Every video I watch on YouTube has a section where I’m encouraged to hit the “Like” button and subscribe to the producer’s channel. At the moment, I’m subscribed to about 12 different channels: Everything from churches’ channels to videography and photography channels to ones that show new tech gadgets. It was easy to do. I just clicked a link.

How easy is it to hit the “like” or “follow” button on social media? With one little tap or click we announce our agreement with someone and our desire to spend more time finding out more about what they have to say.

But that kind of “following” is a far cry from what Jesus asks of those who would follow Him.

Mark 8:34-35 says, “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

That’s a pretty serious commitment. It’s life and death. It means that Jesus comes first—that He’s not part of our life, He IS our life. Unfortunately, too many people (even those who would call themselves Christian) are barely as dedicated to following Jesus as they are to their favorite star’s Instagram.

We all get a little bit spiritually lazy at times, but Jesus deserves far more than our leftover attention and energy.

As you pray today, ask God to help you see how truly devoted to Him you are, and commit to following Him the way He asks you to.

The discipline of fasting is meant to draw us nearer to God. When

we fast, we engage in an embodied form of prayer. The

disciplines are meant to make us pure in heart before God. To

cleanse our bodies and minds of all before we come to worship

Joel: 1:14 – “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather

the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of

Daniel: 9:3 – “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by

prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.”

Prayer

Holy Father, help me to focus on the goal of strengthening my

relationship with you in all that I do. Guard me against all impure

thoughts and motives. I pray this in the Holy name of our Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN

Read Psalm 23

Life is full of distractions. It seems like we are always so busy, running to and fro. And yes, the temptation for many can be swept away by all of it. Going to work, meetings to go to, functions to attend, demands to be met! So, yes, we can be in danger of drifting away from our Lord Jesus Christ.

So read the words of David’s Psalm here, for there we can center our spirit, and quiet our soul. And during this season of Lent, let’s take a moment today and ask our Good Shepherd to lead our spirit next to a place of green pastures and quiet waters, so that He—Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior—may restore our souls.

As I was watching some of the Masters Golf tournament this past weekend, they showed a highlight I had missed at the end of last year’s tournament. After Hideki Matsuyama finished off his final round of the 2021 Masters, becoming the first Asian player to win a major tournament in the States, the crowds had drifted away from the 18^th green.

At some point after the crowds had left, Matsuyama’s caddie, Shota Hayafuji, came back to perform his final duty as caddie for the tournament—he got the pin flag from the 18^th hole. That’s one of the traditional perks for the tournament winner—you get the pin flag for the tournament, and it’s usually the caddie who retrieves it while the player is meeting with the Media and whatnot.

So Hayafuji came back to the empty 18^th green to retrieve the pin flag. And after returning the pin to the cup, he quietly and humbly bowed to the course. Bowing is, of course, a gesture of respect in his culture, and in a sport like golf, you’re not just competing against the other players; you’re competing against the course itself. And so, alone there on the green, Hayafuji expressed his respect to the course.

At least, he THOUGHT he was alone. Unbeknownst to him, longtime CBS cameraman Eric Leidel was still up in his perch on the 18^th hole’s camera tower, and recorded the gesture.

And of course, when CBS showed it, it went viral. As I watched it, I thought about how he did that, not knowing anyone was there to see him. It was just a sincere gesture he offered from the heart. But someone DID see it; and RECORDED it. And before long, Hayafuji was almost as famous as the golfer he caddied for. I was reminded of how important it is to be consistent in the way we live, because someone DOES see everything we do.

But more than that, I was encouraged to think that God doesn’t just see the mistakes we make, but also the good things we do that nobody else sees. He sees us when we’re serving behind the scenes, doing things that others rarely know about. Whether it’s fixing things at the church building in the evenings, or checking on those who are in nursing homes or who can’t get out, or listening when someone is going through a struggle and needs someone to talk to. Those moments aren’t caught on camera; they don’t go viral online. But God DOES see them.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us to do what’s right, and to do it for an audience of one. He says, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.” He says to pray privately, not for others to see us and praise us for how eloquent we are. He tells us to do our giving in secret—not so others will know and praise us for our generosity. He says, “When you fast, don’t let it be obvious that you’re fasting.” When we do what’s right without calling attention to ourselves, He says, “then your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”

Sometimes we go day after day, doing the right thing, and while we know that doing what’s right should be its own reward, our human nature says, “Yeah, but it would be nice to get some acknowledgment once in a while.”

