Today Daily Devotional

This took place to fulfill what was spoken . . . “‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a . . . colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
— Matthew 21:4-5

God reveals his faithfulness over time. We might not see it right away, for the Lord’s ways are not our ways, and God works according to his own time table. Years before Jesus came riding into Jerusalem as King, God gave Zechariah the prophet an impression of that scene, and Zechariah proclaimed it and wrote it down (see Zechariah 9:9-11).In this world, kings and rulers come in splendor and power, not on a donkey and with no army. From the beginning of history, though, God worked to prepare his people to understand that he wanted a relationship with them. And although they strayed and wandered in sin—again and again— God kept pursuing his people.Our text today focuses on what has become known as Palm Sunday, the beginning of the week in which Jesus made himself known as the world’s Savior and King. But he didn’t look like the king the people expected to see, and he was soon rejected, crucified, dead, and buried. But then he rose again the next Sunday morning, conquering death for our sake! Once again, the faithful one, God, did more than anyone could think or imagine.Even the people closest to Jesus did not see what was unfolding. The key to this puzzle was that Jesus would not be deterred from his mission to save us. He took on the curse of death for all in order to bring life to all who believe.

God, thank you for preparing through the years for Jesus to come. Remind us this week of the wonder of your unchanging faithfulness. Amen.

One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.
— Psalm 145:4

In this month’s devotions we have been looking back on what the Lord—the faithful God—has done. We are also approaching Holy Week, when we remember the finished work of Jesus Christ. He died to save us from sin and to give us new life with God forever. Psalm 145 can help us gain perspective in all this.As I write these devotions, the seminary I serve has been preparing to mark its 150th anniversary of training Christian pastors and teachers. Throughout those years this school has held to the vision and mission of proclaiming the lordship of Christ over all creation.While working on plans for this celebration, I have looked through lots of old pictures. In many old photos are the faces of people who had no idea what God would do through them so many years ago, but they had hopes. They hoped that the God who had carried them so far would continue to carry the next generation, and so on. I am a witness to God’s faithfulness through the generations, and, like those who served before me, I am called to commend God’s works to the generations that follow. (The anniversary service will be livestreamed tomorrow, on Palm Sunday evening, and we will recall the Lord’s works and commend them to the next generation.)What pictures of faith do you carry with you? Remember. Tell. Give praise to our faithful God!

Dear God, may we join the chorus of praise from one generation to the next. You are indeed faithful to all your promises and loving toward all you have made. Amen.

Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. . . . He is the LORD our God. . . .
— Psalm 105:5-7

We are people who forget. We need reminders, and we need to know that remembering can help us face the future.Psalm 105 recites much of the Bible history we have covered so far this month. This psalm is designed to help God’s people recount the past so that they will remember all that God has done for them.Psalm 105 begins and ends with a call to praise. What is recounted is not just history but an opportunity to thank the living and faithful God for all he has done. God is always to be praised.Tied to this is an opportunity to make the name of the Lord known among the nations (verse 1). This recalls the initial call and promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).How can we make the name of God known among the nations? The closing of this psalm calls us to “keep his precepts and observe his laws.” We make God’s name known by living in line with God’s ways and forsaking our own selfish ways.When we remember the stories of the faithful God and his wayward people, we are encouraged and challenged that the Lord always keeps his promises and will continue to do so for us.That is who the Lord is!

Dear God, thank you for your faithful care for all the generations of your people. Help us to remember all you have done so that we may live by faith before you and make you known to the nations. In Jesus, Amen.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from . . . my cries of anguish?
— Psalm 22:1

Let’s be honest. Life can be hard. There are times when the only sounds we can make are silent cries and laments. And we may wonder, “Where is the faithful God who has promised to be with us?”The Bible includes lots of texts that reflect the range of human experiences and emotions. At times we need to cry out to God. Sometimes we need to pour out our hearts and ask God, “What is going on?” and, “Where are you?”Psalm 22 is a psalm of lament written by Israel’s King David when he was distressed and alone. In this situation it seemed that God had abandoned him.This psalm also points directly to Jesus and his experience. It opens with a key question— the same question Jesus asked on the cross (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). When we read of Jesus being mocked and afflicted, stripped of his clothes and attacked from every side, we know that the God who inspired David as a psalmist certainly had Jesus’ suffering in mind as well.We also find that Jesus is the answer to all our wondering about pain and sorrow. He took on the pain and sorrow of the world so that he could bring us what we cannot gain for ourselves: full life forever with the God who is faithful.

Dear God, thank you for inviting us to cry out to you as children cry for their parents in times of trouble. In the pictures we see in this psalm, may we find encouragement that you are with us as you have promised— in Jesus. Amen.

Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
— Numbers 21:9

Israel had a lot to learn about being the people of the holy and faithful God. In our story today the people grew impatient with God again as they traveled through the wilderness.They spoke against God and against Moses, saying, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?” Sometimes the Lord was merciful when the people acted so rebelliously, but other times, when they had gone too far, the Lord sent punishment. This time the consequence for their actions was a plague of venomous snakes, and a number of the people died from snakebites.What would happen next? How would salvation appear for these unfaithful people?In what is a preview of the saving work of Christ, a bronze snake became an instrument of healing and life. Moses made a bronze snake and lifted it up on a pole, and the people were told to look at this snake and live. Many years later Jesus explained that this miracle in the wilderness pointed to the gift of his own life for us all (being lifted up on a cross—John 3:14-15). Through this act of faith, we are freed from death!In the coming week, as we focus on the time of Jesus’ suffering, death, and rising to life again, let’s remember that, like God’s people in the wilderness, we are lost without God’s faithfulness.

Lord, we can be so rebellious and stubborn in our resistance to you. Help us to look to you and believe in Jesus, who was lifted up for us. Amen.