The Forever Notebook: Daily Quiet Time Devotions for Christians, Book 2, April - June

April 1

The Most Foolish Thing You Can Do

The fool says in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Psalm 14:1

This is the 4th in a series of Easter season messages and today’s focus is on fools. You may be wondering what Easter has to do with fools. For that matter, what does Psalm 14:1 have to do with Easter? Actually, it has everything to do with the Easter story. (And since it’s April Fool’s Day)

A fool is a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person. Do you know anybody who fits that definition? How about that obnoxious co-worker who shows up late, leaves early, plays all day on her cellphone, and then complains about being overworked? Or that customer service representative who just wasn’t willing to help? Did I hear someone say do-nothing politicians? Don’t get me started.

Let’s stop for a moment. You may be thinking, I thought we weren’t supposed to call someone a fool. Jesus said, anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Mt. 5:22)

In context, (Mt. 5:21-26) Jesus is referencing severe anger directed at another, hostility that must be reconciled. He instructs us to work out our differences quickly. Unresolved aggressive behavior toward another is symptomatic of a spiritual deficiency. In verse 25, Jesus tells us to settle matters quickly with your adversary.

Fools are first identified in our focus text (Psalm 14:1) as those who say There is no God. Then in the verses that follow David amplifies the meaning by describing the behavior of fools. Just in case you think he must be talking about somebody other than you or me, David writes, there is no one who does good. In verse 3 he repeats the phrase and adds the words not one. All of us at some time in our lives were viewed by God as fools.

David describes what God sees when he looks at man in verse 2: The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Sadly, what God sees is not a pretty picture. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. (v3)

We are born with a sin nature which means based on the previous description, we come into the world as fools which is precisely where the Easter story comes into play. God looked at the foolish state of man and provided a remedy. Out of His love, He sent Jesus to die for our sinful foolish ways. Maybe Mr. T (The A-Team) had a little more depth of meaning than I ever gave him credit for when he shouted, Pity the fool! The LORD looked down from heaven with compassion and saw we were incapable of fellowship with Him.

You may think it is overly bold to say the person who is without God is a fool. But those aren’t my words. They are God’s words. The fool says in his heart, There is no God. God does not want anyone to remain as a fool. (2 Pet 3:9) But to reject His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ is to remain a fool. The Apostle Paul wrote, For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18) That is to say that, You are a fool to reject Christ.

To be clear, Christians can still act like fools. We act foolishly when we disobey God or fail to follow His direction. But the difference between us and the person who denies God is that God no longer sees us as fools. When God looks at the Christian, He sees the righteousness of Christ.

This message will be received by some as foolishness and those of us who express such thoughts will be perceived as fools for Christ. (1 Co 4:10) But better a fool in the eyes of man than in the eyes of Almighty God.

What then is the most foolish thing man can do? The most foolish thing that anyone can do is to reject the Easter message. Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead that you might have eternal life. Repent of your foolish ways (sin) and put your faith, trust, and hope in Jesus.

April 2

Because He Lives

Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!

Matthew 20: 17-19

When Jesus made this claim, his disciples didn’t grasp the meaning. Such an incredible prophecy of one’s fate was far beyond the realm of human understanding. Sure, Jesus’ ministry had been met with opposition but He had extraordinary powers, amazing knowledge, and wisdom. Wherever He went, He drew large crowds of people who adored Him. They saw Jesus as the blessed hope of Israel, the one who would be their great liberator and king. The future looked so promising. With Jesus as their leader, they were headed for a better tomorrow. Then, suddenly, Jesus hit them with words that stopped them in their tracks. Betrayed. Condemned. Mocked. Flogged. Crucified!

This One who would lead them was now prophesying His impending death. There are few things in life that hit so hard as the news that someone you love dearly is about to die. Possibly, they were too consumed by words of Jesus’ death to consider the words that followed. On the third day he will be raised to life! Even if they tried to process these words such an event was beyond comprehension. People just don’t die and then come back to life a few days later. They had seen Jesus perform amazing miracles including raising Lazarus from the dead but this assertion was beyond comprehension.

