Daily Devotional By Archbishop Foley Beach

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Daily Devotional By A Word From The Lord with Archbishop Foley Beach

Episodes

Sunday Apr 13, 2025

JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)

Sunday Apr 13, 2025

JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)

LYRICS TO MUSIC:

Daughters of Jerusalem Do not weep for me

Cry for yourselves and your children Follow on Hosea’s lead

Blessed are those who barren sit

Who’ve never known their children’s screams They’ll ask the mountains please fall on us Follow on Hosea’s lead

For terror comes with Roman siege

MESSAGE SUMMARY:

Throughout the Bible there are dozens of women who are plagued with infertility, whether it be for a short time or a lifetime. Beyond the well known stories like that of Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Rachel, and Zechariah and Elizabeth, there are countless others among the scriptures who cannot bear children. Some are healed, some are not. Some women are even restored in large numbers. All of Abimelek’s wives, though exactly how many there were is unknown, are given fruitful wombs after Sarah is returned to Abraham (Genesis 20:17-18).

The prominence of these stories exemplifies a common theme throughout Jewish and non-Jewish history alike. A woman’s ability to have children was vitally important. It was praiseworthy and fulfilling. Jewish custom praised motherhood and stigmatized the barren.

It is surprising then to hear Jesus’ words as he speaks to the women of Jerusalem. It was not uncommon for women in the city to attend the executions of criminals by the Roman leadership. They would often mix a palliative of wine and spices to offer those being tortured. They would eventually offer the same to Jesus, though he would refuse it. But it is to these women that we hear Jesus’ last words of true discourse. As these women ‘mourn and lament’ for the tragedy that unfolds before their eyes, Jesus speaks at length concerning the coming catastrophe they do not yet see. And in doing so, he directly opposes a truth they had likely never before heard challenged.

‘Blessed are those who are barren.’ Jesus’ statement is shocking. But to those familiar with the prophets, it was a statement that was not new. Jesus uses the exact words of the prophet Hosea. As Hosea prophesied that Israel would be destroyed and punished for its unfaithfulness to Yahweh, so too does Jesus use his words to predict the same. Some forty years after Jesus’ death, Roman soldiers would enter Jerusalem and utterly destroy it. Those who took up arms and those who did not were murdered indiscriminately. Each stone of the temple would be annihilated at Roman order. Every tree was cut down, and the city was made into ruin.

This is certainly one of the acts of which Jesus spoke. A Roman siege that would leave behind a mountain of anguish and sorrow to be carried upon the backs of the women who now wept for him. As Jesus himself continues, the coming violence will make them “say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’” Jesus describes a fate worse than death.

Though the sight before the women’s eyes seemed the greatest of horrors, Jesus knew the horror to come would be far worse. More importantly however, he again exemplifies his humility. He desires no pity or concern for himself, but rather cares for those standing before him. He mourns over the injustice to come, disregarding the pressing pain of his own circumstances.

TODAY’S PRAYER: How often do we worry more about ourselves than the tragedies around us? What injustices would God have us mourn over? Pray for those situations.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 23:27-31: “A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will say to the mountains, Fall on us!’ and to the hills, Cover us!’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?””. Further Reading: Hosea 10:8; Hosea 9:14; Revelation 6:16-17.

A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.

THIS SUNDAY’S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: “Contemplating the Mighty Acts – Palm Sunday and Holy Week”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/

DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Saturday Mar 31, 2018

God Has Given Us Eternal Life, and This New Life is In His Son

Saturday Mar 31, 2018

This Sunday’s Sermon: You can listen to Archbishop Beach’s Current Sunday Sermon: Contemplating the Mighty Acts – Palm Sunday and Holy Week, at our Website: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/listen/.

Message Summary: Jesus tells us in John 5:25-27: “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”. If you believe in the name of the Son of God and know the Lord, you can be assured of forgiveness and salvation because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross and His resurrection. As the author of 1 John tells us in 1 John 5:10-12: “Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.".

Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will trust in with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways I will seek to know Him, and He will make my pathways straight. (From Proverbs 3:5f).

Scripture Reference (ESV): Romans 1:16-17; Matthew 26:28; John 5:25-27; Psalms 82:1-8.

Website Link to Archbishop Beach’s Video Sermon – “Taking Care of Our Interior Life Through Exercising Our Mind: https://www.lightsource.com/ministry/a-word-from-the-lord/ (Note: This link is to both an introductory One-Minute Video Clip and the complete video Sermon.).

