Easter Sunday

Mat 28:1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. Mat 28:2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. Mat 28:3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: Mat 28:4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. Mat 28:5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. Mat 28:6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

We celebrate today the greatest event in all the history of mankind…the event to which all of creation was looking.  Full salvation of both body and soul was accomplished.  The power and guilt of sin was removed at the cross just days earlier.  This Easter morning the power and fear of death was defeated.  Jesus arose from the grave, in a resurrected body.  His resurrection proved He was the Son of God, and gave us the promise and hope of victory over death. Not just life, but life without end in a resurrected body, in a new heaven and new earth, where there will be no more wickedness, sin, suffering, sickness and sorrow. Let us pour out our hearts in praise and worship today.

Endure

Jas 1:12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The enduring of trials and temptations is rarely pleasant.  The self denial necessary to stay faithful through these trials and temptations can be painful at times.  Yet we have the promise of the crown of life that the Lord has reserved for those who love Him.  Truly, when we endure these difficulties and temptations, we have a great blessing in store. 

Good Friday

John 3:14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: John 3:15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

This day is a solemn day…it is the day we remember the unspeakable gift made for our forgiveness.  As Jesus was lifted up on the cross to die, our forgiveness was purchased.  It was the love of God that gave this unspeakable gift, so that we might receive the gift of life without end.  Allow yourself time today to meditate on this truth.  Then, spend some time in humble worship and adoration with our Savior.    

Don't worry

Psa 127:1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  Psa 127:2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

We are prone to worry, bent toward stressing about many things.  Yet, unless God builds, unless God keeps, our efforts will prove to be nothing.  We don’t have to frazzle ourselves over the worries of life, fretting, working and worrying.  By trusting in God, we can do our part and then leave it in God’s hands.  We can rest comfortably knowing it is God who will add the blessing.

Taste and see

Psa 34:8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

We are encouraged to experience the goodness of God.  It one thing to hear of God’s goodness, it’s another to experience it. God’s goodness is experienced by our trust in Him.  One who trusts in God is blessed, and the experience of that blessing is to taste and see that God is good.

 

Help is on the way

Psa 30:5For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

I am thankful that God does not hold a grudge.  When we repent, He forgives, and His favor, His blessing returns to us.  We are reminded that though the night may be long, and our sorrow intense, morning light does break again.  With the dawning of the new day, hope springs again and joy returns.  Hold steady, the light of the morning is near.

 

Wait expectantly for God

Psa 27:14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

We are encouraged to wait on God.  This waiting is an expectant waiting.  It is like waiting on the bus…we expect it to come.  Don’t despair if God has not yet moved.  Continue to expectantly wait, being confident and encouraged.  Again, for emphasis, wait expectantly on God.

Confess and forsake

Pro 28:13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

It is a painful thing to fail.  We are tempted to deny or ignore our failings.  Such an approach never leads to good things.  We are encouraged to be open before God, acknowledging our failings, our sins.  It is this approach that brings the mercy of God on our life.

Expect big things

Psa 81:10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

The God who has delivered us and done the impossible encourages us to ask largely.  We are encouraged to ask and expect big things from our God.  He has proven He is willing and able by His past help.

Face the future in faith

Psa 112:7He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

It is our trust and confidence in God that allows us to face the future with confidence rather than fear.  We are not struck down with fear when we hear a bad report, or a fearful outlook.  Rather, we can overcome fear when our heart is steady in trusting in our good and loving God.

Ask for wisdom

Jas 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

How often we simply don’t know what we need to know! Let us humble ourselves and seek God of all wisdom for that we stand in need of.  Notice that God doesn’t berate us for our lack of knowledge, but instead gives abundantly when we humbly seek Him.

 

Blessed are the peacemakers

Mat 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

How few there are today who are willing to be peacemakers. The reason? Because it costs us.  A peacemaker is one who gives up their personal rights in order to obtain peace.  They don’t demand their own way.  I am not talking about compromising principles, but rather one who is willing to forgo their personal rights for the sake of maintaining peace.  What a blessing they are in the home, on the job or in the church.  These truly can be called the children of God in their unselfishness.

Hungry and thirsty

Mat 5:6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

My prayer is that we come to the house of God hungering for righteousness, hungering and thirsting to have our life conformed to the image of Christ in every way.  There are a lot of desires in this life that go unfulfilled, but this is one we can have satisfied.  Make this the pursuit of your life and you will have a satisfying life.

Stay humble

Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

We always get in trouble when we think we know better than God.  Too often when confronted with what God’s Word says, one will respond, “Yes, but…”.  This is not only dangerous, it is also evil.  We need to acknowledge in everything that God knows best and humble follow Him. 

Fear not

Isa 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

One of the most oft repeated commands in the Bible is “Fear not”.  God is the reason we can overcome our fears. He has promised to keep us, to help us, to strengthen us and to uphold us by His power.  This passage tells us to not fear or be dismayed, because He is with us.  He said “I am your God”.  What a promise!  What a strength and confidence to face the future!

Seek first the Kingdom of God

Mat 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We really only have one task in life: to pursue our relationship with God and His interests.  We have this promise: if we make this the top priority of our life, God will take care of the rest.  Too often, we allow our lives, our time and our energy to be expended in pursuing the things of this life and neglect the most important things. Let’s make sure we keep our priorities straight.

 

He will go before

Deu 31:8And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

I really like this passage.  God knows the path we travel.  God sees the future, and in that sense, He has already traveled the road before us. He will be with us, He will never forsake us, He cannot fail us.  Therefore, no matter what the future may seem to hold, we need not be dismayed or fearful.

He will save and revive

Psa 138:7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

Even in the midst of trouble, surrounded by enemies, God is able to keep and deliver us.  Though their anger may grow hot, yet we are safe in God’s care.  He will save us and revive us.

Fear the Lord God

Psa 89:7God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

There is a reverence that belongs to God, and that reverence ought to be seen in the assembly of His people.  When we come together to worship, there is a familiarity that love brings, yet there is also an awe and reverence that is appropriate in His presence.