Experiencing Jesus e~Devotional | 4/30
PASSAGE: John 9 [1] As he {Jesus} went along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
[3] “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. [4] As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. [5] While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
[6] Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. [7] “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
INSIGHT: In this story you see two difference reactions to someone in need. Jesus shows compassion to the blind man and the disciples show a judgmental kind of demeanor. Notice the differences in how Jesus and the disciples relate to the man in this story.
Jesus ————————————— Disciples
1. Truly sees him. ——————– 1. Talk about him in front of him.
2. Relates to him as a person. ———– 2. See him as a theological object that needs correction.
3. Sees potential in him. ————— 3. Sees him as someone who may just be taking up space.
4. He gives him hope. —————– 4. No hope.
5. Opportunity to glorify God. ———– 5. Opportunity for them to feel good about themselves.
6. Not quick to judge. —————– 6. Quick to judge.
7. Defends him. ———————- 7. Blames him or his parents for his problems.
8. Touches him. ———————- 8. No touching.
9. Helps him. ———————— 9. No help extended – even though they’re “religious.”
10. Positive results. ——————- 10. Not interested in truly helping him.
Compassion moves us to value people – no matter what.
PRAYER FOCUS: Ask God to help you be more like Jesus in the way we relate to people – especially those who have special needs.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE FOR TODAY: Have you ever been treated like an object or a project? Today, as you interact with people – especially those who may have needs – try to put yourself in their shoes.
Experiencing Jesus e~Devotional | 4/29
PASSAGE: Luke 15 [11] Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. [12] The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
[13] “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. [14] After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. [16] He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
[17] “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [18] I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ [20] So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
[21] “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. [23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. [24] For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
INSIGHT: Picture what’s going on here in the story. It was a small town so everyone knew that the son ran away and took a bunch of the family’s money with him. The father probably experienced a lot of shame from the town people for what had happened with his uncontrollable son. But, he didn’t care. More than anything else, he loved his son and wanted him to come home. In this part of the country where this town was, there was most likely an open, treeless horizon, so you could see someone coming probably a half-mile mile away. In v. 20, notice that the father saw his son while he was still a long way off. The father was probably looking up from his work every fifteen minutes or so to catch his son walking toward the town on the horizon. Otherwise his son would have arrived at his house before his father had time to look up. That’s how much the father loved his son. His longing to be reunited with his son was consuming him.
Now, we can also tell that the father was a very wealthy man. And, in the Ancient Middle East, dignified men did not show this kind of emotion – let alone running to meet his son. He don’t care though. He was willing to experience shame in order to meet his son and show his love for him – even in front of the other town people.
In v.21, the son said, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son … “ But the father didn’t even listen … instead he throws the most incredible party for him!
This is a picture of God’s love for us. Jesus wanted the people listening to this story to understands that this is how God loves us. He pursues us – even as we run away from him.
PRAYER FOCUS: Spend some time thanking God for loving you – in spite of what we’ve done and where we’ve been. If God brings something to your mind that you need to confess or talk to Him about, take some time to do that too.
1 John 1 [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE FOR TODAY: Reflect on how God’s grace has impacted your own life. Just like the Lost Son, we’ve done things our own way and not God’s way. Yet, God’s love is constant and unconditional. Even so, it is his hope that his love would cause us to deal with things in our lives that get in the way from living life the way he intended.
John 3 [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Experiencing Jesus e~Devotional | 4/28
PASSAGE: Luke 15 [11] Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. [12] The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
[13] “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. [14] After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. [15] So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
[17] “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! [18] I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. [19] I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ [20] So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
[21] “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. [23] Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. [24] For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
INSIGHT: Jesus shared this story as a picture of God’s love for people. His audience at the time was filled with doubters and religious leaders who didn’t truly understand God’s love. We’re going to spend a couple of days on the story and how it mirrors the love of Christ for us today.
PRAYER FOCUS: Today, prayerfully read the story paying close attention to how the father in the story is a picture of God with us.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE FOR TODAY: Compassion is a stirring in our hearts that moves us to do something for someone. Is there anyone in your life that you need to extend a helping hand to – maybe someone at work, at home, in your family or perhaps a friend. How can you extend compassion to them? Ask God’s help to do it.
Experiencing Jesus e~Devotional | 4/27
PASSAGES:
Luke 7 [13] When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
Matthew 9 [36] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Mark 6 [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.
Mark 10 [21] Jesus looked at him and loved him.
Luke 19 [41] 41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.
INSIGHT:
As you read the passages above of Jesus encountering people, what are some similarities that you see?
There are about 35 passages in the Gospels that start off with Jesus seeing or truly noticing the people that he encounters.
In most of these passages, his noticing and looking at people leads to a compassionate love for people.
Why do you think the Gospel writers mention this so many times? What do they want the readers of their account of the life and times of Jesus to recognize?
The Gospels show us that in Jesus, God is loving us intimately and completely with a heart of compassion.
PRAYER FOCUS: Ask God to help see others today the way Jesus sees you.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE FOR TODAY: All of us want to be cherished by someone. Cherishing someone means that you value them and hold them close to your heart. The stories of Jesus and his encounters with people give us a glimpse of how He cherishes us. Often, we cherish things instead of people. Who can you show today that you truly cherish them? What tangible act of kindness can you do to demonstrate your cherishing?
Experiencing Jesus e~Devotional | 4/24
PASSAGE: John 10 [10] {Jesus said} I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
INSIGHT: According to a leading educational researcher, people remember:
~ 10% of what they read
~ 20% of what they hear
~ 30% of what they see
~ 50% of what they see and hear
~ 70% of what they say
~ 95% of what they teach someone else
In summary, we learn best by what we put into practice. It’s no different with the spiritual life. We all have a deep longing to know and experience God more in our lives. We even reach times where we hunger and thirst for him – living the same old, “ho-hum” life gets old. To experience the abundant life – the more and better life – that Jesus mentions in John 10:10, we need to conform our lives to believe as Jesus believed, live as Jesus lived, love as Jesus loved, serve as Jesus served and lead as Jesus led. There’s no real spiritual formula to experience Jesus. It’s simply a daily trusting Him with my decision making. It’s asking Him to do whatever He wants to do in our lives and through us. Are you there yet? Are you ready to give up control to Him – in every area of your life?
PRAYER FOCUS:
Spend some time asking God to show you the areas in your life where you may need to give up control and follow God’s leading.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICE FOR TODAY:
Do one, simple ordinary act of kindness toward someone and serve them the way Jesus would have.
