April Reading

April Daily Readings

Sunday Schedule

8:30 a.m.

Contemporary Worship

9:45 a.m.

Christian Education for all ages

11:00 a.m.

Traditional Worship

First Presbyterian Church of

Mount Vernon Ohio

106 North Gay Street

Mount Vernon OH 43050

740-393-1326

Office Hours: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. M-F

Friday, April 1

Jeremiah 11:1-8, 14-20 Then the Lord said to me: Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: Hear the words of this covenant and obey them. (v.6)

Reading Chapter 11 of Jeremiah, entitled “Plea for Fidelity to the Covenant,” has me wondering whether I actually know what our covenant with God specifically entails. As I mature in my Christianity, I notice I am more concerned with, among other things, how well I’m holding up my part of the bargain. Now, I do understand we’re talking faith in and love for God and not perfect works from me. But, from that place of faith and love, I want more and more to make sure I understand God’s Word as guidance for my day-to-day life.

Jeremiah 11:4-5 tells us what exactly this “covenant” with God entails. In these verses, the Lord recounts His words to the Israelites fleeing Egypt: “ Listen to my voice and do all that I command you. Then you shall be my people, and I will be your God. Thus I will fulfill the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey.”

My part in this ancient agreement seems suddenly crystal clear: I am to listen to God and obey Him. Lord, help me to do just that.

Psalm 88; Romans 6:1-11; John 8:33-47

Saturday, April 2

Romans 6:12-23 But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted. Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. (v.17)

I am quite sure that the evil one delights in a particular deception he has found very useful and effective throughout human history. In his campaign to offer a “new and improved” version of our God-given free will, we have allowed him to redefine the two basic choices we face in a subtle and self-serving way: Do we choose to: a) serve God or b) experience freedom?

This distorted dichotomy is very appealing in our present society where personal freedom and independence, as defined by the world, are worshiped and glorified. But Paul corrects this false dilemma in Romans 6:16 when he says, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness.” God’s Word reminds us that as beings who did not create ourselves, we are, by inherent design, dependent and under authority outside ourselves.

In light of Paul’s illumination, the real choices presented to our free will come into focus: simply put, whom will we serve—a) God or b) sin?

Jeremiah 13:1-11; Psalms 87, 90; John 8:47-59

Sunday, April 3

Mark 8:11-21 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” (v.12 NRSV)

A number of years ago, we were wrestling with a major career decision. An attractive opportunity, but one that had been declined twice before for various reasons, was offered yet again. Each of us having previously made “mistakes” in large decisions when we were younger, we were both conscious of the potential consequences of another such misstep in the lives of our young family.

A counselor acquaintance listened to our analysis of the dilemma and concluded that while Rod was perhaps not perfectly suited for the position, he could probably make it work if he wanted to. Small comfort that. A wise friend, whose spiritual maturity we both greatly admired, tried to assure us that God was very capable of redeeming our mistakes, but that was still not quite the guarantee we were looking for. We did not yet understand that we were looking for a sign, rather relying on what God was offering us.

Jeremiah 14:1-9, 17-22; Psalms 66, 67; Galatians 4:21—5:1

Monday, April 4

John 6:1-15 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people.” Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. (vv.9, 11)

It is said that the dismal science of economics has to do with the allocation of scarce resources. In that sense, economists seek to achieve an optimal distribution of those scarce resources in a society where needs far exceed what is available to meet them. A less charitable view might consider that to be an arbitrary and inappropriate redistribution of wealth.

At the time of our career wrestling, we were strongly motivated by a desire to improve our family’s financial prospects and gain a measure of security we sensed was lacking. We understood that there are too many uncertainties in life to be able to ensure a favorable outcome, but rationalizations came easily. After all, greater income would enable us to save more for our children’s education or afford more life insurance. Or, on a more altruistic note, we might be able to do more for our extended family and others. But while we were thankful to have such opportunities and choices, we still did not get the meaning of the loaves.

