Thursday, April 1: Psalm 22

During this Easter week, have you noticed that the devotionals are getting longer? I can’t help it! This what is heavy on my heart this week, as it should be every week! Going through all of the gospels, the statements of Christ on the cross kept leaping out at me. It reminded me that He made seven statements from the cross and all are depicted in the prophetic 22nd Psalm. Remember, the number seven is significant in the Bible, as it stands for completeness. Let’s look over those verses in Psalm 22 and see how they apply to the statements on the cross.


The first statement is identical as the Holy Spirit wanted to ensure that we could see that significance:


1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?                                                                                                  Psalms 22:1


34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Mark 15:34


This verse is one of the most powerful in the entire Bible! When Jesus was on the cross, for the only time in His existence, He felt separation from His Father. Why? Because the sins of the world had been cast upon His shoulders and sin separates us from Him. Jesus states the phrase twice..."My God, My God." Why twice? Because Jesus is referring to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He didn't need to talk to Himself, or there would have been a third "My God." The other important issue to notice is that for the only time, Jesus does not refer to God as "My Father." As I mentioned before, because of our sins on His shoulders, the relationship was temporarily gone. That was anguish to Jesus, but He had to only endure it for a short period of time. The saddest part is that hell will be an eternity filled with the anguish of that separation. The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:9-11 that 'every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.' At the Judgment, every non-believer and every atheist will have to confront the Lord they chose to ignore. They will have to live eternally without him and that separation will be horrible.


Here is the second statement:


7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;
They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 "He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him;
Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!"
Psalms 22:7-8


34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Luke 23:34


The Holy Spirit describes here in detail the scene at the cross. Jesus not only endures the physical pain of the cross, devised as the most painful death imaginable, but also the humiliation of ridicule from the same people He came to save. And still, in the Gospels it tells us that He asked the Father to forgive "them" for not knowing what they were doing. The reason I highlighted the word "them" is because we were in that mob. He died for our sins, too, and we would have been the same as the rest, who gave Him an illegal trial, crucified an innocent man, threw rocks at Him, and spit at Him. Don't ever forget your participation in His death! He could have stopped the process at any moment. He chose to endure this for us. In the Old Testament, God set aside six cities of refuge for anyone who had committed manslaughter. Basically, manslaughter is second-degree murder, not premeditated. The manslaughterer could remain in the city of refuge until the high priest dies and then, they could go free. We are in that group, as our High Priest died on the cross. It shows that we are only second-degree murderers, as we didn't know what we were doing. That makes us eligible from the Law of the Old Testament to flee to a City of Refuge.


Next is the third statement our Lord made on the cross:


9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb;
You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth.
From My mother's womb
You have been My God.
Psalms 22:9-10


26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
John 19:26 -27


There were people present at the cross who did not hate Him. One of those people was His mother, Mary. Don't forget, an angel of the Lord told her before she was pregnant that she was going to bear the Son of God. What a daunting task for a young girl, who could have been stoned to death under the Law for becoming pregnant out of marriage. At the wedding in Cana, she wanted Him to reveal Himself for who He was, but He told her, "Woman, my time is not yet come." Now, His time is come, and His mother looks on with a broken heart. We know the perspective of mothers, who would do anything to take away the pain of their children. The pain He is experiencing is worse than what anyone has endured. To me the most special part of this is that even when He is in agony, He is still thinking of others. The New Testament tells us that Jesus had brothers and sisters, but He assigned His disciple John to take care of His mother.


This verse in Psalm 22 encompasses the fourth statement:


15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.
Psalms 22:15


28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.
John 19:28-29


A potsherd, is a broken piece of pottery, a shard. We know that without Jesus, we are all broken pieces of pottery, cast aside. Yet the Master Potter puts that pot back together and fills it with His Living Water! The verses following this in the Psalm tell us more of the agony of the cross. This reminds us that Jesus is fully God and fully man. The aspect of Him that is fully man was thirsty on the cross. Have you ever experienced severe pain? Your mouth dries up like at no other time. He knows our pain! In the Book of John, Jesus is described as the Living Water. Once we drink from that Water, we will never thirst again. It is hard to imagine the Living Water being thirsty. Once again, He died this death on the cross so that we don't have to. In the tribulation, God will pour out his wrath on a sinful earth, but here, God poured out His wrath on His Son, who was a scapegoat for our sins! Those of us who have asked Him into our hearts will be judged for the perfect life He lived as He was judged for the sinful lives that we have lived.


21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21


Here is His fifth statement:


19 But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog.
Psalms 22:19-20


46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last.
Luke 23:45-46


Jesus felt the separation from His Father, but knew that was only temporary. He asks here in the Old Testament that the Father not be far from Him. We have been looking at this from the perspective of Jesus, but don't forget the perspective of the Father. If you are a father, you know the love you have for your children. Can you imagine how difficult it must have been for God the Father to allow Jesus to endure this event? Can you imagine how hard it was to look away? Isaiah 53, the other incredible description of the cross in the Old Testament tells us:



10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
Isaiah 53:10

Wow! It pleased God the Father to have His Son tortured in this manner. Why?! Because He knew what we would receive because of it! Without the spilling of innocent blood, there can be no forgiveness of sin. God created us so that we might know His love. Is there a better example of love for us than Jesus laying down His life for us? If you ever seem to be overwhelmed by the cares of this world, take them to the cross and remember what has been endured for you!


