Applying the Bible

Krystal Craven Christian Music

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CHRISTIANITY
UPDATED WEEKLY

A weekly devotional designed to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, through practical application of spiritual truths from God's word.

22H AGO

Jesus, Remember Me

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43) Two criminals hung beside Jesus that day on calvary. Both were guilty, both were dying, and both had a front-row seat to the suffering and strength of the Son of God. One mocked Him, joining the crowd in scorn. But the other – broken, repentant, and fully aware of his guilt – responded with humility and faith. This second criminal didn’t defend himself. He didn’t ask to be spared from death. He didn’t attempt to bargain with God. He simply acknowledged and confessed the truth: “We are receiving the due reward for our deeds.” And then, turning to Jesus, he made a request that humbly echo through this crucifixion account forever: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Remember Me That word remember carries deep meaning. It’s more than just recalling a name or face. In Scripture, to “remember” implies acting with intentionality. When God says in Isaiah that He will remember our sins no more, it means He chooses not to act on them (Isaiah 43:25). And here, the criminal wasn’t just asking Jesus to think of him – he was asking for mercy. For a place in Jesus’ coming kingdom. For grace. For redemption. And Jesus, bleeding and dying, answered with the most astonishing assurance: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Here’s the thing - this criminal would still die that day. His body would suffer the consequence of his sin according to human justice. But his soul was redeemed in an instant. No religious rituals, no time for good works; just a heart of faith and a cry for mercy. And Jesus paid it all. The Poor in Spirit As Jesus said in His sermon on the mount, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). This dying criminal was the very picture of spiritual poverty. He had nothing to offer, no way to make up for his crimes – and he knew it. And yet, to him the kingdom of heaven was given. Commentator D.A. Carson puts it this way: “The kingdom of heaven is not given on the basis of race, earned merits, the military zeal and prowess of Zealots, or the wealth of a Zacchaeus. It is given to the poor, the despised publicans, the prostitutes, those who are so ‘poor’ they know they can offer nothing and do not try. They cry for mercy and they alone are heard.” And Charles Spurgeon wrote, “The poor in spirit are lifted from the dunghill, and set, not among hired servants in the field, but among princes in the kingdom.” This moment on the cross shatters every performance-based idea of salvation. You don’t have to clean yourself up to come to Jesus. You just have to come - in humility, in faith, asking to be remembered. And He will answer with the full assurance of paradise. Rest for Your Soul This truth goes beyond our ultimate salvation - You don’t have to clean yourself up to come to Jesus - you just have to come. How often do we claim our salvation and identity in Christ to not come to Jesus when we’re weak and weary. Yet of His disciples, Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) When was the last time you found rest for your soul, my friend? We don’t need to have it all together – just because we’re in Christ doesn’t mean we will have it all together. It only causes strife if we deceive ourselves and others into thinking we do. It’s ok to be broken – but don’t stay there and wallow in it. Humbly come to Jesus seeking His mercy and grace in faith, and simply receive it and find rest for your soul.

14 min
JUL 10

If He Is The Christ

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:35-39) As Jesus hung on the cross, bloody and beaten, the voices of the crowd around Him yelled the challenge: “If you are the Christ… save yourself.” The crowds, the rulers, the soldiers – even the criminal crucified beside Him – taunted and tempted Him to prove His identity through performance. They questioned His power and mocked His silence. Here’s the thing - Jesus had heard those same temptations before. In the wilderness, Satan confronted Jesus after forty days of fasting with words just as biting: “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.” (Luke 4) The enemy attacked Jesus’ identity and tried to bait Him into proving who He was by showcasing His power. But Jesus didn’t take the bait. Instead, He stood on the Word, repeating again and again: “It is written…” He resisted the devil and the devil fled from Him. Now, years later, as He was nailed to the cross, the temptations returned – but this time in human voices. Still, Jesus didn’t flinch, He set His face like a flint (Isaiah 50:7). Jesus didn’t need to defend Himself or prove anything because He knew who He was. His silence wasn’t weakness; it was strength. He could have called legions of angels. He could have come down from the cross. But He stayed there because His mission wasn’t to prove Himself, it was to save us. Your Own Identity We, too, will face moments when our identity is questioned – when people, or even our own thoughts, whisper, “If you really are loved by God, then why are you suffering?” or “If you’re truly an upright child of God, why don’t you defend yourself?” These temptations are subtle, but dangerous. They push us to perform, to seek validation from people, and to defend ourselves instead of trusting God – to be our defender and in His sovereign plan. But my friend, if you are in Christ, your identity is secure. You are a child of God, fully known and fully loved. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Scripture says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3), and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). When temptation to prove ourselves comes, to effectively resist the devil, we only need to stand firm on God’s Word, trusting that it’s true, and that God is a God of His word and will strengthen you to overcome. Just as Jesus did – the Word of God is still the weapon that silences every single lie. Don’t let the world’s taunts or satan’s whispers shake you, just let them roll off like water on a duck’s back. Resist the urge to react or defend yourself in the flesh – it will only lead to sin. Instead, stand firm, trust the Father, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, your Messiah. The One who didn’t save Himself so He could save you will give you the strength to overcome every temptation.

