Read: Luke 13:6-9

If it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down. (v. 9)

“You had your chance, and you still haven’t delivered!” Ever said something like that? The results you expected just weren’t forthcoming. You gave the offender another chance, and then another. Finally, your patience ran out. No more second chances.

For three years the landowner has been coming to his vineyard at harvest time, expecting to find fruit. But the fig tree seemingly is sterile. Finally, the landowner has had enough. Why should this unproductive tree go on stealing sun and space, water and nutrition? “Cut it down!” he says to the gardener. But the gardener begs for one last chance to coax the tree into production. He asks for a stay of execution: “Sir, let it alone this year also.” Like Abraham interceding for the city of Sodom, so the gardener wins a reprieve for the unproductive fruit tree.

Jesus the gardener doesn’t give up on us. He doesn’t give up on you, me, or the church, despite our frustrating lack of fruit. There is a lot of hope in this parable—don’t cut down the tree. But there is also urgency—just one more year! The deadline has been pushed back. We’ve been spared the ax. But with this new opportunity there had better come a new seriousness. We are on trial right now, today. God expects fruit from his fruit trees. “If it should bear fruit next year, well and good,” says the gardener. “But if not, you can cut it down.” —Lou Lotz

Prayer: Lord, help me to produce the fruits of righteousness.

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Read: Matthew 5:13-14

You are the salt of the earth. (v. 13)

The book chosen for our book club bore the title Salt. I thought, “There must be some mistake. What can be interesting to learn about salt?” Over the next few weeks of reading I was about to find out. Salt processing goes back about 6,000 years and was prized by the ancient Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Hittites, and Egyptians. The scarcity and universal need for salt caused nations to go to war over it. At one point, salt as a trade commodity was of greater value than platinum. I could hear the author say, “So there!”

When Jesus addresses you and me as salt, it says something about the high value he places on us and our importance in our communities. Salt preserves what is valuable and adds flavor. The metaphor speaks to our calling as Christians in the surrounding culture with its ever-changing, ever the same, boring decay and corruption.

Have you ever sprinkled salt on your food and couldn’t taste any difference? Disappointing, right? Jesus expects us to make a difference in the world. We pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). We must put hands and feet to that prayer every day. When we lose the tang of living out the gospel, the world suffers further spiritual decay. It’s so easy to complain about how things are getting worse. Yet, instead of faulting the world, let’s check our Christian distinctiveness. Have we lost it? —Chic Broersma

Prayer: Lord, without calling attention to myself, help me to make a difference for you and the gospel every day.

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Read: Luke 12:13-21

Be on your guard against all covetousness. (v. 15)

In just three verses, this rich fool refers to himself seven times. Count them. He reminds me of the T-shirt that says, “Enough about me, let’s talk about you. What do you think about me?” This raises several “what if” questions. What if the rich farmer had reflected on God’s blessings, which enabled his bountiful crops? What if he had thought, “I will build bigger so I’ll have storage room for neighboring farmers?” What if the rich farmer had remembered that life is as brief as the morning mist?

“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’” (Luke 12:20). There is nothing wrong with bountiful crops or having more than one barn could hold. It all is a gift of God, who makes the sun shine and the rain fall, producing the abundant harvest. Farmers work long hours planting, harvesting, and storing into barns. Greed is something else. It’s been called the affliction of the affluent—an abundance of money, property, and material goods. God is not stingy. He created a world with “enough for everyone’s needs, but not for everyone’s greed” (Gandhi).

In Dante’s Inferno of judgment, the greedy are boiled alive in molten gold. It’s their punishment for hoarding or spending their riches selfishly. Mercy gives. Greed grabs. It’s never satisfied. Jesus says to us, “Beware of covetousness”! —Chic Broersma

Prayer: Lord, free me from greed

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Read: Ephesians 4:25-32

Let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor. (v. 25)

On a lazy summer day as a youngster, my friends and I loaded my Radio Flyer wagon for a hot dog roast away from home. We also took a can of pork and beans. About the length of a cow pasture away, a small creek crossed through a culvert under the road. There in the large drainage tunnel we built a fire where we could lounge hidden from the view of the world.

