Read Romans 10:1-13. It sounds so simple. Declare and believe. Declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead. That’s it. Yet people everyday try to complicate it. “It can’t be that simple,” they say. “There has to be more to it than that.” But there isn’t. Declare and believe. Probably the greatest challenge we face in sharing our faith with others is the helping them to overcome that obstacle.   Would you agree?

Read John 11:38-44. This passage is a true story. I know that. But it is so powerful to think about the allegorical applications of it as well. For example, there is a barrier between each of us and the new life that Christ calls us to. For Lazarus it was a literal stone. For us it is sin, pride, and an unwillingness to yield ourselves to the authority of someone else. Lazarus was also tangled in his grave clothes until someone set him free. We are tangled in the issues of life, family, career and now coronavirus, that we may find ourselves unable to walk forward in faith in total freedom. My application today focuses on issues such as these. How about you?

Read John 11:17-37. Both sisters came with the same observation: “If you, Jesus, had been here, my brother would not have died.” But is that true? I don’t think so. We aren’t told why Lazarus died, so we have to assume it was of natural causes. The concern offered by the sisters is legitimate, and common. We often think that Jesus would have or could have prevented something we didn’t want to see. But we need to remember that part of our journey with Christ is learning to trust even when we feel like He has let us down. Have you been there? Yeah, me too.

Read John 11:1-16. Verse six of this story has always been intriguing to me: ​ “ Yet when he heard that   Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days” (vs. 6). ​ The love of   Jesus was so great that He delayed His coming to Lazarus. The human, logical, rationally thinking, western mind cannot grasp Jesus ’ actions. If Jesus ’ love was   so great for Lazarus, why didn ’ t He immediately go to Lazarus and meet his needs? If the love of Jesus was so great for His friend, why did He stall for another two days?     As you reflect upon this thought, listen to what Jesus said earlier: ​ “ This sickness   will not end in death. No, it is for God ’ s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” (vs. 4).  

Read Proverbs 3:5-6. Some of the greatest wisdom is found in these verses. And some of the greatest understanding comes out of reflecting upon the question: How am I to trust God in the midst of uncertainty? How am I to completely and fully depend, not upon myself, but on the provision, the peace, and the protection of God?     How might you acknowledge God today so that the path of God might be clear for you in the days ahead?  

Read Psalm 133. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (vs.1). ​ As   good and pleasant as it is for brothers and sisters in Christ to dwell together in   unity, the Church has been presented with what I believe is the greatest  opportunity the Church has ever seen in this generation: to dwell together without  physically being together. How does that happen? What does that look like?  How do we dwell together without physically being together? For starters, it means that we “do church” in ways that we’ve never done before.     What do you think it looks like for the Church to dwell and live together in unity in  a time when the coronavirus is disrupting our lives?  

Read John 20:19-29. After Jesus is raised from the dead, He appears to His fear-filled disciples. They were afraid. They were scared. And they didn’t know what to do without their Lord with them any longer. Sounds like something very similar to what you and I are experiencing today: fear, panic, and ever despair. For many of us, anxiety has set into our hearts and, like the disciples, Jesus speaks a word of peace, for He says three different times, ​ “ Peace be with you ” (vs. 19b, 21, 26b).      In times such as these, receiving God ’ s peace is comforting. How is Jesus   breathing His peace in your life today?    

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Now more than ever the Church - the Body of Christ - is called to let its light shine. We are living in uncertain times. We are experiencing and living through what many of us have never seen before. How do you think the Church can heed Paul’s call to view every member of the Body of Christ in the season in which we’re living? What does it look like for every member of Christ’s Church to do their part and to be the Church? Remember: the Church is not a building; it’s the people.     So, how might you be the Church today?  

Read John 9:26-41. The story of the blind man continues in our reading for today. But notice that where the man begins in verse 1 is not where he ends in verse 41. The man born blind begins by not knowing Jesus but ends by responding to Jesus’ question in faith, ​ “ Lord, I believe ” (vs. 38). ​ It doesn ’ t matter where you begin the journey.   What matters is where you finish.      How is Jesus continuing to reveal Himself to you? In what area(s) in your life is the Holy Spirit leading you to respond in faith, ​ “ Lord, I believe? ”

Read John 9:13-25. I love the story of the man born blind who was touched and transformed by Jesus. His life was touched. His life was transformed. And his life was forever changed by Jesus. This man’s blindness was not only physical; more importantly, it was spiritual. Often, I’ve seen God meet my physical needs as a way to open the door to meet the deeper spiritual need in my life.     How has God touched your life? How has Jesus opened your eyes to see? Don’t let anyone talk you out of your story, because it’s your story. Let people argue theology all they want, but your story is your testimony. So, share it with others and let it shine.  

