AT CALVARY: Devotion for Good Friday March 25, 2016

AT CALVARY: Devotion for Good Friday March 25, 2016

Text: Luke 23:32 – 49    Memory verse: v 33

Luke called the place where Jesus was crucified, Calvary while the other three evangelists called it, Place of Skull or Golgotha in Hebrew (Matt. 27:33; Mk. 15:22 & Jn. 19:17). Calvary is a hill just outside the city walls of Jerusalem where the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place. Why the choice of Calvary? The Chief Priest and Romans soldiers choose the place which was conspicuous so as to make mockery of Jesus but they never knew it was symbolic. See Heb. 13:11, 12 and compare it with these passages Ex. 29:14; Lev. 4:11–12, 21; 6:30; 9:11; 16:27; Num. 19:3. He was crucified there because bearing the sins of the world (just like the lamb in the Old Testament bearing sin) is burnt outside the camp.

The first thing Jesus did at Calvary was to plea for forgiveness of those who were crucifying Him, an evidence of His mission on earth. Another thing He did was to purchase and procure for us, forgiveness of sins. He also pardoned one of the criminals right there, a proof that true repentance is never late. But we should not procrastinate about it because we may not have the grace this criminal enjoyed. As the soldiers taunted Him, He was humble and didn’t retaliate (1 Pet 2:21–24). His death was recorded in 23:46 while the reaction of the Centurion to His death is in 23:47. Having died for us, we should seek to glorify God by true repentance and conversion; by a sober, righteous, and godly life; and by employing our talents in the service of Him who died for us and rose again.                 

Food for Thought: Christ became accursed for us upon the cross. What have you done to reciprocate this sacrifice?

Prayer: God may this ultimate sacrifice made for me not be in vain.

WE SHOULDN'T SLEEP: Devotion for Saturday August 15, 2015

WE SHOULDN'T SLEEP           Saturday August 15, 2015

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:6 – 10       Memory verse: v 6   

T

he challenge Paul mentioned in 5:1 led to his admonition here that we should not sleep (5:6). What is that challenge? No one knows the day of the Lord. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to conform to God’s light, not the darkness that leads to destruction in the day of the Lord. Since the day of the Lord will result in judgment for the wicked and deliverance for the righteous, self-examination was important. This advice is very important for us Christians too.

Believers are associated with ‘light’ (spiritually enlightened because of the new birth) rather than ‘darkness’ (the realm of sin and spiritual emptiness). The coming of the Lord should motivate believers to be mentally alert and morally vigilant. Paul used an illustration of a Roman soldier on duty (5:8). Beloved are you asleep? Are you compromising or complacent? The actual time we don’t know. Therefore let us be ready like the wise virgins (Matthew 25:1 – 13).

Action: List some characteristics of a Christian who is asleep.

Prayer: Make me spiritually alert O Lord so that I will not be taken unaware when you return in Jesus name.