DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 4.16.22

A Suffering Savior - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted �Isaiah 53:4 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/a-suffering-savior/- Listen Why did Jesus have to suffer as He did? We understand that He had to be nailed to a cross because the Bible prophesied this. But why did He suffer? We follow a suffering Savior. In fact, Isaiah 53 gives this description of what Christ went through: �He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquaintedwith grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; . . . Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted� (Isaiah 53:3�4 NKJV). Then Isaiah gives us the reason Jesus suffered: �But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him,and by His stripes we are healed� (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV). You see, Jesus voluntarily suffered in our place. It�s hard for us to think of a perfect Creator going through something as human as pain and suffering. But God has sufferedmore deeply than anyone could imagine. That�s why the Bible calls Jesus a �Man of sorrows.� He suffered because He loves us. This also means that He can enter into your suffering as well. Maybe you�re in a state of personal anguish today. There�s something that is causing you a great deal of pain.Jesus has been there. He has walked in your shoes. Hebrews 2:17 tells us, �It was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priestbefore God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people� (NLT). Don�t think that God is disconnected from what you�re facing. Jesus has faced it. He has experienced it. He understands. You�re not alone in your suffering today. --------------------------- A Heart for God A Vision for the World Acts 13:16-22 I sometimes like to walk through a cemetery and read the epitaphs on the tombstones. It's interesting to see what words are used to sum up a person's life. This may seem like a morbid pastime, but it's actually a great way to reassess our own lives. We'reeach going to leave a testimony of some kind when we die. Have you ever wondered what your loved ones will write on your gravestone? What words do you want inscribed there? In our passage today, the apostle Paul tells us God's evaluation of David: He described him as "a man after My heart, who will do all My will" (v. 22). What an awesome testimony of a life well lived! The Lord wasn't describing a perfect man, but one whoselife was centered on God's interests and desires. David's many psalms attest to the fact that his relationship with the Lord was the most important aspect of his life. His passion was to obey God and carry out His will. However, that doesn't mean he was always obedient. Who can forget his failure with Bathsheba?But even when he sinned by committing adultery and murder, his heart was still bent toward God. The conviction he felt and his humble repentance afterward proved that his relationship with the Lord was still his top priority. If God was writing a summary of your life, how would He describe you? Does your heart align with His, or have you let it follow the pleasures and pursuits of this world? Unless we diligently pursue our relationship with the Lord, we will drift away fromHim. Maybe it's time for a course correction. ------------------------- Gospelby Revelation “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither receivedit of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians1:11-12) In writing to the believers in Galatia, Paul was concerned that they were “so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel” (v. 6). What was Paul’s gospel that he was so concerned about? “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and ourFather: to whom be glory for ever and ever” (vv. 3-5). Furthermore, he added that “if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (v. 9). They were not to listen even if Paul or “an angel from heaven” (v. 8) preachedanother gospel. Paul’s gospel, on the other hand, was “not after man,” i.e., not the sort of thing that men would make up. Human religions are all man-glorifying and God-degrading, blurring the difference between the two and tempting man with the age-old taunt: “Ye shall beas gods” (Genesis3:5). In contrast, the gospel that Paul preached recognized man’s utter sinfulness and worthlessness and rested in a glorified Christ for His finished work. Paul had not “received it of man.” This was not the tradition among his people. “Neither was I taught it,” said Paul, even though he had been taught extensively in the religion of Judaism. On the contrary, he was taught the gospel “by the revelation of JesusChrist.” We can therefore not only be sure of its accuracy, but, also with Paul, join in the “ministry, which [he] received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts20:24). JDM ------------------- The Cross: The Believer's Motivation 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Paul was single-minded in the message he preached. The cross was not only his primary subject; it was also his motivation for living. When we begin to understand all that Jesus did for us at Calvary, we, too, can receive fresh motivation to live for