Read John 9:1-12. Sometimes bad stuff happens. Sometimes it happens to me. But the bad in the world is not a limitation for God. That’s true whether it is a matter of physical blindness or spiritual blindness. Both vision problems are evident in this passage. And spiritual blindness is the most common of the two! In the midst of the bad, the difficult, the scary, the inconvenient, the panic, the terror – whatever the negativity may be, as a Christian I know that my God is above it all. Today, give all the negative stuff to God. I’m going to envision Him spitting in the dirt and putting the mud on me so I can be washed clean. Will you join me?

Read Galatians 5:13-18. How do we “walk in the Spirit?” We do so by allowing our lives to be under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We don’t focus on the host of other noises that come into our lives from a wide variety of sources – some good, some not so good. We do so by constantly asking ourselves “What is God calling me to do?” That requires us to live honestly with ourselves. We have to know it is God and not an allegiance to something else. Today is a good day to check your walk.

Read Psalm 84. Let me share a portion of this reading from The Message: “ And how blessed all those in whom you live, whose lives become roads you travel; They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks, discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain! God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and at the last turn—Zion!” I love the image of my life as a road on which God travels. I find assurance in knowing that He guides and directs me and is leading toward heaven. That means whatever I experience – even this maddening coronavirus – is meant to be a part of my journey. So teach me today, Lord, keep my heart and mind focused on what You are doing in me. Let my day be defined by what I hear from You, I pray.

Read Luke 10:1-17. The command (verse 3) is “Go!” The result (verse 17) is joy. Don’t miss that! Even if there are obstacles along the way, the result is the same. Jesus sends us out and we return filled with joy at what we experienced in our going. We can generate all sorts of reasons why going is not a good idea, can’t we? But think of the joy we miss because of our hesitation! These days we are being encouraged by all sorts of governmental and medical sources to “stay.” But remember we can still go – through the phone, email and other means of communication. Where will you go today?

Read 1 Samuel 16:14-23. What a wonderful reminder of God’s peace! Saul was a man tormented by external forces. He knew God. He knew how God could care for His people. He knew the difference God could make. Yet those external forces – a spirit of evil – constantly attacked him. Through David, Saul experienced once again the peace of God. In these days of panic, are you a Saul or a David? Are you feeling distressed or are you bringing peace? Be a David!

Read Romans 4:1-8.  When it comes to matters relating to salvation, God is the actor and we are the recipient. Jesus Christ saves us from our sins, redeems our lives from the mess we created, and brings us back into His loving embrace. All of this is not a work of man but a work of God. If salvation were the work of man, we would have something to boast about. But before God we have nothing about which to boast, only thanksgiving, worship and praise to what He has done for us. 

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. I’ve heard it said that the resurrection of Jesus was so widely witnessed that it is impossible to deny its reality. That’s why. We can’t deny it because so many people could attest to it. For us that means we cannot deny the impact of it either. Because “up from the grave He arose” (a reference to the Easter hymn), you and I have access to God’s grace. The penalty has been paid in full!

Read Psalm 51. The cry of the Psalmist (King David) should be the cry of us all: “Create in me a clean heart.” David had finally come to see himself as a flawed man. He had been caught in his sin and that exposure certainly helped him arrive at that realization. But nonetheless he arrived! And he knew that only God’s grace could remedy the mess he was in. On this Lord’s Day, as we spend time in worship let this psalm be our prayer!

Read John 4:5-26.  The story of the Samaritan woman reminds me that everything in this life will eventually leave us to thirst again. The things of this life come and go. But in Jesus, our thirst is forever quenched. In Jesus, everything we need is provided. In Jesus, our lives are complete and whole. So why seek anything else? Why drink from the well of this world and be thirsty again? Come to Jesus and never thirst again. 

