Reflections
Wonderful Words of Life
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 06 December 2016 07:17
FOLLOWING THE MASTER – A Lenten Devotional
34th Day of Lent
March 19, 2016
Wonderful Words of Life
Copyright 2016 Monica Hernandez
A…If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off and cast them from thee...And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee…@ (Matthew 18:8-9).
The Master’s teaching that we should cut off an offending hand or foot, as well as pluck out an offending eye, seems harsh, difficult to accept, and contrary to His mercy and kindness. However, when we understand common sayings in Jesus’ day, we come to see that His words were really wonderful words of life.
What truth was Jesus imparting to us when He taught that we should cut off our hands and feet or pluck out our eyes if they offend us? Though this teaching may seem unpleasant, when we understand it spiritually it can be a blessing to us as it is meant to be.
The meaning in the Greek for the word Aoffend@ is Ato cause to stumble@ Jesus is here calling on His disciples and us to be accountable for the things we do with our hands, the places we cause our feet to go, and whatever we cause or allow our eyes to look upon.
In essence, Jesus is saying: AIf putting your hands to anything in the world and going to places that would affect your walking in close relationship with God, cut it off; in other words Aput an end@ to it. Let not your hands and feet cause you to stumble in your journey with God.
Also, if you build the habit of viewing anything in the world that is not right for your soul, pluck your eyes out; in other words, break that habit—put an end to it.
As you contemplate the truth of the Master’s teachings above, consider your accountability to Him about the work of your hands and places your feet would take you; also, consider what is not right for your eyes to look upon.
And as you contemplate more deeply on what the Master would want of you in your walk with Him, consider either consecrating or re-consecrating your hands, feet and eyes to do the will of God to the best of your knowledge and ability, and ask for His help.
SUGGESTED READINGS: Matthew 6:22-24; Matthew 18:8-9; 1 Corinthians 11:28.
PRAYER: ADear Lord and Master, this day, I consecrate my hands, feet and eyes to the labour you have for me. Help me to think, feel and do whatever is right for the sake of your Kingdom. Thank you, Lord. Amen.@
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Some of the Master’s teachings seem harsh but they are wise, wonderful and true.
Singing Hosanna Today
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 06 December 2016 07:16
FOLLOWING THE MASTER – A Lenten Devotional
Palm Sunday
March 20, 2016
Singing Hosanna Today
Copyright 2016 Monica Hernandez
“And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David…Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:9).
Today marks the beginning of the week when Christians focus more deeply on the death and resurrection of Jesus—it is the beginning of Holy Week or Passion Week as it is sometimes called. Because this week commemorates the suffering and trials of Jesus, it marks a dramatic turning point in religious history and holds a lot of significance to the Christian.
At this special season, we commemorate that eventful day when Jesus drew near unto Jerusalem to celebrate His last Passover meal with His disciples. This is the week that Jesus changed the focus of Passover to Himself and the redemptive work He was about to do on the cross.
At this time of year, Jewish people all over the world are preparing for their Passover meal that would take place later this week. And Christians all over the world are giving deep and serious thought to what our Lord has done for us.
And as we contemplate this memorable time, let us picture the multitudes spreading their garments in the way, waving palms as a symbol of victory, and shouting “Hosanna,” a word which means “Save now...we pray thee.”
We might not wave palms today as the people did on that day we are commemorating, but let us consider how we would proclaim our spiritual victory in Christ today.
Would you sing and shout “Hosanna...blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord?” or would you quietly give recognition and praises to Jesus for His redemptive work on the cross on your behalf?
Our Scriptures say that God has delivered you and me “out of darkness into His marvellous light” through Christ, and this is something to proclaim and celebrate, especially at this time of year. In anyway you choose to proclaim your victory in Christ over darkness, God will hear and will bless you.
SUGGESTED READINGS: Matthew 21:1-11; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 2:9.
PRAYER: “Dear God, I thank you for your life in me, renewed and strengthened through Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord, for your marvellous light in me and I pray, let that light in me so shine that men might see thy works in me and glorify you in heaven. Amen.”
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
The hand of God is mighty to save and to deliver.
What Do You Think About Jesus?
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 06 December 2016 07:13
FOLLOWING THE MASTER – A Lenten Devotional
36th Day of Lent
March 22, 2016
What Do You Think About Jesus?
Copyright 2016 Monica Hernandez
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching...preaching…and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23)
I sat in the dentist=s office, waiting for my check-up, and hearing the whirring of the dentist=s equipment as he did his work on another patient. I knew that pretty soon it would be my turn to sit in his chair. As I waited, I had a fleeting thought. I wondered, AHow could anyone be a dentist, inflicting pain and discomfort to others?@
When my time came, I endured my ordeal bravely, and as I left the office, I could see through the fact that dentists are not only people with horrid grinding equipment to work in a person’s mouth, but they are a helping people as well, and we need them from time to time to deliver us out of pain, cavities and distress.
And so it was with the coming of Jesus into the world to save humanity--to deliver us out of destruction and darkness into His marvelous light.
The Pharisees thought Jesus was out to deprive them from their religious positions and fame. Some felt that He did healings by demonic forces. Others felt that He was radical and had come to change their laws but Jesus responded that AHe had not come to change the law or the prophets but to fulfill them.@
Isn=t it true that there are many different perspectives to any one issue or incident? It is like viewing a mountain from different sides and seeing different scenarios.
What do you think about Jesus? From which perspective do you think about His words, healing works and life? Do you think of Him as just another rabbi or teacher? What do you think of His death on the cross? Do you think of Him as mighty Saviour and Deliverer?
