March 30
Scripture of the day: "'But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.' Then a voice came out of heaven: 'I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.' So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, 'An angel has spoken to Him.' Jesus answered and said, 'This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.'" John 12:27-32
Thought of the day: This was one of the few times when the Father spoke audibly from Heaven. I imagine Jesus turning His eyes up toward the sky as He prayed, "Father, glorify Your name." How startling it must have been to the crowd when the Father responded, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." His response was not for Jesus ... but for the crowd.
Challenge of the day: The defining moment of all of earth's history had come. Jesus would soon be nailed to the cross ... lifted up so that all who believe in Him would be saved. All are judged on the basis of belief in Jesus. At another time the Father spoke from Heaven, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" Are you listening? Jesus said that we must be born again. Have you been? Jesus said that we should go make disciples. Are you?
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