Possibly, they were only hearing what they wanted to hear, much like the way we sometimes read scripture. It’s like watching television, tuning out the commercials, and channel surfing until we settle on something acceptable.

I once worked with a radio station receptionist who read the bible at her desk every day. I noticed she was highlighting scripture — but not with a yellow highlight pen. She was using a black marker. It looked like she was marking out parts of scripture she didn’t like.

We also cannot ignore the fact that the Holy Spirit often veiled the meaning of Jesus’ instruction only to give them understanding at a later time. The same thing happens to us. Have you ever read a passage of scripture numerous times and then one day you have a light bulb experience? So that’s what that means.

It was not until after Jesus’ resurrection they could understand His prophecy. It took a relatable life experience and the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit to comprehend Jesus’ words.

Jesus’ prophecy concerning Himself revealed that on the other side of suffering everything will be all right. There will be incredible victory. That terrible ordeal of the cross would not be the end but the beginning of something better. To get to the better future they had envisioned He must first suffer and then there would be victory, not as they had imagined, but something far better with eternal value. God’s plan is always better than man’s plan.

Jesus’ victory was not just for Him but also for all who put their faith in Him for eternal salvation. Whenever we face painful trials, we can always be certain that on the other side of suffering there is victory. Jesus conquered death and suffering with His resurrection. All afflictions on this earth for the Christian are temporary and end in eternal victory.

At your disposal is power unfathomable. It is the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. It is mind-blowing, supernatural power that exceeds human comprehension. Nothing you face in life is impossible for God. Surely, we must be grounded in the reality of human experience and knowledge. But we should never forget that we are not solely limited by that which we can see and understand. There is a power that is in us that supersedes the limitations of the natural world. Now and forever, on the other side of suffering there is hope… because He lives. Suffering and death is not the end. Thanks be to God for His incredible gift.

April 3

Precious Memories

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

When you go through difficult times your mind is consumed by the ordeal. To give yourself relief you may think back to simpler times when life was less problematic and when your future seemed brighter. You give your mind rest by thinking upon precious memories.

You have probably never heard of John Braselton Fillmore Wright but more than likely you have heard a song he wrote in 1923 called Precious Memories. It has been recorded by numerous gospel and country music artists including Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Alabama, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Bob Dylan, and Aretha Franklin. (It may be easier to list the artists who have not recorded the song.) Precious Memories was one of many sentimental songs written by Wright who was a farmer by trade.

Wright’s life had been filled with setbacks due to the loss of dear family members and it was through song he relieved the pain of a broken heart. A year and a half before writing Precious Memories his youngest son died of diphtheria at the age of five. It is no wonder that so many people have identified with the sentiments expressed in the lyrics. Here is the familiar chorus:

Precious memories, how they linger

How they ever flood my soul

In the stillness of the midnight

Precious, sacred scenes unfold.

Today’s focus scripture is written in the context of difficult times and suffering. In the preceding verse we are told, let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1) Then in verse 3 we read, Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Verses 1 and 3 help us to understand the instruction in verse 2:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

There is certainly nothing wrong with taking your mind to a place and time from the past to relieve the agony of the moment but here the emphasis is on the relief that can be found by focusing on the joy that lies ahead. Before you lies something far greater than anything than you have ever experienced. It will be a time of total victory in a place where there will be no more pain or sorrow. Just as Jesus endured the cross by looking to the joy set before him we gain the courage, boldness, and faith we need for standing in the midst of hardship by following His example. We look to Christ not only as the author of our faith but also as the perfecter of our faith.

Jesus faced the cross not only by enduring but also by scorning its shame. He refused to allow the cross to defeat Him. When we stand up to our hardships in faith and confidence in God, we are scorning its hold on our lives. We know that we can be hurt but not destroyed. We will reign victorious in Christ.

Just as Jesus looked to the time he would sit down at the right hand of the throne of God we can be emboldened by thinking on that time when we will be with our Lord in His heaven.

The Easter message gives us Precious Memories for the future and relief is found, not from what was, but what is and shall be as we fix our eyes on Jesus.

