Category: Devotional

“Jesus said, ‘Let’s go up to Jerusalem.’”

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?! Jesus Himself inviting His followers to go with Him to Jerusalem! Such a special place! Such a “Crown Jewel” focal point for all of Israel.

But in order to go “up” to Jerusalem, you have to go down through the Kidron Valley that
surrounds the “up” of Jerusalem. It’s not glamorous. It would not have been an easy trek for
Jesus and His friends. It’s hot. It’s quite a steep hike up to Jerusalem. Not many shady spots
along the way on that steep slope. On foot. In sandals. BYO water. Etc.

But Jerusalem is worth the trek. All of Israel felt that. Even to this day, there is truly something very unique . . . VERY special about the first glimpse of Jerusalem from a distance. But winding through the heights/mountains around Jerusalem is not an easy trek on foot.

What a visual and experiential Picture God had designed as the Main Stage for His Greatest
Work to unfold in History! And through ages of turmoil and violence surrounding that Special Place, it still stands. Although the “Temple” now lives in our own hearts. . . where His Spirit resides when He has been invited . . . the Land remains.

It strikes me as SO relevant today, as Jesus continues to say to each of His Own followers now, “Let’s go up to Jerusalem.” The “City of God.” ‘Come with Me, . . . let’s Go together.’

Whatever “Valley” has been the setting of your present reality, His invitation continues. And I think that the sweetest part of the invitation is that He intends to be on the Journey with us! He could have said, “Hey! Buddy! You need to go up to Jerusalem! I have a good reason to tell you to do it. Just Trust Me!” But that’s not what He does. He is making the trek with us. No map provided. No travel coupons included. No shade even offered. . . nor Kwik Trips along the way. Basically, We’re gonna hike it together. We can do this! Let’s go! (My personal
translation, here.)

We’re all in our own “valley” spots. We’ve been following Him. Sometimes He seems “missing-in-action,’ . . . but He never is. And when those times come and He asks us to do something outside of the ‘usual,’ we might hesitate . . . question . . . start making our list of plans. That’s only human, right?

But His Response is usually quite simple. “Let’s go.” And that is enough.

“You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.
You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare His Way,
You will make his people know that they can be saved through the forgiveness of their sins.
A new day will dawn on us from above
because our God is loving and merciful.”
Luke 1:76-78

They had longed for and prayed for God to give them a child, but their age had made it an
impossible dream. They had been faithful servants of the God of Israel, but any hope of having a baby of their own was gone.

But God’s Timing is perfect.

When Zechariah and Elizabeth had passed the point of “possibility” . . . God gave them John,
and He laid out His Plan for that pre-born baby boy. Speaking to the tiny life growing in
Elizabeth’s womb, God gave the child His Purpose, and his name: John. He would be the
Voice in the desert, announcing and preparing his nation for the One soon to come into the
world during John’s lifetime. The mission God would give their son in his adult life:
Announcing and preparing his nation for the Messiah’s coming. All those years of longing for a baby. . . and Hope was gone. Only God’s Intervention could make it possible.

And He did. . . in a direct Communication from God, while still in his mama’s womb, God gave
that tiny human his Purpose in life. His message would be laying the Groundwork for the
coming Messiah, already being “knit together” in his Cousin Mary’s womb.

God gives us a Glimpse of how and who He uses to carry out His Words, Love, and Purposes in this world. Luke, a chosen disciple of Jesus, gives us through his writings, a glimpse of God’s preparations through un-likely people . . . even infants and small children . . . to join Him in bringing His Light into our dark world. Sometimes even little ones give us pearls of wisdom that come through the mouths of babes…a most unexpected source.

May we be willing and obedient “children” to listen to our Father’s Words and speak them in a dark world waiting for His Light.

“Although mothers may forget,
I will not forget you.
I have engraved you on
the palms of My Hands.”
Isaiah 49:15-16

I need to make little reminders to myself, but not at a convenient moment when I have a piece of paper and a pencil handy. So, I will make the note on my own hand. That way I’m sure not to lose it in the bottom of my purse or the floor of my car.

I find it very interesting that God refers His Words about “forgetting” to mothers. I don’t sense any condemnation or criticism in His Words. . . rather a universal reality acknowledging the seemingly endless pieces of information for which mothers have to keep track on a daily . . . hourly. . . minute-by-minute basis concerning the children, people, and details in her life. Some of those details we do simply forget.

Because mothers are usually the more present parent in their child’s life, she becomes the one to whom her children automatically look as their frequent needs and desires come to their little minds and hearts.

