June 30, 2020

June 30  

Running with Jesus

Luke 22:8-13 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

     The days are counting down now to the day of Jesus death and He is beginning to prepare the disciples for what is going to be ahead of Him. He gave His two closest runners the task of preparing the Passover meal.  Jesus had already gone before them and prepared a place for them. It would be a special place He had prepared for them since this would be their last meal together before His death.  The physical race He had been on was about to end, however, His spiritual race was just beginning to start for all of His followers.  They would have to learn to race with His Spirit guiding them.

     God gives us task to do and so often for me, it becomes difficult because I can’t fully see what God is asking me to do.  Why is it difficult? We are so programmed to operate in our physical realm. We want to see the outcome before we finish the task and this is not FAITH walking. Faith has to be done through the spiritual realm.

     In the text today we have to understand how full this town was and much like no room for Mary to have baby Jesus, where would these disciples find a room for all the disciples to have a meal.  Well, Jesus had gone before them and told them exactly where to go and what to look for and everything He told them happened.  They didn’t question Jesus they went and did what He told them to do. He helped them do what He had asked them to do.

Father, help us not question You when You give us a task to do.  You went before these men and You will go before us when You ask us to do something. You are the way the truth and the life. Help us know Your desires and trust You as we run through this life.

Let’s meet in the upper room, in the morning.

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

June 29, 2020

June 29  

Running with Jesus

Luke 22:3-5 "Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money."

     Then Satan entered Judas! Well, here we go again that crafty devil entering not a snake but a man. Just at the right time. For weeks we have been running with Jesus and right alongside were the Chief Priest and captains lurking for ways to kill Jesus! The devil was right there in their midst unbeknown to them crafty like with Eve! Now what did they promise Judas? Money, his favorite love! 

    We have heard the love of money is the root of evil. Satan knows man and what he likes. We are hard on Judas but, let's think what is probably the biggest betrayal of Jesus today? I would venture to say money. Money can buy us all kinds of pleasures and builds up pride, lift us to social status, and self esteem! Money is not wrong in itself but when we look to it for fulfillment, satisfaction, and security we are given a false hope that we are okay and don't need God. We sell out Christ and betray Him. Our loyalty and desire for more and more soon consumes our time, our thoughts, and devours our land. We have more than any generation in American history but are in a spiritual drought. A love for the things of God has gotten lost in the sea of money and prosperity and self gratification. Many who use to run close to God have veered off course.

      Are you running beside Jesus or betraying Him for money, pleasure and self?  We have forgotten the traps Satan sets to engage us in his schemes. These men were not aware Satan had entered Judas to get his dirty work done. You may not believe he is involved in drawing you away from God.  He is there because he knows if you reject Jesus you get to go with him to the pit. He won’t tell you that, he just goes along with your own desires.   

Father, Your Word reveals truth and Your Spirit will help us discern. I pray today we will choose to run with You and listen to You.  You give us the freedom to choose. We ask You to give us the strength to move ahead with You even when Satan throws his schemes our way.

Tomorrow: Jesus goes before us.

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

June 28, 2020

June 28

Running with Jesus   

Luke 22:1 "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover."

      Passover was the feast the Jews celebrated their liberation from bondage to Egypt. The last plague that liberated them was death of all first born children. The death angel passed through the land and all Jews who killed a lamb and put its blood over the door post lived. Jesus was to become the Passover Lamb for all mankind. Where the blood of Jesus is applied to sinful man, death will pass over us. 

     You have heard born once die twice, born twice we die once. The first death is physical and will come to all. The second death is spiritual separation from God and it is eternal. Jesus came and died as the Passover lamb making atonement for our sin. I am so glad I know the Passover lamb and one day I will close my eyes in this life but I will wake up in heaven and I will not die the second death. I pray you know the Passover lamb so eternal death will not come to you.  Can we have a hallelujah shouting time that is indeed due a celebration! 

Father, we are so thankful we don't have to worry about death. We are thankful for Jesus’ blood that covers us so we can have eternal life with You forever! Thank You for liberating us from the greatest bondage of mankind that is sin and death. 

Watch out in the morning Satan makes a sly entrance!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

June 27, 2020

June 27

Running with Jesus  

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

      "That day come upon you unaware!"   Jesus warns us about getting so caught up in life that we forget the Lord is coming back!  Oh you say," We have heard that all my life!" They had heard Jesus was coming again and many were not paying attention. He came and fulfilled prophesy. So we must ask ourselves are we caught up in drunkenness and cares that we give little attention to Christ return.  Our cares can overwhelm us and our focus gets shifted. 

       He is coming again, will he find us waiting and watching. Will we be ashamed of where we are when He returns?! This is a lot to think about. Let's all have a think!  If Jesus came back today, what would He find us doing? 

Father, help us to say like Jesus at age 12 "You should have known I would be about my Father's business."Reveal Your business to us and help us stay focused on Your business and not on worldliness. Your business is eternal and the worlds business is only temporary. (Help us not forget it either!)

Tomorrow: Is Passover in Jerusalem, come and let’s run along beside Jesus!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

June 26, 2020

June 26

Running with Jesus

Luke 21:33   Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

     I am so thankful we have the Word of God.  God never lies and we have a whole Bible filled with precious promises we can stand on for all our life.  There is nothing we will ever go through that we will not find a promise to sustain us. 

     For generations the Bible has been the best seller in the world.  We run to it to find comfort in times of sorrow, we turn to find peace when we are in turmoil.  We turn to the promises to find strength when strength is gone. We find the answer to discern right from wrong and good from evil. 

     The Bible teaches us of the love of God, man so longs for and needs. We find a promise if we accept His Son we can have eternal life.  No matter what man tries to do to erase it, we know it will never happen.  Most of the time when man tries to erase it, it only multiplies.  Even after His death they dispersed the Christians and the church just spread throughout the land and multiplied.

     So what is your need today? You can find a promise just waiting like a check book ready for you to sign and cash in on it.

     He promised to go before me and this week of surgery I have seen His hand at work bringing healing and helping through prayer.

Father, thank You for all the promises we have in your Word for living.  I pray for You to reveal Yourself today to that one who needs extra strength for some challenge they are facing.  I pray they will feel your presence and power by finding a promise that will sustain them.

    One of my favorite verses is found in Isaiah 40:31 ^“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary.   They will walk and not faint”.

Tomorrow: Look up “the King is Coming!”

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015