Jeremiah 16:10-21; Psalm 89:1-18; Romans 7:1-12

Tuesday, April 5

John 6:16-27 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. (v.19)

After too much hand-wringing (and too little prayer) in our decision process, we turned to our pastor, who said, “I don’t think God really cares what you do as long as you trust in Him.” Like the words we had received earlier from the counselor and from our friend, our pastor’s response was also not the answer we were seeking. Nevertheless, it was sufficiently provocative to nudge us toward a decision based largely on trusting in something we did not understand.

Contrasting today’s story of Jesus walking on the water with yesterday’s feeding of the multitude, the faith and trust required to step out onto the water (or into a new future) seemed much greater than that required to sustain our present needs. A few years ago our small group tackled Dallas Willard’s book Hearing God, the message of which has proved to be difficult to translate into faithful spiritual practice. After that, the group determined that John Ortberg’s If You Want to Walk on Water (You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat) might be an easier read, but, if anything, it proved even more of a challenge to our off-again, on-again willingness to trust in God. We’ve found that it’s much easier to offer to God the future that we cannot see than the here and now reality that demands a more immediate response.

And that’s why it seems that it was the sight of Jesus walking toward the disciples on the water that was terrifying to them. The Living Word had come very near them, offering himself as the sign we’re all seeking. And he invites each of us to give up our here and now lives as a sign for others to follow.

Jeremiah 17:19-27; Psalms 97, 99, 100; Romans 7:13-25

Wednesday, April 6

John 6:27-40 “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (v.33)

We’ve slowly begun to perceive that in embarking on this journey we have unwittingly stepped into the sometimes comical, often exasperating, and almost always uncertain experiences that seem to mark Jesus’ relationships with his disciples. They just didn’t get it, and, frequently, neither do we.

We might have had more confidence in our career decision, as well as the life that lay ahead for our family, if we had managed to connect the dots between Sunday’s reading from Mark’s gospel on our need for a sign and today’s reading from Jesus’ discourse on the bread of life as recorded by John.

The crowd following Jesus after his feeding of the multitude was also looking for a sign, but he answered them by saying, “You are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalms 101, 109; Romans 8:1-11

Thursday, April 7

John 6:41-51 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” (v.41)

These next few days of readings from John are like the review before the final exam. Jesus’ words are striking in both symbol and substance. And since he knows that we, like the murmuring crowd, are still struggling to get it, Jesus carefully makes the connections that we cannot or will not see, from the manna in the wilderness, to the feeding of the five thousand, to himself—the bread of heaven, come to give us life.

While we couldn’t foresee the progress of our lives, notwithstanding all our careful plans and rational considerations, being able to look back on the road we have traveled and see how we were provided the “manna in the wilderness” does give us hope for the heavenly bread that feeds us day by day.

Jeremiah 22:13-23; Psalm 69; Romans 8:12-27

Friday, April 8

John 6:52-59 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (v.53)

We are so used to the imagery of Holy Communion that we forget how shocking this progression in Jesus’ teaching really is—eat his flesh; drink his blood—and absolutely prohibited by Jewish law. How scandalous! It is here that the people begin to turn away. These words are really too hard. This is not what we came to hear.

And yet, because Jesus says “the one who feeds on me will live because of me,” Paul is able to proclaim that “…neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

Jeremiah 23:1-8; Psalm 102; Romans 8:28-39

Saturday, April 9

John 6:60-71 So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (vv.67-68)

The words have been hard to understand and difficult to accept. This journey in faith has not been what we expected. Our hopes and dreams didn’t always turn out the way we planned. There have been costly, painful detours; we have on more than one occasion failed to see the warning, “Bridge Out Ahead.”