It’s been a common scenario since the beginning of Time.

Feeling forgotten by a parent is a painful experience. If the one who gave birth to you is gone, there is a human nature dynamic that is instinctual . . . not contrived nor imposed. It’s a part of the “wiring” that God used from the Beginning of His Creation of life on this earth between the “Birth-er” and the “Birth-ee.”

But it’s also a part of human nature to forget. But, by God’s perfect Design, the seemingly most impossible “forgetting” situation would be that of a mother forgetting her child. It would be like forgetting your own arm or leg. Someone who had been divinely a part of her own body will always have that Created link, no matter what may damage that in life.

What a profound parallel God makes to that global Truth that has been in existence since Creation! It’s an example to which every human being can relate since The Beginning.
Our Father in Heaven, Who brought human life into existence by His Own Hands, not through a womb, has each of us permanently imprinted there. On His Hand.

The only thing He forgets is the sin His Son’s Blood has covered.

“I am giving you a new commandment:
‘ Love each other in the same way that I have loved you.’
Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other.”
 ~ Jesus  John 13:34-35

Jesus had just watched Judas leave the table, and leave the room. He knew exactly
what Judas was about to do, and the wheels of betrayal would begin to carry Him to the
horrific abandonment, physical torture, betrayal, and death on a cross. The brutal
punishment for what? Love. Perfect, sinless love.

With Eternity in His Eyes, Love stayed His Hand. He had Called Judas to follow Him.
Jesus had brought him into His closest circle of friends, knowing what Judas would do
with the trust Jesus had given him. He had not treated Judas differently than the other
11 of His chosen friends. Jesus had given him every chance to make a spiritual impact
on the world.

But there was something of higher value in Judas’ heart. It was himself. To lay down
his life to pursue following Jesus was not what he chose. That would cost him too
much. Money and all that it offered in life meant more to him.

Jesus knew the highest priority in Judas’ life. But He Called him to be His follower
anyway. He treated him no differently than the rest of His “inner circle.” For three
years, Judas had given his life to follow Jesus and had come to know Him personally.
He had been included, despite what was true of his own heart. And in the end, Judas
chose himself above the One Who had chosen him.

Following Jesus is not an easy Path. It’s messy. It’s difficult. It’s inconvenient. It
requires pushing our Will, comfort, plans and desires out of the list of priorities.
Surrendering ourselves to Jesus makes no sense in our world. It’s not normal. It can
require more of us than we could have imagined, or ever wanted to give. But as we
walk the Path upon which we follow Him, His Presence never leaves us abandoned or
alone.

And in those Moments when He catches our eyes or wraps His Arm across our
shoulder, or unexpectedly comes so very near, we are reminded of the greatest
privilege we have been given to follow Him and know His Presence, wherever He may
lead.

“Cast all your anxieties on Him,
because He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7

Sometimes, the Path we are walking becomes too hard, and we don’t know if we can continue on. Maybe the Path is one that God Called you to walk in the work of building His Kingdom. Maybe it’s the Path that your family is walking, including challenges, heartache, conflicts, or struggles in relationship with each other. Maybe the Path was going well, until something unexpected suddenly forced a significant, unplanned change of course. Perhaps the Path is simply within your own heart and mind, having a sense of feeling lost, with no clarity of how to get back on that Path you had known so well.

Peter had been on a familiar path in his life as a fisherman on the beautiful Sea of Galilee. He knew how to do it well. He had learned all the “ropes” of his boat, the Sea itself, and the nets for catching and selling the fish he caught.

But then one day he encountered Jesus, and his world turned completely upside down. Instead of dealing with fish, he was given a responsibility to deal with, care for, and lead people into a knowledge of the One Who had changed his life.

It was not an easy Path. Fishermen are not usually chatterboxes….more often they’re the quieter ones. He had to learn a whole new World, involving working with humanity instead of simple, reliable fish. Messy, difficult, emotional, unmanagable humans. Fish were a lot easier. Casting nets was far easier than casting emotions, worries, thoughts, heartaches and fears onto the God he was coming to know through his relationship with Jesus.

Peter had stepped into a whole new world. All he could do was to keep his eyes and his heart focused on the One Who had changed his heart, life, and eternal Destination.
What cares are you carrying? Whatever brought those cares into your mind and heart, . . . your life…God knows.

The same One Who Peter had come to know and love. . . and for Whom he eventually gave his life, is Present. His Arm is around your shoulder, and He is walking beside you on whatever road you are walking. He wants to make the journey with you. Talk with Him. He is listening. And He has things to tell you that will bring Peace to your soul.