Luke: 22:24-30

The Tornadoes that severely damaged Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri on December 10 & 11, 2022 and the ice storm that we experienced in January 2022 are examples of devastation and hardships that we endure. Disasters such as this have brought communities together to focus on their mutual survival. Natural disasters have forced us to determine what is important for survival water, food, electricity, a place to live and trying to gain what was lost.

Jesus’ disciples were mere mortals, and they were just like each of us. They had ego’s and they had a selfish side as well. Their selfish attitudes after the crucifixion gave way to self-sacrifice. Jesus’ act of love spurred them to love one another and serve those in need of salvation.

If we want to be great in God’s Kingdom, we must first learn to be servants. As God’s servant we must be humble in heart and allow God to work powerfully through him. We will experience remarkable victories and our unshakable love for God will draw others to Christ.

What path to success have we chosen? Are we honoring God or are we showing our selfish ambition? God. Today let’s surrender to God and let him use us in a way to bring others to his saving grace.

We know what it means to feel fatigued.  It comes when we live beyond our physical, emotional, and spiritual means. 

We are a three-part being and we must take care of each one.  Our body needs to be cared for. Our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  We need to take care of ourselves emotionally – we cannot live stressed out, overworked and run down. As in Psalm 23 we need to lie down in green pastures; our minds need a rest and our body need to relax.

Spiritually we need a connection to God.  Our lives will be rewarding and more fulfilling when we have a relationship with Jesus.  Put him first, make your spiritual life a priority.

When we are balanced physically, emotionally, and spiritually we become more productive and effective in our lives. Do not neglect one area as it will lessen what you can accomplish.

Lent can be a time to work on each point.

We all have read about Jesus going to Gethsemane and praying before his arrest. Each account in the Bible tells of how He asked the disciples multiple times to stay up and keep watch as He went off to pray. Seems like a simple enough task. However, for some reason, they kept falling asleep. Was it late into the night? Were they tired from their travels? The Bible doesn’t say.

Even though the disciples couldn’t do as Jesus had asked in the garden, He still had faith in them to spread the gospel after the resurrection. Today, Jesus has faith in us to spread the gospel as well. In fact, Matthew 28:19 NIV says “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.”

Think of ways you can spread His word. Whether in your daily interactions with people or communicating through social media, are we sharing His word with love and compassion? 

John 13:35 NIV: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Lent Devotion

April 7

Priceless

Today is the first day of baseball season, and I read yesterday that the Yankees bought a pitcher named David McKay from the Rays. In this era of skyrocketing salaries, you might think it cost the Yanks millions, even for a young prospect. Nope. The Rays sold McKay to New York for a dollar. One lousy buck. That means that they can’t even take the proceeds from the sale and buy anything at the dollar store, since they upped their prices to $1.25. How’s that for a self-esteem booster?

And yet, baseball history is replete with trades that might make a guy feel even worse. In 1921, pitcher Joe Martina was traded for two barrels of oysters. Infielder Len Dondero was once traded for two dozen doughnuts before the league disallowed the trade. In 1930, shortstop Johnny Jones was traded for a 25lb. turkey. The Phillies thought so much of Mike Cisco that they just gave him to the Angels as a goodwill gesture. And John McDonald, Dickie Noles, and Harry Chiti were each traded for a “player to be named later,” only to be sent back to their former teams like an unwanted Christmas gift to Walmart on December 26. 

So many things can happen in life that make you question your value: People make hurtful comments; you get laid off from a job; you get dumped by someone you love; or maybe you just go through life feeling overlooked and unappreciated. This world can cause a person to feel worthless pretty easily.

But one of the things Lent and the Easter season provide is a reminder of just how much you ARE worth. You’re reminded that the Creator of the universe looked down at you and thought you were so valuable that He would give up His life for yours. He literally looked at you and said, “I’d rather die than spend eternity without you.” No matter what happens in this life; no matter what others may say about us or do to us, our true worth is demonstrated by the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross—dying so we could live eternally in Heaven.