So like the disciples, we often complain; sometimes we even turn away. But there are no seasons to the Father’s insistent invitation to return to Him, and so we keep coming back. We say with Peter, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Jeremiah 23:9-15; Psalms 107:33-43, 108; Romans 9:1-18

Sunday, April 10

Mark 8:31—9:1 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. (vv.31-32 NIV)

I have a soft spot in my heart for Peter. He loved the Lord but often operated under his own thoughts and direction even though he was seeking to do God’s will.

As Jesus was preparing his disciples for what was to come, Peter did not want to hear it. Even though Peter was acting out of love for the Lord (as he could not bear to think that the Lord would be treated in the way the Lord was describing) he was not listening.

In this day and time, it is hard to “hear” the Lord speaking to us. But we should not despair, we have only to pick up the Bible and read it to hear what Jesus has to say to us. When we are reading God’s word consistently, it starts to “speak” to us (through the Holy Spirit). We often find ourselves saying, “Wow, that was really meant for me to hear today!”

Finding time consistently for reading God’s word is key to listening and ultimately hearing Him.

Dear heavenly Father, please help us to hear what you want us to hear, learn what you want us to learn, and glorify you through our actions.

Jeremiah 23:16-32; Psalm 118; 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Monday, April 11

John 9:1-17 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (vv.1-3)

What is happening in your life so that the work of God might be displayed? Through this passage we see a wonderful way to re-examine any sort of adversity in our lives. A friend of mine told me that after wallowing in the question of “why me?” for a period of time, God led her to ask, “what for?” After years of eating her lunch in the school restroom to escape teen bullying, she went on to create a curriculum for middle school girls to help them deal with teen bullying—both the bullies and the bullied. How are you allowing God to use the “why me?” in your life to become the “what for?” for Him?

Father God, whenever we face adversity, please help us to seek you to help us understand how this adversity can glorify you.

Jeremiah 24:1-10; Psalm 31; Romans 9:19-33

Tuesday, April 12

Romans 10:1-13 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (vv.9-10)

Have you ever been going along minding your own business and, all at once, you get an overwhelming happy feeling or a joyous flash of insight? Have you ever been surrounded by the beauty of nature and felt total peace and harmony? I think of these as glimpses into the life God wanted for all of us before sin was introduced into the world at the “fall.” I like to call these God-moments where God is showing us what it will feel like to be with Him forever. And what does it take for us to be sure we will be with Him forever? Confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. We are saved so that we can be with Him forever. And, for however long we have left on this earth, walking with Him in salvation makes living this life so much more meaningful. Salvation enables the Holy Spirit to dwell within us to be our constant companion, counselor, and comforter—helping us navigate this fallen and evil world.

Praise God for salvation through Jesus and daily guidance through His Word and His Holy Spirit to bring us through this life and ensure our place with Him in the next life—eternal life.

Jeremiah 25:8-17; Psalms 120, 121, 122, 123; John 9:18-41

Wednesday, April 13

John 10:1-18 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” (vv.7, 9)

In Jesus’ day, many people made their living as shepherds. But being a shepherd was more than just work, it was a way of life. Shepherds cared for their flocks by going before them to make sure it was safe and by helping any of the sheep that were threatened or lost. If one was lost, the shepherd would search high and low until the wayward sheep was found. The sheep knew their shepherd’s voice and would not follow another out of the gate that secured the area where they slept.

To us humans, there is just something about sheep that makes us smile. Maybe it is their fuzzy being or their sweet sound. To Jesus, we are his sheep and he is our salvation. We can be confident in his voice and take comfort in the fact that he will search for us so he can save us. All we have to do is listen to his voice and follow him to be saved.

Dear Lord, we thank you that we have Jesus as our shepherd leading us through this life. Keep our eyes and ears focused on him as we follow him to your kingdom.

Jeremiah 25:30-38; Psalm 119:145-176; Romans 10:14-21

Thursday, April 14

Psalm 133 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (v.1)

When we gaze at our Christian calendar we see many reasons for celebration—among them are the birth of Christ, his resurrection, and Pentecost. Each worship service is indeed a celebration when we all come together for the Eucharist. We share so many things and I think, during this time of Lent, that it is good to reflect on one of the many gifts He gave us: the community of believers. How wonderful it is to share in this profound bond, no matter where our travels may take us. We might be in church or in the hospital, at work or on vacation, with loved ones or in solitude; we are always connected through Christ. Even during times of discord among believers, Christ is the glue that will always be there.