7 min
JUL 3

Father Forgive Them

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (Luke 23:32-34) As Jesus hung between two criminals, blood already beginning to flow from the scourging, thorns piercing His brow, the weight of the wooden cross pressing against torn flesh – His first recorded words were not a cry of pain or a plea for justice. They were a prayer: “Father, forgive them.” Even before the hours of agony ahead – before the mocking, the suffocation, and the slow crawl toward death – His heart was already full of forgiveness. This was no spontaneous act of mercy. Jesus’ forgiveness was a resolve carried into the cross, not formed upon it. He had already decided to love, to forgive, to endure. He wasn’t overcome by grace in the moment; He embodied grace. This is the Lamb who was “slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Long before nails pierced His hands, long before humanity fell in the garden, long before the first breath of man – He knew. He knew we would betray, deny, and crucify Him. He knew the cross would be necessary. And still, He created us. What kind of love He is! That a holy God would form us from dust, breathe life into us, knowing full well that we would rebel, and that redeeming us would cost Him everything. Jesus’ Spoken Words Yet on the cross, He said it aloud: “Father, forgive them.” Not because the Father needed convincing, but because we did. In His spoken words, He removed all doubt. The forgiveness He carried in His heart from eternity past was now echoing through time and space for all to hear. And those words weren’t just for the Roman soldiers or the angry crowd - they were for you. They were for me. They were for anyone who’s ever felt the crushing weight of guilt or the ache of shame. He not only bore our sins, He then declared us forgiven in the very act of bearing them. Jesus didn’t wait for repentance before offering forgiveness. He didn’t demand we understand the depth of our offense first. No, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The cross was not merely the result of our sin – it was the remedy for it. His forgiveness wasn’t reactive, it was proactive. It was eternal and unshakable. So, when you wonder if you’re too far gone, too broken, or too late – let go of that lie and look to the cross. Hear His words. Remember: He forgave you before you ever knew you needed it. Thank Him for that forgiveness and if necessary, ask for help to receive it freely. I pray that we may always walk in the forgiveness and freedom that Christ died to freely give us.

6 min
JUN 26

Their Voices Prevailed

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. (Luke 23:13-24) Pilate was not a worshiper of God. Yet when Jesus became an issue he could no longer avoid, Pilate had to look directly into the face of truth. And what he saw, again and again, was innocence, as he repeated three times, “I find no guilt in this man.” Logic, evidence, and even his own conscience pointed to one conclusion: Jesus had done nothing worthy of death. Still, the crowd would not relent, and the cries to crucify Him echoed through the air. And in the end, “their voices prevailed.” Not justice. Not truth. Not the integrity of a Roman governor in a seat of power. Just the pressure of a crowd prevailing. Pilate’s failure is one we’re tempted to repeat in subtle ways. When standing for truth becomes costly – when it risks our reputation, our influence, or our comfort – how often do we remain silent or step aside? Though Pilate had no covenant relationship with God, his position still demanded a standard of righteousness. Authority always carries responsibility. And when Pilate yielded to the mob, he wasn’t just handing over an innocent man – he was surrendering to fear. Charles Spurgeon once said, “He who kneels before God can stand before any man.” But Pilate didn’t kneel. He stood in front of Truth incarnate and crumbled under the weight of the crowd’s lofty chant. His heart may have been momentarily stirred, but ultimately his spine failed him. And with that, he walked away complicit in the greatest injustice the world has ever known. As followers of Christ, we are not called to blend into the crowd, but to reflect the character of our King. Jesus stood silent in the face of false accusation, not because He lacked strength, but because He knew His silence fulfilled the Father’s will. He bore injustice to make us just. But now that we are made right with God, we must be willing to stand for what is right – even when it costs us something. You may never face a literal crowd crying out against you. But you will face moments when the easy path is to ignore injustice, to overlook a lie, to choose silence when truth is begging to be spoken. In those moments, remember Pilate – and choose differently. If you’ve been in Pilate’s shoes before, where your spine has failed you – take heart: there is grace. Let that grace move you to a new resolve of choosing to stand for truth. Let us be people of courage, grounded in prayer, fearless in the face of pressure – because we kneel before the throne of God.

