2015 Day 90 – John 19

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The sign Pilate had placed on the cross of Jesus read, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. This was not by accident, just as nothing in God’s perfect plan is ever an accident. The Jewish leaders wanted the sign to read that He claimed to be the king of the Jews, but in John 19:22, Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” While Pilate did not change the sign because he was probably just being stubborn, this was all part of God’s plan to make sure all who witnessed the crucifixion Christ knew they were killing the King, the highest and holiest they had ever known.

2015 Day 89 – John 18

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As we approach Easter, we are now reading about the final moments of Jesus’ life here on earth. Jesus’ life and death have significance in all he accomplished. Even in His private conversation with Pilate, Jesus reflected the truth of who He was and all He had done. I found it interesting in the beginning of John 18:38 when Pilate says, “What is truth?” In the Roman government of that time (much like has become for us today) “truth” was whatever the majority of people agreed for it to be. When there is no basis for truth, there is no basis for moral right and wrong. Jesus’ words and actions are the basis for our standard of truth and our moral behavior.

2015 Day 88 – Hope in the Dark

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I came across the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote below and it made me think about how much I fill my life with things that distract me away from God. Sometimes God has to clear the clutter and all the pretty lights so I can see the hope I can only find through Him. All those lights and distractions keep us from realizing there is hope in the darkness. “When it is dark enough, we can see the stars.” And in the case of the believer, who has a relationship with the creator of those stars, there is hope in the darkness.

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If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.

2015 Day 87 – Luke 23

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As we approach Easter, our reading is leading us to Christ’s crucifixion in Luke 23. What stood out to me in our reading today was Jesus’ interaction with the criminals being crucified with Him. While one of the criminals insulted Jesus for not saving them from the cross, the other recognized who Jesus was and His innocence. In Luke 23:41 he says, “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Jesus provided eternal salvation to these men by His sacrifice on the cross just as He provides it to us when we accept this gift from Him. When Jesus told these men they would be in paradise on that very day, He was giving us a glimpse of the salvation He would provide for us. One day we will be in paradise and it is because Jesus loved us enough to suffer and die to cover our sins.

2015 Day 86 – Mark 15

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Sometimes silence is the best course of action even when we know the truth. In Mark 15:5 Jesus was the perfect example of this, But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. While Jesus knew the truth, He chose to remain silent, mostly because He did not need man’s approval or permission to carry out the will of the Father. We need to remember that God does not need my opinion, just my obedience.

2015 Day 85 – Matthew 27

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In Matthew 27:24, Pilate’s interaction with the crowd who wanted Jesus crucified stood out to me, When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” Pilate knew the difference between doing what was right versus what was unmistakably wrong. Even though Pilate chose not to make a choice, he allowed an unjust choice to be made. When we are faced with a difficult decision, we cannot sit idly by and watch injustice happen. We must stand for what is right regardless of the consequences.

2015 Day 84 – John 17

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Today we read Jesus’ prayer to His Father in heaven. This is a beautiful and respectful dialogue from Jesus expressing His willingness to move on after completing the mission God set before Him. As I read this prayer, I could not help but wonder what it would have been like if Jesus had remained longer on earth. What if He had stayed to reign over all creation? But then I remembered that God’s plan is perfect. Jesus completed all the tasks He had set out to do. Jesus commissioned His disciples to begin passing down the gospel to the world. And then the realization hit me… God’s plan worked and I am a product of the success of that plan and so are you.

2015 Day 83 – John 16

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Every time I read John 16, I think I share the same verse. John 16:33 captures Jesus saying, “I have told you these things, so that in me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This verse has it all; a warning, hope, and assurance of peace. No matter what this world may throw at us, we can rest assured that Jesus conquered it and will not leave us alone to deal with it. We have peace, if we choose to take it, because Jesus gave us the ability to truly experience it through Him and His sacrifice for us. Our peace can only come through Him.

2015 Day 82 – John 15

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When it comes to a healthy relationship with God, obedience is key. Remaining faithful to God and all He has asked of us makes all the difference in how we deal with this life. While our life was never promised to be perfect, God promised He would always love us. In John 15:10 Jesus says to His disciples, If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. Remaining in “His love” does not mean God will keep loving us, because He always does. It means we will remain protected by His will and hedge of protection over us. Separation from God should never be an alternative because the consequences are eternal.

2015 Day 81 – Why Worry When You Can Pray

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If it’s not worth praying, is it worth the worry? When we realize that only God can change the things that worry never will, we live a life of peace and hope.

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If you ever come across anything you’d like me to post on this blog, please feel free to contact me at dino.evangelista@gmail.com.