Reverence and Awe

(To hear this Mornings Devotion Click Here)
Good Morning -

This morning we are reminded of an event that takes place towards the end of Christ's life when Judas betrayed Him by bringing the soldiers of the high priest to where Christ was and kissing Christ on the cheek showing the guards which one of them was in fact Christ himself. Spurgeon makes this a metaphor as to how our present day world can sometimes lead us astray by speaking to our ears when in fact their intention is to lead us astray.

I think of the mormon coming to the door to tell me that they too are Christians just like me and that they too believe in Jesus. When in fact their belief is radically different.

What I would like to point out is that Jesus though He was betrayed he was not surprised by this betrayal. Not only did he call out Judas at the passover supper but he knew when they were arriving before they announced themselves in the garden of Gethsemane

Matthew 26:45-47 45)Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46)Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” 47)And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.(NKJV)

The opponents of Christ were never a surprise to him because he was truth. Likewise if we are abiding in the truth and his truth abides in us we too will recognize whenever we come against a false prophet or someone attempting to lead us astray. But if we are not abiding in Him through his word, and his word is not abiding in us, we will be tossed about by every wind of doctrine and false teaching that may come our way.

May we praise out lord this morning for giving us his word that through it we have his wisdom, and his wisdom looks with spiritual eyes that see beyond the physical things of this world.

I will leave you with a question - What does it mean to you to Abide in him as found in John 15:4?

(To hear this evenings devotion Click Here)
Good Evening -

We rejoice this evening with Spurgeon as he bring to our minds the great mystery of our Lord and Savior coming in the form of a man, a human being. This is a great gift to you and to me because if Jesus came to the earth yet were not in the form of a man we would not relate or identify with him in the same way. If Jesus was an unnatural supreme being that was something other than a human being we would not expect him to relate with our pains and sufferings as we experience them here in this life. But he did come in the form of a man and this was necessary in order that we might identify with him and in order that his sacrifice might cover our sins.

Philippians 2:5-8 5)Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6)who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7)but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8)And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.(NKJV)

May we rejoice this night with thanksgiving for the gift of God's son coming as a man. And who humbled himself being identified as "The Son of Man" that we might have access to the father.

I'll leave with another question. If you were there and saw Christ walking through the streets, would you recognize him as a king? Was he a king?

-jeff paisano