Archive | March 2023

Triumphant Entry

Mar31

When He (Jesus) approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.
Luke 19:41‭-‬42 NASB

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Luke 13:34‭-‬35 NASB

Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:8‭-‬11 NASB

took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
John 12:13 NASB

🌹As Palm Sunday ushers in Holy Week, may our thoughts meditate upon King Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and what He was about to face on our behalf. The joy of the people praising Jesus to the bitterness of what was thought to be defeat to the victory over death forever.
I hope you will experience the true peace found only in Christ and be ready to celebrate the risen King on Resurrection Sunday.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Road to Triumph Pt. 4

Mar30

They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully (rejoicing) with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
Luke 19:35‭-‬40 NASB

Jesus. Proclaimed as coming. Coming as a king! The true just and righteous king.

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.
Jeremiah 23:5 NASB

Jesus. Proclaimed not only as a just and righteous king but a humble king endowed with salvation. Coming humbly for the sake of others over His own glory.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9 NASB

Jesus. Came just as proclaimed.

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:2 NASB

Witnessed as a king.

Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
John 1:49 NASB

King Jesus.

The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!”
Matthew 21:9 NASB

🌹“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
Luke 2:14 NASB

Jesus. Came humble and lowly. Are you ready for the triumphant return of King Jesus when He returns in all His glory?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Road to Triumph Pt. 3

Mar29

When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord has need of it.” They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it.
Luke 19:29‭-‬35 NASB

Remember from yesterday’s devotion, Jesus was telling a parable and mentioned, “they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately”.
As this passage unfolds you will notice that Jesus and His disciples were not on the same page, the same wave length.

But back to this passage section. . .

Isn’t it wonderfully fascinating how Jesus sends the two disciples on a mission stating exactly what they were to look for and what to say if they faced opposition?! Jesus spoke. Jesus sent. Disciples obeyed. What an experience they encountered.

God’s Word is the same. It tells us what to look for, how to accomplish His plan and what to say when facing opposition. Jesus was present then. We have the Holy Spirit present in us, the believer, now. How many experiences have we missed because we don’t know God’s Word, Jesus Christ, intimately?

🌹God, guide me by Your word and Your presence so I may fully experience what a joy it is to serve You.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Road to Triumph Pt. 2

Mar28

While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.’ ”
Luke 19:11‭-‬14‭, ‬27 NASB

Does King Jesus have reign over you, your life? One day He will return. Will He find you obediently serving His will and purpose?
When I ask myself these questions, I am drawn to the cross. What my King Jesus Christ did for me on the cross humbles me to bow before my reigning King.

🌹Reign in me, Lord Jesus. Help me to serve You faithfully until Your return.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Road to Triumph Pt. 1

Mar27

He (Jesus) entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.
When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly (rejoicing).
Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:1‭-‬2‭, ‬5‭-‬6‭, ‬8‭-‬10 NASB

Was Zaccheus convicted in the presence of the Almighty? He confessed that he would make restitution, and this was according to the law. Jesus sought out Zaccheus, just as He seeks out and saves all who are lost. By the law we are convicted.

because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:20 NASB

By faith we are saved.

🌹For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Romans 4:13‭ NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 

Your Will Be Done

Mar24

Jesus speaking with His disciples in Samaria:

Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
John 4:34 NASB

Jesus in Jerusalem:

“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 5:30 NASB

Jesus speaking to the people:

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 6:38 NASB

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Matthew 26:39‭, ‬42 NASB

And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Mark 14:36 NASB

saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Luke 22:42 NASB

The Apostle Paul:

As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
Acts 21:10‭-‬14 NASB

Jesus sacrificed His life for the sake of  humanity.
Paul sacrificed his life for the sake of Christ. What are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of Christ?

🌹Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

My Treasure

Mar23

Treasure: greatly valued

In the fear (reverence) of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his (His) children will have refuge. The fear (reverence) of the Lord is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.
Proverbs 14:26‭-‬27 NASB

And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is his treasure.
Isaiah 33:6 NASB

The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
Proverbs 19:23 NASB

What a wonderful gift we have in Jesus, a treasure to those who believe.
To the believer, Jesus is strong confidence, a refuge, the fountain of life, salvation, wisdom, knowledge. Understanding this, one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

Do you believe?

🌹Thank You, Jesus, for opening my eyes to the true treasure of knowing You. I praise Your holy name. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Wait Silent; Search

Mar22

So I say, “My strength has perished, And so has my hope from the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:18 NASB

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:24‭-‬26 NASB

Let him sit alone and be silent Since He has laid it on him. v.28
Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the Lord. v.40
We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven; v.41
I called on Your name, O Lord, Out of the lowest pit. v.55
You have heard my voice, “Do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief, From my cry for help.” v.56
You drew near when I called on You; You said, “Do not fear!” v.57
O Lord, You have pleaded my soul’s cause; You have redeemed my life. v.58
Lamentations 3:28‭, ‬40‭-‬41‭, ‬55‭-‬58 NASB

🌹Restore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old,
Lamentations 5:21 NASB

He Holds My Hand

Mar21

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, Because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.
Psalms 37:23-24 NASB

Sometimes days are hard. Sometimes those hard days turn into weeks, months, sometimes even years. . . .
Isn’t it nice to know that the steadfast, loving, and caring hand of God is holding your hand? Guiding you: Who keeps us in life And does not allow our feet to slip.
Psalms 66:9 NASB
Let us fall before our Lord God everyday with a humble heart as He establishes our way and delights in it. The Lord sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down.
Psalms 145:14 NASB

🌹To God be the glory in our walk with Him as He establishes our steps.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Dad’s Greatest Gift to Me!

Mar20

My Dad passed away 9 years ago today.
This is what I shared at his memorial service:

I would like to tell you about the greatest gift my Dad ever gave me. This gift is a gift that he actually received. This was and is a gift that doesn’t lose its value when re-gifted. This is a gift, because he accepted it, which affected many, many people. This gift, like a diamond, has many facets. This gift comes wrapped in strength, peace and assurance.
The greatest gift my Dad gave to me was the gift of salvation that he received from Jesus Christ!
When Jesus was being led away to His crucifixion there was a large crowd following Him — women were mourning and lamenting Him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”*
My Dad is with Jesus now and O the peace that brings to me and the strength to carry on. John 14:27-28 says, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” As Jesus said — weep for yourselves and for your children — Dad is at peace, experiencing joy as never before — my concern here is . . . do you know Jesus? Have you received the gift Jesus has for you so that when you pass, your loved one can have the assurance and peace of your salvation and the strength to carry on?
There is no greater gift you can re-gift to anyone than to receive the greatest gift ever given – the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Please, if you do not have the assurance of where you are headed in death – come talk to me or someone you know who knows Jesus. It makes all the difference.
Thank You Jesus for my Dad’s salvation, my salvation and the peace and assurance of where Dad is. All praise and glory to You, my God. Amen.

🌹Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

*Luke 23:27-28