I have been blessed by many expressions of love in our Christian community. Of my early memories was the feeling of being welcomed at the Lord’s Table and into the church community when, during a blessing, I was called “my brother.” We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Hallelujah and all praise to our Heavenly Father.

Jeremiah 26:1-16; Psalms 131, 132; Romans 11:1-12; John 10:19-42

Friday, April 15

Psalm 22 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. (v.11)

In this amazing psalm, David reveals in stunning detail the future suffering and agony of our Lord. And while we may never identify with the degree of his physical anguish, most of us have or will experience a feeling of isolation, abandonment, loneliness, or despair. We have felt far from God and far from any comfort. But, by His wonderful grace, if we ask, seek, and knock (see Matthew 7:7) a door will be opened and the warmth of His love will appear.

I can recall many times when I felt lost. It was only sometime after prayer that His help and comfort arrived. It became so common that I simply learned that I could expect His presence to shine upon me. I no longer had to wonder and worry if my little suffering would end, for I knew it would. True to His unlimited creativity, I was frequently surprised at the way in which it came and I was often lifted up far beyond my expectations.

Thank you, Lord, for your unceasing love and presence.

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-13; Romans 11:13-24; John 11:1-27

Saturday, April 16

Jeremiah 31:27-34 “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.” (v.33)

The promises He made are promises He has kept. I came to Christ when in my teens. Like so many I drifted after a few years and kept right on drifting for 30 years! I looked for God but my searching was directed by me and not by Christ. Still, there was a part of me that somehow knew that only by returning to Him would I find what I was looking for. Illness became my wake-up call and there He was—waiting in love and mercy. Indeed, His Law had been in my heart and mind the entire time. And I knew that His love was also with me, abiding in me while I searched, waiting for me to remember.

I hear many faithful Christians say that they struggle to maintain their connection to our Lord as they go through their day-to-day activities. But, how glorious it is when we have those moments of return and how wonderful it will be when we are joined in eternity, never to forget again.

Praise to you Lord, for your mercy and love are great!

Psalms 137, 144; Romans 11:25-36; John 11:28-44

Palm Sunday, April 17

Zechariah 9:9-12 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (v.9 NIV)

Gentleness is a characteristic of Jesus that I often tend to overlook. When thinking of all the adjectives I could use to describe our Lord and Savior, I would first think of words like: mighty, powerful, omniscient, loving, eternal, compassionate, strong, faithful, forgiving, life-giving, peace-giving, etc. The list could go on and on, of course, and eventually “gentleness” would be added—especially if I were to recall the list of the fruit of the Holy Spirit from Galatians 5: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Jesus has given us his Holy Spirit, to work in and through us to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, and his life, death, and resurrection displayed all these qualities. So, as we remember Jesus riding humbly into Jerusalem on a donkey, his followers joyfully waving palm branches and praising his name, let us ponder his gentleness and ask the Lord to fill our own souls with the gift of gentleness.

Psalms 24, 29; 1 Timothy 6:12-16; Matthew 21:12-17

Monday, April 18

Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. (v.1)

David’s plea for forgiveness, though it was uttered about three thousand years ago, is timeless. It is my plea, my prayer, during this Holy Week, and should be my prayer each and every day of my life! God is the only one who can “blot out my transgressions” and, because of Jesus and his work on my behalf, his blood can cleanse me and make me “white as snow.”

Why would God choose to cover our sins through the sacrifice of His one and only Son? This verse gives us three clues: because of His mercifulness, His unfailing love of His creatures, and His great compassion for our weaknesses and sinfulness. He knows exactly who we are, knows that we have no power to redeem ourselves, and that we have no way to remove our sins and make ourselves presentable to Him except through the pathway He has ordained for us.