Read Galatians 5:1-6. We have been given great freedom in Jesus. So, if Christ has set us free from the bondage of our sin, the temptations of the devil, and the lust of the flesh, why live enslaved to these things any longer? Because you are free, therefore, live the remainder of your days  like you are free. Don’t fall away from grace, fall into it. For by falling into grace, you fall into the very arms of Jesus. 

Read Acts 4:8-13.  One of the greatest observations and compliments someone could say to me is what the rulers and elders said about Peter and John: “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (vs. 13). Everything we need to bear witness about Jesus is provided as we spend time with Jesus. 

Read John 19:38-42.  After Jesus’ death on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea, at great risk to himself and his reputation, went to the Roman governor, Pilate, to request Jesus’ body. This was a great risk because Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Ruling Council, who called for Jesus’ crucifixion. Joseph was opposed to the Council’s decision to kill Jesus. So, alongside Nicodemus, they went to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. This is bearing witness to Jesus, even when everyone else around them wanted Jesus dead. How is Jesus leading you to bear witness to Him? 

Read Romans 1:16-17. Paul explains that he is not ashamed of the gospel. Why? Because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ that forgives sinners all their sins. If your life has been touched, changed and transformed by Jesus and, if all of your sins have been forgiven, of what is there to be ashamed?  Don’t be ashamed of how God has changed your life. And don’t be embarrassed about letting the light of Jesus shine through you. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

Genesis 15:1-21 I love the phrase, “Then the word of the Lord came to him…” (vs. 4a). IGod is making His covenant with Abram, but Abram is distressed when the Lord is promising one thing and his current reality suggests another. God is promising Abram many children and to be a blessing to the nations, but all he sees is the fact that he’s childless with little hope of a future. How is the word of the Lord coming to you? How is this word bringing life and hope into the current reality that you currently see? 

Read John 3:1-17. Nicodemus was a very religious person. He was an expert in his religious views and one of the religious leaders of the Jewish people. Yet he needed something else. He needed a personal relationship Jesus. That is an important message for our generation. It is not enough to be religious, even very religious. People need Jesus, not just a belief system.

Read Philippians 2:1-11. In verse 8, the writer describes how Jesus became “obedient to death—even death on a cross!” This reminds me of a classic quote from Dietrich Bonhoffer in his book “The Cost of Discipleship.” He writes: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Lent reminds each of us that we are to take up our crosses daily as we follow Jesus on this journey. Following Jesus always brings us face-to-face with a cross.

Read 2 Timothy 3:10-17. This passage reminds me of the temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4). When persecuted (tempted) Jesus relied on the Word of God. Through it He was “equipped” to deal with everything the devil threw His way. This emphasizes the importance of learning the Scriptures from the time you are young. Don’t miss the importance of this!

Read John 15:1-17. The phrase from this passage that stands out the most to me is found in verse 15: “I no longer call you servants … instead I have called you friends.” This speaks to me of a different kind of God – a God who desires a relational connection to each of us. That echoes throughout the passage, of course, with the imagery of branches connected to the vine. But to be considered a friend of Jesus is a far more intimate image for me. As with any friendship, I need to cultivate that friendship, spending time with Him, talking to Him, listening to Him. That’s my goal today.

Joshua 1:1-9 How wonderful is the presence of God? Because of it, I do not need to be afraid or discouraged; rather I can be strong and have courage. Why? Because God is with me. In my walk with Christ, I need to remember that I am walking WITH Christ. He is there with me always. Sometimes, in my weakest moments, I lose sight of Him and I see all those other things that tug at me and tempt me. So today I rejoice in knowing that wherever I go today – whatever this day holds – my God goes with me.

Read John 10:1-10. Sheep know the voice of the shepherd, and they follow that voice. They don’t follow any other voice because they know their shepherd is good. He is the one who lovingly cares for them. But they have to know the voice of the shepherd in order for this to work. “Oh Lord, help me today to hear your voice in the midst of all the other noise that will fill my head.”

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-3 The question asked by the serpent (“Did God really say…?) really speaks to me about the importance of knowing God’s Word. What did God say? Or for us today “What has God said through the pages of Scripture that should define our lives and boundaries today?” We humans rely way too much on what someone else tells us that God says rather than knowing for ourselves, don’t we?   I’m reminded again today that if I ever wonder what God said, the answer lies within my ability to discover.   I just need to open my Bible.