The Powerful King

  Mark 5:21-43

Our God has power to bless. But sometimes, it appears his blessings get delayed or even repurposed. For example, as Jesus was on his way to heal the daughter of Jairus, he got detoured with the healing of the woman with the flow of blood.

While living in Cameroon, we saw God work powerfully. There was the time when there was a contagious cattle blight, with whole herds wiped out. One nomadic herdsman came to a Christian church asking for prayer for his cattle because his brother’s cattle, with which his had mingled, had begun to show disease symptoms. The Christians obliged, fervently praying for protection. Two weeks later, the Fulani herdsman returned rejoicing that he had discovered the true God. Even though his brother’s cattle continued to diminish in numbers, his were not affected at all.

A short time later, my visiting father collapsed with an apparent heart attack. We did CPR and prayed. The response of our loving Father was not to heal him miraculously as with the Muslim’s herd. What we discovered in our grief was that God used my dad’s death to speak to the Cameroonians in ways that we had not anticipated and could not have orchestrated otherwise.

The lesson? Because we are confident that our God is powerful and loving, we pray fervently for his blessing. His response may be different from what we hope for, but it will always be for our good and his glory.

                                                                               Pastor David Mann

Jesus purchased us with His blood

14 ApriL                  

Read Revelation 5 and reflect on the passage.

In revelation, God has given his church a “coloring” Book full of incredible imagery. Chapters 4 and 5 are a vision, (“I looked,” v. 4:1), which God gave the author John to show what is always going on in the center of the universe.

4:1-6 Prominent is a throne—symbol of God’s sovereignty, majesty, and kingly rule.

4:6-11 The worshipers are in two concentric circles focused on the throne.

They constantly proclaim the praise of our holy God.

5:1-7 There is a scroll of the book of history and what is to come. John weeps that nobody is fit to open it. An elder says the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David can open it (5:5). But astonishingly, what appears is a Lamb with its throat cut! He alone is declared worthy to open the scroll because He was slain (5:9).

5:8-14 The worship following is beyond description.

When John the Baptist first saw Jesus he said “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus came foremost to die. And by His cross He has suffered, conquered evil, and redeemed us for God. Let us always worship!

Questions

1. Going to a worship service, do you pray and ask God to help you bring the devotion of your whole mind, body, and spirit to glorifying Him?

2. After the service, do you ever thank God? Do you evaluate the time not by what you got out of it but how much He received?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, on this Good Friday, make me ever mindful of Your sacrifice. Help me reflect and worship You as the Lamb slain for me.

—Buff Delcamp

Jesus is a sacrifice of atonement

12 ApriL                        

Read Romans 3:22-26 and reflect on the passage.

When I worked as a teacher, one of the things that broke My heart was to observe the sorrow in students who were being disciplined. Often, through tears with a head hung low, the words would be spoken— even whispered at times—“I’ll do better next time.”

We say this as adults, after we’ve spouted off in the direction of the person who cut us off in traffic, or spewed venom at our spouse, or failed to meet a deadline at work: “I’ll do better next time.”

And the reality is, we know we will make a mess of things again. Over and over and over, we are incapable of getting things right, of being good enough or strong enough or kind enough or “together” enough (whatever that even means).

Thank God for Christ’s redeeming work on the cross! While in the Old Testament, the sins of the Israelites were placed on the scapegoat over and over so the people could be reconciled to God, Christ took on the sin of the world, once and for all, on that cross on Calvary. Thanks be to God for the redemption by Christ Jesus!

Questions

1. In what areas of life do you find yourself striving to “do better next time?”

2. What freedom is there for you in knowing that, because of Christ’s work on the cross, you are now counted as “enough?”

Prayer

Lord, thank You for Your redeeming work on the cross. Thank You that I’m free from sin, and stand before You justified through Jesus’ sacrifice.

—Katie Borden

Share the Good News of Jesus Christ

ApriL  8

Read Matthew 28:18-20 and reflect on the passage.

As someone who believes disciple-making is key to the church, and part of how we should live as followers of Christ, Matthew 28:18-20 have been key verses in my life. All authority has been given to Jesus. He commands us to go and make disciples, teaching disciples to obey the commands He gave, and then gives us the assurance that He is always with us. Great stuff!