Him.For instance, we can... Walk humbly before God. Since the power to live the Christian life is supplied by Christ, there is no room for pride. When Jesus died, our "flesh" nature was crucified with Him so that we could live in newness of life. Any success we achievein living righteously or walking in obedience is possible only because He is working through us. Serve the Lord faithfully. At the cross, we were placed "in Christ," and He is in us (Gal. 2:20). We are now Hisbody on earth, created for good works which God has prepared for us to do (Eph. 2:10). Jesus wasn’t crucified so we could sit in pewseach Sunday and listen to sermons. He has specific tasks for each of us to achieve during our lifetime. Share our faith. Knowing all that Jesus accomplished at the cross should motivate us to share the gospel with others. This world is filled with hurting people who know nothing about salvation. Since their eternal destiny is at stake, how can we keep our mouths closed? Too often we view the cross only as a past event that secured our eternal destiny, and we fail to see how it can motivate daily choices and activities. Stop to contemplate all that God is continually accomplishing in you though the cross. Let it be yourmotivation to live wholeheartedly for Christ. --------------------- TheSame Mind “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, andthat there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1Corinthians 1:10) The days of the early church were the days of its greatest power because they were days of its greatest unity. “They, continuing daily with one accord...and singleness of heart.” “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:...andgreat grace was upon them all” (Acts2:46; 4:32-33). It was not long, however, before divisions, contentions, and schisms crept in. Therefore, the New Testament contains many exhortations toward a restoration of the unity—and thus the power—of the early church. Note the following examples. “Be of the same mind one toward another” (Romans12:16). “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God” (Romans15:5-6). “Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2Corinthians 13:11). “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians1:27). “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians2:2). “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous” (1Peter 3:8). Real unity, of course, must be both “the unity of the Spirit” and “the unity of the faith” (Ephesians4:3, 13), and “the same mind” must be nothing less than the mind of Christ. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians2:5). HMM ------------------- AGood Name “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.” (Ecclesiastes7:1) It seems odd at first that Solomon would link these two maxims together. How is the day of death better than birth, and what has this to do with the value of one’s good name? The great king had once enjoyed a name synonymous with godliness and great wisdom,but his name had eventually become so sullied with the excesses of wealth and fleshly indulgence that he began to long even for death. It is a tragic thing for godly young people to allow their good names to be ruined by careless carnality, thenceforth neverto be able to fulfill the promise their lives once seemed to carry. Solomon could employ all the most costly ointments and other comforts to ease his declining years, but they could never redeem his good name. “A good name is rather to be chosen than greatriches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all” (Proverbs 22:1-2). The Christian believer has a double incentive to maintain a good name, of course, for his words and deeds inevitably reflect, for good or ill, on the name of Christ as well. When we cause our own names to be damaged, we also (as David did) give “great occasionto the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14), and there are, sadly, many such enemies eagerly watching for us to give them yet another occasionto “blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called” (James 2:7). In a very real sense, of course, even those who do maintain a good name all their lives can joyfully anticipate the day of death. Christ has promised: “I will write upon him the name of my God...and I will write upon him my new name” (Revelation3:12). That will, indeed, be a “good name” and one we shall enjoy forever! HMM -------------------- Moving Past Our Mistakes with Hope and Purpose: Jesus Forgives and Calls Us Forward By Debbie McDaniel “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 In John 21 we read the story of when Jesus appeared to the seven disciples early one morning. It was just days after the Resurrection. They were out fishing, and hadn't caught a thing. Though they didn’t recognize Him, He called to them from the shore, "Throwyour net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." v. 6 So they did. And a miracle happened. They caught fish. So many in fact, that they were "unable to haul the net in because of the large number..." Our God of miracles. That’s when Peter recognized Him. But here's what I love too. Jesus had gone before them, He'd already prepared a fire with fish and bread for them. He'd been there waiting. He