Jody's Devotionals

One day as He was teaching the people in the temple complex and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came up and said to Him: “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?”

He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell Me,4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

So they answered that they did not know its origin.

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”    Luke 20:1-8 (HCSB)

This is one of those scenes in the Bible that if I was a producer or director – I would love to do this scene! I can just see in my mind the very “holy-looking” priests, scribes, and elders from the church. They are all dressed really well and they smile and give – when others are looking – and make snarly remarks and gossip when they aren’t so “holy.”

And then here is Jesus talking and teaching “common people” (whosoever!) about how much God loves them and wants them to be with Him. Everyone is smiling and having a wonderful time (in worship ’cause God is there!) until the “holy folks” show up and I can see the smiles fall away.

With their noses in the air (either really or by their unspoken attitudes), the church leaders set out their 50^th trap question and ask Him by whose authority Jesus speaks and does miracles. WHAT?!! Talk about “majoring on the minors!” They do not ask what prayer might bring the miracles or talk about the follow-up with those who have been healed. No, they are trying to get Him to take God’s name in disrespect or prove He is a scammer!

Jesus sees their hearts. I see His eyes going hard at first as He knows that these guys have done the same thing to everyone – cut someone down so they can look better. And then there is this little smile that threatens to break through on Jesus’ face. Instead of playing their game, Jesus asks them a question.

The men do not have the moral standards to answer honestly. They can’t even answer the question without talking it over! They figure out that no matter how they answer they cannot turn the table again on Jesus. So they look stupid and say, “We don’t know.” That’s just a lie. Jesus isn’t going to play The Lie Game.

And Jesus does the same to me. He does not want me to lie to myself or to anyone else. He wants truth to be a characteristic of our life together. His Spirit will expose lies and deception in my life. That is always a good thing but it is often also a painful thing. There is nothing that I can hide from my LORD, including my intentions, my heart. Jesus wants me to be His disciple from the inside – out. I can always count on Him to give me His truth, His whole truth, and nothing but that truth. Praise Him!

Final scene: Jesus and I walking along with our arms around each other and smiling. Fade. Another day and it is raining and I am crying as Jesus carries me in His arms. The sun is peaking from behind the clouds. Tomorrow is another day.

Yesterday, Today and Forever written and sung by Vicky Beeching

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”     Luke 11:1 (NLT)

The Lord’s Prayer. Much has been written about it. Many worship services always include it. It is what Matthew (6:9) and Luke (11:2) recorded in their gospels while Mark and John did not. For some of us, we may have grown up thinking that this is THE prayer, after all the two gospels that record the prayer also lead into it with Jesus said, “And when you pray, say this:…” But Jesus is noted many more times throughout the gospels as praying.

John 17 is a rather long prayer that Jesus spoke just before His death. While John may have been more like Paul and thought “Why use five words when twenty-five are nicer?” we cannot discount the beauty of many of John’s passages. John 17 has always been an example to me of the intimacy of Jesus’ prayers that encourage me to be real with my LORD and not worry about the “right” words or “holy” words.

In all the gospels, Jesus is noted to go up on mountains or “withdraw” to pray. I cannot imagine the intensity of His life in those three years as He poured Himself into twelve men and the hundreds more who would come to listen or be healed or want something from Him. In Jesus’ humanity I do not think the word ‘overwhelm’ would cover it! And so I have an example of how to cope with such feelings in my own life. Prayer, the LORD’s way.

In Matthew’s gospel, this prayer is part of what I know as that very intense Sermon on the Mount. And Matthew puts the prayer to follow Jesus’ note that we should not publicly proclaim ourselves as righteous by “See what I’m doing!” but instead go quietly and privately so that only God knows. And this prayer that Jesus offers is followed by His pointed words about forgiveness and fasting and how we should look to our eternal treasure. This spoke to me about how prayer is certainly for my benefit to learn and grow as God’s child.

In Luke’s gospel, Jesus instructs His disciple in prayer following His teaching to Martha and Mary about work and deeds vs. worship. God knows the weakness of our flesh. It is comfortable to have a prayer form we can point to and know that if we say what Jesus told us to say in prayer then it will be right. But then this prayer is followed with Jesus’ assurance that if I ask – it will be given and that my Father is good. In that ask and given, I might be confused that I don’t get everything that I request. But remember, a good parent doesn’t give their child everything they ask because the parent has a perspective that the child does not have.

Today may be a difficult day with disappointments, hardships, and even tragedies. It could be a day of unexpected blessings, ease in my step and great rejoicing. Whatever the day is, it will always, always be better when it includes prayer. I’m not going to give Jesus a quick text or short email prayer today. It’s going to be pull up a chair, pour a cup of tea and have a conversation prayer.

This song, Still, is going into my Favorite file. Thank You, LORD, for showing it to me today.

Still from Hillsong United

[reprinted from December 23, 2010]

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.    Luke 2:6-7 (NLT)

As I have traveled this journey called life there have been many crossroads and turns that have taken me in a different direction than what I thought I would be traveling. The birth of my first child (in my case, children as I had twins) was, without a doubt, the second most profound change in my life. I thought I was ready for the changes. I certainly wanted all of my children. But I was clueless about the changes that would come in my life.

Some changes were more easily identifiable and I changed course happily. Such a miracle the way God brings a child into this world. Before I knew it, there was gymnastics, baseball, band, and birthday parties.

Some changes were more subtle and yet required more effort and, I am ashamed to say, I did not do very well. Those changes involved my ego. A baby means that my sleep will come when his/her sleep comes. A baby means diapers, food, clothes, and doctor bills that come when most parents’ income decreases as childcare takes its major chunk in the ‘cost of living’ list. The birth means it is all about “him/her” and “me” slips down the list.

The Baby born on that night in Bethlehem was no different. He changed everything in Mary and Joseph’s life. AND He changed everything in my life. On that night, when the Father sent His Son to earth, the road went from Bethlehem to Calvary. The Father had a plan that was wrapped in a Promise that had been given to redeem His children. The Baby was the Messiah before His first breath. The Baby was a King and a Savior even as He laid in a manger where cattle fed. The Baby changed everything.

The life-giving change that came into my life when I committed my life to Jesus was the most profound change in my life. Some changes were extraordinary as my sins and pain were washed away in the Blood of Jesus. Some changes were subtle and continue to require more effort as I let go of “me” and focus on “Him”. Jesus changes everything.

A Baby Changes Everything by Craig Wiseman and Tim Nichols, sung by Faith Hill

Note: 3/6/13 As I read this again today, I asked God to help me to be more open to change. To see the opportunities that He is offering me. What is on the horizon today, LORD?