Category: 260 Devotional

³³At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  ³⁵When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”  ³⁶One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.  ³⁷With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  ³⁸The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”  ⁴⁰Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. ⁴²It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, ⁴³Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. ⁴⁴Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. ⁴⁵When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Meditation

1. The death of Jesus has been recorded in all four gospels.  Different people reacted differently.  If you were there in person, what would be your reaction and your emotion?
2. With a prayerful heart, read the following poem slowly.  Then, with a grateful heart, read it very slowly as a prayer to God.

Thou has given so much to me, 

Give me one more thing – a grateful heart. 

Not thankful when it pleases me,  

As if Thy blessings had spare days. 

But such a heart 

Whose pulse may be Thy praise.                       – George Herbert

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

³While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  ⁴Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.  ⁶“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

 

Meditation

1. When you want to give a special gift to someone you love, which kinds of things do you look for?
2. What can you do for God that would be as lavish?  Are there things that keep you from doing it?
3. Continue to reflect on the last question.  Allow the Holy Spirit to show you the reasons you can’t or won’t be generous to God.  Wait for God’s direction to overcome it.

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard! Be alert^[e]! You do not know when that time will come.³⁴ It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.   ³⁵ “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Meditation

1. What is the most exciting thing to you about the second coming?  The most depressing?  What questions would you like to ask Jesus about it?
2. Read slowly the following paragraph.  Make this a prayer of anticipation and hope for Christ’s coming again.

The truth of the second coming of Christ transformed my whole idea of life; it broke the power of the world and its ambition over me, and filled my life with the most radiant optimism even under the most discouraging of circumstances. – R. A. Torrey

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

⁴¹Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴²But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. ⁴³Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

 

Meditation

1. Jesus warned against those teachers of the Law who paraded themselves openly, whose prayers were a pious show, and whose greed was so great they would “devour widow’s houses”.  Such men, Jesus said, “will be punished most severely.”  For contrast, Jesus praised a woman who freely placed her last coins in the treasury.
2. What a study in values.  The greedy rich man, who always wanted more, and the poor widow willing to give all.  The “great man” viewed with respect by society, and the insignificant woman, held in high regard only by God.
3. While you may be neither rich nor poor, you choices are likely to be governed by the values expressed by one of these two.  Which of the two will you choose to be most like?

 

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

 

¹As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ²saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”  ⁴They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,    “Hosanna!”    “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
¹⁰“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”    “Hosanna in the highest!”  ¹¹Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Meditation

1. The crowd shouted and waved and praised Jesus as their Messiah – the savior (v9-10).  But soon after, they became the crowd that wanted to nail Jesus on the cross.  It is easier to follow and praise God when everything seems to be going well, when God is meeting our expectations, and when faith is supported by those all around us.  The strength of our faith is tested when all of these supports and assumptions begin to fall away.
2. Has your faith in God been tested through changes of time, location, community?
3. Is anyone at church or cell going through this testing process and has not come out yet?  Write down his/her name on this page.  Commit to pray for him/her regularly for the whole month.  If possible, give him/her a call, write an email or send a card to encourage him/her and to accompany him/her to come through this process.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

³⁵Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”  ³⁶“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.  ³⁷They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”  ³⁸“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  ³⁹“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, ⁴⁰but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”  ⁴¹When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴²Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Meditation

1. Jesus didn’t laugh or getting angry at James or John, but He did reject their requests.  We may want to ask for anything from God, but God wants to give us the best and not just anything we asked for.  So, it’s for our good that He may reject our requests.
2. Take a time to reflect.  Is there any prayer request of yours that God still hasn’t answered, or has refused?  Right now, offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God, for He has or will have given you the best.
3. In the kingdom of Christ, “serving” is the way to success.  This is the model Christ left us.  Prayer is one of the services for believers.  Have you noticed the PGC weekly prayer letter? “Lord, help me to pray faithfully daily for pastors, the church, our community, needs of brothers and sister. “

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to  know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about  who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Meditation

1. In view of what lay ahead in Jerusalem, Jesus again prepared his disciples by telling them that He would suffer execution and experience resurrection. Rather than discussing Jesus’ coming death and resurrection, the disciples had been arguing about their own futures in the kingdom.
2. All of us struggle with the question of status and identity within a group. Where do I fit? How important am I to this group?
3. How does Jesus’ style of success differ from the ideas of success that press on you today? What would it mean for you to reflect vv35-37 in your family, your work? What is the incentive to do so?
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to humbly serve others rather than to be served.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today: 5:18-19

18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, 19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Meditation

1. When Peter made this confession of faith “You are the Christ”, he has only taken the first step. The next step is a lifelong journey to live out this confession fully and authentically.
2. That’s the same with us. After our confession of faith, Jesus calls us to live a life to “deny himself and take up his cross and follow” Jesus.
3. In your journey of faith, which step have you taken? Are you still lingering at the first step? Or are you walking toward the goal of being sanctified and made holy? What is it that has kept you from moving ahead? What are you afraid of?
4. Pray for courage and faith to walk on this journey. Ask for God’s guidance that you may willingly follow.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today: 5:15-17

15 Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. 16 Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’?  19 For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”) 20 He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ 21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”

Meditation

1. We are sanctified and become holy not because of our outward behavior, but because Christ has renewed our minds, reformed us in his image. Any evil behavior begins with an idea. If we allow our thought life immersed in desires, jealousy, hatred and bitterness, eventually we will sin.
2. Continue the practice of solitude and silence from yesterday. Take time to rest and to be silent. Ask the Holy Spirit to examine my inner thoughts. Is there a need for cleansing? Pray to God and ask Him to cleanse your inner wickedness.

Prayer & Journaling:  On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today: 5:11-14

11 and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, 12 and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! 13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. 14 I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.”

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Meditation

1. When the disciple came back after they finished their assignment, Jesus took them away “to a quiet place and get some rest”. This is for them to find spiritual resources to continue effective ministry. The Spiritual Formation Bible has the definition for “Solitude”: the creation of an open, empty space in our lives by purposefully abstaining from interaction with other human beings, so that, freed from competing loyalties, we can be found by God.
2. How do you arrange “solitude” into regular routine schedule? How can you “be found by God” in your busy life?
3. Open your agenda to next week or next month. Try to carve out a time (half an hour, or half a day or a whole day). Go to a park, a deserted place, or an indoor place without being disturbed. Stay quiet and alone, and then converse with God.

Prayer & Journaling: 

On your prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.

Proverbs for Today: 5:7-10

7 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, 10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,