When the Son of God thinks you’re valuable enough to die for, there’s no greater proof that you’re not only valuable, you’re priceless.

As you pray today, thank God for valuing you so much, and ask for His help remembering that when the world would try to make you question your worth. 

MATTHEW  7:24-27 

There are things that are taking place in our world today that we don’t understand, but we have to believe God is still in control. We have to build our faith and our spiritual lives on a stable foundation. Jesus taught His disciples this truth with an illustration: “Everyone who hears these saying of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell. And great was its fall!”

The shifting of ideas and morals of our present world can be a bit confusing and concerning to us all. But obeying the unwavering truth of God’s word can bring stability unlike anything else; we just have to believe and pray. As Jesus said, “Therefore, whoever hears these saying of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (V.24)

This is also the week every year when I have to fight envy the hardest. And I think there are a lot of guys who do. It’s rare that I’ve ever thought, “Boy, would I love to be THAT guy,” and even on those rare occasions it’s only been over one particular thing. But every year the first week or so of April, I wish I could be Jim Nantz for a week.

I can’t imagine how cool it would be to call the Final Four and then go straight to calling the Masters. I’d be happy just getting to go as a fan.

And every time I start to feel that way, I get a little guilty, because I remember how incredibly blessed I am. I’ve been able to go to the Masters twice:  Once with VIP treatment, and once with my dad and my son. Both times were amazing. And while I haven’t been to a Final Four (yet), I have been to NCAA tournament games, and I got to see UVA win an ACC Tournament in 2014.

I once asked a friend of mine at Celebrate Recovery, “How’s life treating you?” He said, “Much better than I deserve.” That really made me think. Even if I had only seen the Masters and the Final Four on TV, I’ve been blessed so incredibly far beyond what I deserve. I have a wonderful wife, a great family, and I get to do what God called me to do. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg—there are so many ways beyond that that I’ve been blessed… far beyond what I deserve.

Part of Lent is recognizing the incredible blessings God has given us—chief among them being the grace and eternal life we have because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. The word “grace” literally means, “getting what you don’t deserve.” And that’s just what God provides us—an opportunity to receive forgiveness and eternity in heaven, when we deserve just the opposite.

And so, as we pray today, let’s spend some time thanking God for the fact that we’re all blessed far beyond what we deserve.

And Mr. Nantz, if you’re reading this, if one year you want to take off that week in April and need someone to fill in for you, I’m just saying I’m here.

For a number of years, I umpired Little League and High School baseball. In the first six years and 99% of the games in year seven, I never had to throw a coach out of a game. But in the championship game of the last all-star tournament of the season one coach had a couple of calls go against him and came out to argue. I let him vent for a moment and then calmly told him he had to go back to the bench. I understand questioning my judgment on the call, and usually listening for a minute calms the situation. But then he accused me of working for the other team, challenging my integrity. At that point I politely invited him to be more constructive with his feedback and gave him the rest of the afternoon off, to contemplate how he might handle future situations in a more productive manner.

The Bible describes the tongue as a restless evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8). It also says that we’re going to have to give an account for every careless word we speak (Matthew 12:36). Statistics show that the average person speaks 11 million words per year. How many of those words are carelessly spoken?

In this season of fasting and sacrifice, pray that you can cut out more than just dessert or coffee. Pray that you will be able to cut out the careless words from your speech. Not only will you keep from doing as much harm with them, but it will be less that you’ll have to answer for when you stand before the Lord.

Luke 18:35-43

³⁵ As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. ³⁶ When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. ³⁷ They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

³⁸ He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

³⁹ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁰ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹ “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

⁴² Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” ⁴³ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

A couple of years ago I got a jolt when I went to DMV to renew my license. I was told to look into the machine and read the letters to test my eyesight. Now, before I tell you the next part, you have to know that I’ve always had great eyesight. In high school it was 20/15, which is above average. And while I realize it’s been a minute since I was in high school, I’ve always been able to count on my good vision.