Here is His sixth statement:


25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;
I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the LORD.
Let your heart live forever!
Psalms 22:25-26


43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
Luke 23:43


It says here, "I will pay my vows." He made a vow to the thief on the cross that "Today, you will be with me in Paradise." That statement showed us a lot as crucifixion could take many days to complete. The criminal would not bleed to death, but would basically suffocate as they could not sustain their own weight. One of the most difficult documents to read is a medical description of the death in a crucifixion, for it lets us know in graphic terms the suffering of our Savior. But Jesus knew, as He was 100% God that He would die that day. The other aspect of this statement that is the most comforting is that Jesus doesn't require that we live a godly life. It doesn't matter what your sin in. He has the ability and the heart to forgive that sin, even in your last, dying breath. That doesn't mean that you should put that decision off, though, for there are no guarantees that we will have the same opportunity as the thief on the cross. A severe heart attack could take your chance away to ask for forgiveness. More importantly, He died so we could live more abundantly. If you have never walked with the Lord as a Christian, you are missing the most joy!


And finally, His seventh statement on the cross:


31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,
That He has done this.
Psalms 22:31


30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
John 19:30


This is summed up in the Gospels by Jesus' final statement, "It is finished!" He did what He came to do. He knew what He had to do. He knew the pain that He would feel, and the physical pain was nothing compared to the heartache of not feeling the presence of His Father. But His heart broke as the people He came to save would not receive him or His love. Jesus said repetitively, "If there is any other way, let this cup pass from Me." There was no other way, but we can tell from those statements how heavy the burden was on Him. I love this word in the Greek...Tetelestai! It is finished. When a prisoner had served his sentence, he was given a piece of paper with this statement written on it to prove to people that he had paid his debt to society. Though we translate tetelestai to mean "it is finished," it specifically meant "paid in full." We have an enormous sin debt that has been paid by Jesus. For all of these people who think that it is about us and our good works, Jesus summed it up by telling us that we don't need to do anything because He has done it all for us. Which part of “all” do we not understand? Don't confuse this with a license to sin, as when He comes into our hearts, He cleans us up. But you have to catch the fish before you can clean it! As J. Vernon McGee said, “His righteousness will satisfy a Holy God.” Our little good works wouldn't even get us a step forward without what Jesus did for us. Receive the gift. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Wednesday, March 31: Crucifixion day in the Gospels

Each of the gospels offers its own insight into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Matthew was Levi, the former tax collector, who was a disciple of Jesus. His name means “gift of Yahweh.” Matthew writes through a Jewish perspective. Mark was likely the secretary of Peter, and this gospel focuses on the last week of the life of Jesus. Luke was a doctor, and consequently, sees through different eyes. He offers a historical account, with many items not found in the other gospels. John was the disciple Jesus loved. He sees the supernatural nature of Jesus more than the others. Being the last written of the four, it seems that John treated it more as a sequel, knowing that people would have read the other three first. Consequently, it builds on those three and focuses on Jesus as the Son of God!

With a few differences and many similarities, it is interesting to see the events of this day through different eyes. Let’s look closely at the day of the crucifixion of Jesus, beginning with the Seder feast of the Passover the night before, when a new Jewish day begins:

• The disciples prepared Passover in the Upper Room. (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• Some of the disciples were instructed to meet a man with a pitcher of water, who would allow them to be guests in His Upper Room. They were to prepare for the arrival of Jesus. (Mark, Luke)
• Peter and John are identified as the ones asked by Jesus to prepare the Seder (Luke).
• Jesus tells the disciples that He will no longer eat of Passover until the feast is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (Luke)
• Jesus revealed Judas as the one who would betray Him. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• Jesus washed the feet of the disciples before the Seder. (John)
• Jesus tells them He will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. (Luke)
• Jesus instructs His disciples to love one another, as He has loved them. (John)
• Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• The disciples argue over who will be the greatest in heaven. (Matthew, Luke)
• Jesus predicts coming conflict. (Luke)
• They went to the Mount of Olives. Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) Only Mark says that the rooster would crow twice before Peter denied Jesus three times. The other Gospels say the rooster would crow once before that happened.
• Jesus tells the disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you. My Father’s house has many mansions.” Jesus teaches them that if they have seen Him, they have seen the Father, and that He and the Father are one. He tells them that if they love Him, they should keep His commandments. He tells them of the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who will come after He is gone. Jesus tells them that He is the Vine and the Father is the vinedresser. The Father prunes the branches, that do not bear fruit. (John)
• Jesus tells them that greater love has no man than He who lays down His life for His friends, identifying sacrificial love as the greatest form. He warns them that the world will hate them, because it hated Him first. (John)
• They went to the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• Jesus prayed three times that if there was any other way to accomplish this task, that the Father would let this cup pass from Him. (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples and all future believers to come. (John)
• Jesus sweated great drops of blood. (Luke)
• Judas arrived accompanied by a mob of armed Pharisees and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, though the kiss is not mentioned in John)
• They ask which one was Jesus, and He said, “I am He.” When He did, they fell back and toppled over like bowling pins. I think it was the “I AM.” (John)
• Peter pulled a sword and cut off the ear of Malchus. (Matthew, identified as the servant of Caiaphas in Mark and Luke, John)
• Jesus healed Malchus. (Luke)
• A young man followed Jesus, having a linen cloth around his body. Attacked by the mob, the young man fled naked. (Mark)
• They first took Jesus to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. (John)
• Jesus told Annas that He had spoken openly in the temple. An officer slapped Him. (John)
• They took Jesus to Caiaphas, the high priest. (Matthew, Mark, John)
• Peter followed Jesus. (Matthew, Mark, John) Another disciple followed Jesus, and that disciple was known to Caiaphas. Could it have been Nicodemus, Joseph or John? (John)
• Two false witnesses testified against Jesus. (Matthew, Mark).
• Jesus remained silent, but acknowledged to Caiaphas that the He was the Son of God and would sit at the right hand of the Father. (Matthew, Luke)
• Caiaphas gave Jesus the death sentence, then they spit on Him, beat Him and slapped Him. (Matthew, Mark).
• They blindfolded Jesus. (Mark, Luke)
• They mocked Jesus. (Luke)
• Peter denied Jesus three times. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• In the morning, they bound Jesus and led him to the Roman consul, Pontius Pilate. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• They told Pilate that Jesus did not pay taxes, to make it a Roman law broken, rather than a Jewish law that would not concern Pilate. (Luke)
• Judas returned to those who paid Him to betray Jesus. He threw the money on the ground. (Matthew)
• When questioned by Pilate, Jesus admitted that He was the “King of the Jews.” (Matthew, Luke, John)
• Jesus asks Pilate, “What is truth?” (John)
• Pilate finds no fault in Jesus. (Luke, John)
• Pilate finds out that He is a Galilean and sends him to Herod, as that is Herod’s jurisdiction. (Luke)
• Herod had heard of the miracles of Jesus and wanted to see one. Jesus didn’t speak to Herod. They mocked Jesus and put a beautiful robe on Him, then sent Him back to Pilate. Pilate and Herod became friends that day.
• Pilate found no fault in Jesus. (Luke, John)
• Pilate confronted the Jewish crowd, wanting them to ask for the release of Jesus, as it was custom to release a prisoner on Passover. Instead, the fickle crowd who had called Jesus the King five days earlier, asked for the release of Barabbas. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• Pilate’s wife told her husband to have nothing to do with this, based on dreams she had. (Matthew)
• Pilate, seeing that he could not control the crowd, acceded to its wishes to have Jesus crucified. (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• Romans soldiers scourged Jesus, and then delivered Him to be crucified. (Matthew, Mark, John)
• Soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, surrounded by a garrison of soldiers, they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. (Matthew, Mark, John)
• They put a crown of thorns on His head (Matthew, Mark, John) and a reed in His right hand (Matthew).
• They spat on Him and hit Him on the head with the reed. (Matthew, Mark) They struck Him. (John)
• They stripped Him of the robe when done mocking Him, and then, put His own clothes back on Him. (Matthew, Mark)
• They had Simon the Cyrene help carry the cross to Golgotha. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, though Luke identifies the place as Calvary, John.)
• Women followed Jesus and He spoke to them. (Luke)
• Jesus says, “They know not what they do.” (Luke)
• They gave Him gall to drink on the end of a sponge, but He wouldn’t drink it. (Matthew, Mark says this was wine mingled with myrhh)
• They cast lots for His clothing. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• They put Him on the cross at 9 a.m. (Mark)
• Pilate handed him over to be crucified at noon. (John)
• They put Him on the cross between two thieves. (Matthew, Mark, John)
• Jesus said to His mother, Mary, “Woman, behold your son,” referring to John, and said to John, “Behold your mother.” (John)
• Jesus said, “I thirst.” (John)
• Passersby mocked Him. (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• Priests, scribes and elders also mocked Him. (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• The thieves also reviled Him. (Matthew, Mark)
• From noon to 3 p.m., there was darkness over the land. (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• Around 3, Jesus cried out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew, Mark)
• They put a sign above Him, “King of the Jews.” (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• They offered Him sour wine. Again, He refused to drink it. (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• One of the criminals defended Jesus. Jesus told him, “Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke)
• Jesus yielded up His Spirit. (Matthew, Mark)
• Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands, I commit My Spirit.” (Luke)
• Jesus said, “It is finished.” (John)
• The temple veil was torn in two from to top to bottom. (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
• The day is identified as a high holy day, Passover. (John)
• A great earthquake occurred. (Matthew)
• Dead came out of their graves and were seen by people. (Matthew)
• A soldier broke the legs of the two thieves, but did not break the legs of Jesus, fulfilling Scripture. They did not want the bodies up there on the Jewish holidays, and breaking the legs caused them to die faster. Remember, Jesus had already promised that the one thief would die that day along with Him! Instead, the soldier thrust a spear into the side of Jesus, and blood and water gushed out. (John)
• A centurion, who saw all of this, acknowledged that they had killed the Son of God. (Matthew, Mark, in Luke, the centurion says He was a righteous man, rather than the Son of God.)
• Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and got the body and buried Jesus in the tomb. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
• Nicodemus helped Joseph in the burial. (John)
• The tomb had never been used before. (Luke, John)
• Joseph is identified as a council member who did not agree with the decisions of his fellow Pharisees. (Luke)
• Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead. (Mark)
• Joseph laid Jesus in the tomb, and Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, observed where this was. (Mark, Luke)
• The day Jesus died is identified as the day before the Sabbath, also called the day of preparation, as Jews were not allowed to do work on the Sabbath, so they did the work in advance. It is not clear if this is a Saturday, or a high holy day. (Luke)
• People following Him beat their breasts when He died, but the women remained. (Luke).


Isn’t it humbling to think what Jesus did on our behalves? If I was the only sinner on the earth, He would have come to die for me! It is hard to grasp that kind of love! Even more than that, it is hard to offer that kind of love, but Jesus asks us to follow Him. What a powerful reminder of how we are to love our neighbors, our enemies, our families and our friends!

Tuesday, March 30: Together or separate?

