Behold your King!

 

  “The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to greet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who come in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!’ Then Jesus, when He found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written; ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.’’ (John 12:12-15)

   Verse 15 is a quote from the prophet Zechariah, writing over 500 years before that first Palm Sunday. This fulfillment of prophecy is one of over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled in his life making it clear that He was, in fact, the Messiah and He had come to save His people.

 

   The problem with the Jewish people and their leaders at this time in history is that they were not looking forward to the type of Messiah that had come. They were looking forward to a King who would set up his kingdom on earth, but that is the kingdom that He will set up the next time He comes! The prophet Isaiah lays out just what kind of Messiah will come first. He says:

 

    “He is despised and rejected by men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”  (Isaiah 53:3) 

 

   Although there was great celebration that day in Jerusalem, they were a fickle crowd and when they found out that He would not be setting up a new kingdom for the Jews and getting rid of Roman domination, they turned on Him and asked Pilate to crucify Him the following Friday. I have to confess when I was a younger man it always pained me to read of how the people could sing Hosanna on Sunday and then cry for his death the following Friday. But as we look at the whole picture, we can see clearly that it was God’s plan all along. Isaiah continues in his book to explain to us almost 700 years earlier just why the Messiah must suffer and die.

 

    “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed, All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned everyone to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6)

 

  So we can be excited today, not as we think about His joyous entry into Jerusalem and the fulfillment of prophecy, but in the fact that Jesus is who He claimed to be; The Messiah, the Son of God, Our Savior, and Redeemer! He entered Jerusalem on that exciting day but has He entered your heart and life? He went to the cross to take away our sins and to allow us to have fellowship with Him though the shedding of His blood on the cross. Have you accepted this free gift and surrendered your life to Him or are you still living in rebellion and disobedience? 

 

   Today is the day you can change your life for now and eternity. Accept the sacrifice that Jesus, the Son of God, made for you and for me. If you are already a born again believer, are you living for Him everyday? Now is a good time to evaluate and make a decision to serve Him daily. 

 

“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (II Corinthians 6:2)

 

 

PRAY:

 

1.    Lord, thank you for coming to this earth to live among us, to teach us what a loving and faithful God you are, and to die on an old rugged cross to bear our sins.

2.    Help me today Lord, to spend more time with you in prayer and in the reading of your Word so that I may know You better and be obedient to your precepts and commands.

3.    Lord, help me to be faithful to pray for others to come to church next Sunday and surrender their lives to You. We need You desperately, and our nation needs You desperately!

 

 

 

Who was Saint Patrick?

 

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7 NKJV)

 

   Although my name is Patrick, (I was named for my mother’s favorite uncle, Patrick Malloy), I have never been too interested in learning about who exactly Saint Patrick was. I knew that he was a Christian who had brought the gospel message to Ireland many years ago, and that it gave everyone an excuse to celebrate “Irishness,” and drink green beer on Saint Patrick’s Day.  That was about the extent of my knowledge, until recently, when I bought a book for my grandchildren about Patrick.

 

   It turns out that Saint Patrick, so designated by the Catholic Church, (although as I read the Bible, the title of saint applies to all Christians who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ) lived in the fourth century A.D. His family had some wealth and had a beach villa on the coast of Britain and when Patrick was 16 some raiders from Ireland attacked the villa and captured him, and several other members of the household, and took them to Ireland to be sold as slaves.

 

   During that time he gave his life over completely to Christ and said in his autobiography “Confessions” that: “The Lord opened my senses to my unbelief, so that…I might remember my many sins; and accordingly I might turn to the Lord my God with all my heart.” He served as a shepherd for his new master for 6 years and many of his fellow slaves called him “Holy Boy” because he never ceased to talk about his Lord Jesus. 

 

   When he was 22 years old he had a dream that he would return to his old country and then later in another dream he was told, “Come and see where your ship is waiting for you.” He escaped and walked 200 miles to the shore and there saw a ship off the coast. He yelled to a sailor to allow him to come aboard but was refused. Then the sailor said that the other men wanted him to come so he went aboard. The journey took a 28-day stop on another small island and when they ran out of food the captain of the ship, who had heard him talk of God, challenged Patrick to ask his God for food. Patrick told the captain that “nothing is impossible for God” and immediately the crew turned around and there was a herd of pigs! The crew feasted for days and gave thanks to God.

 

  Patrick was returned home after a trip lasting 2 years and his family was overjoyed to have him back. He then studied to become a priest and once again had a dream that the people of Ireland wanted him to return and live among them. He purposed in his heart to return to Ireland and, even though his parents and the church leaders were opposed to his plan, he knew that it was God who was calling him and he must go.

 

   Back in Ireland he shared the gospel with his former slave owner, who refused to hear it, and then he traveled all over the island preaching the gospel. Many persecuted him, but many more accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior! He was imprisoned at times and briefly enslaved again also. 

 

   He shared Christ throughout Ireland until his death on March 17^thAD 461. Later the shamrock was introduced into the holiday celebration, as it was believed he used them to demonstrate the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. His courageous life should challenge us all to be bold witnesses for Jesus Christ today, and until the day we die!

 

  “But sanctify the Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15)

 

 

 

 

PRAY:

 

1.    Lord, thank you for Saint Patrick and for the example of obedience he has given us by his wiliness to take the gospel to a difficult and dangerous land.

2.    Help me today to not be afraid to talk to others I encounter about Jesus and all that He means to me and all those who call Him master.

3.    Lord, fill me with your Spirit today so that I will be guided by You and not by my own selfish desires. 

 

   

 

 

Where does my help come from?

 

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills---From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 121:1-2)

 

   In October 1973 I was a soldier assigned to an infantry battalion in Berlin, Germany. I was fortunate to be selected to attend the German Mountain Warfare School in Mittenwald, West Germany to complete a mountain climbing course. The school was located at the foot of the Alps on the Austrian border and it was a beautiful place to learn to climb. My experience in “mountains” at that time consisted of some hiking on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia as a Boy Scout, and training in mountainous warfare at Dahlonega, Georgia in the U.S. Army’s Ranger School.

   The first day we were outfitted with knickers and long socks to go with our standard uniform shirts and combat boots and we set out on a hike up a steep mountain track with our backpacks properly stocked with water, German bread and ‘wurst’ for lunch. We labored up the trail for about 2 or 3 hours and we finally reached the top of the ridgeline and the entire mountain range exploded into our view! The sight of the mountains was magnificent, and even though I have had many other opportunities to see majestic mountain scenes since then in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Ecuador, Colorado, and Montana, I always remember my first, up close, glimpse of the Alps that October day.

 

   When I read the Scripture above I always have that magnificent scene come to my mind. The God that created those majestic mountains is the same God that I can look up to in time of need. He made heaven and earth and He is the only one I need to turn to when I need help with a big or small problem. The author of Psalms 121 continues:

 

   “He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber or sleep.” (verses 3-4)

 

   God is on duty 24 hours a week, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. He doesn’t sleep! He does not get tired. Do you need to talk to Him at 3 AM about something on your heart? He is on duty! Do you need some advice on even the smallest of matters? He is on duty, and He cares! He is your loving Father. He is your Redeemer! He is your best Friend! You are His sheep, and He is the Good Shepherd. He takes care of His children always; not sometimes, but always!

 

   “The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day,  Nor the moon by night.” (verses 5-6)

 

  Have you ever been struck by the sun, and needed some shade  right now? I can remember some times in the Mojave desert in California or the Sinai desert in Egypt when the temperature was 130 degrees Fahrenheit and the only shade was from a poncho, or sitting in the shadow of a rock or a vehicle. He is my shade in the hot, hot sun! He is my shelter and comfort when I am discouraged on my bed at night! 

  “The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.  The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.” (verses 7-8)

 

  If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, and He is your Master and Savior, then He shall preserve you from all evil! He will preserve your very soul for eternity! Whenever you go out and when you come in He is there with you every step of the way. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Never!

 

  “And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31: 8) 

 

 

PRAY

 

1.    Lord, thank you that I can always depend upon you in the good times, the hard times, and the devastating times. You are with me always!

2.    Lord, thank you for saving my soul and preparing a place for me to spend eternity with You, and with all those whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life.

3.    Fill me with Your Spirit today, that I may be guided by you throughout the entire day, and when the day is done I can praise You for keeping me on the right path until I rest my head on my pillow.