Well, the clerk told me to read a specific line, and it was blurry. I looked at her and asked, “Where’s the focus knob?” It was really only a second before I realized what I had said and why it was so dumb, but it seemed like an eternity. I think the clerk’s amused “I-can’t-wait-to-tell-the-others-about-this-doofus” expression is what made things click in my mind. I had always had great eyesight; in my mind, the problem couldn’t have been my vision—the machine must have needed adjustment. Thankfully, I either did finally read it well enough to qualify, or she felt guilty for the unmistakable look of incredulous bemusement on her face, but I passed (barely).

It wasn’t easy to come to terms with the fact that I wasn’t seeing as I should. And far too often, my spiritual vision isn’t what it should be, either. Over the years, several people have told me they waved at me and I looked right at them and didn’t wave back or say anything. And as they said that I realize that my mind was on something else and I saw them, but I didn’t really “see” them.

And there are several areas of my life where I know I don’t look at things the way I should; that I’m so preoccupied with my own things that I don’t see many of the people and situations that God would have me see. And I suspect I’m not alone in this.

In this encounter with the blind man, Jesus asked him what he wanted Him to do for him. The man said, “Lord, I want to see.”

As we pray today, let’s make that our prayer as well—not so much for our physical vision, but for the ability to see the people and the situations God puts in front of us so we can be the hands and feet of Jesus for those around us.

Read John 1:29-34

In Genesis 22, Abraham took his son Isaac to Moriah, because God commanded him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. Isaac asked his father, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham responded to his son, “God will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” And as we know, God stopped Abraham and did provide a ram to take Isaac’s place. And God almighty has provided the world a Lamb to take away all our sin. Jesus Christ is the world’s Sacrificial Lamb. So Abraham didn’t have to sacrifice his only son, because God chose to sacrifice His only son to atone for our sins!

So in this time of Lent, we no longer have to live in anxiety; laboring to justify our existence, for our justification is in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, the perfect and spotless Lamb of God, Who took away our sin, and the sin of the world.

Read Acts 1 vs. 4 and 8

We are observing the 40 days leading up to the sacrificial death of Christ. Christ made this sacrifice so we have a bridge to salvation. He opened the gates of Heaven and paid the price for our sin. While we are free from the grip of sin, the temptation never stops in our earthly lives. Christ knew this would be the case. In Acts Ch. 1 Christ gives the apostles instructions not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. This is the promise of the Holy Spirt. This gift prepares the apostles to spread the Gospel.

Today we have the same gift, promised to the apostles, because of Christ’s sacrifice. When we accept Christ, we receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirt helps us fight the temptations of the evil one. When we look at our world in 2022, we see the ravages of sin. No matter where we turn you cannot escape the work of the evil one, but the Holy Spirt continues to COMFORT God’s people. There is a song that says: “When Christ was dying, I (we) was on His mind.” Thank God for the sacrifice that makes our salvation possible.

Lent Devotion

March 31

The Thankful One 

Luke 17:11-19 (NIV)

¹¹ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy^[b] met him. They stood at a distance¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

For years, I think one of the weakest aspects of my prayer life has been taking the time to thank God—especially for things that I had had no problem taking the time to ask Him for, earlier. And when I read this account of Jesus and the ten lepers, I know I’m one of the nine, not the one. I mean, it’s not that I don’t thank God for His blessings, but it’s usually a blanket prayer. I don’t always take the time to get specific.

And what’s interesting in this situation with Jesus and the lepers is that it’s a Samaritan who can’t help praising God loudly and coming back and thanking Jesus for making him whole. It’s implied that most, if not all, of the others were Jews, and didn’t make the effort to show their gratitude. Sometimes those of us who have the most to be thankful for are the worst at showing that gratitude, and I am chief among sinners.

In Celebrate Recovery we encourage people to keep a “Gratitude List.” When you think of things you’re grateful for, put them on the list and say a prayer of thanks, and then use that list as part of your prayers when you have your quiet time with God. And it does help; especially with most everyone having phones that make it easy to keep lists like this, and have them on hand all the time. If you haven’t tried this, it’s worth the effort.

Lent is a time for showing gratitude for the spiritual healing that God has provided in Christ. As we pray today, let’s make a special effort to show God how thankful we are for each blessing.