While Passover occurs on the first full moon after spring begins, Easter occurs on the first Sunday of spring. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the tradition of Passover continued with additional significance for the followers of the Son of God. Most of the first Christians were Jews, who understood the fulfillment of Passover in the death of Jesus. Sadly, this became a schism with “quartodecimanism,” which comes from the Latin “quarta decima,” meaning fourteen. Most of the Messianic Jews continued to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus beginning on the eve of the 14th of Nisan, while most of the Gentiles preferred celebrating the same event on the following Sunday. That continues to this day!


The saddest part is that God’s intent of Jew and Gentile worshipping together began separating very early on in the life of the Church. Polycarp, Eusebius and many of the early Church fathers agreed with the Jews, but as time went on, the schism increased. It got to a point of complete separation. An analogy of the situation would be if I invited you to a party of my friends, who you never had met. Once you arrived at the party, you had me thrown out and remained with my old friends and your new acquaintances. God’s chosen people shared the Gospel with the Gentiles, and then the Gentiles cast the Jews aside and continued on their own!


How sad that the knowledge of Jesus as Messiah did not hold the two together, but instead, other interpretations pushed them apart. Paul tells us of the earliest separation of beliefs, as Peter was continuing in the custom that Jews were not to eat with Gentiles. This was not a law from the Torah, but certainly was the custom of the time. Paul called Peter out for this faulty conclusion in Galatians:


11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.             Galatians 2:11-16


Today, we do exactly the same. Drive down the street and see the different denominations. Calvary Chapel believes in expository teaching of the Word, along with the pre-tribulation rapture. Baptists believe that without being baptized in water, a believer is destined for hell. The Church of Christ believes that there should be no musical instruments involved in the worship of God. Pentecostals and Church of God believe that everyone baptized in the Holy Spirit must speak in tongues. Presbyterians adhere to strict Calvinism, with an emphasis that our lives are pre-destined. Wesleyan Methodists take the other side of this argument, adhering to an Arminian approach. Catholics believe in purgatory, and along with most Episcopalians, believe that the Book of Revelation was fulfilled in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.


Constant disagreement seems to drive us more than the love of Jesus as our Savior. Are there going to be denominations in heaven? Interestingly, in reference to that time, the word Church is singular! While we all seem to have our own beliefs and interpretations of God’s Word, we should not separate based on small, doctrinal disagreements! I guarantee that each one of us will find a doctrinal flaw in our own beliefs when we get to heaven! What we cannot get wrong is the absolute knowledge that Jesus died for our sins. Without receiving Him and His forgiveness, we are lost! That is what Easter, and Passover, are all about. Let’s celebrate what our Lord did for us!

Monday, March 29: Passover

This is one of my favorite days of the year! For the fourth year in a row, I am invited to participate in a Seder at the home of a Jewish tennis student. I am the only non-Jew in attendance, and it is such a blessing to see God through their eyes, and along with that, to see God through my eyes as their ceremony points so strongly to Jesus in every way. I pray for the time when their eyes will see Him again!


Tonight at sundown, the feast week of Passover begins. On the Jewish calendar, Monday is the 14th of Nissan in the year 5770, with sundown beginning a new day. The Seder commemorates the end of the Jews’ slavery to Egypt. Historians believe that occurred in the year 1441 B.C., 3,450 years ago. Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) occurs along with the first full moon after the first day of spring. Before this day was mathematically determined, it was the first full moon after the barley harvest. Passover is one of three feasts of Moses in which the able-bodied Jewish men were required to make the trip to Jerusalem yearly. In the Book of Exodus, the Bible instructs the Jews how to keep the feast of Passover and that it is to be kept through all their generations. They are to acquire one, unblemished male lamb per each household on the tenth of Nissan. At sundown on the 15th of Nissan, they are to gather together and kill the ram, taking some of the blood and placing that blood on the doorposts. After roasting the lamb in fire, they are to eat what they can and burn the remains before daylight.


On that night of the first Seder, the Angel of death killed each of the firstborn in any home not protected by the blood of the lamb. He “passed over” those marked homes, sparing the firstborn in those families. The next day, the Jews began their journey to the Promised Land. Years later, on another Passover evening, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples on the night before His crucifixion.


All of the food items in the Seder, the Passover Feast, point to God’s redemption:


• Maror: These are the bitter herbs, sometimes horseradish and at other times varieties of lettuce, to symbolize the bitter years of slavery for the Jews in Egypt. When redeemed, God takes that bitterness and replaces it with joy!


• Charoset: This is a mixture of apples, figs, dates, nuts, cinnamon and wine to symbolize the mortar or clay used to make bricks, as the Jews did in slavery. When redeemed, we are no longer slaves to sin, but have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb of God!


• Beitzah: This is a hard-boiled egg to symbolize the renewal of life through fertility and the continuation of the Jews as a culture and people. God’s Word told us of the restoration of Israel over 1,000 years before the event occurred in 1948. We also know that the 12 tribes will be around in the Great Tribulation and the Millennium. Just as eggs became a part of Easter due to the Pagans (with Ishtar, the goddess of fertility), this aspect of the Seder is most likely tied to the Babylonian gods during the Jews’ captivity there.


• Karpas: This is either celery or parsley, dipped into salt water, to symbolize the bitter taste of slavery and the tears of the Jewish people. We know that God keeps all of our tears in a bottle, according to Psalms. Again, He replaces our sadness with joy.


• Zeroah: Most Jews still eat lamb at Passover, and even if they don’t, there is usually the shank bone of a lamb on the table. The lamb is symbolic of the forgiveness of sins. The Torah teaches that there is no forgiveness of sins apart from the spilling of innocent blood, and the killing of the Paschal lamb points to the sacrificial system set up through the Law of Moses. This is significant, as there is no longer a temple to perform the sacrificial rituals. There has been no sacrifice since the last temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. With the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Lamb of God, we have forgiveness of sins without the sacrificial system of the temple. Jesus redeemed us! He purchased us with the spilling of His own innocent blood!