Now, let’s revisit the chorus to Precious Memories but rather than looking back let’s look forward to our blessed hope. Pay particular attention to the precious sacred scenes in your future.

Precious memories, how they linger

How they ever flood my soul

In the stillness of the midnight

Precious, sacred scenes unfold.

Ironically, as Precious Memories of the future flood my soul during this Easter season, I am reminded of the Christmas story in Luke 2:19, where we read, But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Mary looked back on what God had done in her life. She treasured and pondered her precious memories.

Wherever we encounter Jesus, in the past, present, or future, there will be plentiful Precious Memories for strengthening our faith. When we fix our eyes on Jesus there is always hope.

April 4

Favorite Easter Memory

He is not here; he has risen!

Luke 24:6

What are your fondest Easter memories? The first Easter that I can remember was when I was five years old. My Uncle Buddy had joined the Marine Corps shortly before Christmas and didn’t return home from basic training until near Easter. Consequently, my mother left up the Christmas tree so we could have a combination Christmas/Easter celebration. By Easter that tree looked like Charlie Brown’s needleless Christmas tree.

A year later I had a severe case of the measles at Easter. During that time, I was confined to the couch in the living room. On the day before Easter, I was greeted by surprise guests. Mom and dad had purchased two live baby bunnies that were not supposed to be seen until Easter morning. But the bunnies had a different idea and escaped from their box in the kitchen.

I also recall my annual Easter basket of colored eggs, marshmallow peeps, and chocolate bunnies that traditionally followed with a big family dinner at my grandmother’s house featuring her homemade coconut Easter Bunny cake. Additionally, my childhood Easter celebration always included going to church. Easter Sunday services were always packed to overflowing with decked out parishioners sporting brightly colored new outfits.

Just like you, I have many fond Easter memories and have shared only a few to get you thinking about what you remember most about Easter. However, those things we recall about Easter pale compared to what Jesus’ disciples experienced on that first Easter Sunday morning. Can you imagine what it was like when they went to the empty tomb?

There are certain events in your life that are so significant that they remain etched in your memory as if they happened just yesterday. Your wedding day, the birth of your first child, the death of a loved one, the day you graduated from high school, etc. These experiences vividly stay with you in great detail. So it must have been for those disciples who looked into the empty tomb.

I have often thought about the courageous women who followed close behind Jesus on the road to the cross. How it must have grieved them to see the pain already inflicted upon Him through the cruel beating, flogging, and crown of thorns and then to see the nails driven through His hands and feet and to watch for six horrific hours as Jesus suffered the cruelty of the cross. They witnessed the punishment, the ridicule, and the murder of the One they loved dearly and even after His death they waited for Jesus’ body to be removed from the cross. When His body was carried off for burial, they followed to see where He was entombed. They finally left out of obedience to observe the Sabbath. Even then they planned to return to the grave for the proper preparation of Jesus’ body with spices and perfumes. How that miserable ordeal must have played over and over again in their minds.

When we are shaken by traumatic situations, the agonizing thoughts stay continually with us. As they awoke on that first Easter Sunday morning they were surely greeted by thoughts of overwhelming grief. In fact, the weight of emotional stress may have been so great that sleep eluded them. They approached the tomb, not in joy, but in great sorrow.

With an unpleasant task before them, they returned to the tomb to give Jesus a proper burial. Upon arriving they were hit with yet another setback. The tomb was empty. And then…

While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' Then they remembered his words. (Luke 24:4-8)

The resurrection of Jesus changed everything for them. Sorrow turned to joy, defeat turned to victory, discouragement turned to hope, and death turned to life. Three simple yet powerful words changed their lives forever. He has risen.

My Easter memories have no real value other than just the recall of happy times from days gone by. Oh, but the Easter memories of those women who faithfully followed Jesus. I’ll take their memories over mine any day.

I can only imagine how things will be in heaven. Maybe someday I’ll be so fortunate as to sit by some of these women as they recall their experiences on that first Easter. And if someone should ask me to share my favorite Easter memory I’ll simply say, My most favorite Easter memory is the same as yours. He has risen!