Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Just Asking for a Fight"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read John 5:1-24.
"This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him,
because not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was
even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with
God" (John 5:18). 

Lenten Devotion- Jesus left Jerusalem when things got pretty
tense, but now with a Jewish festival at hand, He heads right
back down toward the temple again. And He turns the heat
back up by healing an invalid on the Sabbath.

Jesus' enemies protest to this breaking of their Sabbath rules.
His perfectly natural answer totally enrages them. He says,
"My Father is working until now, and I am working." Instead
of seeing the Light, they stand in the darkness protesting that
Jesus is making Himself equal to God. But protest as loud as
they will, Jesus knows who He is and refuses to back down.

The darkness of their thinking is amazing. They would have
kept a man trapped in his paralyzed body to keep their
Sabbath rules. Thankfully, Jesus saw it differently. And He
sees it differently for you and me too. He sees us trapped and
helpless in our sins. And just as Jesus stood up for a paralyzed
man and set him free on the Sabbath, so will He stand up to
any and all opposition to set us free -- even though it cost Him
His life on the cross.

In the coming days we will see Jesus turn up the noise even
louder and see His enemies respond with more hatred. But we
will also see Him sacrifice Himself for them. Hanging from the
cross He will answer their taunts with a plea: "Father, forgive
them, for they do not know what they are doing. ..."
(Luke 23:34a).

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You suffered and died to set me free. Fill me and
all Your children with joy and courage to share Your great story
of sacrifice and dedication to everyone. Amen.

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read John 4:46-54.
(Jesus said) "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not
believe" (John 4:48). 

Lenten Devotion- When Jesus' enemies in Jerusalem learned
He was becoming more popular than John the Baptist, He left
and returned to Galilee in the north. Huge crowds gather, but
Jesus knows their faith is shallow and superficial. When an
important official comes to ask the Lord to heal his dying son,
Jesus challenges the entire crowd: "Unless you see signs and
wonders you will not believe."

How deep is your faith? Can you take Him at His word, or do
you insist on more? If you listen closely you almost pick up a
tone of defiance in Jesus' voice ... or is it sorrow? He wants
them to believe, but they must believe on His terms, not theirs.

The official knew only one thing really mattered: his son was
dying and only Jesus could save him. So he begged Jesus to
come down and heal him. But Jesus didn't go. Instead, He
sent the father away with a promise: "Go; your son will live.
" Would you be able to trust Jesus and go?

The official did. He accepted Jesus' words and on the way
home he learned his faith had been well founded: his son was
healed.

We don't need to see miraculous signs to believe in Jesus
as our Savior. God uses old familiar words to give us faith;
He uses water and His Word to wash away our sins, and
He joins His body and blood to simple bread and wine to
forgive us all our sins.

Don't stay on the outside waiting to see some miracle in
your life before you'll follow Jesus. Learn a lesson from the
official above: the stakes are life and death, heaven and hell.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, give me faith to trust Your words and promises
through every circumstance in my life. Amen.

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Read  John 3:19-21.
TEXT: "This is the judgment: the light has come into
the world, and people loved the darkness rather than
the light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). 

Lenten Devotion- Before Jesus sends Nicodemus on
his way, He leaves him one last warning. "This is the
judgment: the light has come into the world, and
people loved the darkness rather than the light
because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does
wicked things hates the light and does not come to
the light, lest his works should be exposed."

Will Nicodemus admit he is drowning in his sins and
only Jesus can set him free? He came to Jesus at
night under the cover of darkness so no one could see.
Is he willing and ready to step out into the light and
receive the forgiveness Jesus came to bring?

Coming to Christ isn't easy for us either. We want to
impress each other. Why would any of us want to open
up and let our brothers and sisters in faith see the dark
secrets we keep hidden away inside? Like Nicodemus
there is a Pharisee hidden deep inside every one of us
too.

We take pride in going to church regularly, putting our
money in the offering plate and holding offices in our
local congregation. But Christ knows us inside and out.
He knows our pride, our stubbornness and our
judgmental heart. Jesus' call to Nicodemus goes out to
each of us -- no matter who we are. Are you willing to
come to Christ Jesus in His Church? Are you willing to
look to the crucified and risen Savior, to confess your
need and follow Him?

THE PRAYER:

"Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was
shed for me, And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!" Amen.