• Wine: The strong taste of the wine is symbolic of the richness of the Jews’ relationship when they were following God. At the Seder, four toasts of wine are performed at different times in the ceremony, pointing to four “I will” statements of God:


1. I will take you out of Egypt (Cup of Sanctification). Just as God chose the Jews as His people and promised to deliver them from Egypt to the Promised Land, He has fulfilled or will fulfill every promise He has made. This is a special time to reflect on the world of sin He has carried you out of, the promises He has fulfilled in your life and the promises still to come! Along with that, He chose you, just as He chose the Jews!


2. I will deliver you from slavery (Cup of Judgment). Though the Jews were physically enslaved, we were all spiritually enslaved, as we lived in bondage to our sins. This is a wonderful time to reflect on the death your life has earned, and the judgment that you would have received without the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. In the Seder, at this point you drip some of the wine onto your plate, so the cup is not full. This signifies the price of our redemption. To the Jews, this has to do with the plagues, but for Christians, the cost of our redemption is the death on the cross of our Messiah! As you drip the wine, think of our precious Messiah’s blood dripping upon the ground. His blood was shed for you, personally!


3. I will redeem you with the demonstration of my power (Cup of Redemption). As a Christian, this is the last cup Jesus drank from at the Seder of the Last Supper. Here’s how Jesus shared the third cup with His disciples that night:


27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”                                                                                                       Matthew 26:27-29


As Christians, we understand the significance of Christ’s blood as the price of our redemption, but try to visualize the disciples that night, the night before Jesus died for our sins! He told them that His blood would be shed for them and that was the only way they would be forgiven. What a solemn occasion!


4. I will acquire you as a nation (Cup of Celebration). This cup is reserved for after the dinner. At the Last Supper, there wasn’t a final cup, as Jesus told them He would not drink from the cup again until they and we were all together with Him. It was not time to celebrate until after His death and resurrection. This Seder will not finish until we gather together with our Lord at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb! We will join Him in the Cup of Celebration to complete this Seder. We have been baptized into His crucifixion and resurrection, and we will share the end of the Last Supper with Him!


A special glass is also poured for the prophet Elijah, and the door is opened for his arrival. In the second to last verse of the Old Testament, the Lord foretells that Elijah will return:


4“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,
Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,
With the statutes and judgments.
5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
6And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.                                                                                   Malachi 4:4-6


• Matzos: This is the unleavened bread eaten at the Passover. Leavening (Chametz) is removed from the house. This is the yeast for bread or fermentation. Yeast puffs bread up, and in the same sense, sin puffs up man, as we understand the connection between pride and sin. Throughout the week, for eight days, Jews do not eat leavened bread in the Passover meal or in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, pointing ahead to Jesus! God came to earth and lived as a sinless man, so that He might be punished for our sins. If He had sinned, Jesus would have had to receive His own punishment through death, as Romans tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” Instead, as Paul tells us,


For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

• Afikoman (meaning "what comes after" or dessert).  Earlier in the Seder when the unleavened bread is eaten, part of the matzo is hidden, for the children to search for.  Whoever finds the matzo is rewarded with money or a gift, and all of the children receive a reward.  Once this last piece of matzo is eaten, nothing else should be, in order to keep the taste of matzo in their mouths.  Rabbis have difficulty explaining the significance of this event, and typically, the reason is to keep the children from getting restless during the ceremony.  As Christians, though, we realize that leaven is a symbol of sin, and in the usage of unleavened bread, it points to the sinless Bread of life, Jesus.  Though He is hidden from their eyes, that will change when the fullness of the Gentiles has taken place.  Jesus is the taste that will always remain, once they see Him!

Though we as Christians do not celebrate Passover, it is significant in our walks with the Lord. Without understanding the Jewish tradition of the feast, we cannot understand the deep meaning of the words of our Lord the night before His crucifixion. What an awesome day it is!

Sunday, March 28: Peaks and Valleys

What a week it has been! My nephew recommitted his life to the Lord. (Peak)! He decided to bless his mother and go down the aisle of her church, to help heal their fractured relationship. (Peak)! He drank a few beers before going down the aisle to do this. (Valley)! As there had been death threats against the pastor, the security team at the church wrestled him away into a back room. (Valley)! On Wednesday, he met with his mother, as promised, in order to attend a men’s accountability group. (Peak)! The group wasn’t a fit, more man-based, than God-based. (Valley).


John admitted to me and others for the first time that he has substance-abuse issues. (Peak)! His mother talked to him about going to a God-based rehabilitation facility in Tennessee called U-Turn For Christ. (Peak)! John asked me if I knew anything about U-Turn, and miraculously, I went to Israel with the ministries’ founding pastor, Gerry Brown. I was able to tell John how much I respected the man and his heart for the Lord. (Huge Peak)! This morning, it is highly likely that John looked to be filled with the old substances rather than the Holy Spirit. (Valley). Today, he has not returned any of my phone calls. (Valley). My sister called and said that John talked to the director of U-Turn and all is set up for his arrival tomorrow. (Peak).


There have been more ups and downs than a day at an amusement park! This weeks’ peaks and valleys are no surprise. It’s called “life.” Though it has been challenging to remain on an even-keel and not bottom out on this emotional roller coaster, I can feel God’s hand through it all. When we pray, we usually visualize our own answer to that prayer. Yet as we see in our Christian walks, God’s answer is almost always much different from what we have imagined. Additionally, His answer is more of a blessing!


