Scripture Meditations

 Today when I came home from work, I noticed that the tree in the front yard had blackberries growing on it. In fact, several of the berries were ready to be picked. So I just helped myself. I was kind of surprised to see this, since I haven’t noticed it before. After picking some berries, a truth just came up in my thoughts: God is a Provider.  I have heard this my whole life and have experienced God’s provision countless times. Yet, God used this moment to remind me of that. I’ve been praying for God’s provision for myself and my family. It’s a constant prayer request. Perhaps this was God’s way of reaching out to me to let me know that He hears me? And that I have nothing to worry about? It’s amazing how The Lord uses His own creation to minister to us.  I hope this blessed you. Please be reminded of God’s Truths and who He is. 

  Holy Saturday Jesus is buried and the people are resting on this Sabbath Day. We can only imagine the grief that Jesus disciples and loved ones were experiencing. It is believed that after Jesus died, He descended into Sheol (the realm of the dead) the free the righteous souls that passed away before His First Advent. It would certainly take more than a blog post to investigate and study this interpretation. Nonetheless, the death of Christ shows us that He experienced the final enemy of Mankind: Death. Before He could conquer death, Christ had to experience and endure death. This was the price of sin that Jesus paid.  As I self-reflect, I see that my sins put Christ in His grave. I see myself among those who spit on Him and blasphemed His Name. Because of my sins and wickedness. But thanks to God that because I am in Christ, I am dead to sin (Romans 6:11). My life is his in Christ according to Colossians 3.  These promises are true for you if you’re in Christ as well. ...

  Good Friday  Matthew 27:11-66 Mark 15 Luke 23 John 18:28-19:1-47 Good Friday is the day of mourning. It is when we commemorate the Death of Christ. We take this time to focus on the Crucifixion, which is recorded in all four Gospels.  Crucifixion was a method of execution invented by the Romans. Crucifixion was so brutal that it was only reserved for those who were not Roman. It was not only torturous, but a shameful way to die, as the victims of Crucifixion were required to be fully naked. We remember the Crucifixion because the Bible states that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Leviticus 17: 11, Hebrews 9:22). Jesus paid the ultimate price to reconcile us to a Holy God.  Jesus endured the shame and brutality of the Cross. Most of all, Jesus took on God’s wrath for us. The Bible says that Jesus became a propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). The word Propitiation alludes to the concept of appeasement. Because Jesus appeased God...

  Maundy Thursday Matthew 26:14-39 Mark 14:12-25 Luke 22:7-38 John 13:1-20 On Maundy Thursday, we take the time to remember the Last Supper and Jesus washing His disciples’s feet.  At the Last Supper, Jesus uses the bread and wine to point to His impending death. The bread representing His Body and the wine representing His Blood, shed for the New Covenant. Jesus understood that there was great suffering ahead for Him to endure. This was the night that He would be betrayed. When Jesus would experience agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. And this is the eve of Christ’s Passion (Crucifixion). This Holy Thursday is a time to reflect on Christ sufferings and His willingness to obey The Father. We see Christ’s humanity and His courage and determination.  The washing of the disciples’ feet takes place right after the Last Supper. The disciples are greatly taken aback when Jesus dresses Himself in a towel and begins to wash their feet. This was a job reserved for the lowest ...

  Spy Wednesday                             Matthew 26:14-16 Spy Wednesday marks the day that Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus for profit. It is said that Judas acts as a sort of spy at this point towards Jesus, culminating in Judas leading the Pharisees and authorities right to Jesus in the garden to be arrested. The sin Judas committed against The Lord was so severe that Jesus said that it was better for Judas to never have been born (Matthew 26:24).   This is another way our Lord identifies with us through suffering. Many of us have been betrayed by family, friends, loved ones and even fellow Believers. Jesus was forsaken by those whom He cared about.  But we have also betrayed the Lord ourselves. How? By rejecting Him in favor of the things of this world, just like Judas did in favor of 30 silver coins. By abandoning Him during tough times, like Jesus’ disciples did after His arrest. Yet, ...

Holy Tuesday                          Matthew 25:1-13, 14-30             On Holy Tuesday, we focus on two of Jesus’ parables. The Parable of the Ten Virgins and The Parable of the Talents. These parables deal with faithfulness.      In the parable of the ten virgins, these young women were awaiting the return of their bridegroom and fell asleep. Once they heard the word that the Bridegroom was on his way, only five of them were able to properly prepare their lanterns. This is because they had oil. While the other five (the foolish virgins) did not have any oil. As a result, the foolish virgins were banned from the wedding feast. Oil has often been used to represent the Holy Spirit. When we are born again, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we do not belong to Him. It is the Holy Spirit that seals us (Ephesians 1:13).       In the par...

                                         Holy Monday Matthew 21:18-22 Mark 11:12-25 Luke 13:6-9 Matthew 21:12-17 Mark 11:15-18 Luke 19:45-47 John 2:14-16      Holy Monday is when we commemorate two specific acts of Christ. The Cursing of the Fig Tree and The Cleansing of the Temple.      It was early in the morning. Jesus was hungry. He notices a fig tree nearby. However, when He approaches it, Jesus notices that it isn’t bearing any fruit despite its healthy appearance. Jesus decides to curse the fig tree, declaring that it shall never bear fruit again. And immediately, the tree began to wither.     Many scholars interpret this account as the fig tree representing Israel. It’s believed that Jesus was cursing Israel for their lack of belief (fruit) in Himself as the Messiah. But Jesus alludes to the concept of...

                     Palm Sunday   Matthew 21:1-11 Mark 11:1-11 Luke 19:28-44 John 12:12-19      Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. This account is found in all four Gospels. Also referred to as Jesus' Triumphal Entry, this event consists of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey just a week before His Crucifixion.       Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem is the fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by the prophet Zechariah: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  (Zechariah 9:9)      Jesus' entry into Jerusalem points to Jesus' Kingship and victory. Remember, the people recognized Jesus as the Messiah and praised Him at His arrival. Thus, they were expecting Him to ove...

 Hello Friends! My devotions for The Gospel of John are almost complete. However, I am currently working on some new devotions specifically for Holy Week. From Palm Sunday all the way to Easter. The first one will be up this Sunday for Palm Sunday. Please stay tuned and thank you for your support.  Remember to also share and spread the Word! 

      Jesus tells His disciples that He will be leaving them soon. They are saddened by this news. Jesus traveled with, lived with and served with these men for three years. They had an unspeakable bond and were like family. But Jesus does make a promise to them that He will send the Holy Spirit (The Comforter).          What's interesting about this passage is that Jesus tells His disciples that they will not see Him in a little while, but then see Him again, because He goes to His Father. Jesus was telling them (in so many words) about His arrest, Crucifixion and Resurrection. Going to His Father points to Jesus' Ascension. The Lord even predicted that they would scatter and abandon Jesus during His Crucifixion (verse 32).         It is so surreal that Jesus knew the disciples would abandon Him and one even deny Him, yet He still promised them The Holy Spirit. Jesus still promised them joy that wasn't from the world. Jes...

God spoke Psalm 46:10 to me during prayer this morning.  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Being still means to calm our worries and anxieties. Knowing Who God is means to be reminded of how He has revealed Himself to us: as a Loving Father, One Who fights for us, etc. And finally, God being exalted above the nations and the earth speak of God's sovereignty and absolutely authority over EVERYTHING, even the smallest detail. Remember this as you encounter trials and uncertainty.