When we think of His words, healing work and life as heavenly, it quickens our souls; when we think of His death on the cross as an atonement for our sins, it brings us salvation; when we think of Him not as just another rabbi or teacher but as the Son of God, it gives to Him His rightful place in our hearts; when we think of Him as mighty Saviour and Deliverer, it enriches our entire life eternally.
SUGGESTED READINGS: Matthew 1:21; John 11:45-48; 1 Peter 2:9.
PRAYER: AHeavenly Father, help me always to see the bright side of all things. And help me always to understand that you work all things for good. Amen.@
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
He=s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star; He is the fairest of ten thousand to my soul,
Building Character Like Jesus
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 06 December 2016 07:15
FOLLOWING THE MASTER – A Lenten Devotional
35th Day of Lent
March 21, 2016
Building Character Like Jesus
Copyright 2016 Monica Hernandez
AFor whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.@ (Romans 8:29, KJV).
God knows us even before we were aware of ourselves and wants to mold us to become like His Son in character. And everything we experience builds into this picture.
I saw this plainly some years ago while on a mission trip to the Bahamas. In ministering to the children, the theme for the week was ABuilding Character Like Jesus@ and there were songs, complete with actions and words for the children to repeat to help bring that message home to them in ways they could understand.
And the principles for building character like Jesus were: compassion, humility, faithfulness, caring attitudes, forgiveness and obedience, all couched in Bible stories to bring the message to them.
In sharing with the children, I came to better understand how much we, as adults, need to understand those principles on our level. I saw that we, God=s chosen, are daily being Aconformed to the image of Jesus@ and should be more willing and receptive to the changes God is re-creating in us.
I saw too that “being conformed to the image of Jesus” is the same message God sought to convey to His saints in the Old Covenant at the eighteenth chapter in the Book of Jeremiah. It is the work of God continuously breaking us down and re-forming us to become whom He wants us to be.
We are a work in progress. And when the time is right, the hand of God upon our lives makes us subject to experiences that would cause us to become aware that we need compassion, humility, faithfulness, caring attitudes, forgiveness and obedience.
This week is Holy Week, or Passion Week, as it is sometimes called. This is the time we give deeper consideration to the sufferings of Jesus, His crucifixion and resurrection from the tomb.
Our foundation Scripture says Jesus is first-born among many brethren, which indicates we, humanity, are all one family with Jesus as our elder brother, leading the way. Let us ask ourselves: “Am I becoming more and more like Jesus? What aspect of my character do I see that resembles Jesus? From day to day, am I more compassionate, forgiving, loving and obedient?
And in all our asking, seeking and knocking on heaven=s door, let us ever be grateful and thank God for re-creating us to be more like Jesus.
SUGGESTED READINGS: Jeremiah 18:1-6; Philippians 2:12-14; Romans 8:28-29.
PRAYER: ADear God, in all that I do, help me to be more like Jesus. Thank you, Lord for re-creating me to be whom you want me to be. Amen.@
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
God is continuously working Christlikeness within us.
Inheriting the Earth
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 06 December 2016 07:12
FOLLOWING THE MASTER – A Lenten Devotional
37th Day of Lent
March 23, 2016
Inheriting the Earth
Copyright 2016 Monica Hernandez
ABut the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.@ (Psalm 37:11).
In psalm 37, The psalmist is clear in telling us about who will be the inheritors of the earth. He begins this at verses 9, telling us that they that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth; at verse 18 he says the inheritance of the upright shall be for ever.
And at verse 22 he says those that are blessed shall inherit the earth; at verse 29 he says the righteous shall inherit the earth, and at verse 34 he emphasizes that they who wait on the Lord, and keep His way shall be exalted to inherit the land.
To inherit something, maybe an estate, would mean that somebody has bequeathed it to you. It is something you do not have to actually earn or struggle for. It is given to you as a legacy, just yours to appreciate and enjoy.
Whenever we read of Aearth@ in the Scriptures, especially in the psalms, we are reading not only about the ground we walk upon, or Aplanet earth@ as we commonly term it, but also our life experiences in the natural realm, for example, whatever is available and accessible to our outer awareness.
Therefore, to inherit the earth means to harvest the good things of life, for example, food, drink, raiment and all beneficial conditions.
Jesus also taught that the meek shall inherit the earth or as He has put it at another time: "to have life and have it more abundantly..."
Often, the word Ameek@ gives us the idea of weakness but this is far from the truth. To be meek does not mean to be weak-willed or to cower before other people. Meekness is not weakness but is discipline, humility and spiritual strength combined.
It also means to be open-minded, teachable, forgiving, not easily provoked, avoiding arrogance and receptive to truth. And when we have faith in God and submit our lives to Him, we would be demonstrating all that true meekness represents and be blessed.
Let us suppose you were personally told that you have an inheritance laid up for you, wouldn't that be wonderful news? Further, suppose you were told that you could begin to enjoy that inheritance at this present time, wouldn't that be really wonderful news?
Think about this: if Jesus is your Lord and Master you are already an inheritor of the earth and can begin enjoying your inheritance, even today.
SUGGESTED READINGS: Psalm 37:11, 22; Psalm 119:111; Matthew 5:5.
PRAYER: AHeavenly Father, I give thanks for all the good things I can enjoy in this life and forever in the next. Amen.@
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
Jesus said all that the Father has is His and as joint-heirs with Christ, this means that all that the Father has is also ours to inherit, through Christ.
