WATCHWORD:
5 The Lord said to Moses, Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. 6 I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink. Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on. Exodus 17:5-6
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17
Meditation:
24 Days to Calvary
It’s the rainy season in Judah, early winter, Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey. For some it is their favorite time of year, temperatures are moderate, very pleasant during the day, a little chilly at night. It can be windy, with a bit of rain almost daily. Travel is difficult, the way is muddy underfoot and treacherous, especially on the hills.
Despite the weather conditions, crowds continued to follow Jesus as we journey on. He seems to welcome all and spends time in conversations, blessing the children, encouraging everyone, even the Gentiles. This is how it has been throughout our travels these past two years. It doesn’t seem like that much time because everything about Jesus is interesting and you never know when something blessed might happen; a parable or maybe he touches someone who is ill and they recover. Something else, his laughter is contagious! It just spreads throughout the crowd. Such a happy sound.
What about you and me? It is Sunday. The weather is wet or snowy, and we hear our comfort calling us from the couch…and we respond, how? Those followers of Jesus, in 30 AD, were not deterred by the rain and the muddy road. They were ‘in church’, a congregation truly following Jesus. Are we that persistent when it comes to worshiping the Lord? There are times when I wonder if it’s a mistake for churches to offer streaming services. So, easy to pass on being in church, and yet I understand the need.
What is the value of being ‘in church’? That is what Proverbs 27:17 tells us. Meeting regularly with other believers is a source of encouragement and strength. It’s just part of the process.
In my Bible study group, we have worked our way through Exodus. Looking back over the 40 chapters, one can make a parable out of the travels of the Israelites. They worship the Lord, then they fall away. They get impatient with the Lord and create an artificial god. And, so, the eleven-day journey, turns into 40 years as their faith vacillates between cold and warm, between dedicated and sinful. To my unschooled ears, that sounds a lot like my faith journey. How about you?
Let’s rejoin Jesus in his journey to Calvary. Because we are time travelers, we know what is coming, but we say nothing. We smile for we know the surprise that awaits this group in a week or so, there on the hillside of Gadara where we all will be fed with the Word and a young boy’s lunch. As for Calvary, Jesus has already laid it out for them what will happen, and these guys, thick-headed as they are, don’t get it! He will repeat it again and again before Calvary. Then, on that hill they will see, then, later, on still another hill near Capernaum, they will know.
We travel on, undeterred by the rain and the mud under our feet, through these dark days of Lent, knowing what’s coming and comforted by the knowledge of the Glorious Sunday that awaits us. And so, on we go and we pray…
Where is Jesus?
Jesus and his disciples are walking along the pathway on the east side of the Jordan River, gentile territory, 20 miles north of Jericho. The crowd following Jesus is growing , more than 4,000, a combination of Jews and Gentiles, individuals and families. They are approaching Gadara, with its natural amphitheater where Jesus will teach.
You Had to be There – Saturday Watchword:
Heads up, my friends. I have written a fun and thought-provoking devotional for this coming Saturday. Don’t miss it. You might end up saying, I should have been there! 😇. Stan
Lenten Prayer:
Dear God, in this Lenten season the way often seems like our lives are marked by stress and impatience, grief and pain. Sometimes we wonder if our circumstances will ever change. In the midst of our weakness we ask that you would be strong on our behalf. Lord rise up within us, let your spirit shine out of every broken place we’ve walked through. Allow your power to be manifest through our own weakness so that others will recognize it is you who is it work on our behalf. We choose to give you thanks today and believe that this season of darkness will fade away. Thank you that you are with us in whatever trial we face. We thank you for the victory that is ours because of Jesus Christ. We praise you for you to make all things new. It’s in Jesus name we pray, amen.