When it came time for the pork and beans, one of my friends said, “My dad just sets the can on a burner.” Simple enough. He failed to mention that his dad first punched a hole in the can. Suddenly, KABOOM! The cement ceiling of the county road culvert was now coated with a hot sticky covering. Instead of eating pork and beans, we watched it dripping from the ceiling into the fire.

What an unforgettable and foolish childhood experience, yet it’s one that impresses on me the importance of telling the whole story, the whole truth. Speaking the truth is a key indicator of genuine conversion. It’s also proof that we’re living a new life in Christ Jesus, who embodies the truth of God in human form. Jesus always spoke and lived the truth. He misled no one by word or deed. People who were questioning, seeking, and hurting could count on Jesus for the truth.

Can they count on you and me? —Chic Broersma

Prayer: Lord of truth and wisdom, make us ready to tell the whole truth with care.

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Read: Luke 18:9-14

I hate pride and arrogance. (Prov. 8:13 NIV)

In a discussion group, the leader posed the question, “Who in your life do you most admire?” A variety of answers followed—parents, teachers, coaches. Then a handsome husband and successful businessman said, “Of all the people I know, I admire myself most.” Silence followed. Everyone was at a loss for words. But God is not silent: “I hate pride and arrogance.”

This man, whom we’ll call Henry, had studied hard, earned degrees, landed impressive jobs with good salaries, and served the church and community through his foundations. He was proud of his accomplishments. One day I reminded him that in the final judgment, God will be unimpressed by worldly credentials. The gentleman’s response? A blank stare.

God approves when we do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with him (Micah 6:8). But pride is the enemy of humility. In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus contrasts two men: the first did many good deeds but was full of pride, whereas the second admitted his sin and pleaded for God’s mercy. Jesus says the sinner went home justified that day rather than the Pharisee because “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

Studying, working hard, and doing charitable acts are good. But if your goal is to impress others, forget being blessed by God. If you want God’s grace, seek how to be humble and let him take care of the rest. —Chic Broersma

Prayer: Lord, forgive my foolish pride

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Read: Romans 10:1-10

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (v. 9)

The good news of the gospel shows us several facts about our situation: sin has consequences, we cannot solve our sin problem on our own, and God chooses to offer us a second chance. When we realize this truth, what must we do?

The Bible speaks often of our need to repent and have faith. Repentance is the act of acknowledging our sin and feeling truly sorry for it. Faith, or “believing,” is placing our trust and hope in Jesus Christ as the only one who can save us from our sin and offer us new life. I can look at a chair and believe that it is a chair. I can also believe that if I sit in the chair, it will keep me from falling to the floor. However, to truly exercise my faith, I myself must sit in the chair. In other words, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17 NIV).

There are many people who believe that God exists. The apostle James says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19 NIV). Read Romans 10:9 again. Have you taken that step of faith? It’s a step I’ve taken and I hope you will, too. It’s the most important decision you will ever make! —Steve Petroelje

Prayer: Everlasting Father, move in my heart so that I act upon my faith. Help me to repent and believe. Amen.

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Read: Romans 8:28-39

If God is for us, who can be against us? (v. 31)

Once when one of our children was very young, he disappeared. We searched frantically around the house and outdoors. We called his name loudly. We finally found him in the back of a closet. The louder we called, the more scared he was, so he remained hidden.

In stark contrast are other times when I have lost something of far less value, such as a golf ball from an errant shot, and decided it wasn’t worth searching for. Thankfully, God doesn’t give up on us like that but pursues us like a parent searching for a lost child because we have great value in his eyes. He made us and he loves us enough to search and find us when we are lost in sin. God is for you! You are of great worth to him. Romans 8 declares a double truth that God is for us and that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God.