invited them to bring some of their fish and then, to "come and have breakfast." v. 10-12 And over a fire and some food, He had a heart to heart with Peter. Three times he asked Peter if he really “loved” Him, the kind of self-sacrificing love that was willing to give all. The kind of love that involved deep faithfulness, commitment, strong character,and active expression. Peter, who Jesus had previously called a "rock." Peter, who had claimed he would never deny Christ, yet denied him three times in the courtyard before his journey to the cross. Peter, who was impulsive or fearful at times, yet strong and bold at other times.Peter, who was probably not feeling like much a "rock" that morning as he sat with Jesus. Defeated. Guilt-ridden. Sense of failure hanging over. Maybe still rehearsing what he'd done, and beating himself up for it. Living under the weight of the "what if's." And here he was again by a fire, possibly a reminder of the very fire that he'd warmed himself over when he had denied Christ. Yet this time, Jesus had pulled up a seat. He sat with him, ate with him, talked with him, and got right to the heart of it all. Three times Peter had denied him. Three times Jesus asked Peter of his love and re-commissioned him into a life of service and purpose. He forgave. He instilled hope. He gave him a mission. He called him to follow, serve, love, tend to, and care for believers. He brought to him a renewed purpose and vision, in the midst of deep regret, guilt, and shame. Slate wiped clean. Fresh start. Deeper purpose and calling to press on, leaving the past behind, and walking stronger in what was still to come. This is who our God is. The One who is Mighty in miracles, and loving, forgiving and kind. The One who waits for us and speaks to our hearts, who gives us a calling, and never allows our defeat and failures to have the final word in this life. No matter what we've walked through, or where we find ourselves today, be assured that He is Able. He can turn around every wrong road we've taken, and get us back on course, stronger than before. He can use every failure or defeat, and turn it around forgood somehow. Because that's just how He works. Press forward friends, He has more ahead...great blessing and purpose…He makes all things new. Intersecting Faith & Life: We are more than any mistake of our past. Christ calls us out, He wants us to move forward. He redeems and sets free. We can let go of the guilt and hurt that hovers close, and start spending our time on the "right side of the boat,"where there is blessing and goodness still in store. He waits for us every morning, offering food for our spirits from His Word, and calling us to a life of love. Thank Him today for the fresh start He offers. Further Reading: John 21:1-25 Revelation 21:5 --------------------- Palm Sunday Luke 19:28-44 Hindsight is always 20/20. Yet while we are in a particular situation, we tend to make things out to be what they aren’t and infer wrong meanings. We kick ourselves, thinking, If only I had known then what I know now! Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem must have been one of those moments for His disciples. It had appeared to be such a wonderful day for them—and it was, but for different reasons than they realized. They thought the Messiah had come to reestablish Israel’spower in the world. But God had something else in mind. The disciples weren’t the only ones who had misconceptions about the Messiah. Many Jews of the day expected Him to be an earthly king. When the crowds heard Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they cheered, “Hosanna! ” which means, “Save now!” They saw Him astheir new King, come to bring salvation from political and societal oppression. He raised the dead—no doubt he could also restore the kingdom of David and free them from Roman rule. Seated upon a donkey, Jesus resembled a ruler returning to his city in peacetime, loyal subjects lining his path with coats and palm fronds. Even the Pharisees were there watching in indignation, saying, “Look, the world has gone after Him” (John12:19). This week, think back to those times when circumstances looked one way but turned out to be something else entirely. Remember when you realized God was different than you imagined and saw His will unfold in surprising ways. Look for an opportunity to shareyour insight with a friend or loved one. ---------------------- Without the Shedding of Blood “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22) It is strange that so many people object to the biblical doctrine of salvation through the shed blood of Christ. Even some evangelicals will argue that the blood is merely a chemical mixture, and that it was the death of Christ that was the price of our redemption. Chemistry aside, the Bible does indeed stress that “we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14), that He has “madepeace through the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20), and that we are “now justified by his blood” (Romans5:9). We receive His great work of propitiation—that is His sacrificial death for our sins—“through faith in his blood” (Romans 3:25). Why this emphasis on the shedding of His blood, which seems offensive to so many people? Could He not have been put to death in other ways—drowning, stoning, asphyxiation, etc.