Posted by Ray Pritchard on 4.1.09 in Devotional, Lent
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).These words must have seemed strange to Peter, coming as it were out of the blue. It has been well remarked that Peter in many ways is the most huma…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 3.31.09 in Devotional, Lent
“I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15). Genesis 3:15 is the first mention of the gospel in the Bible. You might have missed it because the name Jesus isn’t in the text, but he is there nonetheless…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 3.30.09 in Devotional, Lent
Why didn’t Jesus fight back when he was arrested? Losing is not a popular idea today. It’s definitely not a very American concept. As George Patton famously remarked, “Americans love a winner. America will not tolerate a loser.” We all want to be on the winning team. That’s why millions of people fill out their March M…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 3.29.09 in Devotional, Lent
Proverbs 15:1 tells us that “a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” I have a friend who learned this verse the hard way. Whenever she said something in a harsh tone, her mother made her write this verse 50 times on a sheet of paper. It must have worked because many years later she has no trouble recall…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 3.27.09 in Devotional
I am writing this note from our room on the 8th floor of a hotel not far from the Manila airport. We arrived around 1 AM after a 29-hour trip from Tupelo. Suffice it to say that this morning (we’re 13 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time in the U.S.) we are tired but ebullient. All the Filipinos we have met have been very friendly and glad to…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 3.27.09 in Devotional, Lent
It is now early on Good Friday. Jesus was arrested by the Jews sometime around midnight. Since then he has been taken from one hearing to another: Annas, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin. They all had their shot at him. Along the way, he has endured mocking jokes, insults, and false accusations. The Jews want him dead but only the Romans have the power of c…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 3.26.09 in Devotional, Lent
Who is ultimately responsible for the death of Jesus Christ? The answer may surprise you. According to the Bible, God takes responsibility for the death of his Son. This is the first part of Isaiah 53:10 in the New International Version: “Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.” The New King James gives th…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 3.25.09 in Devotional, Lent
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Spurgeon comments that the little word “but” is a very useful pause for all of us very busy saints of God. Many …
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 3.24.09 in Devotional, Lent
C. S. Lewis remarked that there are only two prayers in the universe: “My will be done” and “Thy will be done.” Everything we pray fits into one of those two categories. I know from long experience that it’s not easy to sincerely pray “Thy will be done.” Like most people, I would prefer that my will be don…
Posted by Ray Pritchard on 3.23.09 in Devotional, Lent
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). There are 11 words in the text, but only one of them is important for our purposes. It’s the little word “as.” Everything hangs on the meaning of that word. “As” is the conjunction that joins the first half of the petition with the…
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