Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This is the week that we celebrate the most important week in the history of the world – when Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem with a parade, when He instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion, when He was arrested, tried and crucified, and when He arose from the grave in glory and victory. In your personal devotion time, through prayer and meditation, focus on these particular truths from the last week of Jesus’ human life and their import to your life:
· Jesus’ death was a life-giving act of God’s love and mercy, not vengeance: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) and “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:10-11).
· God’s grace through Jesus was for our salvation: “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:27-28).
· Jesus taught that sacrificial love has a mysterious power: “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me. Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save Me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.” (John 12:24-27).
· Jesus’ sacrificial love was painful: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," He said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from Him. "Abba Father," He said, "everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will." (Mark 14:35-36)
· Jesus’ expression of sacrificial love is the greatest example of love -- as Jesus teaches, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)
· Having received this grace and love, we are called to be dispensers of this same grace and sacrificial love to others: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16).
· Sacrificial love is our primary identity to the world, our chief witness according to Jesus,“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35).
· After the Resurrection, Jesus gave us our calling, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20).
Read and pray over these scriptures and God will reveal to you the calling that He has placed on your life and where He wishes you to go and be. Selah.

Steve