Friday Mar 30, 2018

Jesus' Crucifixion was a Sacrifice Beyond Reproach

Friday Mar 30, 2018

Message Summary It is not with perishable things like silver are gold that your life is redeemed by God, as the Apostle Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:3b-6a: “. . . he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice . . .". Your sinful life is redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus' sacrifice -- a Lamb without blemish or defect. Jesus fulfilled God's new covenant, which like God’s first covenant with Abraham that called for the blood sacrifice of a perfect sacrificial Lamb, with us through Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus, as described by Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11:24-26, Jesus’ institution of the Passover meal for us in the sacrament of Holy Communion through which we remember Jesus’ substituting His death for all our sins as Jesus’ sacrificed His life for our lives -- our perfect sacrificial lamb, the Pascal Lamb: “and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.".

Today’s Affirmation: Today, Because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Heartlessness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit’s fruit of Kindness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f).

Scripture Reference (ESV): 1 Peter 1:1-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27; Luke 22:20; Psalms 81:1-16.

Thursday Mar 29, 2018

The Death Rate Has Not Changed -- It Is Still 100%!

Thursday Mar 29, 2018

Message Summary: Paul. In Romans 6:23, succinctly defines our problem; however, a problem definition without a problem solution has less value, Therefore, Paul succinctly defines God’s solution to our problem: “For the wages {our cost} of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.". After the Easter Resurrection, Jesus rose from the dead to live so that we might live and not die an eternal death. Again, Paul presents, in Romans 5:8-10, the solution to our problem for which we have no solution other than God’s Grace: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.". Our eternal life comes from our acceptance of and belief in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but He will never force Himself on us -- "acceptance" must be from our own free will.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Resentment. Rather, I will abide in the Lord’s Compassion. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Scripture Reference (ESV): Galatians 2:17-21; John 17:1-3; John 5:23-24; Psalms 80:1-19.

Tuesday Mar 27, 2018

The Wages (cost) of Our Sin Is Eternal Death, But . . .

Tuesday Mar 27, 2018

Message Summary: Eternal death is eternal separation from God for eternity. God demonstrates His love for us that while we are still sinners, He sacrificed His Son Jesus on the Cross. During the days leading up to Jesus’ death and Resurrection (i.e. Holy Week) He prayed, in John 17:1b-5, to God and His prayer tells us why God’s Grace and His sacrifice was worth so much to us – our Eternal Life: “. . . he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.’". God made The Way for His divine justice to be satisfied through the Passover Lamb -- Jesus. Therefore, we have The Way from death to Eternal Life – Jesus.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, God isn’t finished with me yet. (Philippians 1:6). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:14).

Scripture Reference (ESV Romans 6:23; Romans 5:8; John 5:23-24; Psalms 79:1-13.

Tuesday Mar 27, 2018

Jesus Is Our Narrow Door

Tuesday Mar 27, 2018

Message Summary: Jesus is The Door and The Gate by which we must enter the Kingdom of God. In John 10:9-10, Jesus tells us: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief {Satan} comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Also, Jesus said, in Matthew 7:13-14, that He was "the Narrow Gate", and whomever enters the Kingdom through Him will be saved and have Eternal Life: {You} “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.". This week, Holy Week, is about the events, of about two thousand years ago, that provided us all, by God’s Grace, with access to The Narrow Gate, which is Jesus. Through Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins and His Resurrection, He has given us eternal life if we choose to enter The Narrow Gate – this week is, truly, a Holy Week.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Self-Centeredness. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit’s fruit of Love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f).

Scripture Reference (ESV): Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:5-7; Psalms 78:1-72.

Saturday Mar 24, 2018

Regardless of Whom You Are, the Lord Wants to Meet You Where You Are

Saturday Mar 24, 2018

Website Link: www.AWordFromTheLord.org/.

Message Summary: From Isaiah 53:4-5: “Surely He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes {i.e. wounds} we are healed.”. What Jesus did for us brings healing to the body as well. God is in the healing business, and He desires to bring healing to our lives.

Today’s Affirmation: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, my life is about Christ (Phil. 1:21). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:14).

Scripture Reference (ESV): Isaiah 53:4-6; Matthew 8:14-17; Matthew 10:7; Psalms 103:1-6.