Author: Brian Burdett

HOLY WEEK – TUESDAY

“And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’” – Mark 12:41-44

Tuesday was a very busy day for Jesus in the Temple. He met, observed, debated, and clashed with all kinds of people. On this day, Jesus commended the handful whose actions and attitudes were truly devoted to God. He condemned the many who only pretended to be faithful. Amidst countless controversies, conflicts, and condemnations for those overflowing with religiosity, money, power, and prestige came this deep love, honor, and praise for a poor woman who loved and trusted the Lord enough to make genuine sacrifices. While Jesus had little positive to say about those who considered themselves to be important, He loved humble people filled with genuine faith.

Jesus cares first and foremost for the condition of people’s hearts. Not their outward religiosity. Not their status or prosperity. Their heart. Jesus knows what’s in every heart and that’s what He desires: transformed, circumcised, devoted hearts of love, faith, generosity, and service. Not the appearance of those things. Their reality. Followers of Jesus must value the same thing in ourselves and others.

How’s your heart? Today is a perfect day to ask Jesus to inspect your heart! Is it like that of this poor widow? Or is it hard and self-satisfied like those who repeatedly tried to trick or trap Jesus that day in the Temple? #FollowJesus

HOLY WEEK – MONDAY

“In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.” – Matthew 21:18-19

After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, this seems like a strange way to start a Monday! What’s going on in this story? Was Jesus just hangry? Of course not!!!

The fig tree was a biblical symbol of the nation of Israel. On the Monday of Holy Week, Jesus encountered a fig tree that looked good and fruitful from a distance. However, upon closer inspection, He discovered it had no fruit growing. That tree wasn’t doing what it was made to do. So, Jesus condemned the tree.

With this act, He symbolically condemned the Temple and the nation of Israel. Both things looked quite impressive from a distance. So devoted to God. So awe-inspiring and zealous. However, on closer inspection, completely unfruitful. Rotten through-and-through. Business was being done on the Temple grounds, much of it dishonest. People earnestly came to meet God but their priests and religious leaders were corruptly conspiring to kill God’s Son to protect their own status, power, and money.

The fig tree was a symbol, an acted out parable about what lay in store for Jerusalem. Later in the week, its leaders would condemn Jesus to die. However, the real condemnation was on them as they repeatedly proved that they didn’t now God, and didn’t care to know Him. Even when He walked into His own temple. #FollowJesus

“So Joshua said to the people of Israel, ‘How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?’” – Joshua 18:3

That’s certainly a very blunt question, isn’t it? Joshua challenged the remaining tribes of Israel to stop making excuses, stop sitting around passively, and move forward into the good future God had already prepared for them. Have you ever been like that? Have you ever preferred the familiar status quo to moving into an uncertain future to which God is calling you? Have you ever made excuses rather than live out the glorious life that already belongs to you in Christ?

Let’s consider a few of the ways followers of Jesus can put themselves in exactly the same position as those reluctant tribes of Israel. Stuck… passive… missing out on God’s goodness and provision… One way is to fail to experience the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. If Jesus is your Lord, then God’s Holy Spirit already lives in you. He not only marks you as belonging to God, He lives in you to challenge you, convict you of sin, empower you for service, and transform you to become more and more like Jesus.

Jesus meets every person where they are, saves us from our sins when we believe in Him, then calls each of us to live a new life in Him. A radically transformed life full of joy in imitation of Jesus Himself. Nonetheless, Christians often fail to live that transformed life God has prepared for them. Usually that’s because we remain stuck in our old habits, patterns, and sins from before we met Jesus. Continuing to live and act as we did when we weren’t believers quenches the power of the Spirit within us. It prevents the Spirit’s fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – from forming in us. If you’re a Christian but aren’t living a transformed, Spirit-filled life, how long are you going to put off going in to experience what God has given you in Him?

Another way is when we fail to do the good works God specifically prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Every believer has good works prepared for them to do in the name of Jesus. As you do them, you experience purpose, joy, satisfaction, and God’s pleasure. You change lives and your life is changed. Are you doing those good works? Or are you making excuses about time, energy, money, busyness, ability, convenience, comfort, safety, or anything else? Don’t let excuses keep you from experiencing what God made you to do! If you’ve been playing it safe with the work Jesus is calling you to do, stop! How long are you going to put off going in to experience what God has given you in Him? #FollowJesus

“But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he said to them.” – Joshua 13:33

The Old Testament is tremendous attention to God’s promise of the land to the people of Israel. Their covenant included many laws intended to keep each tribe and family’s inheritance intact across all generations. The book of Joshua is particularly focused on the conquest and allotment of the land. And yet, God still includes this beautiful reminder that some things are infinitely more important and valuable than land, property, wealth, and stuff.

The tribe of Levi was given a unique inheritance. Not land but the call to serve in the Lord’s presence. To devote their lives to supporting the sacrifices, caring for (and carrying) the Tabernacle, leading worship, and serving God’s holy purpose among His people. The Scripture is clear – they didn’t lose out on this deal. They received the greater blessing! Even in a portion of the Bible super-focused on land, property, and earthly inheritance, their inheritance is a special treasure.

Always remember this truth, especially in our hyper-materialistic culture. Stuff can be nice but there’s a far better and more wonderful inheritance freely available to everyone. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ. That eternal inheritance in God’s presence is available to everyone who believes in His Son, regardless of tribe, language, or nation. In Christ, the Lord is our inheritance and He cannot be corrupted, scammed, or stolen from us. The Lord is our inheritance and He is worth infinitely more than all the acres of land and shares of stock on earth. As a Christian, never forget to treasure your real inheritance! #FollowJesus

“These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” – Joshua 9:13

Looks can be deceiving! The people of Gibeon, recognizing the danger posed by their newly arrived Israelite neighbors, created a clever deception. Counting on the Israelites’ unfamiliarity with the region, they created the appearance that they’d come from a long way away to make peace with God’s people. Their story was so convincing that Joshua and the other leaders were completely sold. They relied on what they saw and heard, trusting their own judgment while neglecting to pray about the people and their proposed treaty. Because they did, Israel went against God’s commands and made peace with a local pagan people.

God’s people are called to be discerning. Not suspicious or mean. Not cynical or uncaring. Prayerful, careful, and discerning. Jesus sent His first followers out into this difficult, deceitful, and dangerous world with instructions to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. The same is true to day. We must be kind, caring, loving, gentle, and above reproach personally. We must carefully guard our hearts against become jaded, cynical, or closed off to caring for those in need. However, that doesn’t mean we should be unquestioning about any story told to us. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do prayerful due diligence when asked for assistance or partnership.

If we must err, Christians should err on the side of being taken advantage of rather than the side of being cruel and uncaring. That said, we should really try to walk the narrow path of prayerful, Christ-like discernment as we steward the resources of time, energy, and treasure God entrusts to each of us. #FollowJesus