But don’t miss the five words that start verse 18, “Then Jesus came to them.” In the summer of 2001, I was content to do ministry at UALC, but God began to move my heart to leave my job and work for the City of Upper Arlington. Most of my friends were part of the church and followers of Jesus—how was I going to go and make disciples. Could I live the life of a follower of Jesus outside of the church, like so many of you with jobs in the real world? Was God calling me to them?

The answer is yes, and He is calling all of us to go. We, UALC, are the body of Jesus in our community—will we follow His example? “Then Jesus came to them.”

Questions

1. Is God calling you out of your comfort zone?

2. Do the people you work, live, or go to school with know you are a follower of Jesus? How?

Prayer

Father, thank You for sending followers of Jesus into my life. Now help me to be Your example for someone else.

—Joe Valentino

God sent Jesus to save us

ApriL  1

Read John 12:42-47 and reflect on the passage.

Jesus says in this Passage that he didn’t come to judge the world.

His mission was simple: to save the world.

Do I make a positive impact on others by judging them? I can’t remember a time I’ve seen it work. When I judge, or act in self righteousness, I create an atmosphere of superiority. But when I act with love, accepting others wherever they are, I create the space to be in God’s light.

When I became a Christian, I had some incredible women walk alongside me. They didn’t judge me, although my situation was probably worth some judgment. They were accepting and gentle, and let me go down the path that God was leading. Their prayers, listening ears, and phone calls made such a difference. As I look back, I wonder if I could’ve acted the same way they did. They were amazing mentors.

I remember the gifts they gave me and I try to use them when I see others in similar situations. I know when I act with love and acceptance, without condemnation, I am living the way Jesus wants me to.

Questions

1. How can you let go of judgment, and show love and acceptance to people around you?

2. As you journey to the cross this Lent, how can you join Jesus in His mission of “saving the world?”

Prayer

Draw me close and show me how to live in Your light. Help me see others as You see them, and love as You love.

—Kirsten Svendsen

Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple

 March 30

Read 2 Kings 25:8-15 and reflect on the passage.

It hurts when our rebellion catches up to us. When the lies get exposed—no more wheeling and dealing to be done—all that is left is to endure the shame of our sins ripened and harvested. That was the case for the nation of Israel in this passage in 2 Kings. All is lost, King David’s dynasty came crashing down—the Temple, the palace, all the important buildings, the wall around Jerusalem—the sin of a nation had ripened and the Babylonians had come to harvest.

These are some of the darkest days—when our sin has caught up with us, and the consequences of our misdeeds can no longer be ignored. I can only imagine the despair the nation felt on that day.

But that is not the end of the story. God brings another descendant of David to sit on the throne. God’s redeeming character cannot be suppressed forever—not then, and not now. The Scriptures say, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Our God is a redeeming God—even when things seem the most dire, God has a plan to redeem those He loves.

Questions

1. If God rescues His people in their worst moment, is there any reason why He would withhold that same love from you?

2. When you feel like things could not get any worse, where do you put your hope?

Prayer

Father, in my darkest days, please do not let Your promises of redemption depart from me. Remind me of the hope I have in You.

—Brodie Taphorn

Herod the Great cannot stop Jesus

20 March 

Read Matthew 2:13-18 and reflect on the passage.

“They say Aslan is on the Move...” Despite living in an endless winter, burdened by fear, where even the trees are turning to evil, help is coming and is in fact already at work.

When I read today’s passage in Matthew two observations come to mind. First, I see God moving boldly to keep His promises: Joseph is given a dream, protecting Jesus from the violence of an arrogant and jealous Herod so that some 30 years later that child—revealed to be the Christ—would voluntarily submit to a greater violence in order to rescue arrogant and jealous people like you and I.

Second, I see in the surrounding darkness families mourning senseless brutality, having no idea that God is at that very moment moving to orchestrate unparalleled mercy.

