Reflections

READ

Luke 24:32

³²They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

DO

Don’t you just feel that our hearts burned in us while we took this journey together. We would like each of you to take a moment and reflect on some things that you learned, were challenged by, encouraged by, stretched to do. On this post leave your comments about the 40 day journey. Mention one scripture, question, challenge that got you the most out of your comfort zone.

Father, thank you for helping me to increase my capacity to love. Continue to stretch me more past these 40 days. Amen.

Celebrate the Resurrection

READ

John 20:1-23

¹Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ²So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

 ³So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. ⁸Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

  ¹⁰Then the disciples went back to their homes, ¹¹but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹²and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

 ¹³They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

   ”They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

 ¹⁵“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
      Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

 ¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
      She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

 ¹⁷Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ “

 ¹⁸Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

  ¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

 ²¹Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

DO

We would like to invite you to Compass Church (directions here) at 6PM for the conclusion of our journey. No matter how many of the challenges you have completed (or not completed) we want you to join us for a celebration of the resurrection as the love of God is fully revealed. strong>

Father, please help me increase my capacity to love by inviting others to join us tomorrow evening. I look forward to wonderful blessings that Red Door will do through You. Allow me to be a part of it in a great way. Amen.

challenge #40

READ

Luke 23:38-49

 ³⁸There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 ³⁹One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

 ⁴⁰But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

 ⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

 ⁴³Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 ⁴⁴It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, ⁴⁵for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

 ⁴⁷The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. ⁴⁹But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

ASK

• What is the difference between the two thieves on the cross next to Jesus?
• How are the statements, “Not my will, but yours be done” and “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” connected?
• Why do you think the curtain in the temple (it separated the normal people from God’s “chamber”) was torn in two when Jesus died?

THINK

Jesus loved to the very end, asking forgiveness for those who were crucifying him and offering redemption to one of the thieves next to him. His love was full and complete, never concerned for himself but for others. And where has this led him but to his death. He did not seek death, but followed the path of love that led to death. Imagine where those of us who fully embrace love will end up…

DO

Today’s challenge is again really simple and really hard… Don’t eat. Let’s spend the next few days experiencing the journey of the cross and the grave in anticipation of Easter morning. Also… get ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow is the conclusion of it all as you receive your final email. Enjoy eating tomorrow as we remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Father, please help me increase my capacity to love by taking the 40 day journey past these 40 days. Keep me in Your word, studying Your will, seeking after Your heart, following down Your path. Help me to remember that my capacity to love will continue to increase. I Love You God!!! Amen.

challenge #39

READ

Luke 23:26-37

 ²⁶As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. ²⁸Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ‘ ³¹For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

 ³²Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

 ³⁵The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

 ³⁶The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

ASK

• How is Jesus able to say, “Father forgive them” while they are crucifying him?
• Do you find it difficult to forgive those who hurt you? Why?

THINK

Even on the cross Jesus is concerned with the forgiveness of those who are deceived. They do not know what they are doing and Jesus knows what He is doing. He is dying to save us because we could not save ourselves. We were blind and lost and unable to even know what evil we were doing. And so he goes to the cross to pay the penalty for a crime we didn’t even realize we had committed. Because he has gone before we are now set free to offer this same forgiveness to those who crucify, make fun of, and take advantage of us.

DO

Today’s challenge is really simple and really hard… Don’t eat. Let’s spend the next few days experiencing the journey of the cross and the grave in anticipation of Easter morning.

Father, please help me increase my capacity to love by taking these next few days and devote them to you through fasting. Make the cross something even more real than it has been to me in the past. I want to journey with You through this. Amen.

challenge #38

READ

Luke 22:39-46

³⁹Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴²“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

 ⁴⁵When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” 

³⁹Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴²“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

 ⁴⁵When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

ASK

• Why is it comforting to know God is near us and that he hears us in our suffering?
• What is so scary about praying, “not my will, but yours be done”?  

THINK

Jesus connects prayer with giving into temptation. He understood that being able to carry your fears and unspoken thoughts of failure to your Father in heaven was priceless. He knew he could come to His Father with everything and find the courage to say, “Not my will, but yours be done.” He prayed this prayer for us because we couldn’t. He went for us because we would have always fallen to temptation. How amazing to have a God who takes our place, while we were lulled to sleep, and does for us what have been impossible on our own.

DO

Today we are going to have a “garden moment” (no potted plants necessary). Read Romans 8:18-39 as a prayer to God and replace the “ours” and “we’s” with “I’s” and “me’s”. Pray that even in your suffering you will see that you are loved and that you would truly come to believe “not my will” because Jesus has gone before you and paid the price so you would have no fear in giving yourself over to God.

Father, please help me increase my capacity to love by knowing you are near in my time of suffering. I need to know that I am not alone when I feel alone. Amen.

challenge #37

READ

Matthew 26:47-56

⁴⁷While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

 ⁵⁰Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.”

   Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

 ⁵²“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

 ⁵⁵At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

ASK

• Read the DO to get the ASK… 

THINK

Read the DO to get the THINK…

DO

Today’s challenge is a little different. Tonight sit down and have a meal with your family. Recap the story of Jesus’ life and what you have been doing for the past 40 days. If your family has been on this journey with you, take some time to discuss. If not, use this as an opportunity to tell your family about your journey and about who Jesus is. You get to ask the questions at dinner today. And you get to provide the think with your family. Enjoy your dinner and be prepared to fast on Friday and Saturday (just letting you in on the challenge for the next few days). And by the way, why do they call it a fast when it seems like it goes by so slow???

Father, please help me increase my capacity to love by loving You! Amen.

challenge #36

READ

Luke 22:14-27

¹⁴When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ²¹But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²²The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.” ²³They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

²⁴Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

ASK

• Why is it important for Jesus to begin reshaping the disciples view of greatness?
• What is about to happen to them in just a few short hours?
• Read 2 Corinthians 12:9… What do you think this means?

THINK

So much of American life teaches us that significance is found in being great, popular, or important. While we teach against evolution and survival of the fittest in our theology, too often we carry these same ideas into our everyday living. Those who are the best, brightest, and strongest are the ones we seek to please. Yet Jesus is again reminding us that true life is found, not in being the greatest but the least.

DO

Remember what you did yesterday for you significant other? Today we’re going to do the same thing in a new way. It’s a lot easier to do something nice for someone special to you, but it’s not as easy to really love someone you’re not close to. Today do something nice for someone insignificant in your life. This way may be a little harder but love isn’t always easy!

Father, please help me increase my capacity to love by loving someone I find hard to love. It is easy to love someone who loves me but to love someone who doesn’t this is hard. It is not hard for me to think of someone that is hard for me to love, but it is hard to actually do an act of love towards them. Focus my heart on You. Amen.