Ps. 145:18 "The Lord
is close to all who call on Him."
Prov. 30:5 "Every
word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection." NLT
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE.
REJOICE.
December Devotionals
02/01 John
19:16
Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and
led him away.
POWER
Jesus surrendered himself willingly to be crucified. He could have summoned
a legion of angels to rescue Himself but He didn’t. He went quietly and
suffered willingly for our sin. Our sin crushed Him but the power of God
raised Him from the dead and He is now seated at the right hand of the
Father. What a Savior we have!
02/02 John
19:17-18
Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill
(in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him. There were two others
crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.
SACRIFICE
He was our sacrifice to pay a price we couldn’t pay. By the shedding of His
blood He provided forgiveness for us. Our responsibility is to ask Him to
forgive us and believe in faith that He does. This seems so simple and yet
so many cannot make the move to believe that God loves them.
02/03 John
19:19
And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King
of the Jews."
KING
Jesus is KING of all things. He is the KING of the universe and all
creation. Ask Him to forgive you and come into your heart. Believing by
faith that He has done this let Him walk with you and change your life. A
new life is a walk with the KING.
02/04 John
19:20-22
The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the sign was
written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.
Then the leading priests said to Pilate, "Change it from 'The King of the
Jews' to 'He said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate replied, "What I have
written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is."
CONTROL
Pilate thought he was in control. All he had to do was appease the Jews.
God is in control. He uses whatever he has to in accomplishing his
purposes. He used Pilate to finalize His dramatic rescue plan for mankind.
As the minions of Satan rejoiced at the death of the Christ, the Lord
already knew it was another step in His redemption of mankind. Thank the
Lord for His merciful and gracious gift of salvation in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
02/05 John
19:23-24
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the
four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one
piece from the top. So they said, "Let's not tear it but throw dice to see
who gets it." This fulfilled the Scripture that says, "They divided my
clothes among themselves and threw dice for my robe." So that is what they
did.
CLOAK
Life is serious, difficult and often unfair. When we come to the Lord He
knows what we are facing and He will give us His power to deal with the
difficulties of life. Everyone has a hard time. We choose how a hard time
will change us. Let God have control of your daily life and He will guide
you through the difficult times.
02/06 John
19:25-27
Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and his mother's sister, Mary
(the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother
standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, "Woman, he is
your son." And he said to this disciple, "She is your mother." And from
then on this disciple took her into his home.
JESUS
Dying on the cross Jesus was still concerned about His mother. He is
concerned about you. He would that you would let Him solve your problems.
Focus your heart and mind on Jesus and He will give you the encouragement
and solution that you need. We are promised an abundant life in Christ.
02/07 John
19:28-30
Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the
Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there,
so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to
his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he
bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
LIFE
Jesus gave up His life. They didn’t steal it from Him because He willingly
gave up His life as a sacrifice for us. The world focuses on the negative
side of everything. Jesus calls us to focus on Him for He is light and life
for a dying world.
02/08 John
19:31
The Jewish leaders didn't want the victims hanging there the next day,
which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was
the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that
their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.
FORM
People generally opt for the form of something versus the substance. Jesus
has just died, paying the price to reconcile the world to the Father. What
people don’t realize is that while they are busy with their activity
focusing on the form of it they may very well miss the presence of the Lord
Jesus. At Passover the true Lamb of God spread His blood across the wooden
cross and paid the price we could not pay to give us a gift we could not
earn. Jesus is Lord and He loves you.
02/09 John
19:32-33
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with
Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so
they didn't break his legs.
PROPHECY
Prophecy fulfilled, not a bone broken (Psalm 34:20.) The Father is
concerned about His creation. He gave us this prophecy so that we would
know that He was actively inserting His plans into our world. He wasn’t
distant. He wasn’t uncaring. In fact He cares so much for us that He gave
His only son that we might have life.
02/10 John
19:34-37
One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood
and water flowed out. This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate
account; it is presented so that you also can believe. These things
happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of his bones
will be broken," and "They will look on him whom they pierced."
WORD
God’s Word is written to us as a manual for life. In it God gives us the
things that we need to make the kind of life that will honor Him and serve
Him. Very simple yet mankind makes it very complex. The truth is obey the
Lord and He will give you guidance for your daily life.
02/11 John
19:38
Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus
(because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take
Jesus' body down. When Pilate gave him permission, he came and took the body
away.
DISCIPLE
There are no secret disciples in the family of God. We are to be His
representative here on Earth. If I am filled with the Spirit of God I will
overflow with a witness to Him. Witnessing should be a part of my day to
day life. I spend time with Jesus and let Jesus express Himself thru me.
02/12 John
19:39-42
Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing
about seventy-five pounds of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes.
Together they wrapped Jesus' body in a long linen cloth with the spices, as
is the Jewish custom of burial. The place of crucifixion was near a garden,
where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the
day of preparation before the Passover and since the tomb was close at hand,
they laid Jesus there.
GARDEN TOMB
In
Jerusalem there is a place near the Damascus Gate called the Garden Tomb.
It resembles the description above. It is a quiet garden in the middle of a
lot of people and mechanical noise a restful place that gives one time to
pause and contemplate. I’ve visited this location many times when in
Israel. One thing I know He is risen and is not in any tomb.
02/13 John
20:1
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the
tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
REALITY
Jesus is the Lord. Mary and the disciples are going to learn that first
hand. We weren’t there 2,000 years ago but each one of us that have come
into His Kingdom have experienced first hand the risen Lord. Jesus is
Lord.
02/14 John
20:2
She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus
loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I
don't know where they have put him!"