Being a mountain climber, I found some quotations on mountains that made me think of John’s journey, my own journey, and the ones that affect all of us:


• “Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.”                                                           --Anonymous


• “It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it's the pebble in your shoe.”
--Muhammad Ali


• “It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”                                                                              --Sir Edmund Hillary


But more importantly than what men say about overcoming the mountains ahead of us, what does God say?


4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?                                                                                                                                               1 John 5:4-5


33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”    
John 16:33

Saturday, March 27: Get out of the boat!

Have you ever been in one of those situations where you aren’t sure what to do? We can pray for hours, days, weeks and years; we can look for an answer in God’s Word, and still, the answer doesn’t seem apparent. Sometimes, when we don’t hear or see an answer from God, we are to wait. “Be still and know that I am God,” comes directly to mind! We also know that God’s three answers to prayer are, “Yes,” “No,” and “Not now!” Yet sometimes, we need to step out in faith!


Peter often acted rashly, before he thought. Many Bible scholars speak of Peter as, “open mouth, insert foot” or “he of the foot-shaped mouth.” We all know exactly how that feels. Though Peter often erred in his actions, his heart was courageous. When the crowd of armed officers of the Pharisees came to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, Peter pulled out a sword and sliced off the ear of Malchus! He loved the Lord more than his own life, but Jesus healed the ear of Malchus, as God had more important tasks for Peter to complete. That included writing part of the New Testament! Peter was a courageous man. We also see that courage when Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee. Only Peter had the faith to step out of the boat and walk toward the Lord. Yet Peter doubted and needed the Lord to rescue him.


We see two categories of people in this event, those who act without thought and those so busy considering what to do that they fail to act. Who had the greatest blessing that day? Was it Peter, who tried to walk on water like the Lord, and actually did for a few moments before failing? Or was it the other disciples, sitting on the sideline, just watching? When we keep our eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face, we will not fall. Yet anytime we focus on the world and not on our precious Lord, the world will devour us! With your eyes on the Prize, you can do mighty things! Yet, never forget, that involves stepping out of the boat. If you remain in the boat, you are not stepping out in faith to see what the Lord will do in your life.


God gives each of us at least one spiritual gift, and along with that, a ministry. You can’t use the gift or fulfill the ministry entrusted to you by sitting in the boat! It might feel like a safe place, but waves can capsize a boat just as easily! Take a step from your comfort zone and let the Lord stretch you!


And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" Matthew 14:29-30 (NKJV)

Friday, March 26: The Shoes of the Jews

Years ago I remember struggling to get through college. While at the University of North Carolina, my seemingly insurmountable hurdle was putting enough time into studies while making enough money to pay for that education. I couldn’t sustain both and dropped out. After a year away from school, I tried again by attending the United States Air Force Academy, where the government paid for the education. Unfortunately, the math/science curriculum was incredibly difficult for my language arts brain. Once again, I departed from school. After a few more years had passed, it looked like my window of opportunity to earn a college degree was closing. That’s when my mother, who was lacking in book smarts, gave me her words of wisdom:


“You can eat an elephant one bite at a time,” she said. I returned to UNC and worked full-time while going to school full-time, in order to complete my degree. Those words encouraged me to take whatever life dished out, without regard to fairness or expectations. Nike’s advertisements gave it another spin, “Just Do It!” Sacrificing sleep and taking the difficult steps one day at a time, I finally finished my degree without wearing out two years later.


Though I wasn’t following the Lord at the time, He certainly knew that I would be His. Can God sustain us through incredible difficulties in a supernatural way?


5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or similar drink, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.                                  Deuteronomy 29:5


Have you ever worn a pair of shoes daily on which the soles lasted for 40 years? Not a chance! In the same manner that God can make shoes endure the elements and all that we can dish out against them, He can protect His children from wearing out!


When the obstacles in front of us seem insurmountable, we know that they only seem that way! God puts us into those situations to see how we will respond! Our choices are to throw in the towel, or take a bite of elephant. If you need an example to inspire you, just think of the shoes of the Jews!

Thursday, March 25: Take a load off!

As a child, I spent every Saturday morning watching cartoons. Those cartoons were simpler than those of today, and one of the funniest pictures I can recall is the piano being dropped on the head of someone in the cartoon. Though the piano weighed a ton and dropped many floors, the recipient survived most of the time, flattened to the ground, with little birdies flying around their head. Though I never have had a piano fall on my head, or any other musical instrument, come to think of it, I have had the feeling that at any moment that is exactly what is about to happen! Life can be difficult, especially as a Christian. Many people expect a life of ease when they decide to walk away from the world and walk with Jesus. Somehow, we forget that the devil is in control of this world!


If God never will let go of us, how can the devil possibly win in his battle against us? He can’t have us for eternity, but he certainly can ruin our testimonies! That is his greatest goal, once you come to the Lord. Don’t forget, if you decided to follow Jesus, you left the devil’s team! That angers the team captain, who can’t have you back. He tries to make you fail so you can’t bat clean up for your team! We know that we are going to be attacked. Here are some quotes that might help you deal with those attacks:

• “It is not a question of God allowing or not allowing things to happen. It is part of living. Some things we do to ourselves, other things we do to each other. Our Father knows about every bird which falls to the ground, but He does not always prevent it from falling. What are we to learn from this? That our response to what happens is more important than what happens. Here is a mystery: one man’s experience drives him to curse God, while another man’s identical experience drives him to bless God. Your response to what happens is more important than what happens.” -- Chip Brogden

 • “We all know people who have been made much meaner and more irritable and more intolerable to live with by suffering: it is not right to say that all suffering perfects. It only perfects one type of person ... the one who accepts the call of God in Christ Jesus.” -- Oswald Chambers


• “Our problems are opportunities to discover God’s solutions.” -- Unknown


• “God places the heaviest burden on those who can carry its weight!” -- Reggie White

• “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” -- CS Lewis


• “We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them.” -- Charles C. West


• 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22


Know that the trials are coming! Respond the way the Lord would have you respond! If you truly believe His promises, you can walk through the greatest difficulty with joy and peace.

Wednesday, March 24: Shattered!

Coming to the Lord is so simple, and at the same time, so complicated. Simply, we have to be broken, yet the process of that brokenness is the complicated part that is different for each of us. Brokenness has been described as the acute and constant awareness of God’s presence, alongside the devastation from the presence of our sin. Some become broken through a smaller trial, yet others really need to reach the pit of despair before they find the end of themselves, and the beginning of God.


Saul of Damascus persecuted the early Christians, and was one of those responsible for the death of Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. Jesus spoke to Saul from heaven and blinded Saul on the Damascus Road. It is certain that Jesus prepared Saul’s heart for years, but that was the moment when Saul became Paul and stopped persecuting Christians and began serving the Lord with his life. Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, is another telling example:


28All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
33That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
Daniel 4:28-33


Pride led Nebuchadnezzar down a painful path, which included a step worse than homelessness. Did you notice the “I’s” and “my’s” in the king’s boastful statement, before God got Nebuchadnezzar’s attention? When we are still unwilling to take responsibility for our own sins, we are not yet to the point of brokenness. An example of this would be a person with addictions, who believes he could give up those substances at any time. Truthfully, it is not until we can admit our own inability to control those impulses that we are willing to hand it over to Jesus! The Lord already has demonstrated the length He will go to in order to get our attention. Nebuchadnezzar took seven years of eating grass before becoming humble. Amazingly, after that humbleness, the Lord restored him to his role as King of Babylon.

"God will never plant the seed of His life upon the soil of a hard, unbroken spirit. He will only plant that seed where the conviction of His spirit has brought brokenness, where the soil has been watered with the tears of repentance as well as the tears of joy." --Alan Redpath

Brokenness and freedom go together, in that order; first suffering, then comfort; first trouble, then joy; first felt unworthiness, then felt love; first death to the self, then resurrection of the soul. --Larry Crabb

The Greek word for broken is sunthlao (συνθλάω) from sun meaning “together” and thlao, meaning “to break in pieces or to shatter.” We can either be broken in our pride when we come to Jesus, or broken because of our pride, when we won’t come to Jesus, with the latter being permanent separation from God. Lest we forget, that choice is one each of us gets to make:


44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:44

Tuesday, March 23: Honor God with your work!

Our jobs take up the most time of any of our daily activities, though sleeping might be a close second in the lives of most. After those two activities have been completed, over two-thirds of each day is gone! With that much time being accounted for, we should examine our jobs through the eyes of the Lord. First, let’s see other professions in the Bible.


God smiled upon the sacrifice of Abel (Genesis 4:4), who was a shepherd, but did not smile upon the sacrifice of Cain, who was a farmer. Before becoming the King of Israel, David was a shepherd and a harpist. Paul was a Pharisee, but earned his living as a tentmaker. Many of the disciples were fishermen. Luke was a doctor and Matthew was a tax collector. Boaz had a large farm, employing many farmhands.


While these are just a few of the professions mentioned in the Bible, it made me think of my profession and the professions of others in this modern day and age. The United States has become a nation where the typical man doesn’t earn his living by the sweat of his brow, or by the work of his hands. We have outsourced most of our labor to other countries, so while most of the profits return to our country, the products are not made here and the labor is not even done by us. Instead of working, we make phone calls and write emails. Each day, I earn a living with my hands and from the sweat of my brow, but I teach people how to play a game. In the grand scheme of things, I wonder how that fits into God’s idea of an honest living.


Most importantly, our jobs must not violate God’s commandments.


28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Ephesians 4:28


Notice in the above verse that the reason for working isn’t to feed ourselves. Instead, it is so we can help others in need. The word for “labor” is kopiao (κοπιάω), which means “getting tired in toil.” We are to get tired in the work, but not to get tired of the work. We should honor God in the way we handle the professions He has placed us into. We shouldn’t be watching the clock, waiting to go home. When compared to a non-Christian employee, shouldn’t a Christian be exemplary in the eyes of the boss? Unfortunately, that can be the exception, rather than the rule. We can steal the time from our bosses just as easily as we can steal pencils, paper and tools. Diligence is the key. Don’t ever forget that co-workers can see God in your life when you exhibit godly behavior. Instead, we are quicker to witness with our words than with our actions. Those words mean so much more when your actions are just as truthful!
Make a new commitment to honoring God in your work! Toil for Him, knowing that He placed you specifically into that role. If God wants you somewhere else, He certainly has the ability to open that door for you. Honor Him, and that includes not working on the Sabbath! Instead of God bless America, how about America bless God?

Monday: March 22: God is gracious!

Today is a continuation from Wednesday, when someone dear to me returned to the Lord. I was hesitant to identify him, because there were people in his life who had been praying for him for years. I didn’t want to spoil the gift he wanted to give. Today, my nephew John left Georgia to drive to Charlotte, North Carolina. More than anything else, John wanted to attend his mother’s church without advance notice. He could visualize himself running down the aisle to give his live to Jesus Christ once again, as he had done in his youth. John had recommitted his life to the Lord earlier in the week, but also wanted to make a public declaration of that commitment. He also could imagine the joy that was going to bring to his Mom. That joy is spreading as we speak, as my whole family is rejoicing along with God and His heavenly host of angels!


John learned lessons that many of us have learned with the stumbling and bumbling of our lives. He told me today that when he gave his life to Jesus as a teenager, he didn’t have a clue what that really meant. Now he does. Having done it his own way and found a deep pit of despair, John in now willing to do it God’s way. Boy, do I know what he is feeling right now! Jesus told a story to Peter that explained this very well:


41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Luke 7:41-43


Walking with the Lord for all of your life would be a blessing, but having a great burden removed from your shoulders has its own special blessing. The bigger the burden that God removes, the more we love Him in return!


Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Luke 7:47


“John” means “God is gracious,” and today, someone I love very much is feeling the freedom of that grace. Our conversations in the last few months have been so special, as I could feel John reaching the brokenness that it takes to look up to God. As most of us do in the midst of our sin, John was crying out to God, “God, where are You?” God’s answer was, “Just turn around, John. I never left you. You just haven’t been looking for Me or listening to Me. I love you, My son. Now, come home to Me!”


Tonight, I have been waiting to hear how the night went. My niece left me a text message to pray for them, as John attended church with them and the family was going out to dinner together. My nephew posted a wonderful message on Facebook a little while later that said, “Glory to God!” Those simple words couldn’t have described my feelings any better as our God performed a miracle in all of our lives today!


Glory to God, indeed!

Sunday, March 21: Why was Jesus a carpenter?

The Father could have chosen any profession for Jesus, so why was He a carpenter?


3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
Mark 6:3


1. It followed the Biblical principle of working with your hands.
8 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Ephesians 4:28


2. He earned a living by the sweat of His brow.
9 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3:19


3. God made the world from nothing. He breathed the world into existence. When Jesus came to earth as a man, He remained Creator, as His job was building up an object from wood. Building up is the same word used as “edify,” and that word in Greek is oikodomeo (οἰκοδομέω). It would not have been as prophetically significant if Jesus had been a demolition man! We are called to edify others. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29


4. He could have been a Rabbi, with His knowledge of the Tenakh (the Jewish Bible), but He was too young. His ministry began when He turned 30.
23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, Luke 3:23


Why do we have pastors in their 20’s today? The Levites had to be from ages 30-50:
3 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting. Numbers 4:3
The verse in Numbers describes a Levite, though Jesus was not a Levite, but from the tribe of Judah. Is a young man in his twenties old enough to understand the pitfalls of the congregation he is preaching to? If anyone would have been able to handle this, Jesus would have, but interestingly, the Father had Him wait until He was 30!


5. Jesus needed food to survive in His earthly body.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:10


6. It is significant that Jesus worked driving nails into wood, and died after those nails were driven through Him into a cross of wood.


7. His first profession was “shaping” wood, and then His next profession was shaping people!


Should we all be carpenters? No, we should work diligently in the profession God has placed us, being godly influences in the lives of those we come in contact with. Pray for them and edify them, just as the Lord would have done! You never know when your life, the joy in your heart and the peace in your walk will open the door in one of your co-workers. Remember, God has a purpose and a plan, and there are no accidents! That includes where you work and who you work with!

Saturday, March 20: Dogs and diamonds!

This morning I gave a hug to a tearful tennis student, whose golden retriever died on Sunday. He always brought Della to tennis class and the sweet bond between the two was obvious. It carried me back to the death of my 15-year-old Lab a little over a year ago, as the wound still remains. Though I don’t know where or when the term was coined, a dog is referred to as “man’s best friend.” That’s a step up from the fact that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” regardless of the connection to Marilyn Monroe. With an estimated 400 million dogs in the world performing such tasks as hunting, herding, search and rescue, caring for the handicapped, protection, assisting police and more simply, companionship, dogs have become a focus of our culture. I can attest to the enjoyment I get out of my silly Labrador.
God gave man dominion over the animals, but God still wants us to treat His creation well:


4 “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. Deuteronomy 25:4

10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. Proverbs 12:10


Yet, God doesn’t want us choosing animals over people. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has become prevalent in our society, and while the idea is great, the people involved sure take it to an extreme. Others, who grasp the upside-down nature of caring for an animal, but ignoring a person, have their own group called PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals)! The truth is, God wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves. With man’s biggest hurdle being his own pride, man certainly doesn’t have trouble loving himself. Yet when we begin to love our neighbors, and even our enemies, with that same love, lives can be changed.


Being single, I have a tendency to put an emphasis on my dog. She certainly is spoiled, and by the proverb listed above, I am sure God sees how sweetly I regard the life of this dog He has entrusted me with. Yet while the dog has a sweet soul and unique personality, God has not destined that dog with an eternal spirit (at least that is not expressed in the Bible). Many Christians, including myself, would love to see their pets beside them in heaven. Yet I know that God will give me everything I need to be joyous for all of eternity. I just don’t know what I will need, but God does. In the meantime, He can teach me about unconditional love from my dog, who loves me no matter what. That is one of the benefits of man’s best friend. A friend mentioned to me today that if you lock your dog in your trunk, he is glad to see you when you open the trunk. If you lock your wife in the trunk, when you open it, she is going to kill you! Through our dogs, we get to see a snippet of how God loves us! It’s sad that we sometimes can experience that more readily from our pets than we can from our friends and families! At the same time, our friends and families can feel the same about their own pet’s love compared to the love we are giving them.


There’s a lesson here for me, if not for anyone else, about focusing my love in a godly way on the people the Lord puts in my pathway on a daily basis. And I can continue to love Whitney, too, for God has given us enough love to go around! Don’t forget:


And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8