Others may hold your past failures against you. You may be tempted to live with shame and guilt. At times it may feel like no one is on your side. Yet just as God was with Joseph in prison (Gen. 39:21-23) and surrounded Elisha with a heavenly army (2 Kings 6:17), the Lord is with you and he has a great plan for your life if you trust in him. —Steve Petroelje

Prayer: Faithful Father, who never gives up on me, thank you for the value and worth that I have as your child. Amen.

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Read: Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (v. 1)

How are you feeling today? Are you anxious, sad, struggling with sinful thoughts, or angry at someone? Or do you feel content, blessed, and loved? What is the inner state of your heart and mind?

One of the blessings that comes through faith in Jesus Christ is peace. Even in a world filled with violence and warfare, a busy home life, or a stressful time at work, we can have inner peace. Hear this from Scripture: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). Jesus, the Prince of Peace, said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Before he went to the cross, Jesus declared, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

If you have been justified by faith, hold on to the peace you have with God through Jesus Christ. Amid troubled thoughts and a world that often lacks peace, give thanks for the hope and peace you have in Jesus! —Steve Petroelje

Prayer: Jesus, Prince of Peace, fill my heart today with peace that sustains me even in the uncertainty of this world. Amen.

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Read: Exodus 23:1-9

Do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. (v. 2 NIV)

In the movie Twelve Angry Men, a jury stands ready to condemn a boy to death. He has been accused of killing his father. Of the twelve men on the jury, eleven are convinced he is guilty, and only one man stands in their way. This twelfth man isn’t convinced that the boy is blameless; he just isn’t sure he’s guilty, and he doesn’t want to put an innocent boy to death by their negligence.

In the face of eleven other people, it would be easy to cave in to the will of the crowd. But this man is guided by a dogged quest for the truth. By submitting himself to this quest, he actually possesses a radical freedom that none of the other men have. Instead of settling for an easy false testimony, he is willing to wait patiently for the truth.

The ninth commandment is against bearing false witness, but it is about more than just refraining from lying. It also carries a positive implied imperative to stand for the truth. It is so easy to fall into groupthink, to follow the crowd rather than committing oneself to the truth. But paradoxically, binding ourselves to the truth actually frees us to stand for the truth, even in the face of massive outside pressure. What are some ways that you are tempted to side with the crowd, rather than waiting on God’s truth? —Steven Rodriguez

Prayer: Lord, please set me free to stand for the truth

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Read: Mark 14:55-72

And Jesus said, “I am.” (v. 62)

Jesus Christ is the true witness who exposes the lies of the world. During his trial, Jesus fulfilled the ninth commandment, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exod. 20:16). He witnessed to the truth of his self-revelation with just two simple words: “I am.” He told one of the biggest truths of all, that in Jesus Christ, God was with us in the flesh. He bore witness to this truth with his whole being. And with his simple and powerful testimony, Jesus testified against us, his neighbors, but truthfully. His words exposed the lies of everyone around him.

The contrast in his trial is striking. On one side, false witnesses spoke lies about what Jesus said and who Jesus was. On the other side, Peter lied about his personal relationship with Jesus. Everyone else in this story is a false witness. Jesus is surrounded by lies and deception on all sides. From a spiritual perspective, however, the tables are completely turned. It is actually Jesus who stands in judgment of the world, exposing its duplicity. It is he who testifies to God’s love openly, by his words and on the cross. There are gaping holes between what we say and what we believe. But Jesus is the truth. By his wounds, he can heal the wounds of our gaps of integrity. As his truth exposes the rifts of our duplicity, our best response is, like Peter, to weep. —Steven Rodriguez

Prayer: Lord, let me weep for my duplicity and listen for your truth

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Read: Philippians 2:5-11

God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. (v. 9)

What does it mean to “take the name of the Lord your God in vain?” (Exod. 20:7). In the ancient world, a person’s name was a core part of who they were, as real as the color of their eyes, or the sound of their voice. A name was more than a placeholder or an empty sign. The name of “the Lord” (Yahweh) was linked in a deep way to God’s presence (Exod. 3:13-15). From this perspective, taking the Lord’s name “in vain,” or “as vanity,” is treating the Lord’s name as if it is empty, hollow, nothing. It is speaking as if God does not exist, treating him like an imaginary friend.

When Jesus Christ became human and died on the cross, he conquered this vanity in a surprising way. He made himself nothing for us. Paul writes that he “emptied himself,” sinking into the nothingness of death itself. But after he rose from the dead and ascended on high, Jesus’ name was not empty anymore. No, quite the opposite: as the ascended Lord, he “fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23), and the whole world will one day bow to worship not an empty name but the One whose name is above every name, Jesus Christ.

One way that we can fulfill the third commandment is by always and everywhere speaking and acting as if Jesus is Lord of all. God doesn’t want us to treat his name like it’s nothing. It’s everything. —Steven Rodriguez

Prayer: Lord, help me to pray like you’re actually there.

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Read: Exodus 32:1-14

The people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain. (v. 1)

What is it about long-distance relationships that makes them so hard? Whenever someone moves, they quickly discover which friendships have deep enough roots to survive the arid conditions of occasional phone calls, letters, and visits. It is so much harder to stay friends with someone without the help of embodied, face-to-face fellowship. And yet that is exactly what God calls us to do when he commands us, “You shall not make for yourself an idol” (Exod. 20:4 NRSV).

In today’s passage, the people of Israel are impatient with God’s absence. Moses is taking forever to come back down the mountain, and they grow restless with God’s silence. They would rather worship a hunk of gold than wait and face the emptiness of the silence of God. In this way, their idolatry is a failure of patience. For us too it is so hard to wait in this in-between time between Jesus’ first and second coming. While we wait, God calls us to keep the house of our hearts clear of cluttering idols. There’s a deep longing inside us that will only be satisfied by Jesus Christ, when he returns. If idolatry is a failure of patience, then the opposite of idolatry is Christian hope, the conviction of things that we cannot yet see (Rom. 8:24-25; Heb. 11:1). Can you be vigilant, saying no to any idol that tries to fill the empty space of your heart? —Steven Rodriguez

Prayer: Lord, only you can satisfy my deepest longings. Fill me with holy, hopeful patience.

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Read: Acts 28:11-16

And so we came to Rome. (v. 14)

When the apostle finally reached Rome, Nero was emperor—a chilling thought, considering that he was the Caesar to whom Paul had appealed his case. But Paul’s arrival looks something like a triumphal entry, which is no less encouraging to the apostle.

Rome was much more than just another stop on Paul’s missionary itinerary. It marks the climax of Paul’s career, as he finally is able to realize his long-time ambition of preaching the gospel in the capital of the empire. But Paul’s arrival in Rome is also the fulfillment of Luke’s plan for the book of Acts.

We could read Acts as “A Tale of Two Cities.” The book begins in Jerusalem and ends in Rome. Luke’s agenda for Acts is spelled out in Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples, recorded in Acts 1:8: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” So why does Rome serve as the climax of the story? There was a well-known saying that is still familiar to us: “All roads lead to Rome.” That was literally true. A golden post set in the middle of the Roman Forum was “Mile Marker 0” for every road throughout the Empire. But if all roads led to Rome, then roads from Rome led everywhere! So in a symbolic sense Paul’s arrival in the capital represented the goal of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. —David Bast

Prayer: Lord, may the good news of Jesus continue to go to the ends of the earth, until your triumphant return.

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Read: Acts 27:13-44

So take heart. (v. 25)

Luke’s account of his and Paul’s (notice the “we” in verses 16 and 27) voyage and shipwreck on the way to Rome is one of the great narrative passages in the Bible. But what is the point? Two complementary truths emerge from the story. The first is that God is always in control. Storms may come, we might even have to go through a shipwreck, but God is managing it all. It’s as if the Lord says, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this. You’ll make it.” “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar” (v. 24).

The second great truth is that our actions matter. We may be tempted to think that because God is sovereign and is working out his purposes, it doesn’t really matter whether we do anything or not. We can just sort of sit back and let God do his thing. But that’s not what we see in Acts 27. I’m especially impressed by something Paul says. When the sailors try to steal the lifeboat and sneak off to shore, Paul grabs the centurion. He knows that without the crew to man the ship, they won’t last the night. So he tells the Roman soldier, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved” (v. 31). Wait, didn’t God assure Paul everyone would be saved? Yes. But if the sailors leave, they won’t be saved? Yes, again. Here’s the point. God works his will through us.God’s purpose is invincible, but our efforts are indispensable. —David Bast

Prayer: Lord, help me to do my part in what you are doing in the world.

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Read: Acts 20:17-38

And there was much weeping on the part of all. (v. 37)

Goodbye is a contraction of the phrase “God be with ye.” I remember standing in a circle under the wing of a small plane in the African bush. A missionary was saying goodbye to the little group of believers from the church he had planted in that tribe. When he finished speaking, we sang. “God be with you till we meet again . . . till we meet at Jesus’ feet.”

The tears shed on the beach of Miletus as Paul said goodbye to the Ephesian elders bear eloquent testimony to the love that can connect a pastor and people. They were “sorrowful most of all,” Luke reports, “because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again.” Of course, they would see each other again. But not until they met at Jesus’ feet.

The bond between this pastor and these people was deep. Paul invested more time in Ephesus than anywhere else during his missionary travels. He had spent that time preaching and teaching God’s Word to them—all of it to all of them. “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (v. 27). For Paul the ministry of the Word was the main thing.

In a day when churches are expecting their pastors to be many things—therapists, administrators, entrepreneurs, entertainers—it is good to remember the main thing. A pastor, after all, is a shepherd—that’s what the word means. And Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” —David Bast

Prayer: Good Shepherd, equip and empower my pastor to feed your sheep.

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Read: Acts 11:19-30

In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (v. 26)

Despite Jesus’ instruction to go out in the power of the Spirit as witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), the apostles seemed quite content to hang around Jerusalem. Things were going well for the church there. They had a few problems, to be sure, but they saw great growth as well. It took the persecution that broke out with Stephen’s martyrdom to get the church moving outward. Those who fled Jerusalem began to witness wherever they went, though at first they only shared the gospel with their fellow Jews. But then some anonymous believers from Cyprus and Cyrene took the momentous step of speaking directly to Gentiles about the Lord, in the city of Antioch in Syria, one of the major urban centers of the Mediterranean world. As a result a church sprang up there and began to grow rapidly.

The clue to this success is found in a nickname. Antioch was where the disciples were first called “Christians.” Christos is the Greek word for “Messiah,” or “Anointed One.” In Antioch these early believers kept talking about Jesus, their Messiah. Jews knew all about the Messiah, but it was a foreign term for Gentiles—so much so that they took it as a proper name. So Jesus the Messiah became Jesus Christ. And his followers became known as the Christianoi—the Christians. They talked so much about Jesus that his title became their name. And so the church increased. —David Bast

Prayer: Lord, I claim your title as my name. Anoint me with your Spirit to live for you.

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Read: Acts 5:1-11

And great fear came upon all who heard of it. (v. 5)

What can we say about a story like this? One thing we can say is that it demonstrates Luke’s honesty as a historian. The English leader Oliver Cromwell supposedly instructed the artist who was about to make his portrait, “Paint me as I am, warts and all!” That’s exactly what Luke does in his picture of the early church. Here we see a glaring example of dishonesty and hypocrisy. Apparently, the Jerusalem church’s beautiful life of fellowship and mutual care was not as wonderful and complete as it seemed at first.

Another thing we can say is that God isn’t one to be trifled with. Narnia, C. S. Lewis’ magical land, is presided over by Aslan, the godlike lion. When the children whose adventures make up the Narnia stories are first told about Aslan, they are apprehensive about meeting this terrifying being. “Is he—quite safe?” asks one of the children. “Safe? . . . ’Course he isn’t safe,” comes the reply. “But he is good.”

What bothers us most about the story in Acts 5 is not so much the sin of Ananias and Sapphira as what happened to them as a result of it. Nowadays we tend to downplay both the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. Who doesn’t want to concentrate on God’s mercy and love instead? So you’ll often hear that we shouldn’t be afraid of God. Really? Read verses 5 and 11 again.

God isn’t safe. But he is good. He is a Savior for repentant sinners. Be thankful for that! —David Bast

Prayer: God, be merciful to me.

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Read: Matthew 28:1-15

Some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. (v. 11)

What we have here is better than any episode of NCIS or whatever crime scene investigation series is on these days. Eyewitnesses, fearing for their lives, run to religious authorities for protection, tell the truth, and, in a sudden twist, the good guys become the bad guys and bribe them to tell a different story. A bribe they take from the treasury of God, who just watched his Son die. Some payback.

You would think that soldiers from an army known for its bravado would stick to the facts, rather than stoop to a cover up. Doesn’t this truth, of all truths, bear telling? Soldiers who’ve vanquished foes find a Savior who’s vanquished the grave? Although Romans have now witnessed an empty tomb, professed Jesus as “the Son of God,” “not guilty,” and “King of the Jews,” a resurrected Jesus is simply not an acceptable plotline. And their fear pales in comparison to that of the Jewish religious leaders of the day.

Lest I get too carried away in my judgement, however, I remember my own reactions to feeling fearful. I have resurrection news, too, and what I do with it either makes me more like the paid-off eyewitnesses or the simple, humble moms, ex-fishermen, and ex-harlot who risked their lives to tell the truth. —Amy Clemens

Prayer: God, forgive me when I tiptoe around the outrageous news of a grave-conquering Savior. The world will still pay me to shut up, but may I stand by the truth of my encounter with the Resurrected One.

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Read: John 20:1-10

And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there (vv. 5-6).

Pause a moment to consider the symbolism of not just an empty tomb, but empty grave clothes, set aside like a worn-out tent, vestiges of pre-resurrection life. The only thing missing is Jesus.

What dignity for us that he keeps the fragile flesh of incarnation and crucifixion, nail prints and all, even in his glorified, resurrected body. He could have arisen in spirit and left flesh lying there, but he didn’t. As C. S. Lewis so poignantly puts it in Mere Christianity, the world finally saw what true life looks like: the human and divine so intertwined that when one is killed, the other brings life back. “For the first time we saw a real man,” says Lewis, “. . . fully and splendidly alive.”

As Christ-followers walking this Lenten journey, what remnants of pre-resurrection life might we leave behind? What habits, fears, and attitudes remind us of what one translator calls “grave-tending”? “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike ‘What’s next, Papa?’” (Rom. 8:15 Message). —Amy Clemens

Prayer: I was once only flesh, Creator God, but in Christ you showed me what it means to be fully alive, not disdaining my flesh, but allowing it to be intertwined by the life of your Spirit. I praise you for you have dignified your creation again in birth, death, and resurrection.

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Read: Luke 19:33-46

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace!” (vv. 41-42)

The night of Jesus’ birth, angels announce “on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14 KJV). Now, years later, Jesus faces death. He is less than five miles from the place the angels sang when he begins to weep. His tears are for a city—a people of God—who don’t understand that peace.

Jerusalem, literally interpreted, means “city of peace.” Jesus, more than any other man or woman in history, can see the chasm between what God dreamed, and what sin wrought. It’s not hard to imagine that God weeps at the tragedy, too. Tantamount to a soldier sacrificing so deeply on the battlefield, only to come home and find he is neither valued nor celebrated, Jesus feels the overwhelming betrayal that his peace, God’s peace, has been rejected. The people he loves favor cheap substitutes—lies, pride, idols, addictions—whatever can be bought and sold in the temple by the moneychangers, who can turn any sanctuary into a marketplace.

Jesus dies that week to usher in fully the promise of peace between God and humans (Rom. 5:1). The veil is torn from the top, signaling invitation and welcome. The things that make for peace are finished. —Amy Clemens

Prayer: God, help me lay down my incompetent warring and move through the curtain. There is peace between me and the King! Color every corner of life with this good news.

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