessment? By looking down. He chooses a lowly tax collector as his standard, and of course the difference between himself and this man is considerable. It’s easy to look tall when you stand alongside someone short. The tax collector views himself as a sinner. How does he arrive at his self-assessment? By looking up. God’s searing righteousness is the standard by which he measures himself. No wonder he pleads for mercy.
It is so tempting, and so easy, to find some convenient sinner, some moral short person to stand alongside of, and to use him or her as a standard. And so we glide into pride, so involved in our spiritual primping, so busy congratulating ourselves that we are not like other people, that it doesn’t occur to us that we’re not much like Jesus, either.
When we measure ourselves by looking up, when biblical righteousness is our standard, how can we say anything other than what the tax collector said: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” And God is merciful. “I tell you,” said Jesus, “this man went down to his home justified.” –Lou Lotz
Prayer: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/word/devotionals/.
Lent Devotions
Lent Devotions
April 6: Listening to Christ Pray
Posted: 05 Apr 2014 08:31 PM PDT
Read: John 17:1-26
Father, I desire that these also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory. (v. 24 NRSV)
A recent survey reveals that over 90 percent of the population in the United States claim to pray every day. Amazing! Realistically, most people struggle with prayer. They wonder what to say to God. They are disillusioned when they pray and see no change.
Jesus taught us a pattern for prayer (Matt. 6:9-14) and he also showed us by his actions how to pray. Hours before his arrest and trial he prayed with passion. He asked his heavenly Father for the strength to complete his task on the cross. He prayed for the protection of his disciples as well as the salvation and safety of future believers. He desired that people everywhere see his glory.
Prayer was the way Jesus communicated with his Father. Jesus, in the agony of prayer, tested his willingness to die an atoning death. Reluctantly, but obediently, he accepted the plan on which he and the Father had agreed. Prayer is an admission of need and an expression of dependence on God. It identifies the person who loves and obeys God. Prayer has great reward. God is present when his people pray. –Ron Geschwendt
Prayer: Holy God, teach us to pray as Jesus prayed. Give us the confidence that you hear and answer prayer. Amen.
Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/word/devotionals/.
Lent Devotions
Lent Devotions |
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Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:20 AM PDT Read: Matthew 26:6-13 But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste?” (v. 8 NRSV) A woman did something in public for Jesus that very few would dare to do. At the risk of scorn she purchased expensive ointment and splashed it on Jesus in anticipation of his death and burial. Jesus’ own disciples questioned the extravagance. In the last week of Christ’s life, the plot thickens. Religious leaders plan for his death. A traitor from among Jesus’ closest friends sells him out for thirty pieces of silver. But in contrast to this treachery is a story of extravagant love. Love at its best has no personal agenda. It is not selfish. No sacrifice is too great. It thinks only of its beloved. This woman at Bethany broke all the conventional rules because she was blinded by love for Jesus. This woman obviously discovered in Jesus the wealth of his love. Nothing would deter her from offering to Jesus the gift of her love, no matter the cost. Judas betrayed the Messiah for a price that was a fraction of the cost of her perfume. Cold hearts never understand liberality. Real love seizes the heart and captures the mind. Outrageous love for Christ is never a waste. –Ron Geschwendt Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the gift of your Son’s love. We would lavishly love him with heart, soul and mind. Amen. Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/word/devotionals/. |
Lent Devotions
Lent Devotions
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April 4: Wresting for Authority
Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:12 AM PDT
Read: Mark 11:27–12:12
By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them? (v. 28 NRSV)
Authority. Some think they have it. Some wish they had it. Some really do have it! Jesus truly had authority, unlike the religious leaders who opposed him. Jesus spoke and acted with authority from God. He claimed that he and God the Father were one (John 10:30). The battle lines were drawn. In the minds of the religious leaders Jesus had broken the very first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exod. 20:3). If Jesus was not the God-man, then their accusation was true, and Jesus really was in league with the devil as they accused (Mark 3:22).
The storm clouds of this controversy gathered with intensity. In this fight there was no middle ground. Jesus is truly God or, measured against his claims, a liar or a lunatic. If he was not God, he was not even a good man, much less a great teacher. He said, “Before Abraham was I am” (John 8:58, emphasis added). Today, we diagnose people with mental illness for saying less. But unlike the mentally ill, Jesus’ life and actions backed his claims.
So Jesus’ authority is real because he really is God. He can restore the worst of sinners. He can forgive the selfish and arrogant. He loves even the silly and the foolish. He will give eternal life to anyone who bows before him. –Ron Geschwendt
Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/word/devotionals/.
Lent Devotions
Lent Devotions
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April 3: There Is Glory in This Death
Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:15 AM PDT
Read: John 12:20-50
Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (v. 24 NRSV)
Life out of death defies all logic. Corpses don’t live again; they decay. Did Jesus have a fixation on his own death? He spoke of it often. On the Monday after Jesus’ popular march into Jerusalem, he said he came to die. A seed planted in the dirt appears dead, but it will spring to life. The mutilated body of Christ hanging on a cross would live again.
Some scholars suggest that Christ was a martyr whose teaching was perpetuated by imaginative disciples. Christ’s life is understood in his death. Great men and women are measured by how they live. Christ’s glory is in his death. Carl Sandburg’s six-volume biography of Abraham Lincoln has only a few pages on the assassination. In John’s Gospel on the life of Christ, half tells of his death and resurrection. For most people life is all about living; for Christ life was all about dying.
The key which unlocks the secret of this God-man’s life is the cross. “I,” he said, “when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). –Ron Geschwendt
Prayer: O Christ, you died for us. You took our deserved punishment on the cross. The cross is filled with glory. Grant to us, we pray, this glory. Amen.
Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/wor
Lent Devotions
Lent Devotions
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April 2: Where Are the Nine?
Posted: 01 Apr 2014 06:05 AM PDT
Read: Luke 17:11-19
Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?” (v. 17 NRSV)
My mailman says that every year, in the weeks prior to Christmas, his post office gets hundreds of letters addressed to Santa Claus, but that in the weeks after Christmas there is not a single letter addressed to Santa. So it goes. Many say “please”–few say “thank you.” Our petitions always outrun our gratitude.
You can hear disappointment in Jesus’ voice: “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?” Only one man gives thanks–a Samaritan, no less.
Beyond that, only one man understands that he has done business with God, in the person of Jesus Christ. When the ex-leper falls at Jesus’ feet and praises God, he’s making the right connection. He realizes that Jesus has done for him what only God can do. Ten lepers find a healing, but only one finds the healer.
If we count our many blessings, but fail to recognize their source, then we still don’t get it. God is looking for a faith in us that will recognize the giver behind the gift. For that will be a sign that we have received the best gift of all–Jesus himself. “Get up and go on your way,” he says to us, “your faith has made you well.” –Lou Lotz
Prayer: Forgive my ingratitude.
Words of Hope is an international media ministry, founded and owned by classes of the RCA, dedicated to building the church in the hard places. The Words of Hope devotional encourages readers to grow spiritually through daily Bible readings and prayer. To subscribe, please visit: woh.org/word/devotionals/.
Power washing/ Painting preparation
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