8 min
JUN 19

For He Had Long Desired

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. (Luke 23:6-12) In this section, we read of a courtroom type drama that wasn’t about justice at all. Jesus stood before rulers and religious elites, not to receive a fair trial, but to be passed off, mocked, and mishandled. Each person in this passage had the opportunity to respond rightly to the Son of God – yet each chose selfishness instead. Didn’t Seek Justice Pilate didn’t seek justice, he sought convenience. When he realized Jesus was from Galilee, he immediately saw a way to get this uncomfortable situation off his plate. By sending Jesus to Herod, Pilate thought he could wash his hands of the matter with no investigation and no courage to stand for truth. It was just an opportunity to shift responsibility and avoid dealing with the weight of the decision. Herod didn’t seek justice, he sought entertainment. When Jesus was brought before him, Herod was glad – not because he longed to hear truth, but because he hoped for a show. Some miracle, some sign, basically something flashy. But Jesus refused to perform and He had nothing to prove to a man who had no intention of listening. The chief priests and scribes didn’t seek justice, they sought their own agenda. They only cared about eliminating the threat to their power and influence; the influence and status among the people that they had worked so hard to build, and Jesus disrupted that. So instead of humbling themselves and acknowledging the Messiah, they stirred up false accusations and manipulated the system to preserve their own status. And the soldiers? They didn’t seek justice either. They joined in the mockery. Jesus, innocent and silent, became their punchline. They dressed Him in royal robes, not to honor Him, but to humiliate Him. It was sport. It was just another way to pass the time and feel superior. Jesus Brings People Together And in a twisted irony, we read that “Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.” How did their friendship begin? Through the selfish handling of Jesus. Their unity was not built on truth or justice – it was built on sin. Jesus brings people together. For some, He is the Cornerstone upon which a community of grace and truth is built with sinners saved by mercy, are sharpening one another and growing together in faith. But for others, He is a threat or an inconvenience, and their shared mishandling of Him becomes the glue that binds them in sin. So we must ask ourselves: What do we desire when we see Jesus? When we come to church, are we coming to worship the Living God – or to be entertained by the worship team and the pastor’s witty humor during a sermon? When we interact with fellow believers, do we sharpen one another and walk in accountability – or do we stroke one another’s egos and build relationships around comfort and self-preservation? I pray that we would not be like Pilate, Herod, or the chief priests, and soldiers; seeking to use Jesus for our own selfish means. May we instead be people who truly seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8), and may our hearts be set not on self, but on the One who stood silently, innocently, and sacrificially – for us.

7 min
JUN 12

You Have Said So

Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” (Luke 23:1-4) Jesus stood before Pilate, innocent yet accused. The religious leaders had stirred up false charges, twisting His words and motives to paint Him as a political threat. They claimed He incited rebellion and denied taxes to Caesar – neither of which was true. Yet in the face of their lies, Jesus didn’t fight back. When questioned directly, He simply responded, “You have said so.” Jesus didn’t launch into long-winded defense monologues, no scrambling to clear His name, no dramatic pleas for justice, no blame-shifting or arguments – just quiet strength and truth. Jesus’ response is deeply countercultural, and deeply instructive for us. A Different Way When we’re falsely accused, misrepresented, or misunderstood, our natural reaction is to explain, defend, or justify. We want to correct the record, protect our reputation, and convince others of our innocence. Often, we use many words in these situations – not always to clarify, but sometimes to deflect or shift the blame. But Jesus, the only truly innocent man, modeled a different way. He stood in truth and entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). He knew the outcome was not in Pilate’s hands, nor in the hands of the angry crowd. It was in the hands of His Father, and for Him, that was enough. This doesn’t mean we’ll never face painful or unfair situations; Jesus was falsely accused and crucified. But it does mean that we can release the pressure to constantly defend ourselves. God is our defender - He sees, He knows, and He is working all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). When we resist the urge to over-explain or vindicate ourselves and instead walk in quiet confidence, we mirror Christ’s trust in the Father’s sovereignty. Sometimes the most powerful response is not a long defense, but a simple word of truth – spoken in peace, not in panic. Our reputation is not in our hands, it’s in God’s. And when we surrender the outcome to Him, we find freedom from fear and striving. Jesus knew where His story was headed – even if others didn’t. Yet He knew the cross wasn’t the end but the path to redemption and glory. When we’re falsely accused or misunderstood, may we not strive to prove and defend ourselves, but instead to walk quietly in the confidence we have in God, remembering that He is our defender.