Help us, Father, during this Holy Week to go deeper in our understanding and gratitude for your great mercy and compassion and unfailing love. Help us not to simply hold on to these gifts from you, but to open up our hearts and let your mercy, love, and compassion flow out to others.

Jeremiah 12:1-16; Philippians 3:1-14; John 12:9-19

Tuesday, April 19

John 12:20-26 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (vv.23-24)

Jesus’ death, like a seed planted in the ground and dying, gives birth to new life; and, in his case, that life, unlike the seed’s, is eternal. It gives rise to new, eternal life in each and every believer, and so it multiplies endlessly. The new life you and I have in Jesus was only made possible by his death. Likewise, in order to receive this new life, we have to die to our old life; our former sin-filled life must be obliterated and replaced with new life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Before I received my new life in Jesus, I was like a barren seed, living an encapsulated life, not allowing the power of God to break down the barriers I had erected, not opening my heart to his life-giving Spirit. In time my eyes and ears were opened to the Truth, and as I prayed for the gift of faith, belief in Jesus took root in my heart and began to grow.

Growth comes only if I die daily to my sinful self. It’s hard work, and some days are harder than others, but again the Lord allows me to make a choice as to how I will live each day….

Help me, Lord Jesus, to empty myself of my selfish desires so that I may be filled with your life-giving Spirit!

Jeremiah 15:10-21; Psalms 6, 12; Philippians 3:15-21

Wednesday, April 20

Philippians 4:1-13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (v.13)

It’s a tragedy that believers often fail to ask for and receive the strength of the Lord that can enable us to live as the apostle Paul lived. He explains in verses 10-19 that he has learned to be content, regardless of his circumstances. Paul had lived through times of plenty and times of want, had been well-fed and at other times went hungry. He had been beaten and even imprisoned for his faith, but at other times had been praised and thanked for his fearlessness and passion to share the Good News. In every one of these situations, Paul said he had learned the secret of being content: drawing on the strength of Jesus.

We all have our times of trial and struggle, whether emotional, physical, or spiritual. Many of us have suffered great losses, such as the loss of a child, the betrayal of a friend or colleague, the end of a marriage, the death of a close loved one, the loss of a job, or the loss of financial security. In the midst of trouble of any sort, let us embrace and reaffirm our belief in the power of Almighty God to see us through and say with Paul, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Jeremiah 17:5-10, 14-17; Psalm 55; John 12:27-36

Maundy Thursday, April 21

1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 11:27-32 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. (v.28)

Today we commemorate our Lord’s last supper, which he shared with his disciples in anticipation of his death and resurrection, teaching them it’s meaning and the importance of incorporating it into worship. In this letter to the church at Corinth, Paul reminds the believers that eating the bread and drinking the cup is a serious and solemn exercise, for which believers need to prayerfully prepare. The Message paraphrases 11:28 this way: “Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.”

In light of this, many churches have made confession of sins a prelude to participating in the Communion, or the Holy Eucharist. When we recognize, confess, and repent of our sins, we are reminded of how much we need the Lord, and are in need of his forgiveness. He is holy and we should, indeed, “come to this meal in holy awe.” After all, giving his life up for us was an act of love so extreme and awe-some, that we cannot help but be grateful and desirous of honoring him through our participation in this beautiful sacrament.

Focus intently on the face of Jesus as you receive his riches, and think of his last supper.

Jeremiah 20:7-11; Psalm 102; John 17:1-26

Good Friday, April 22

Genesis 22:1-14 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (v.12)

I have always been fascinated by the many ways that the Old and New Testaments intertwine and tie together. The Bible contains numerous instances of Old Testament prophesies that find their fulfillment in the New Testament, and many instances of Old Testament events that are foreshadows of future events. This story from Genesis is one such instance.

