Jesus cared about His disciples.  I'm so encouraged when I read the Gospels about the time and attention Jesus gave those who chose to follow Him.  There is a moment, toward then end of John when He records that caring prayer that Jesus prays for His disciples. (Read all of it here: John 17:1-26). As believers today, we get great assurance that He also prays this way for us! 

Right before He prayed.  He made a powerful concluding statement to them.  In it, we get Jesus's clear guidance on how to view the world.  It's good for today and every day.

John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.
Praise God! 

The prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane illustrates the intense struggle of the Son of God in His mission to redeem the world.  The weight of the world's sin was looming.  The apathy and disinterest of the disciples was frustrating, and the slow march of temporal hours and minutes were a weight compared to His knowledge of the scope of eternity. 
Luke 22:42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done

​Jesus submitted to the will of the Father and won for us redemption for this life and for all eternity.  Praise God! 

Jesus was our perfect sacrifice because of His sinless life.  The Bible makes it clear.  Peter does so in this passage after he asserts that Christ was our example:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:22).

Today, as you move through the paces of your agenda, remember that One has gone before you, has already suffered for you, and the price for you has been paid in full.

Praise God! ​

That's what it's called.  The event celebrated as Palm Sunday.  Jesus fulfilled prophecy on that day.  It's recorded in The Synoptic Gospels, (Matt 21:1-14) (Mark 11:1-10), and (Luke 19:28-40).  The Old Testament prophecy that was fulfilled on that day is. (Isaiah 62:11; Zech 9:9).  The Gospel writers understood that this was an intentional act of Jesus on that day. It was the official declaration of His redemptive mission.  The King is Coming!  He had one agenda on His mind and heart. He came to save.  He made the preparations.  He sat down and proceeded because it was the mission of God to redeem the world.  Praise God! 

If you search the whole Bible you will see that the English word "Heaven" means something different in the Old Testament compared to the New.  In the first 39 books, the sky and outer space is referred to as the "heavens".   It's sometimes conveyed that way in the NT as well.  When Jesus spoke about heaven He referred to the "kingdom of heaven".  Here are those places:  (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 5:3, 10, 19–20; 7:21; 8:11; 10:7; 11:11–12; 13:11, 24, 31, 33, 44–45, 47, 52; 16:19; 18:1, 3–4, 23; 19:12, 14, 23; 20:1; 22:2; 23:13; 25:1).  This is a picture of how much more we learn about God's redemptive nature in the New Testament.  Jesus, the very Son of God lived out the presence of God on the earth and demonstrated the Father's love for the world (John 3:15-17, Romans 3:24) From the outer heavens to the kingdom of heaven, the love of God abounds for His people.  Praise God! 

Jesus gave a simple formula for perpetual praying. It's in Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours 
This sounds simple enough.  Commentators are quick to point out that Jesus was using the ACTIVE voice which calls for continuous action. In English, we simply add ING to it.  This shows perpetual motion and continuous action.  In short, Jesus said to keep on asking, keep on seeking and to keep on knocking.  The assurance is clear and the promise is certain.  God hears and answers while we keep on asking.  Praise God! 

Luke gives many details about the life of Jesus.  He says in the first several verses of his gospel that he "carefully investigated everything from the beginning'.(Luke 1:1-5).  Toward the end of his book he gives a quote from Jesus that is absolutely magnificent.  (Luke 24:45-49).  There is one verse that has my attention today.  It's important because it is another assurance of the whole mission of God to the world.  The concept that Christ came to atone and forgive our sins was not a late development of churchmen and theologians.  It came from the heart of God.  

47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

It's not just a mission for God.  It's a mission for us.  Once we experience His grand forgiveness, we don't wonder what to do.  We have a mission to proclaim!  Praise God! 

Jesus was known on the earth as a healer.  He is a great Physician.  The Bible clearly records that His miracles were witnessed by many.  He even did the impossible by raising the dead.  One striking instance is when He had concluded an evening of miracle working.

Matt. 8:16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

That Isaiah passage was written 700 years before Jesus was born.  Here it is:
s. 53:4    Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah prophesied clearly about it.  Jesus came healing! Today we can ask Him to heal with the expectation that He will.  Praise God! 

There is a story in the Bible that gets my attention EVERY TIME. It's about a thief. That thief found himself in a highly unique position.  He was on the cross next to Jesus.  The guy on the other side of Jesus hurled insults at him.  The thief took up for Jesus and then dared to make one of the grandest statements in all the world.  The story is recorded in: Luke 23:40-41.  The statement to Jesus, while hanging on the cross next to him was: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom". In glorious splendor we hear the words of Jesus to the man, "today you will be with me in paradise".  That statement 2000 years ago gives hope to us today.  John would later record the promise for all:

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

This very moment we can have the same assurance the thief got that day.  We simply have to believe.  Praise God! 