“I have fought the good fight.
I have completed the race.
I have kept the faith.”
II Timothy 4:7

I recently heard a short news interview with a soccer player from a small
European country’s national soccer team. His team had been playing in the
European national soccer leagues for 20 years, but had never won a game.
The guy was SO excited to speak to the reporter interviewing him, and his
excitement was delightful and unexpected . . . He did mention that they had
scored a point once….on the field with the very best!

The reporter asked him why he was so excited, considering the 20-year losing
streak. His positive reply was delightful! He said, “We have had the privilege to be on the same soccer field with the best teams of Europe! How many teams have that opportunity!??? We have shared the spotlight with the very best, playing our favorite sport together as a team. What could be better than that?!!! We get to play!”

I have replayed his delightful, excited response many times in my mind. It
always makes me giggle!

And I wonder if God smiles as He watches us “on the field” with Him. Our
heartfelt energies for His Kingdom’s sake. . . trying our best . . . being excited for
the opportunity to simply be “in the game” despite the fact that our very best
efforts rarely even score a point.

We needn’t be discouraged because others are more skilled or productive than
us. Getting the highest score is not what matters most.

What is most worthy of celebrating is the fact that we can be in the “Game” with
Him . . . on the Field! He lets us play on His Team!

“That is why you are no longer foreigners and outsiders 
but citizens together with God’s people and members of God’s family.”
Ephesians 2:19

When did you become a citizen of God’s Kingdom? Are you aware of what changed in your
life? There probably would not have been any physical changes that suddenly appeared. You likely did not begin speaking a different language, or suddenly had a new history written into your life. You probably did not dramatically become a different person.

We have all met people in our local world who were not born in the US. . . foreigners. Becoming a citizen of our country did not suddenly change the way the look, act, or speak. They do not instantly know English, nor the customs and traditions and history of the people with whom they have become citizens. But they have chosen to take on a new national identity, and from that point on, they carry that identity. They learn the language, adopt the customs and traditions, and follow the laws of their new national identity, even though they are still the person they had been before that identity change. They made a choice, and they took on the identity of a legal citizen.

One of the highest honors I ever experienced was when the Saharawi government gave me
official citizenship in their nation. I had not made a formal request for citizenship, nor did I go through their normal legal system. The only reason that I was given official citizenship was purely based on the decision of their President to grant it. I did not look any different than I did when I made the choice many years ago to wear their women’s traditional melhfas, even though I continued to get entangled and trip, and unravel in the winds, as I had normally done. I did not suddenly speak their Hassanya language any differently than the mangled 2-year-old level that was somehow endearing to them. . . simply because I was trying. I did not look any different. I did not change as a person.

But by the President’s word, I now carried an official document – a legal passport – an identity I did not have before the President’s choice to grant it to me. God is the One Who intervenes in a person’s life and makes them a citizen of His Kingdom. Though there is nothing we can do to become a citizen of Heaven, the Highest Authority grants us citizenship in His Kingdom. A Heavenly passport that carries your name is granted by The
Highest Authority – God Himself – King of Heaven …granted only by His Grace, and signed by His own Son with His own blood. We are not fluent in His Language, we are not perfect in
obeying His Laws. We all came from the Kingdom of Darkness….the Kingdom of this world,
and He grants entrance into His Kingdom of Light upon the authority of the Word of His Son.

It will take time to know Him. . . to learn His Words . . . to understand His Ways and His Heart.
Your new identity will come in time, as He brings you into His Family, teaches you, shows you His Love and patiently guides you in how to live as one of His own family…His child. Though you were born into the Kingdom of this World, you will become more and more like Him as you walk with Him, talk with Him, live with Him, and come to know His Heart. Don’t be too surprised if you even begin to resemble Him in the eyes of those around you. A Family Resemblance.

  “Be still . . . and know that I AM GOD.”  

This morning . . . just a normal morning . . . God came near.   I hadn’t even asked Him, although He is always welcome.   He simply, gently, silently  came.

In the quiet of my room,  I sat down in my well-worn little chair, and in the quiet stillness   I simply  sat and began to soak in His Presence.  No flashes of Light.  No Words. No big revelations.  

Just His Presence.  I knew it.  I recognized it.  

And the tears flowed.  

Why today?  Why here in my room?  Why when I was all alone?   I hadn’t even asked.  

It didn’t matter.  He was here.

The cares  . . . worries . . . sadness . . . He stilled.   He was here with me.

That was all I needed to know.