—ways not involving the ugliness of bloodshed? One can speculate with many “what if?” questions, but we must go by the Word of God. It remains true, theologically as well as biologically, that “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus17:11, also Genesis 9:4). The basic rationale of sacrifice—the death of an innocent substitute to provide life for the guilty—has centered from the beginning (when God provided coats of skin for the nakedness of Adam and Eve) on the spilled blood of sacrificial animalsto atone for (that is “to cover”) the sins of the one bringing the offering, until finally “the Lamb of God” could be offered by God as “one sacrifice for sins for ever” (Hebrews10:12). When the blood gushed from His pierced side, His spotless life was poured out at the foot of the cross, and the price of our redemption was fully paid. HMM -------------------- The Battle of Unbelief - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Then He said to Thomas, �Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing� �John 20:27 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-battle-of-unbelief/- Listen Some people have a hard time believing there�s a God in Heaven who loves them. It�s difficult for them to wrap their minds around the fact that God could have a plan fortheir lives. Everyone struggles with doubt every now and then. Mark�s gospel tells us that after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating, and �He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, becausethey did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen� (16:14 NKJV). Oswald Chambers, the author of the well-known Christian devotional My Utmost for His Highest, said, �Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong; it may be a sign thathe is thinking.� Another disciple whom we call �doubting Thomas� was very skeptical. When the other disciples told him they had seen the risen Jesus, he replied, �Unless I see in His handsthe print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe� (John 20:25 NKJV). But the next time they met, Thomas was there. And sure enough, Jesus appeared again. Then He said to Thomas, �Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach yourhand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing� (verse 27 NKJV). Thomas simply said, �My Lord and my God!� (verse 28 NKJV). He didn�t want to know anything more than what the others knew. He just needed to know for himself. Maybe you�re struggling with doubt right now. You can come to Jesus with your skepticism. You can come to Jesus with your doubt. You might be saying to God, �Show me, and I�ll believe.� But God is effectively saying, �Believe, and I�ll show you.� You can turn your skepticism into faith, and you can turn your doubt into belief. -------------------------------- Disappointment Is His Appointment - by Greg Laurie- https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/disappointment-in-his-appointment/ Didn�t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us? �Luke 24:32 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/disappointment-in-his-appointment/- Listen In the gospel of Luke there�s a story about two disciples who were leaving Jerusalem. They were devastated because Jesus had been crucified, and in their minds that wasthe end of the story. Then suddenly the resurrected Jesus joined them on the road to Emmaus, but they didn�t know it was Jesus. He basically turned to them and said, �Hey, guys, why the long faces? What�s going on?� One of them replied, �You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn�t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days� (Luke 24:18 NLT). Jesus asked them to tell Him about it, so they began telling Jesus about Jesus. Then as they were walking along, Jesus rebuked them and said, �You foolish people! You findit so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn�t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?� (verses 25�26 NLT). So Jesus told them about all the Old Testament passages that pointed to His death. I would love to have been around for that conversation. As they reached the end of their journey, Jesus acted as though He would keep going, so the two disciples invitedHim to stay. It was only when they sat down to eat and Jesus blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to them that they realized it was Him. And then He disappeared. Afterward they said, �Didn�t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?