Daily Devotion with Greg Laurie “Every
Fiber of Your Being” Wednesday, 27 November 2013
-------
"And you shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all
your strength."(Mark 12:30)
I find it interesting that Jesus said,
" 'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' " This statement
reveals that God is not simply looking for some emotional, gooey kind of love.
He is looking for a complete, true love.
You see, some people only love the Lord
with all of their soul or with all of their emotion, but they don't love Him
with all of their minds. Other people love God with all of their minds, but
they neglect the emotional side of loving the Lord.
Jesus is saying, "I want a love that
possesses an emotional, intellectual, and physical backbone." Jesus
desires a love that draws from every fiber of your being—inside and out. Any
other kind of love is no love at all.
For example, let's say you have the
greatest physique with bulging biceps, protruding pecs, and rippling abs. In
essence, you stand as an incredible specimen of humanity, because you sculpted
your body day in and day out at the gym.
But what good is all of that muscle if
you have heart disease? You may look good on the outside, but if your heart is
diseased and sickened, your physique will not do you one bit of good.
In the same way, if you are attending
church, reading your Bible, and praying, but your heart is spiritually diseased
with a lack of love for God, you will face a similar dynamic.
Through the life, death, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ, God expressed His love for us from every fiber of His being.
The very least we can do is to love Him back with all of our heart, soul, mind,
and strength
-------
Psalm 125: The Security of God’s People
A Song of Ascents.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like
Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time on and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not
rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous might not stretch
out
their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts.
5 But those who turn aside to their own
crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel!
Matthew The Plot to Kill Jesus(NRSV)
26: When Jesus had finished saying all
these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “You know that after two days the
Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders
of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called
Caiaphas, 4 and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But
they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”
The Anointing at Bethany
6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the
house of Simon the leper,[a] 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of
very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8
But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? 9 For
this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the
poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the
woman? She has performed a good service for me. 11 For you always have the poor
with you, but you will not always have me. 12 By pouring this ointment on my
body she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good
news[b] is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in
remembrance of her.”
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
14 Then one of the twelve, who was called
Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me
if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from
that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
The Passover with the Disciples
17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread
the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the
preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a
certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep
the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 So the disciples did as
Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
20 When it was evening, he took his place
with the twelve;[c] 21 and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you,
one of you will betray me.” 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to
say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “The one
who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man
goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is
betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25
Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have
said so.”
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 While they were eating, Jesus took a
loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and
said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving
thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is
my blood of the[d] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness
of sins. 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine
until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung the hymn, they went
out to the Mount of Olives.
Peter’s Denial Foretold
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all
become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I am raised up, I will go
ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters
because of you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell
you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35
Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And
so said all the disciples.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place
called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over
there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and
began to be grieved and agitated. 38 Then he said to them, “I am deeply
grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39 And going a
little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is
possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” 40
Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter,
“So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray that you
may not come into the time of trial;[e] the spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak.” 42 Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My
Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 Again he
came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So leaving them
again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45
Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and
taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into
the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 While he was still speaking, Judas,
one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs,
from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had
given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 At
once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus
said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid
hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51 Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his
hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting
off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place;
for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I
cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve
legions of angels? 54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say
it must happen in this way?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have
you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day
after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But all
this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Jesus before the High Priest
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him
to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had
gathered. 58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard
of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see
how this would end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking
for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60 but
they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came
forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God
and to build it in three days.’” 62 The high priest stood up and said, “Have
you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 63 But Jesus was
silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the
living God, tell us if you are the Messiah,[f] the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said
to him, “You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes
and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now
heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.”
67 Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, 68 saying,
“Prophesy to us, you Messiah![g] Who is it that struck you?”
Peter’s Denial of Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the
courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the
Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what
you are talking about.” 71 When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl
saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of
Nazareth.”[h] 72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73
After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you
are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to curse,
and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed.
75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will
deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Jesus Brought before Pilate
27: When morning came, all the chief
priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order
to bring about his death. 2 They bound him, led him away, and handed him over
to Pilate the governor.
