Reverence and Awe

GOOD MORNING!
(click to hear this morning's Devo)

In every remembrance of Calvary, in every event that took place during the trails and crucifixion of Christ as told in the scriptures there is a common inescapable fact. That Christ's blood was shed.

When you think back to the long drawn out process of the trials and scourging of Christ, His staggering footsteps up to Calvary, then hanging there for hours on the cross there must have been the stains of Christ's blood at each location and probably seen as a nuisance at the time. My heart breaks as I think about the annoyed servant who swings the mop in the court possibly never to know that these stains that burden him are the very drops that would set him free from sin and death. The very drops that are so needed by every person that has life.

In looking at the cross I am faced with a most bittersweet truth, that His blood spilt means for me FREEDOM and LIFE.
May we in every communion with Him remember Christ, His body laid down and His blood poured out upon us, washing us clean from the stains of sin, making us white as snow in the sight of God.

Let us love and sing and wonder, let us praise the Savior's name, he has hushed the law's loud thunder, he has quenched mount Sinai's flame - He has washed us with His blood, He has brought us nigh to God.

Let us wonder grace and justice, join and point to mercy's store, when through grace in Christ our trust is, justice smiles and asks no more - He has washed us with His blood, He secured our way to God. (Hymn - John Newton - Let us Love and Sing and Wonder.)

GOOD EVENING!
(click to hear this evening's Devo)

On prayer - Let us remember that the veil has been torn in two. This was the veil that hung in the temple and separated us from the presence of God. That veil has been removed and we are no longer separated from the presence of God. Let this be an encouragement to all of us that we have access to our God and Father, we have been brought near to him and we may truly sit at his feet in his presence in prayer and worship. What grounds for rejoicing!

One of my favorite pictures of prayer comes from Pastor John Piper as he describes prayer as a wartime walkie talkie in His book Let The Nations Be Glad:

Life is war…. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of frontline forces and gives God the glory of a limitless Provider. The one who gives the power gets the glory. Thus prayer safeguards the supremacy of God in missions while linking us with endless grace for every deed. (p. 41)

May we rejoice this evening that our Heavenly Father has communicated himself to us through His word and he hears our prayers!

-jeff paisano