MARY
Mary didn’t know that Jesus had risen. It didn’t dawn on her at that time
what had happened. Until they see Jesus they are not able to comprehend
God’s victory on the Cross. Jesus is alive today and He is interceding for
us with the Father. He loves you.
02/15 John
20:3-5
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple
outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the
linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.
ANXIETY
Anxiety was the emotion that John was feeling. He was missing the Lord
Jesus deeply and was feeling defeated. What would they do next? John
wasn’t sure. The cloth was there but Jesus wasn’t. No sense of victory
here but the truth was that victory was staring them in the face but their
brain couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Jesus had risen. Death had
been defeated.
02/16 John
20:6-7
Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen
wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was
folded up and lying to the side.
WHAT?
What did this mean? Peter wasn’t sure exactly what this meant. At this
moment Peter had not connected the dots. For us it means salvation. Christ
died for you and me. Christ rose from the dead by the power of God so that
we could have His free gift of life-Life in Christ.
02/17 John
20:8-10
Then the other disciple also went in, and he saw and believed -- for
until then they hadn't realized that the Scriptures said he would rise from
the dead. Then they went home.
BELIEVE
John believed that Jesus rose from the dead. He saw the tomb. He saw the
resurrected Jesus. Do you believe? The witness is in the Word and in your
heart. The Holy Spirit will confirm to you that Jesus is alive and He is
alive in you.
02/18 John
20:11-13
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped
and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot
of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. "Why are you crying?"
the angels asked her. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied,
"and I don't know where they have put him."
LOVE
She had a great love for Jesus. The Romans didn’t scare her. Now it seems
as though someone has stolen His body. She didn’t have great theological
ideas about Christ she was totally sold out to following Him and confident
that the end result would be good. She trusted Jesus but she hadn’t worked
out what had happened yet in her mind. She simply shared from her heart.
“Where did they put Him?” We don’t have to be theological scholars to have
a close, solid relationship with Jesus. Our faith can be immovable. If we
believe, simply believe then we will be way ahead of where we would be if we
were a doubting Thomas.
02/19 John
20:14-15
She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was
Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. "Why are you crying?" Jesus asked her.
"Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the gardener. "Sir," she said,
"if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go
and get him."
SEE
Do you see what is going on in your life? Have you taken God’s Word and
measured you actions? When we are looking for something different than what
we see we often overlook what is right before us. Are you living the life
God called you to live? If you aren’t go to Jesus and He will get you back
on track.
02/20 John
20:16-17
"Mary!" Jesus said. She turned toward him and exclaimed, "Teacher!"
"Don't cling to me," Jesus said, "for I haven't yet ascended to the Father.
But go find my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and
your Father, my God and your God."
SEE
Jesus speaks and He is recognized. He has risen and the first thing He does
is to reveal Himself to His followers. If you find yourself alone and a
long way from Jesus, it isn’t because Jesus walked away from you. Return to
Him and let Jesus heal you. Rejoin your walk with Christ.
02/21 John
20:18
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord!"
Then she gave them his message.
TESTIMONY
When we see the Lord we will not let anyone stop us from talking about Him.
Witnessing is simple when you are in close communion with Jesus. Just tell
others what Christ is doing in your life.
02/22 John
20:19-20
That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting
behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.
Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! "Peace be with you," he said.
As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his
side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord!
JOY
When we walk with the Lord our joy is complete. Whatever happens to us we
can overcome because our joy is in Christ. He is Lord and He loves us and
will never leave us. Jesus changes the way we see our life for He has a
plan for our life and no one or no thing can stop us.
02/23 John
20:21-23
He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has
sent me, so I send you." Then he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven.
If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven."
PEACE
Jesus brings peace into our life. When we are filled with the Lord we will
have peace like a river flowing through us and touching every area of our
life. When we choose to go on our own we quickly find that peace has left
us. We don’t generate peace. Peace is one of the resources we have when we
are walking with the Lord.
02/24 John
20:24-25
One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin ), was not with the
others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he
replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put
my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."
BELIEVE
Even though you have not seen Him you believe. Claim the life of Christ in
you and He will come and reside in you. We accept Christ by faith and we
live by faith. We believe He is with us and He promises that when we
believe He will be with us. We can live with confidence that Jesus is with
us when we follow Him.
02/25 John
20:26
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas
was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was
standing among them. He said, "Peace be with you."
PEACE
Jesus comes in and His peace is available for you. Spend time with Jesus.
He will calm the chaos, clear out the fears of life and give us His peace
and confidence. We too will be able to say that there is nothing that can
destroy us. Jesus is in me and I have light for living. He will guide me
and equip me to deal with real life.
02/26 John
20:27
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your
hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!"
BELIEVE
Step forward and ask
Christ to be in control of your life. You have to give it to Him because He
will not take our life unless we surrender it to Him. In Christ we can do
all things.
02/27 John
20:28-29
"My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, "You
believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and
believe anyway."
BELIEVE
The Lord’s promise to you is that He will be with you. You will never be
alone. You do not have to face life by yourself. The Lord Himself will
stand with you and equip you to do the next right thing. Come Lord Jesus.
02/28 John
20:30-31
Jesus' disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones
recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that
Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will
have life.
LIFE
Eternal life is difficult for us to comprehend. In fact what we will have
is life like Jesus had. We will never be disconnected from the Father. We
will be into relationship with Him forever. Come and accept what Jesus is
offering. Accept Christ as your Lord and Savior and live with Him.
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contact Clay:
clay@lifesongs.com
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Scripture quotations are
taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright© 1996. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
NASB Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New American
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