John wrote his epistles later in life and in his books are a great amount of powerful reflection. There is a way to live as a believer where the best day is every day.  It's by fostering the belief and faith that brought us to Christ.  John referred to it in his gospel as "life and that more abundantly" (John 20:30-31).  Years later as he wrote his first epistle he said this:

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.”
The faith we have in Christ brings victory no matter the circumstance.  It's so powerful, John says it overcomes the world.  Praise God! (1 John 5:4 ESV)

In the first century, the best way to communicate out of town was with written correspondence.  There was no mail service.  The sender had to find someone heading that way and send the message or letter with them.  The epistles or letters of Paul were no exception.  Paul told the Corinthians: “You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God—not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3 CSB17)
What was true for the Corinthians is also true for us! So we become the correspondence from God to the world.  We are a letter from the Lord to those who need to know. Praise God! 

In Matthews 16:13. There is a statement about something God always does.  It's part of His nature, it's who He is.  It's mentioned right after something He never does.  The phrase is. "Deliver us from evil".  Jesus taught his disciples that in contrast to temptation, which God never does, He ALWAYS DELIVERS.  The phrase "deliver us" is mentioned 22 times in the Bible.  ( Judg. 10:15; 20:13; 1 Sam. 4:8; 12:10; 2 Kings 18:30, 32; 1 Chr. 16:35; 2 Chr. 32:11; Psa. 79:9; Is. 36:15, 18; Jer. 43:3; Lam. 5:8; Dan. 3:17; Mic. 5:6; Matt. 6:13; Luke 11:4; 2 Cor. 1:10; Gal. 1:4)In most of those cases it is statements of assurance that God is a deliverer.  That is what He's known for.  It is His reputation.  He has delivered and will deliver.  Praise God! 

In the Lord's prayer, there are two things that describe God's activity in the life of a believer.  One is something God NEVER does. In the book of Matthew, they are both in one verse.  (Matt 6:13)
"Lead us not into temptation".   God NEVER DOES THAT!  The book of James states it clearly.
James 1:13   Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man.  He goes on to say how temptation happens in James 1:14-15.  Why would Jesus ask us to pray about something God never does?  Because it's a valuable and important reminder of His good nature.  He simply isn't in the tempting business.  He doesn't even lead us there!  Praise God! 

Romans 5-8 is a powerful set of passages that will bless any believer.  Right in the middle of that is a discourse about holy living.  You can find it in Romans 6:1-11.  My focus today is on what I want to call a simple sanctified decision.  The last two verses call for a decision on the part of a believer.  This is where the Gospel becomes very practical.

10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The sanctified decision ends with being alive to God in Christ Jesus!  Praise God! 

The word sanctification is heavy duty.  It has a twin brother that is also quite weighty:  holiness.  The Bible addresses the issue of sanctification and holiness head on. A powerful discussion on the subject is held by Paul in Romans 12:1-2.  There is one verse in Hebrews 12:14 that can make people anxious. "Without holiness, no one can see the Lord".  That is true.  There is another thing that is also true.   One chapter earlier in verse 12, the writer makes plain why there should be no anxiety about holiness or sanctification.
Heb. 13:12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
​
One of the  wonders of the Gospel is how completely God has saved us in the work of Christ on the cross. (Rom. 6:1–11, 13; 8:1–2, 13; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 2:12–13; 1 Peter 1:5).  Today we can live sanctified because of that fact.  Praise God! 

Jerusalem sits atop a hill.  There is a deep valley near and high mountains on the other side.  The wilderness of Judea is nearby. When the writers of the Bible conveyed their understanding and also worship of God, it reflects the geography around them.  The Psalmist wrote the following in Psalm 121:1.

Psa. 121:1        I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
    Where will my help come from?
2     My help comes from the LORD,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

My Help comes from the Lord!  Praise God! 

In the Bibles discussion about stars, there are basically two main areas.  The first is the most significant.  God promised to make the people of Israel as many as the stars in heaven.  This is mentioned several places:  (Gen. 22:17; 26:4; Ex. 32:13; Deut. 1:10; 28:62; 1 Chr. 27:23; Heb. 11:12). He also warned them to not worship or bow down to the stars. (2 Kings 21:3, 5; 2 Chr. 33:3, 5).  Nehemiah got it right in His prayer as He drew His attention to God's might and glory:

Neh. 9:6     You, LORD, are the only God.
    You created the heavens,
    the highest heavens with all their stars,
    the earth and all that is on it,
    the seas and all that is in them.
    You give life to all of them,
    and all the stars of heaven worship you.
Creation points to His glory!  Praise God! 

