Passion Week

“Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1)

Each year since Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of The Christ” hit the theatres I have, during Passion Week, watched anew the visible reminders of the depth of our Heavenly Father’s love. Each year I sit in awe. Each year I cry. Each year the images are burned in my mind. The Gospels came to life in the movie, and we too have a chance to walk the streets and witness Jesus’ beating. We are able to follow Christ to the cross. Although the final tomb scene in the movie was short (13 seconds), I felt a great deal of relief as Jesus walked out in triumphant victory. Each year in reading through Passion Week in the Gospels (Matt. 21:1-ff; Mark 11:1-ff; Luke 19:28-ff; John 12:12-ff), I am reminded of these precious truths:

Christ’s Sacrifice Was Sufficient - Throughout the Old Testament, God required blood atonement on behalf of the people. When Christ took the cross and shed His blood, He made the final sacrifice for sin. Seeing a holy Jesus take the cross in my place reminded me in graphic detail that He willingly did for me what I could not do for myself.

Satan was Forever Defeated - In The Passion of the Christ movie, Satan drifted through the crowds and stood over Jesus in the garden as He prayed. Throughout the Old Testament Satan sought to prevent Christ’s birth. Once Jesus was born, Satan tried in all of his power to keep Jesus from the cross. But Calvary proves that Satan lost forever. Victory is in Jesus!

This Is My Story and My Song – I love the old hymn by Fanny Crosby “Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine” because it shouts of triumphant victory:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest;

I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

Can’t Wait For Next Sunday!

Dr. Derek

Meditation That Matters

“Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations. I am a friend to anyone who fears you—anyone who obeys your commandments. O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.” (Psalm 119:57-64, NLT)

For several weeks now, I have been walking through Psalm 119 with my family prior to the start of the boys’ school day and my workday. We are in our second trip through this marvelous chapter examining the importance of God’s laws, commands, decrees, statues, and our submission to them. Today (March 11, 2010) I was simply struck with the phrase: “I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.” “Ponder” in Hebrew means “to think, to meditate.” John Phillips says, “To think is one thing the devil does not want us to do.” The Devil would rather us be constantly diverted from meditation on the things that make a difference.

The Psalmist pondered “the direction” of his life. Do you ever ponder the direction of your life? Do you ever think about where you are headed? Do you remember the study of the Prodigal Son we did a few months ago? Luke states, “But when he came to himself…” (Luke 15:17) The prodigal son began to talk to himself, think within himself, about his path, about his destination. In so doing, he demonstrates where repentance begins, with an accurate assessment of your condition. He came to an end of himself.

He then began to live out Psalm 119: 59. He took responsibility for his life. He made a full confession. He left home saying “Give me!” Then he returned home saying “Make me!” He throws himself on the Father’s mercy. He pondered the direction of his life – he thought about his destination. He saw the wide road of destruction he was on and knew it would not take him where he needed to be. Therefore he made a course correction. He “turned to follow.”

Do you ever meditate on where your feet are taking you? Have you rightly assessed the path and found it to be – deep inside the recesses of your heart – an undesirable path? Are you willing to turn your feet today?

A recent promotion by H. R. Block Inc. offered walk-in customers a chance to win a drawing for a million dollars. Glen and Gloria Sims of Sewell, New Jersey, won the drawing, but they refused to believe it when an H. R. Block representative phoned them with the good news.

After several additional contacts, the Sims still thought it was all just a scam and usually hung up the phone or trashed the special notices. Some weeks later, H. R. Block called one more time to let the Sims know the deadline for accepting the million-dollar prize was nearing and that the story of their refusal to accept the prize would appear on an upcoming NBC "Today Show."

At that point, Mr. Sims decided to investigate further. A few days later, he appeared on the "Today Show" to tell America that he and his wife had finally gone to H. R. Block to claim the million-dollar prize. Mr. Sims final words were: "From the time this has been going on, H. R. Block explained to us they really wanted a happy ending to all this, and they were ecstatic that we finally accepted the prize." (NBC "Today Show", 7-09-01)

God also just wants a happy ending and that can be the case if you will stop ignoring or running from him and respond to his offer of restoration. The psalmist “hurried, without delay.” Think about the direction of your life – and turn your feet!

Until Next Week,

Dr. Derek

Standing Tall

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.” (2 Timothy 1:7-8)

Have you ever been in a conversation with an unbeliever or in a circle of unbelievers and the subject of Christianity came up, providing you the option: Stand for your faith or cower (shrink from fear) of ridicule or rejection. Often we are provided ample opportunity to display –not a spirit of fear – but one of power, love, and self discipline. Paul instructed Timothy to “not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord.” In fact, he charged him to “share in the suffering for the gospel.”

At the beginning of the third century Vibia Perpetua, age 22, was given an opportunity to live out I Timothy 1:7-8. Vibia, her brother, and a friend had professed faith in Christ at a time when Roman citizens were prohibited from turning to Christianity. When it was discovered that Vibia, her brother and friend, had converted to Christianity, government officials had them arrested. Vibia’s diary records a conversation with her unbelieving father:

While we were still under arrest, my father, out of love for me, was trying to persuade me and shake my resolution. “Father,” I said, “do you see this vase here, or water pot or whatever?” “Yes I do,” said he. And I told him, “Could it be called by any other name than what it is?” And he said, “No.” “Well, so too I cannot be called anything other than what I am, a Christian.”

On March 7, 2003, the group was brought into the amphitheater to be killed. A heifer mauled them, then a leopard struck, and finally gladiators entered the amphitheater and finished the slaughter. In her final moments Vibia declared, “You must all stand fast in the faith and love one another, and do not be weakened by what we have gone through.” Vibia recounted a vision she received while in prison awaiting death:

I saw a ladder of tremendous height . . . reaching all the way to the heavens, but it was so narrow that only one person could climb up it at a time . . . . Then I saw an immense garden, and in it a gray-haired man sat in shepherd’s garb . . . . And standing around him were thousands of people clad in white garments. He raised his head, looked at me, and said, “I am glad you have come, my child.”

Be bold today! Let no one move you. Do all out of love for Christ and His Church. Do not be intimidated by those who assault the Christian faith. Like Stephen and Vibia, remember who stands to receive you in eternal glory. So, armor up today and stand firm!

Until Next Week,

Dr. Derek