It tells of Abraham’s incredible obedience to God that was the result of his total trust and belief in God and His promises. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his one and only son, whom he loved, if God required it. Thankfully, He didn’t. However, centuries later, God Himself sacrificed His one and only Son, whom He loved; the perfect lamb and final sacrifice that atoned for all the past, present, and future sins of the world. When Abraham’s son, Issac, asked him on the way up the mountain where the lamb for the sacrifice was, Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering” (v.8). And, indeed he did…both then and later.

Dear heavenly Father, when we are tempted to disobey because we think obedience is too difficult for us, help us to remember Abraham, knowing that You will always provide for us if we show our love for You by obeying Your commands.

Psalm 22; 1 Peter 1:10-20; John 13:36-38

Holy Saturday, April 23

Hebrews 4:1-16 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (v.12)

What a blessing it is to have the living word of God available to us today in so many forms. If you don’t have your Bible (the book form) with you and want to look up a Scripture, you can do it on a computer, a cell phone, or an iPad. It is available in almost any language, multiple print sizes, varied forms of translation, Braille, or in audio form. The question is, do we spend time in it and do we allow it to do its work in our lives?

Consider what Eerdman’s The New Bible Commentary: Revised has to say about Hebrews 4:12: “…this Word is God’s Word. It shares the very attributes of God Himself. It is living, and full of activity and power to achieve. In it God Himself is active, and so it is never without result (see Isaiah 55:11); it brings either salvation or judgment. It penetrates into a man’s inmost being and, like a dissecting knife, forces open a radical division and distinction between things that differ in human life. It brings under judgment the thoughts and ideas of man’s mind and will. It is the ‘critic’ by which all are judged.”

Thank you, Father, that your word is alive and active. Plant a desire in our hearts to study it and be transformed by it, as it brings us closer to you.

Job 19:21-27a; Psalm 88

Easter Sunday, April 24

Exodus 12:1-14 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. (v.4 ESV)

“Alleluia! Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed!” The proclamation rings throughout congregations today amidst the chocolate bunnies, fluffy-bowed dresses, colorful eggs and bouquets of lilies.

Easter—the Old Testament Passover of the blood of the lamb made real and eternal for us all. Through Christ, the Lamb of God, we are smeared with His blood and made clean. God passes over our sins.

But, the Exodus lesson reminds us the deed was communal. It was for the chosen people, and they were to share the lamb with those less fortunate or those who did not have families. Who are you sharing Easter with today who may think they are too small or too unworthy to be chosen to receive the Lamb? Alleluia—no one is. That’s the crux of the message, isn’t it?

Psalms 148, 149, 150; John1:1-18

Monday, April 25

Psalm 93 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty! (vv.3-4)

In the Texas Hill Country where I grew up, flash floods are a common occurrence. But they are never humdrum. The rivers flow above a deep aquifer of crystal clear water filtered through limestone. Cool springs bubble up just below the surface. So, a sudden downpour upstream can raise the water table and turn into a roaring wall of water in a hurry, like a full-on spigot of water in an already full bathtub.

One cannot witness the roar and the wall of water without realizing the power of the hand behind it. Everything in the flood’s path is affected; even mighty cypress trees can be bent over. It reminds me of the power of God’s love. It can sweep over us and wash away our sins, our fears, and our doubts. It can bend the troubles we thought were too enormous for us to handle…and it can bend our stubborn wills as well.

But at other times, the Hill Country floods are a quiet rise over several hours. What was bubbling below the surface magnifies and overflows the banks. The rush of the water is quieter, but just as powerful. There are times when God’s love is like that—a slow moving force in our lives that fills our souls to over-brimming. Just as mighty. Just as sweeping.

Jonah 2:1-9; Psalm 98; Acts 2:14, 22-32; John 14:1-14

Tuesday, April 26

Acts 2:26-47 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. (vv.42-43)

Isn’t that what we, as the Church today, should be about? Of course!

When I first read this passage during my high school hippie-influenced days in the early 1970’s, it reminded me of the communes everyone was singing about. All were to share; everyone’s possessions were to belong to each other. No jealousies, no greed. Not very likely!

The problem is, we are all sinners. Greed, pride, lust, envy—these are part of our human nature. Communal living can’t wipe that out. Only communion living can—the communion of the saints in Christ who realize they are sinners in need of a Savior. That’s you and me at our best, when we let Christ reign in our hearts. Only then can the awesome wonders and signs such as the healing of relationships and bodies be manifested. When we break bread and pray, then we can be filled with the Holy Spirit and fellowship with one another. Through that fellowship, we can teach others what communion living is all about. It began in the congregations 2,000 plus years ago. It can still exist in our congregations today when we realize the Source and devote ourselves to Him alone. Then, like those congregations of old, so will ours flourish and grow.

Isaiah 30:18-21; Psalm 103; John 14:15-31

Wednesday, April 27

John 15:1-11 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (v.4)

I don’t know that much about gardening, especially grapes. So when I heard a lecture on how the vine must be deeply cut in order for the branch to be grafted into it, it made me cringe. When you cut a vine, the sap flows out. Then, it slowly begins to flow into the grafted branch, giving it new life. It was a vivid reminder of how deeply Christ suffered so that he might be a part of me and I of him.

I have seen movies of how a grapevine that looks like a dead twig is lovingly transported from Italy or France and planted in the “New World” to begin a new vineyard that soon sprawls over acres and acres. So can Christ be transplanted into new souls and his love spread to others. What seemingly was dead can become alive with sap flowing deeply through it.

I want to be a sap for Christ—a Soul Always Producing fruit. I want him abiding and flowing through me, giving me life. How about you?

Micah 7:7-15; Psalms 97, 99; Acts 3:1-10

Thursday, April 28

Psalm 147 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. (vv.3-4)

I don’t think it is a coincidence that these two thoughts of the psalmist were put together. I do think it is one of the hardest things to comprehend. How the Creator of the Universe with all He has to do can reach down and wipe away my tears or provide just the encouraging sign I need right when I need it.

Have you ever felt that way? Humbling, isn’t it? Yet He intimately knows not only the stars in the heavens but the number of hairs on our heads. I can barely count the ones in my hairbrush, though they seem to be more numerous as I grow older.

There is a magnet on my refrigerator that bears one of my favorite sayings. Whenever I wonder where God is, I recall what it says. “Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed.” Profoundly simple, but profoundly awesome. It puts things in perspective for me. As do these two verses. And, once again, I fall on my knees.

Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 146; Acts 3:11-26; John 15:12-27

Friday, April 29

Daniel 12:1-4, 13 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.” (v.1)

There is one theme that runs through the entire Bible, time and time again. There may be trouble, but God always delivers the faithful. He always finds a way. He showed Noah how to build an ark. God found a way in Joseph’s plight for him to be delivered, and to prosper so he could in turn deliver his family. God restored Job’s possessions after everything had been taken from him. Even though David sinned, God kept His promise to carry on his lineage. The prophets like Isaiah predicted it. It was true in Daniel’s time when the Hebrews had been exiled from the Promised Land.

God always provides a ray of hope in the midst of chaos and trouble. Those who believe, even though they cannot yet see it, are the ones He delivers. The remnant faithful will always survive and prosper. The ultimate way out was provided through His Son on the Cross. It still is. Christ is the hope for a troubled world and a troubled soul. He can take what is seemingly destroyed and renew it. Just when we think circumstances have charge over us, Christ provides the escape back into His grace. We, as His faithful people, must believe it will happen, and wait for it to appear. Easier said than done, but that is what faith is all about.

Psalm 136; Acts 4:1-12; John 16:1-15Sunday, April 3

Mark 8:11-21 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” (v.12 NRSV)

Jeremiah 14:1-9, 17-22; Psalms 66, 67; Galatians 4:21—5:1

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