Stars are mentioned in the Bible 93 times!  One of my favorite verses about stars is the first one in Genesis 1:16 when describing the creation of the sun and the moon it says: "and the stars as well". Wow.  Considering all that we have learned about the vastness of our galaxy and the millions of galaxies outside our solar system.  It's amazing that the Bible says....'and the stars as well".  This is an indication about the vastness of God who exists outside of time and space. Teddy Roosevelt used to take his children out on the porch at night at the white house and tell them to look up.  Then he would say "I think He's big enough! Let's go to bed now". He is big enough!  Praise God! 

I love how Jesus describes Himself in the Gospels.  Sometimes it's conceptual. (John 14:6), focus on "way", "truth", "life".  On another occasion He used the example of "Living Water". (John 4:10).  When He speaks about light and darkness, it is even more powerful.  There is nothing like what happens in the physical world when you turn on a light in a completely dark room.  Jesus declares:

John 8:12    Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

We can have the light of life because of Jesus!  Praise God!

The end of the world is the launching of eternal life for all who believe on His name! Jesus had much to say about the end times.  In John 6, he takes responsibility for our future in a powerful way. Our redemption is the will of God as it he says in John 6:39-40

 John 6:39 This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

He then repeats the same phrase.  God is the one who draws us to Christ and then this great promise:

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.
]Ten verses later, as He is referencing the decision to believe and remember His sacrifice, he says it again.

John 6:54 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day,
The last day is the launching of our hope! Praise God! 

The church in Corinth had some problems.  A simple reading of 1 Corinthians shows Paul identifying a different problem each chapter.   There are some amazing passages in 1 & 2 Corinthians.  One of these is 1 Corinthians 10:13. In the middle of their dysfunction and difficulty, a profound truth emerges:

1Cor. 10:13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.

In ALL the seasons of our life, He remains faithful to us!  Praise God! 

The message of the epistles is of complete victory.  Jesus triumphed over death, hell and the grave.  His resurrection is a guarantee of our resurrection.  We have hope for this life, and all eternity.  When you do a search for two words within the epistles, you get a fantastic result.  'Grace' and 'given' show up together sixteen times.  (Rom. 12:3, 6; 15:15; 1 Cor. 1:4; 3:10; 2 Cor. 8:1; Gal. 2:9; Eph. 3:2, 7–8; 4:7, 29; 2 Th. 2:16; 2 Tim. 1:9; James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).  Why?  Because it's the nature of the gift!  Grace becomes understood and experienced when it's given!  The grace is the result of Christ's work on the cross and victory over death.  Today we get to experience grace given!  Praise God! 

The book of Acts is aptly named because the disciples did not sit still after Jesus ascended.  They followed the instructions of Jesus to wait, and God poured out His Spirit, just as He promised (John 14, Acts 2:1-42). All the activity of the early church was exciting and profound.  There was one occasion where they were jailed and threatened.  The Scriptures that follow are a great example of how useful prayer can be in even the most difficult of circumstances.  Let's listen in on their prayer and see the result of this useful tool. 

Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
Praise God! 

.The writers of the epistles mention prayer 69 times in the epistles.  Here they are:  Rom. 1:10; 8:26; 10:1; 12:12; 15:30–31; 1 Cor. 7:5; 11:4–5, 13; 14:13–15; 2 Cor. 1:11; 9:14; 13:7, 9; Eph. 1:16–18; 3:16–17; 6:18–20; Phil. 1:4, 9, 19; 4:6; Col. 1:3, 9; 4:2–3, 12; 1 Th. 1:2; 3:10; 5:17, 25; 2 Th. 1:11; 3:1; 1 Tim. 2:1, 8; 4:5; 5:5; 2 Tim. 1:3; Philem. 1:4, 6, 22; Heb. 5:7; 13:18–19; James 5:13–18; 1 Pet. 3:7, 12; 4:7; 1 John 5:16; 3 John 1:2; Jude 1:20 
Paul not only instructed believers on prayer.  It was a part of everything he did.  For example in Acts 16.  Paul had been jailed along with Silas.  We are told that at midnight they were praying and singing to God (Acts 16:25).  God miraculously set them free and the jailer and his family came to Christ. 
Prayer proves practical!  Praise God! 

Some of the best instructions on how to pray come from the Apostle Paul.   In Paul's grand instruction to Timothy of how to manage the church where he was, he gave one of the most clear instructions about how prayer should be practiced.

1Tim. 2:1   First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,
I love how he sums it up in verse 3.  It's good for everyone!  Praise God!