The Suicide of Judas
3 When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus[i]
was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the
chief priests and the elders. 4 He said, “I have sinned by betraying
innocent[j] blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5
Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and
hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It
is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” 7
After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place
to bury foreigners. 8 For this reason that field has been called the Field of
Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the
prophet Jeremiah,[k] “And they took[l] the thirty pieces of silver, the price
of the one on whom a price had been set,[m] on whom some of the people of
Israel had set a price, 10 and they gave[n] them for the potter’s field, as the
Lord commanded me.”
Pilate Questions Jesus
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor;
and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You
say so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not
answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they
make against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge,
so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Barabbas or Jesus?
15 Now at the festival the governor was
accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16 At
that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus[o] Barabbas. 17 So after
they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for
you, Jesus[p] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”[q] 18 For he
realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19 While he
was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to
do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a
dream about him.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds
to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to
them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said,
“Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is
called the Messiah?”[r] All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 Then he
asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be
crucified!”
Pilate Hands Jesus over to Be Crucified
24 So when Pilate saw that he could do
nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed
his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood;[s] see
to it yourselves.” 25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us
and on our children!” 26 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging
Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took
Jesus into the governor’s headquarters,[t] and they gathered the whole cohort
around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and after
twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in
his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the
Jews!” 30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31
After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on
him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they went out, they came upon a man
from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And
when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34
they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he
would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his
clothes among themselves by casting lots;[u] 36 then they sat down there and
kept watch over him. 37 Over his head they put the charge against him, which
read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
38 Then two bandits were crucified with
him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by derided[v]
him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and
build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down
from the cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the
scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42 “He saved others; he cannot save
himself.[w] He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and
we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he
wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” 44 The bandits who were crucified
with him also taunted him in the same way.
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon on, darkness came over the
whole land[x] until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus
cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my
God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they
said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a
sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to
drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to
save him.”[y] 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his
last.[z] 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top
to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were
opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53
After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and
appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were
keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were
terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”[aa]
55 Many women were also there, looking on
from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and
the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
The Burial of Jesus
57 When it was evening, there came a rich
man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went
to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given
to him. 59 So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60 and
laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a
great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, that is, after the day
of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63
and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive,
‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Therefore command the tomb to be made
secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away,
and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception
would be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard[ab] of
soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.”[ac] 66 So they went with the guard
and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
Footnotes:
Matthew 26:6 The terms leper and leprosy
can refer to several diseases
Matthew 26:13 Or gospel
Matthew 26:20 Other ancient authorities
add disciples
Matthew 26:28 Other ancient authorities
add new
Matthew 26:41 Or into temptation
Matthew 26:63 Or Christ
Matthew 26:68 Or Christ
Matthew 26:71 Gk the Nazorean
Matthew 27:3 Gk he
Matthew 27:4 Other ancient authorities
read righteous
Matthew 27:9 Other ancient authorities
read Zechariah or Isaiah
Matthew 27:9 Or I took
Matthew 27:9 Or the price of the precious
One
Matthew 27:10 Other ancient authorities
read I gave
Matthew 27:16 Other ancient authorities
lack Jesus
Matthew 27:17 Other ancient authorities
lack Jesus
Matthew 27:17 Or the Christ
Matthew 27:22 Or the Christ
Matthew 27:24 Other ancient authorities
read this righteous blood, or this righteous man’s blood
Matthew 27:27 Gk the praetorium
Matthew 27:35 Other ancient authorities
add in order that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled,
“They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
Matthew 27:39 Or blasphemed
Matthew 27:42 Or is he unable to save
himself?
Matthew 27:45 Or earth
Matthew 27:49 Other ancient authorities
add And another took a spear and pierced his side, and out came water and blood
Matthew 27:50 Or gave up his spirit
Matthew 27:54 Or a son of God
Matthew 27:65 Or Take a guard
Matthew 27:65 Gk you know how(NRSV)
-------
Church Office:
6115 Arlington Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504
(951) 687-6902
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment