The Chief Cornerstone

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Jesus as the Building Block for Our Faith

From Luke 20:9-19: He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, "This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!" But he looked at them and said, "What then does this text mean: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.

Why did Jesus come to the earth? Why was it necessary for God to send His only Son? Those answers are found in this passage. In the presence of those who wanted to kill Him, Jesus tells this parable. A parable was a teaching method used to help people identify with something or someone they knew, and in this one, Jesus is talking about a vineyard. Many knew or walked by those who owned vineyards. They knew the work involved in a vineyard and they also knew the harvest that came from a well-tended one. They also knew that not all owners of vineyards tended their own, and so they knew that sometimes slaves would tend them. In this case, since it was a leased vineyard, part of the crop was the owners, but those who were leasing it did not want to share with the owner his rightful part and so beat and sent the slave away empty-handed. A second slave was sent and the same results. Also, a third. After wondering what might convince the tenants to comply with the arrangement they had, he sends his son. The tenants discussed this and believed that murdering the son might make them become heirs of this vineyard. And so, they threw the son outside the vineyard and killed him. Jesus then asks the question, "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?" And answering his own question says, "He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." Those listening replied with an unbelievable, "Heaven forbid!"

Jesus offers the explanation that they could not understand: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Jesus is that cornerstone, the symbol and building block of our faith. Not yet fully understood by the world, and even rejected by some whose agendas and passions are not spiritual; to those who come to know and love Jesus, Jesus is their all. On this Tuesday of Holy Week, many in Jerusalem, like now, are wondering Who Jesus is, and what does He want? The answer is that Jesus wants them, and you, and me. Jesus' whole purpose was to restore the broken relationship and agreement God had with His people, and it would take His death on a cross to restore and renew and rebuild that relationship. It was our sin, our stubbornness to believe and repent that led Him up that painful way to the cross. Still, He loves you and me, and wants very much to have us in the relationship for which He came.

PRAYER: Loving God, make this week more meaningful by allowing me to be restored into the right relationship with You. Let Jesus be the cornerstone of my life and faith; this I pray in His precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Jesus' Authority

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From Where Does It Come? Where Does It Go?

This is Monday of Holy Week. We find in Luke 20:1-8 these words that ask and speak about Jesus' authority: One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' he will say, "Why did you not believe him?' But if we say, "Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Don't you like to be questioned about why you do the things you do? Neither do I. Those questions usually come from those who don't have a clue, or those who worry too much about you. After His triumphant entry into Jerusalem and His display of anger for the Temple, Jesus is questioned by those who already hated Him: "By what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" Obviously, they did not like what Jesus had done and they certainly did not relate to the teachings they had heard Him speak that went against the order and authority of the day. Jesus answered with a question: "Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" Great question as their discussion proves: "If we say Heaven, He will ask why we did not believe him; but if we say of human origin, we will be stoned by the people, because they believed him to be a prophet." So the answered, "We don't know where it came from!" Jesus answered, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

The key question for us is, What authority does Jesus have in your/my life? If we give Jesus no authority we miss out on so much. We will question what He does or says. If we surrender to Jesus and admit our need for Him, then everything becomes clear and understandable. Those who say Jesus is Lord, understand the Lord's desire for those who are His. We will understand Jesus came to restore the right relationship God desires with us. We will understand that sin and other things not of God in our lives, like those things in the Temple, need to be overthrown and cast out; then the real work of Jesus will begin in us.

Surrender, dear friend today, to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of love and life, and our lives are empty without Him. Meaning and purpose will be ours if we but say, "Come into my heart Lord Jesus."

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, come in today, come in to stay; come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Make clear the things of Heaven in a mind that used to be tuned only to earth. I pray in the precious and powerful name of Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Palm Sunday's Star

Read Closely!

From the 118th Psalm, verses 19-29: Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

As David wrote the psalms, some were for his immediate needs, some were honest reflections of his heart, and some were prophetic in nature, such as this one. Though he imagined himself as entering these gates, when applied in the context of history, we see who this truly applies to; Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Yes, David loved the Lord, and he loved going to worship, but he recognizes that the gate to which he is referring is that gate in which Jesus entered triumphantly on that first Palm Sunday. Jesus entered with righteousness to a city desperately in need of that. Jesus entered the city offering salvation, which all people need. Jesus seemingly was rejected, but we know now and proclaim Him as the chief cornerstone of our faith and existence. And all of this is God's doing, and a marvelous thing to behold. Some Sunday to your church and watch the gleam in any child's eye as she or he walks down the aisles waving a palm branch. There you will the marvelousness of which David speaks.

Then the verse so many of us recite or regret as we awaken each day: (Clue: Rejoice!) This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (I would add an exclamation point!). Our needs still continue, we need saving from so many things that we are facing. We desire victory and success over that which seeks to overwhelm us; but look to the One whom David mentions: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord (Clue: Jesus Christ!). Let us bless God by our acceptance and faith in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER: You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You. Let me join all who say: O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. AMEN!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Drama Unfolds...

Glimpses of Purpose in Prophecy

From Isaiah 50:4-9: The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Sunday begins the drama of Christ's Passion for us. The seemingly joyous entry into Jerusalem sets the stage for the greater good that would come but with great cost and pain for Jesus. Our worship services will probably feature a parade of smiling children swatting palm branches, proud and glad parents elated that their child is part of that happy parade, and these bless our hearts; but we know the story in the Bible is one of great preparation for the event coming on that Friday. And God shared in this passage glimpses of that purpose. Much of Jesus' ministry was that of being a teacher unlike others. He taught with authority, He taught through parables and stories. He demonstrated a love from God not yet seen in the ways that Jesus used. God gave Jesus a listening ear, to hear us and our weariness. God gave Jesus that which saw Him through the painful descriptions mentioned here: Being struck by different people, having His beard pulled; facing those who insulted and spit on Him. Through this all, God sustained Him, and did not allow for Jesus to be disgraced nor to shame. Ultimately, who that came to inflict pain and shame was able to stand against He who defeated death and sin?

Jesus stands with the weary. Jesus comforts the afflicted. Jesus gives hope and life to those who seem to have lost both, and Jesus gives to us the words to join Him in listening and sharing those same things with those in a world of hurt and pain.

At the start of a meeting last night, the chairperson shared how one member not yet present, had lost her husband suddenly and unexpectedly to a stroke. The chair cautioned the group against making the meeting about this woman and her situation. The woman arrived shortly thereafter and the meeting proceeded fine. I was asked to pray and as I prayed I started to hear her sobs. When the meeting ended the woman was in pain and great sorrow. I embraced her and shared from Jesus' words in the gospel of John. I pray that that word might have sustained this woman whose world changed so unexpectedly and so quickly. She is but one of so many, who need to hear from us what God shared through Jesus.

PRAYER: Gracious Lord, make real the hope and joy that comes through You in Jesus. May this season of Lent truly be a time of preparation for the greater good that comes in Resurrection. This I pray in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Mind of Christ; the Heart of God

Humility and Love at the Core of Servanthood & Discipleship

From Philippians 2:5-11: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I struggle with what finds its way into my mind. I sometimes find myself thinking thoughts shaped by shows I've seen or music I've heard. And this is even sometimes in church when my mind should be focused solely on God. Paul knew that struggle as do many of you, so he writes, as much for himself as for you and me: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Can you imagine? Better yet, can you possess that same mind? A mind that sought God first in all things and in all decisions and actions? A mind that loved all people, who saw needs and beyond needs to the heart of true need; the need to feel and be loved by God, so much so that He, as Paul continues, "emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness."?

This is humility with empathy, servanthood with obedience and compassion to all of God's creatures. It is what is seriously lacking in so many of us. A mind that puts others and their needs first; leaving behind thoughts of wealth and fortune, glamour and fame. A mind that says, Here I am, Lord, use me. Those who say such a thing humble themselves before the One who can exalt and lift up.

I love the closing of this passage as a clarion call to all believers, "so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend (bow), in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Much yet to be done to get every tongue confessing that instead of what's driving other things to come out. I want to be counted among that number who now confess and pray that Jesus is Lord. It takes the mind of Christ to say that.

PRAYER: Loving God, grant to me the mind of Christ. Help me cleanse myself of thoughts impure and unsure; strengthen my mind to holiness and humility. Grant to my heart new founts of love to love everyone as You have loved me. This I pray in the strong name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Palm Sunday!

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Where in the Crowd Would You Be?

From Mark 11:1-11: When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, "Why are you doing this?' just say this, "The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.' " They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Everything falls into place when God's involved. Such was the case with this special entry into Jerusalem. The village ahead of Jesus and His disciples had the colt and people ready for Jesus to use it. Once they had it, they placed their cloaks on it and Jesus sat on it and off they went into the city of Jerusalem. I used to think the "parade" started at the city gates of this mighty city, but it started with the disciples and those who followed Jesus. Steadily this group had grown from 12 to about 125 people who loved and went with Jesus. They were the ones who started the chant, "Hosanna!" which is a Hebrew expression of praise; "Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" They were proclaiming several things at once. One was the fact some considered Jesus anointed and One who did all things in the name of the Lord God. Some were those who believed at long last, the political kingdom of David would be restored in this political Messiah. All seemed to proclaim this event as heavenly.

The shouting and acclaim followed Jesus all the way to the temple. This gospel has Jesus receiving this welcome and then going to rest in Bethany. The entry had been done, and the stage was set for what comes during the rest of the week. This event is special in our lives because it does proclaim Jesus as Messiah. We know now He was not the political savior that some people wanted, and some still expect; He was a spiritual Messiah, the Messiah; He who would die to take away our sins and restore our right relationship with God. What follows during Holy Week blesses and strengthens us and prepares us for the suffering, agony, and death of Jesus, but it also helps us realize in a deeper way, the joy and victory of Resurrection.

I have often wondered where I would have been in the crowd. Would I have been among the 125 who already worshiped Jesus and His teachings? Would I have been among the 125 who sought more amazement and wonder at His miracles and unexplainable healings? Would I have been inside Jerusalem, minding my own business and then followed the crowd as it swelled and started its shouting and praises? The honest answer is that I'm where I am right now, awed by it all, hoping to still be a part of that crowd that grows the crowd of those who truly believe this is the One we have been waiting for; Blessed is He who has come in the name of the Lord!

PRAYER: Loving God, blessed are You and blessed is Your Son, Jesus; but blessed am I for believing in Him. Help me to bless others in bringing them to faith. This I ask in His precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The New Covenant

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The Day is Here! Know God!

From Jeremiah 31:31-34: The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the Lord," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

We couldn't wait! It was what we talked about for days and though we knew it was coming, it couldn't get here soon enough! Apply that to your life and you may know exactly what day I'm talking about. For some, it was your graduation day. For others, it was the coming of Christmas. For some others, it was your wedding day; the birth of your first, third, or fourth child. For the prophet, it was the coming of a day when God would "make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah." It was unlike other covenants, including the one that led to their freedom from slavery, which the people broke. This covenant speaks of a living law written upon the hearts of God's people; where we would truly be God's people and God would be our God.

That day was the coming of Jesus, Who came, taught, healed, suffered, died, and rose again. Jesus spoke the truth of the love and grace of God and still writes in those hearts open to Him: You are mine, and I am yours. The day is soon coming when all people shall know the Lord and not need instruction about Him and His teachings; that day brings with it what Jesus offers to all who would receive: Forgiveness of our sins and the forgetting of those same sins.

Not all aspects of that day have been put into place. Our job remains to bring others into that knowledge of God's saving grace; but what better invitation than "God saves us from ourselves, our sins can be removed and forgotten if we but just turn them over to Him?"

PRAYER: Lord, let me be a part of those who share those good news. Write upon my heart the words of life and love, and let me be bold in sharing them. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Obedience of Christ to God

A Model for Our Lives

From Hebrews 5:5-10: So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"; as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Disobedience is all about me; it is saying to oneself: I know more, and I can make and should make decisions that please only me. Original sin is being born with disobedience. Obedience goes against some natural instincts, but it is a calling to a higher and better life. Obedience defeats pride and ego driven decisions. Obedience seeks to please the One to Whom we ultimately report. Obedience seeks no status other than that that says I obey. Obedience seeks only the title of servant. In this passage, Jesus' life is the model for true obedience. The writer of Hebrews says Christ did not seek any glory or title for Himself. The role and duty of high priest was bestowed upon Him by His Father. And the higher title was that given to Jesus by God, Son. Jesus' life showed that love and obedience to God the Father in serving others, praying for others, even giving Himself up to death to save others. All Jesus did was in obedience to God, and serves as the model for us. Jesus was made perfect and the source of salvation for we who should obey Him.

This passage is all about Jesus and His place in history and in Heaven. There are those who come to believe in the greatness and role of Melchizedek, but the mention of that name serves only in messianic terms. It is a reference to the person and purpose of Jesus; nothing else. The passage is a call for you and me to be more like Jesus, obedient in love towards God in our service to God and those who are God's.

PRAYER: Loving God, speak to my heart, soul, mind, and spirit; I seek to be obedient to You. Help me be like Jesus in my service and in my life. I pray in that precious name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

We Wish to See Jesus!

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May It Be that Christ is Seen in Us Today

From John 12: 20-33: Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. "Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—"Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

A simple request resulted in a profound reflection. The city was full of visitors, including those believers (Jews) from other countries; the town was a buzz with rumors and stories of Jesus and Jesus' power and teachings. Among those affected by these stories were some Greeks who approach Philip with a request, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." This set off a chain of command of sorts, with Philip telling Andrew, and Andrew and Philip both go to see if Jesus would see these Greeks. Jesus' response was directed at the time that was rapidly approaching. Jesus spoke of "the hour," and that "for the Son of Man to be glorified." He speaks of grain dying in order for a crop to come in. He spoke of love of life to the point of losing it, and hating life to the point of keeping it for eternal life. He spoke of following Jesus by service to Him, and His promise to be with those in service. Then, what troubles us, Jesus was troubled; His humanity came through; should He ask that He be spared that which was coming His way: death by crucifixion? The answer was no, "Father, glorify You name."

The heavens spoke, God telling Jesus that He was glorified and would glorify it again. Those nearby hear thunder; some heard an angel. Jesus' response was that this voice was for the disciples and believers sake. The time had come for judgment upon the world; the "ruler of this world will be driven out." Time's up for Satan and his ploys. Jesus is driving out sin and all the ways it manifests itself. The time had come for the fullness of life, through Jesus Christ to find its way into those who would surrender their lives into lives of service in Jesus. The Crucifixion was the key event of that victory.

Has Jesus won in your life?

PRAYER: Loving God, may Jesus have the victory in my life. Drive out that which is in me that should not be; lead me to faithful and joyful obedience. I pray in Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Coming to Life in Christ

Saved by Grace; Do Something with It!

From Ephesians 2: 1-10: You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ —by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Most of us love to receive gifts. I've often come into my office and there will be a gift bag or a wrapped gift on my chair and I get almost as excited as a child on Christmas day. A gift says several things; someone was thinking of you; someone did more than think, they went and bought or made something for you; they went and bought a gift bag or wrapped the gift; they delivered it to you; and they blessed you with this gift.

Grace is a gift from God to you and me. This passage defines grace in a great way. Grace is God's love to you though we honestly don't deserve it. Grace is God sending Jesus to give us life even though we were dead because of our "trespasses and sins." Grace is being shown a new road on which to travel even though we were lost on a highway leading to a place no one should go. Grace is being pulled out of what we believe to be a great party of things we shouldn't be doing, to an even better party where we are blessed beyond our wildest dreams. Grace is what saved us. We were pulled out of death and brought into life, and not just life, but life in abundance. And it was nothing we did, nor could do; it was a gift. A gift from God.

PRAYER: Loving God, may Your grace be at work in my life today. Pull me upward and away from the muck and mire of this sin. I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Look up and Live!

Life from the Cross

From Numbers 21:4-9:

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food." Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

The ancients thought that any unexplainable thing was from or caused by God. In this passage we see where the Israelites are being led to their freedom by Moses. But these were a murmuring people, griping about everything, even their newfound freedom! The writer's understanding was that as a result of their murmuring that God sent poisonous snakes and may Israelites died. The good thing was they realized this and asked Moses to pray for God to take away these snakes. And that's what Moses did, he prayed for the snakes to be taken away. The Lord said to Moses to form a poisonous serpent to be placed on a pole; "and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." This Moses did, making a bronze serpent and whenever someone was bitten, by looking up towards the serpent they would live.

We have been bitten by the serpents of life; envy, strife, jealousy, lust, hatred, racism, distrust, doubt; a list too long for us to list here. But, we were also given that symbol of life, the cross of Jesus, where He was lifted up so that we might live. The serpent on a pole was a foretaste of that which was to come in Jesus; in Jesus' cross we find the fullness of life away from the sins that have bitten us and almost had us dead.

We can look down and not find that which gives life, or we can look up to Jesus and live!

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me remember that You are there for me. Let me look to You to find the life that I so desperately need. This I pray in Your name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

So!

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Isn't that what the redeemed should say?

From Psalm 107: 1-9; 43: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things. Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

There was a praise song the youth used to sing in the Río Grande Conference which included a refrain with the words, "let the redeemed of the Lord say so," and some wise acres, myself included, would yell, "SO!" (Thus the title of this devotional). And who wouldn't want to yell so to giving thanks to the Lord's goodness? And for His unending steadfast love? This is a psalm of praise for all that God does. God has redeemed those who were in trouble and gathered them in from the four corners of the world. From wandering lost in desolate places, to seemingly never arriving in inhabited places; hungry and thirsty, and with fainting souls, when they cried out to the Lord, He delivered them. In God there can be no more thirsty, nor hungry; for God satisfies all.

So, will you join me in saying, so?

So!

PRAYER: Thank You, Loving God, for all You do! Amen!

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

For God so loved you...

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This verse is key to the way you live

From John 3:14-21:

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

What more does the world need to hear than the words of the sixteenth verse? What more do you need to hear? Let's put it in context first: Jesus is having a night meeting. He's meeting Nick at night. Remember Nick wanted to know more about Jesus and Jesus hit him with you must be born again/anew/from above. That in itself is an entire sermon (You can see why the Bible was divided into chapters and verses, right?), but Jesus continued with the reality of what was coming to him soon. He would be lifted up. This can be taken in the literal, that once nailed to the cross, He was lifted up for the painful death process to begin; and the spiritual: This death lifted Jesus above all others. On that cross came victory over sin and death. Then the key: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life." I heard a dear friend once share a testimony at an Emmaus retreat where this verse did not mean much to him until another person said, "Change the word world to your name." When he did that he got the truth: For God so loved Skip that He gave His only Son..."

The rest is equally powerful. We tend to only read the underlined parts of our Bibles. We may be missing equally good things! "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him." Saved. Pulled from the brink of death into the fullness of life is what this passage is all about. There are countless lives who have been saved from the ravages of life's deadliest things because of this passage, including mine, because we came to understand the awesomeness of God's love towards us. One of my favorite stories that I've shared in this devotional before, but bears repeating is the story of the Bible missionary sent to Africa to distribute the Word of God and he came to a fierce tribe. Their chief was a man who loved to smoke. He grew his own tobacco but lacked the papers with which to enjoy this habit. The missionary spoke about God and God's love and handed the chief a Bible. The chief had not really heard the message, he was too busy eyeing the Bible and its fine paper. Once in his hand, the chief thanked the missionary for this large supply of paper. The missionary feared that that would happened and he begged of the chief one promise, "Please read each page on both sides before you smoke it!" The chief reluctantly agreed. Years later at a conference of missionaries sponsored by the same agency that sent this missionary, he was set to speak. On the first row was a well dressed man, who called to him as soon as he saw him. "Don't you recognize me?" The missionary had to be honest and say no. "I am the chief to whom you gave a Bible. I told you I was going to smoke all the pages of that Bible and you begged me to please read each page. Well, I smoked every page until I came to John 3:16, and then I stopped smoking! My life was changed, and I became a believer. My tribe became believers and here I am, a missionary for the living God."

PRAYER: Loving God, pull us from the smoke and smell of our sins, to the place of sweet-smelling salvation, a new and right relationship with you. Thank You for loving so much that You gave Jesus to me. Help me to share Him with everyone that I can. In Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

God's Sermon is All Around

What Nature Says About God Blesses Us

From Psalm 19: The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

There is a saying, God gave us two ears, and one mouth; so that we can listen more than we talk. In the same way God gave us two eyes and one mouth, so that we can listen with our eyes. This psalm made me think of this, for the psalmist was reflecting on nature. He saw in the heavens the glory of God, and in the earth around him, the handiwork of God. He saw a sermon of the goodness of God in all that was around him. The psalmist also saw God in the laws that God handed on to us. He saw new life available in the law. Yesterdays's text was Exodus 20 and the Ten Commandments. Those speak of new life if we but follow them. He also saw in the law clear warnings about who we are to be and how we are to live, which brings this new life. He saw the need for repentance and confession. His desire was to be blameless and innocent before God. And the classic, powerful, and beautiful sentence: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Why not look for that same sermon in nature today? For many of us, it will be overcast and cold, but still, can we see the handiwork of God in that? As we read God's Word, can we not hear words needed for our life to be truly new before God? Can we not seek to live a life that says truly that we seek to please God?

PRAYER: Bless the Lord, O my soul. Bless the Lord's people, O my life. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Big Ten!

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Solid Foundational Plans for an Abundant Life

From Exodus 20: 1-4; 7-9, 12-20: Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin."

I confess. I love walking through Ikea. Ikea is an interesting store. Thank God there are none close to here. The nearest is in Round Rock, Texas. I hate buying things from there that require assembly. Okay, I shouldn't hate; I strongly dislike buying things that require assembly. I can do it, and have done it numerous times, but the idea of a floor full of parts, slats, boards, and a huge diagram of what to do just does not appeal to me. The reason I have been successful in putting things together is my daughter, Carli, who is a whiz at reading these things and knowing how to put everything together. When Carli is not with me to help me it will take me hours to put anything together. Thank God for the assembly guide and manual for putting things in order.

Today's passage is all about putting our lives in order. It is a passage that contains the Ten Commandments. They put everything in perspective. It starts, as did everything, with God. God declares and we should believe He is our God. The ten then begin: 1. We should have no other gods. God takes first place in our lives, minds, hearts, bodies. Anything else in first place is a god, with a little g. 2. We don't need manufactured representations of God. God is not limited to any image. Idols need not apply. God is everywhere. God is awesome! 3. God's name is sacred. Special. Blessed. Holy. In fact, too holy to be put in any swearing or cussing we think needs God's name. Use your own name to gripe. 4. There should be a holy day in our lives for God. For some, it is Saturday. For others, it is Sunday. Whatever the day is, set it apart just for God. Be blessed in it as you bless God. 5. Honor those who gave birth and life to you. Honor is a special, little used word anymore, but do show that special respect and place where your Mom and Dad should be in your life. For some this means different things. For others it may be a call to re-think and re-pray that relationship. Moms and Dads: There's other references about how we should treat and be with our children. 6. Life is sacred; we should not take it away, in any sense of the word from other living creatures. 7. God expects sexual purity from us. To take someone else's spouse is a sin. Sex is a beautiful gift from God as expressed in marriage; anything else cheapens us and takes away spiritual blessings. 8. God has blessed us with blessings; we should not take those blessings away from others. Respect private property. Leave only with memories of those things you'd like to have. 9. Be a person of truth and honesty. There is no need to make things up about someone else, especially if it leads to legal settings. 10. It's not okay to desire the possessions of someone else, especially when that desire takes us to actions that break any of the above commandments. Respect and enjoy what God has blessed with us; thank God for someone else's blessings.

Our Lenten Journey should be reminded of these ten solid teachings. Notice how they help us build proper relationships with God, ourselves, and others. Notice how strong your foundation will be for your life if you build on these ten!

PRAYER: Bless my life, Loving God, and living soul, bless the Lord and all those whom God has made. Amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

The Power of God

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The work of the cross hard to understand

From 1 Corinthians 1:18-25: For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

"I know everything!" These are the words of a child. When said by a child these are cute and funny. But when said seriously by an adult, it is usually a sign that the person saying it has closed his/her mind to new things. Paul knew, as he writes this passage that believers will encounter those who claiming to be wise, know little to nothing about God and God's power. Those who scoff at the cross believe it be to be something not real; but to those whom the cross has saved from sin and death, it is the very power of God.

Our Lenten Journey may take us to people who doubt the cross, doubt God, doubt that there is any hope for them; these are the very ones to whom we have been led. We who know the power of the cross to bring life and life in abundance, speak to those who doubt. We who have seen and lived hope, share with those who are hopeless or despairing. Those who don't see the benefit of being alive, we should speak the words of life that Jesus shared with us.

Don't let the foolishness of this world limit or stop the power of God; for as Paul closes this passage, "God's weakness is stronger than human strength."

PRAYER: Shine through me, Light of the world! Hope above all hope, speak through me. Life of all life, help me to share that with those in need. In the name of He who brings these, Jesus my Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde

Cleansing what is God's

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That Includes and Begins with Us!

From John 2:13-22: The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Our Lenten Journey is a cleansing one. We seek to give up those things that affect us negatively, and we seek to take up those things that bless us and bless God. This story is one of most powerful stories in Jesus' ministry. Having just entered Jerusalem in a mighty way, Jesus' acceptance crowd on that Palm Sunday quickly turns against Him for this act. Jesus finds the Temple not as a place for worship and prayer, but as a money-making operation for the powers that be. Yes, cattle, sheep, and doves were a part of the sacrificial aspects of worship, they had overrun the temple and instead of having come from people's homes, they were now a part of how the temple officials made their money. Some have invited us to consider the smells of what should be a sweet-smelling place of worship to a barn. Jesus drove out the money-makers, and the livestock, and overturned the tables. His words reflect his anger, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"

What in us has made our temple, our body, a marketplace? Do we not know that our temples should be the house of God? Can God live in a house filled with anger, regret, doubt, lust, drugs, addictions, and a list too long to list here? We should drive out those things that stink up our temple and ask God's sweet-smelling presence to replace them. Our lives, guided and blessed by the presence of the living God will call to others to join us.

PRAYER: Living God, live in me. Help me to rid my temple of those things that offend You and Yours. I want to be a sweet-smelling sacrifice of Your love. Help me to be a witness of that grace. This I pray in the He who lives in me, Jesus the Lord, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde