Christ Followers, Step Up!

Between the agony of Gethsemane and the sunrise of Easter morning, the courageous actions of two men speak down through the ages. Who are they? Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

Earlier, these two men hid in the shadows as secret followers of Jesus. But in John 19:38-43, we discover their bold actions. (Please read aloud.)

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Joseph of Arimathea, previously paralyzed by fear, made a daring public move; he went to Pilate. (Imagine that!) And, Nicodemus, (reference John 3), whose behavior indicates he also wrestled with demons of fear, came forward to help Joseph with the burial preparation.

What stands out?

• Joseph and Nicodemus shared a fear. But more importantly, they shared a boldness. By publicly coming forward to care for Jesus’ crucified body, they fully identified themselves with Him.

• Joseph and Nicodemus took the initiative to do the right thing, even when the right thing was the hard thing. They made a difference because they made a decision to step out of their fear and step up to meet the need of the Savior.

• Joseph and Nicodemus worked together; these men needed the support of the other to accomplish the demanding task that so desperately needed to be done.

Joseph and Nicodemus dramatically demonstrate that Jesus changes people. Out of darkness into light, He leads us; from the bondage of fear, He frees us. And then, we can’t hold back! He empowers us to boldly step forward and identify with Him.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

How is Jesus setting you free from the bondage of fear?

When did you step out of the shadows of secrecy and make a bold move to follow our Savior?

In what ways do the actions of these two men offer a model for Christ-Followers in our present culture?

I Hate Slot Machines

Guest Post by Jay Lorenzen

I hate slot machines.

In the few times I’ve walked through a casino, I remember the lonely loading one quarter after another into slot machines. They’d push the spin button, initiating a series of bells and whistles while watching the rolling lights show go by. Occasionally, they get just enough payout to keep them hoping for a jackpot. Everyone who plays the slot machines assumes they’re money-making machines. In reality, they’re designed by the robber barons of this new gilded age—stealing from the poor a nickel or dime or a quarter or a dollar at a time and giving it to the rich.

Now, if I were smart, I’d hate my smartphone just as much.

But I love my Instagram feed. I love scrolling through my Instagram feed. I give it a spin and find this incredible sound and light show. As it rolls by, I discover some pretty funny stuff, occasionally something shocking or stupid. But, eventually, I see something interesting, informative, or educational. I love posts, for example, on Stoicism, horse training, and my favorite right now—colebaueroceanracing.

“I’ve discovered that my smartphone is actually an informational slot machine. ”

Recently, however, I’ve discovered that my smartphone is actually an informational slot machine. It provides some bells and whistles while taking a quarter’s worth of my attention. Soon, one quarter follows after another. And before I know it, I’ve lost a bankload of attention just to find an ounce of wisdom from Seneca—which is readily available in my copy of his letters sitting on my desk.

I’ve become the sad, lonely, and bored individual who sits before a slot machine, giving away my attention in small denominations. And I barely notice my poverty of attention.

We thought this was the Age of Information, but it’s actually the Age of Attention. Or better, The Age of Distraction.

Information has become commoditized and monetized; the makers of my smartphone have discovered how to win, capture, and exploit my attention for their ends. They privilege my impulses over my intentions. I lose my thinking mind in exchange for the mind-numbing experiences of a ‘never-ending flow of novel attentional rewards.’

The makers of the smartphone make me dumb.

But it’s not their fault.

I grabbed the empty seat.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ

whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

How would you describe your relationship with your smartphone?

What do you think of the writer’s reference to “The Age of Distraction” and the toll it is taking on our lives?

Jay Lorenzen is a redeemed Christ-follower crafting learning and leadership venues for King and Kingdom. His ability to shape words to communicate truth eclipses description. Larry and I are privileged to call he and his wife Laurie our beloved friends.

Jay Lorenzen

The High Ground at Gettysburg Conference, Leadership Lessons for the Battles You Face

Jay and Laurie Lorenzen

St. Patrick’s Prayer

St. Patrick’s Prayer takes me to David’s Words penned in Psalm 139: 5, “You have enclosed me behind and before and laid Your hand upon me.” The supernatural nearness of God brings me comfort in the middle of a dark night, and in the confines of a cold MRI machine, and in the realization that I have no idea how to proceed in a complicated matter. It is His Very Presence that penetrates the darkness and envelopes me in His blanket of comfort.

Thus, my spirit quickens to read the following request for Divine Protection written in 433 A.D.:

St. Patrick’s Prayer

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left…

Yes, and Amen!

 Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3).

What aspect of this prayer broadens your awareness of Christ’s Presence?

How can these words bolster your confidence in a challenging situation you currently face?