Posted: August 2nd, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Weekly Devotional | Tags: communion, cross, heaven, lord's table | No Comments »
Today’s reading:
1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
“On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” (NLT)
Extended reading: 1 Corinthians 11: 17 – 34
The master was implicated with a crime that did not make much sense. And to be sentenced to death on the cross seemed such a dirty political game.
The armies were ready (Matthew 26: 53). Archangel Michael had got his legion of angels ready for battle. It was not really going to be a battle. There was written record of one angel taking out 185,000 humans (2 Kings 19). Today, the whole earth will just have to be eradicated (maybe, except for the select few who followed him). It happened during Noah’s time (Genesis 7: 23). This time, they rejected their very Maker.
The crowd had reached Golgotha. Some cheering. Some wailing. Some quarelling. Some challenging. Some astonished and some solemn. They stripped Jesus of his robe and drew lots to decide who gets it. They threw Jesus on the piece of wood and were going to drive the nails into his hands. This needn’t be. Michael looked for the signal from the Father. There was none. Maybe He was waiting to make a dramatic entry right after. Kill em all – get the Prince of heaven back safe. Show them who is in control.
Jesus was raised up in between two criminals. Michael looked again for the signal. None.
Jesus asked for a drink. No signal yet.
(What’s keeping Him?)
It was only when Jesus cried out “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that heaven realized that there was not going to be a signal. “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” The Father had forsaken His Son. On the cross. What shame! What pain! Did this have to be?
The human race was going to get another chance. And this time, it cost the most.
But maybe one day when they break the bread and drink the wine, they may understand the love that bore the pain. They may get a glimpse into what should have been theirs but was spared the misery and shame.
What does the cross mean to us? It is more than just a divider of the times. The cross represents who we are or who we should have been. The cross tells us that we don’t need to be punished. The cross tells us we are free. Free to live life to the fullest. Full of what God has in store for us. And only because of what Jesus did on the cross.
Go ahead and partake of the bread and wine that represents what our God did for us.
What do I pray?
Lord, thank You for the cross. Thank you for bearing my sin and my shame. Thank you for setting me free. Help me understand what You did for me. And help me live my life for Your glory. Help me put You first in my life and shine Your light in this world. In Jesus’ name..
(If this thought has blessed you, won’t you let us know? Comment here or send us an email to feedback [at] simplyhim [dot] com)
Did you read the Bible today? Click here to read (This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)
Posted: January 3rd, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Daily Devotional | Tags: cross, heart, tomb | No Comments »
Today’s verse:
Matthew 28: 18
“saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’”” (NKJV)
It is a lie that has been going around for a long time. A lie that takes away the godliness of Jesus Christ. A lie that refutes Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. A lie that keeps millions from knowing the truth. A lie that can keep us away from knowing abundant life in Christ.
A little background on the verse – Jesus had resurrected from the tomb He was in for three days. When the soldiers on guard reported it to the chief priests, they decided the best way to suppress the news was to spread a lie – “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.” I am amazed at how hard their hearts had become. They had challenged Jesus earlier – “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:40).
How did they miss it? They knew the full background of this guy called Jesus and all the claims He made. They had even seen Him on the cross. And here it was – the final proof – an empty tomb. They knew it wasn’t the disciples who took away the body. But they didn’t believe because they had a very serious condition – hard hearts. One serious problem with this condition is that, as time go by, hard hearts become harder. We are all susceptible to this condition. If we feed ourselves with what the world has to offer – materialism, self-made solutions – they are all the devil’s lies – we really end up with that same condition – hard hearts. Even when the truth is right before our eyes, we refuse to believe. We refuse to accept the truth and we look away. We throw sand hoping that it will cover the truth and as time goes by, it will cover the truth. In the meanwhile, we try living our lives without the help of the Savior, the One who created us and end up broken and bruised and losing our beat. We become arrhythmic.
But there is hope. God knows. He knows all about our condition and is willing to trade. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26). It does not matter how hard your heart is or has become. God’s offer is valid on any heart at any level of hardness. The Lord knows how to put the rhythm back to your music. Ask the millions of people who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord & Savior.
Pray in your own words: Tell Him your heart condition. Ask Him to take your hard heart and give you a new one – a heart that will beat to His music. Ask Him to come into your life and be the Lord & Savior.
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 7-9 (Old Testament), Matthew 3 (New Testament) (Click here to read)
(This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)
