Wednesday, March 21 – Day 36

Seeking His Peace Among All Peoples

Seek God…for enemies to be blessed

“As enemies nailed you to a cross, You cried out for God to forgive them.” (See Luke 23:34)

This is the first line of today’s NT prayer; it merits a more in-depth look:

Here’s the setting.

The Jews…

…had arrested Him illegally, mocked Him, spit on him, beat on Him with their fists, slapped Him and certainly did other things that are not recorded.

The Romans…

…spit on Him, scourged Him (used a whip to pull pieces of flesh from His back, mocked Him in as a “king”, push a crown of thorns on His head, force Him to carry His cross until He physically can’t, and nail His hands and feet to the cross.

Everyone…

…including the two thieves on His left and right continue to mock, taunt, and insult Him.

He remains…..silent.

Finally He speaks: “Father forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

We see in Hebrews this statement: “Jesus for the joy set before Him, endured the cross…”

In this passage endured is understood as “staying in the place of a servant” “remaining under to support.” The One who came to serve and not to be served, stayed in the place of a servant to the very end.

The results…

One thief repents and is guaranteed to be with Jesus that very day in Paradise, the Centurion believes, the sky was dark from noon to 3 p.m., the rocks split open, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom…plus more…wow!

Years ago, I dismissed this act ‘as only something God in man could do…nice part of the story, no application to me. THEN, I read how Stephen (Acts 7:59) said the same forgiveness when he was being stoned to death…..Stephen, a man just like me. I was without excuse.

Conclusion? We can do this through Christ who to gives us the strength to do so!

Brother Charles

Serve The City

Saturday, March 20 – Day 32

Seeking His Righteousness In Our Communities

Seek God....For the city to experience God’s righteousness.

In and of our own strength we can’t make more than a temporary impact in our communities. When we attempt to conquer the city for God on our own initiative, we see the black storm of life churning, the winds of injustice blowing and the raging waves of indifference crashing around us. When this happens we begin sinking into the dark waters of despair. It’s when we come to the end of ourselves, when there’s nothing left and we cry out to Jesus, that He takes our hand and lifts us up to kneel before Him, where the true power lies. And when His power is unleashed, people are changed!

No corruption, no indifference, nothing at all, can stand in the way when God moves. But it all starts with us in our most powerful position: on our knees before God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth!

As we willingly submit our meager strength before the Throne of Grace, He enables us to accomplish the tasks He has set out for us since before the beginning. His power works through willing and submitted hearts to win eternal victory in our communities.

“Gracious God,

Grant us eyes to see our weakness and our inability to effect change in our own strength. Enable our hearts to willingly submit to You and Your plan; and as we submit, work through us that the city might be brought into Your righteousness. For Yours is the kingdom, and power, and glory forever!”

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen

Greg Larson

Faith Bible

Sunday, February 21 – Day 5

Lord, Your Word says: “Give us life, and we will call on Your name”.  Breathe a new blast of life into the church of Eastern Iowa that together we will call on Your name in unprecedented ways that an unprecedented, city-wide move of God would come to fruition.

Lord, Your Word says: “He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit”.

Renew the church of Eastern Iowa by stretching the members of Your body in spiritual disciplines, that we may truly abide in Christ, and thereby increase in the character of Christ and the life-giving nature of Christ.  In accordance with Your Word, may the fruit from this be so huge that it has to be “carried on a pole between two people”!

Lord, Your Word calls for shepherds to care for Your flock.  Bring a caring community, camaraderie, and unity among the pastors of Eastern Iowa that allows for burdens to be shared and loads to be lifted so our shepherds can maintain strength to continue to fully care for Your flock.

Amen and amen and amen!!!

Dan Koskamp, New Covenant Bible Church