6 min
JUN 5

We Have Heard It Ourselves

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.” (Luke 22:66-71) After a long night of betrayal, arrest, and denial, Jesus stood before the council of elders, chief priests, and scribes. These were the most powerful religious leaders of the day – men trained in the Law, scholars of the Scriptures, the very people who should have been first to recognize the Messiah. And yet, when Truth stood before them in the flesh, they refused to believe. They asked, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And Jesus answered plainly, confirming their question: “You say that I am.” It was a direct affirmation of His divinity. They had heard it from His own lips. This wasn’t a rumor, a secondhand claim, or an interpretation – it was Jesus Himself, identifying as the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah. And still, they rejected Him. Why? Because they weren’t asking to receive truth—they were asking to trap Him. They approached the Son of God not with open hearts, but with hardened agendas. They weren’t seeking truth, they were seeking justification to kill Him. And when He told them the truth, they took it as confirmation bias to fit their agenda and twisted the truth into a charge to crucify Him over. This passage holds a sobering warning for us today: If we approach God with an agenda, rather than a humble desire to know and obey the truth, we may miss what He’s saying altogether and find ourselves opposing God. A Call to Examine - Ourselves It’s easy to read Scripture looking for support for what we already believe. It’s tempting to pray in hopes that we get the answer we want, instead of submitting to the answer God gives. But truth doesn’t bend to our pride or preferences. It takes humility to accept truth that challenges us, corrects us, or calls us to change. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day knew the Scriptures, but they didn’t know God. They clung to their control and self-image, unwilling to surrender to the One standing right in front of them - God. Their pride blinded them to the truth they had been waiting for. Let’s not fall into the same trap. When you open God’s Word, let it be with a heart ready to receive – not edit. When you ask God for direction, have a heart truly wanting His will, not your own will dressed up in religious language. When He speaks, whether through Scripture, the Spirit, or wise counsel – take Him at His Word. May we have hearts who seek God in truth, being stripped of our pride, our assumptions, and our agendas – able to listen and receive with humility. Let us not be those who hear and twist, but those who hear, receive, and obey.

6 min
MAY 29

The Lord Turned and Looked

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:54-62) Before this moment of repeated denial, Peter had been bold, confident, and even defiant in his loyalty to Jesus, as he declared, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death,” (Luke 22:33). But boldness without surrender is fragile. In the pressure of the courtyard, under the uncertain view of strangers, Peter crumbled. Not once, not twice, but three times he denied even knowing Jesus. And just as the rooster crowed, fulfilling the Lord’s prophetic words – Jesus turned and looked at him. Can you imagine that moment? Jesus’ look wouldn’t have been a glare of condemnation or rage. It wouldn’t have even been a look of disgust or rejection. I imagine in Jesus’ eyes was a look of grief – not for Himself, but for Peter. Because Jesus knew Peter’s pain was only beginning. He knew the weight of shame Peter would carry, the bitter sorrow of realizing he had denied the Messiah – the very Savior of his soul. And yet, even in that look, there was still love. A silent reminder that Jesus’ mission was not over – and neither was Peter’s story. Failure Is Not Final If we get caught up in what people think of us and fear how our identity in Christ will affect us here and now, we can falter in our faith and deny the very One who died to save us. That is a bitter place to be, but Peter’s story reminds us that our failures here are not final with God. Yes, Peter wept bitterly. Grief is part of repentance. But Jesus had already spoken life into Peter’s future: “When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32). Jesus knew Peter would fall, but He also knew Peter would rise again – and he did. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter was restored, commissioned, and became a pillar of the early Church. Peter’s denial didn’t define him – his repentance and obedience did. And eventually, this same man who once shrank back from being associated with Jesus boldly preached the gospel to thousands. Church tradition tells us Peter died crucified upside down, unwilling to die in the same manner as his Lord. The man who once feared for his life to the point of denial, finished his race having found his identity entirely in Christ and willingly died as His humble follower. We all stumble. We all have our moments of fear, weakness, or compromise. But it’s not about how we started – it’s about how we finish. Will we allow our sin to drive us away in shame? Or will we let godly sorrow lead us to repentance and reconciliation? When the Lord looks into the depths of your soul after you’ve sinned, see the grief in His eyes—not because He’s shocked, but because He longs for reconciliation and restoration. Share in that grief, and let it soften your heart to repentance. Return to Him, and let your story continue in His grace.

7 min

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A weekly devotional designed to help you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, through practical application of spiritual truths from God's word.

Creator

Krystal Craven Christian Music
Years Active

2021 - 2025
Episodes

223
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Applying the Bible

Applying the Bible

Jesus, Remember Me

If He Is The Christ

Father Forgive Them

Their Voices Prevailed

For He Had Long Desired

You Have Said So

We Have Heard It Ourselves

The Lord Turned and Looked

About

Information

Applying the Bible

Episodes

Jesus, Remember Me

If He Is The Christ

Father Forgive Them

Their Voices Prevailed

For He Had Long Desired

You Have Said So

We Have Heard It Ourselves

The Lord Turned and Looked

About

Information