� (verse 32 NLT). Maybe today you�re disappointed with God. You feel as though He has let you down, that He has failed you. But disappointment is His appointment. God wants to restore yourfaith today, and He can use His Word to bring you back to spiritual life again. --------------------------------- The Value of Seeking the Lord Psalms 119:1-8 We all have ambitions and desires. And while these are not necessarily wrong, we should analyze our priorities: Where do I invest my time and energy? What or who occupies my thoughts? As important as our earthly pursuits, responsibilities, and relationships may be, they cannot compare to the value of a life spent seeking the Lord. First of all, consider what it means to seek something. The word connotes a strong desire and an energetic quest to achieve it.Suppose you discovered a very productive vein of gold on your property. You wouldn�t just stroll out and look at it occasionally.No, you would gather some equipment and diligently go out each day to chip away at the rocks and collect the precious metal. In the same way, seeking the Lord is not a quick and occasional encounter, but a wholehearted effort to know Him more intimately and follow Him more closely. Those who unreservedly pursue this kind of fellowship with God are determined to spend time withHim; they also want to forsake anything that could hinder growth in their relationship with the Lord. God�s committed followers boldly claim His promises and trust Him to fulfill His Word. Their experiences with the Lord bring amazing satisfaction yet causethem to hunger for more of Him. The Christian life is meant to be a pursuit of God. To walk through the door of salvation and stand still, never drawing any closer to Him, is to miss the treasures that are available in Christ. Those who seek Him soon discover that knowing Him is the greatest reward of all. ----------------------------------- The Aroma �Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, andhath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.� (Ephesians 5:1-2) Incense in Scripture has a variety of rich and meaningful usages, particularly as related to the blood sacrifice. �And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon:...And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercyseat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee� (Exodus 30:1, 6). Without this incense, it was impossible to meet with God in this prescribedway. It was to be offered both morning and evening (vv. 7-8). Great care was to be taken in its preparation (vv. 34-36), and it was not to be used for any other purpose (vv. 37-38). In the New Testament we find a totally different application of this principle. As in our text, we see that Jesus Christ Himself has become an offering and a �sweet-smelling savour� to God. His freely offering Himself is an example to us to live a life of sacrificeand love. While He was the final sacrifice, we are to �present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is [our] reasonable service� (Romans 12:1).This may even take the form of material �things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God� (Philippians4:18). In the mind of God, our life of sacrifice is a sweet-smelling savor. �Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in themthat are saved� (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). Without our willing, living sacrifice, we cannot approach God, but with it we are a �sweet savour of Christ.� JDM ------------------------ Run to the Cross - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. �John 3:16 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/run-to-the-cross/- Listen The problem with the two disciples on the Emmaus Road was they were trying to get away from the cross. The Crucifixion was not a beautiful sight; it was a horrific one. Jesus�s body was so traumatized that you wouldn�t have been able to tell He was a man. In other words, Jesus was unrecognizable. The two disciples on their way to Emmausafterward never thought they would see Jesus alive again. So, they wanted to get away from that bloody cross. But every step away from the cross is a step in the wrong direction. We don�t want to run away from the cross; we need to run to it. That simply means come to God. Realize that Jesus died on the cross for a reason. He died there for our sin. And as I�ve often said, it wasn�t nails that held Him to thecross; it was His love for you and me. That�s because there was no other way to satisfy the righteous demands of the holy God whom we all have offended. But Jesus was uniquely qualified to bridge this gap. Sowith one hand He took hold of sinful humanity, and with the other hand He took hold of a holy God. They drove nails through those hands, and He died in our place. Jesus said, �For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life� (John 3:16 NKJV). Godthe Father not only sent His Son to the cross, but His Son willingly went. Jesus went because He knew this was the only way for us to be forgiven of our sin, for us to know that we�ll go to Heaven when we die. That�s why He made such a great sacrifice. -------------------- Human Logic vs. Spiritual Wisdom: How God Changes Our Hearts by Kelly-Jayne McGlynn Proverbs 3:5-6 says: �Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.