Like Beaver’s faithful proclamation about Aslan in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, we can say with confidence that Jesus is on the move in our world even when all we can see is a mess. Furthermore, we know that the obstacles put in front of Him—whether by men or fallen angels—will not deter Him: His love is too strong and His power too great.

Questions

1. Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). Isn’t it also true then that nothing can separate God from His love for us?

2. God is real, His goodness is in motion, and His love unstoppable. Who will you encounter today that needs to be reminded of this? Perhaps it is you?

Prayer

Lord, grow our confidence in You and grant us Your compassion so we might more urgently share Your comfort with those hurting around us. Amen.

—Jon Gerckens

Jesus Bears the Cross

March 19

John 19:6, 15-17

Jesus did not want to die. He wanted everyone to believe in God, and love each other. But many people would not listen to Him. Because of that, the governor condemned Jesus to die on the cross. Jesus could have complained that people were turning against Him. Instead, He picked up His cross to do what God was asking of Him. Even though He didn’t want to die, God was with Jesus all the way.

Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross (Mark 15:21)

Jesus was very weak when the soldiers forced Him to carry His own cross through the streets. As He walked toward the place where He would die, Jesus got very tired and couldn’t carry His cross alone anymore. So the soldiers forced a man named Simon to help Jesus carry the cross the rest of the way. Simon’s two sons, Alexander and Rufus, had to watch as their father helped Jesus.

Read and reflect on the passages.

1. Jesus carried the heavy cross without complaining. What are some things we complain about doing?

2. What in your life do you need Jesus to help you with? Family? Friends? School? Work?

3. Who are people in your life that you can help? What might it look like to help them?

—Brittany Timm

Have mercy on others

17 March 

Read Luke 10:30-37 and reflect on the passage.

Growing up, I remember a neighbor lady who lived across the street. She lived alone and was terrified of thunderstorms. Whenever a storm arose, she called our house and one of us girls had to go stay with her till it passed. I hated it. I would beg my sisters to go in my place, but when it was my turn, I had to go. I remember once saying I would go, and then heading in the opposite direction to a friend’s house, knowing she would be terrified, but I didn’t care. I forgot I was her neighbor.

Jesus tells a story about someone who gets beat up and left for dead. Those who should have stopped and cared for him walked on by, but the very one who should not stop does. Why? Because he sees the man simply as a person in need—as a neighbor. When Martin Luther translated the Bible from Latin to German, he had two German words from which to choose for the word neighbor. One meant “the person next door,” the other “the person in need.” He chose the second. Loving with all our heart is being a neighbor to those in need.

Questions

1. Recall a time when you failed to show mercy to one in need. Lord have mercy.

2. Recall a time when you embraced someone else’s need whole-heartedly with compassion and care. What was the difference from the first instance?

Prayer

Merciful God, open our eyes to those around us who are hurting and in need. Show us how to be a neighbor, through Jesus’ mercy.

—Patti Morlock

Repent and be baptized

 March 16


Read Acts 2:36-40 and reflect on the passage.

When the Holy Spirit is at work, things happen. It is only one sermon that Peter preaches at the first Pentecost, but the results are both clear and necessary. People hearing Peter sense the need for something to happen—for them to do something. The Holy Spirit is working. And so Peter simply says/ invites them and us, “Repent and be baptized.”

Peter tells his hearers to let the Holy Spirit continue His work in their lives, causing both the need and the desire for change and new life in Jesus. Peter invites the people to act this Holy Spirit work out in their lives: “Repent and be baptized.”

To us who already believe, the invitation is still being made: Keep repenting; keep living as the baptized person you are in Christ. Let this life in Jesus move you forward to more and different in His Kingdom. Be who you are in Jesus more and more. Rejoice that God is still at work in you.

Pentecost happens; it keeps happening, if we will. God is not done with us; there is still more coming in Jesus’ Kingdom!

Questions

1. What might the Holy Spirit be asking you to do for Jesus in your life? Feel free to ask Him.

2. Are there specific things that you need to repent of as a baptized believer? Ask the Holy Spirit to show/convict you. He will.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, keep moving me “over the fences” of my life. Give me the joy of seeing Your work in me every day. Amen.





—Paul ulring