HOLY WEEK – WEDNESDAY

“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.”

– Luke 22:1-6

The Scripture doesn’t specifically say much about Wednesday. But that doesn’t mean things weren’t happening! The rage and jealousy of the religious leaders toward Jesus was boiling over. They’d repeatedly failed to trap Him in His words or bring Him down in the eyes of the people. His continued condemnation of their hypocrisy and sin were outrageous. The messianic energy of the crowds following Him frightened them.

Would Jesus turn the people against them? Would He start a revolution? Would He trigger a Roman crackdown that would cost them their influence and income? On what’s sometimes called “Spy Wednesday”, anger, fear, jealousy, greed, and the devil came together to hatch a practical plan to solve the Jesus problem permanently (or so they thought)!

Lest you feel too superior to them, ask God to run a thorough inspection of your heart. Would you be tempted to do the same thing in their situation? The truth is that there are many highly religious Christians today who would be sufficiently offended and embarrassed by the person and presence of Jesus that they’d be tempted to get rid of Him too! Christians more attached to wealth, influence, popularity, politics, favorite sins, and their warped version of Christianity than to their Lord.

Unfortunately, such attitudes can be subtle and infectious. Today seems like the perfect day to check and make sure nothing like that has happened to you! #FollowJesus

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