� Ah, my own understanding� How I love thee. So limited, and yet seemingly so inviting to lean on as I attempt to take charge of my own repentance. When I was in college, I double-majored in English and Philosophy. Every paper I wrote--and there were a lot of them--would end in a clear conclusion neatly supported by every line of the rest of my argument. I could always back up my opinion in class. Ieven used to do Logic homework problems for fun. The truth is, I love my brain. What God has been teaching me recently, though, is that when it comes to matters of my heart, I cannot rely on my own brain� even if my brain is telling me the truth. Even when our �own understanding� is based on Scripture, and the step-by-step process of repentance is clear in our minds�it is still the hand of God that we must rely on transform our hearts. In all our ways we must submit to him, because he will be the one to make our paths straight! Last week, I was on the phone with one of my Moms-in-the-Faith. You know, the type of woman in your life who knows how to ask you just the right question. I was expressing frustration to her about a situation with my friend, who is a new follower of Christ. As her sister, I had been trying to get her to fully understand an aspect of her life in which in order to please God, shewould have to give something up. I was frustrated because to me, it seemed so simple. The scriptures about it were right there. As I would have done in Philosophy class, I had stated Premise 1, then Premise 2, which led to the Conclusion. Boom. Why wasn�t she getting it? But my Spiritual Mom reminded me, �Kelly-Jayne�sometimes it isn�t that easy. If [last year] someone had tried to get you to fully believe in God�s love and protection for you that same way, would that have been helpful? Would that have really convinced you?� She, of course, was right. You see, two years ago, my apartment was broken into in the middle of the night. It was very difficult for me to trust in God�s protection following that. Nearly impossible, really. At that time, when I would read scriptures about God�s protection, theyjust felt hollow and untrue. If anyone shared one with me, I typically just became angry instead of encouraged. It took months and months of prayer, experience, and God changing my heart for me to actually believe in that truth. Even if someone had blatantly stated �Read Psalm 91:9-10. Premise 1: The Lord is your refuge. Premise 2: The Bible says that if the Lord is our refuge, no harm will overtake us. Conclusion: God protected you that night from harm--whether or not you think so,� that would not have been helpful tomy heart. At all. Instead, what really changed my heart was sitting at God�s feet, hearing his voice through the scriptures. Jesus reminds us of this in John 5:39: �You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!� (NLT). Jacob physically wrestled with God. David struggled in prayer. He begged God to create in him a pure heart, instead of trying tologically think his way there. These men submitted their ways to God�which was really an invitation to see him face-to-face. And God blessed them for it. post-it, and magically have our hearts renewed. We want a change of heart, and in our fast-paced society, we want it now. Don�t get me wrong, I absolutely believe that there is power in the word of God. But if we rely on our own brains to make ourselves accept the truth found in Scriptures, we miss out on the chance to truly meet with God! God invites us to rest on his power, not our own. Even when our understanding is based on truth, God calls us to lean on his understanding, to walk with him, to sit as his feet. Today, as you read his powerful word, seek God through his scriptures and not just solutions. Hear his voice speaking to your heart. Intersecting Faith and Life: I encourage you to listen to this song, a cover of �Nothing I Hold Onto� by United Pursuit, as you meditate on the ways you desire God to change your heart. What area of your life is God calling you to surrender to his understanding over your own? What mountain is God asking you to climb,and how can you do so with your hands wide open, as the song mentions? Hear God�s voice today over your own human logic. ----------------------------- Bornto Die �For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransomfor many.� (Mark10:45) Especially as noted in the gospel of John, Christ identified many reasons why He had been born. Consider the following sampling of verses and references. First and foremost, Christ came to redeem those who would believe: �For God so loved the world, that hegave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life� (John3:16). But under that umbrella of redemption come many other aspects. Jesus said, �My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work� (John4:34). God�s will was paramount even in judgment (John5:30) as well as resurrection. �This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day� (John6:40). It also governed His teaching (7:16-17). In everything, Christ sought to bring glory to His Father (7:18). Many aspects of Christ�s work are to be realized in this life, for He said, �I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly� (John10:10). His desire in it all was that we might have an eternal relationship with God. �That they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent� (John17:3). But the primary goal was to bring to climax His redemptive strategy. He knew that none of the other aspects of His work had any effect without atonement for sin, which was only possible if a blood sacrifice was made for that sin. �Greater love hath no man thanthis, that a man lay down his life for his friends� (John15:13). �I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep� (John10:11). This was the reason He came to Earth. JDM -------------------