Luke 24:1-8
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:’The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'”
Then they remembered his words.
Today is the greatest reason on earth to celebrate.
Let the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ fill your heart, soul, and spirit with the joy that can only come from a life that has been transformed by the power of the resurrection.
Tags: Bible, celebrate, Christ, Christian, devotion, Easter, empty tomb, encouragement, faith, fellowship, God's faithfulness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, joy, overcoming, power, praise, resurrection, risen, testimony, victory
John 1:12-13
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.
I can’t think of a greater blessing! We can be children of God.
This is not for everybody. You have to want it. It comes by faith in God and what He has done through Christ. It has to be received, if we believe in His provision for us on the cross. If Jesus Christ is our Savior, then we are God’s children.
Some people look at themselves as slaves of God. Then they get the attitude that it is hard to work for Him. They have an angry look on their face and act like serving God is the worst thing you could do.
Now I do admit that children are supposed to obey their parents. In that sense we must “serve” God. I know that on more than one occasion I accused my parents of treating me as their slave. The fact is, even when you have to do what you’re told, the parent-child relationship is far superior to that of a master and slave.
This verse tells me that I am not just treated like a child of God. He doesn’t just call me His son. It is much greater than that. I have the right – with all the responsibilities and privileges – to be a child of God. This is an amazing thought. God views us as full fledged sons and daughters. That is why He both blesses and disciplines us.
Spending time with our Father should be the most natural inclination. It should be where we want to go for love, support, encouragement, and strength. Spend time with the Lord today, knowing that He wants you to experience the best that being a part of His family has to offer.
Tags: Bible, blessings, calling, child of God, Christian, cross, devotion, encouragement, faith, family, hard work, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, obedience, parent, problems, provision, relationship, savior, slave, testimony
2 Timothy 1:5
I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Sometimes it’s good to look back over your life to see where God has brought you from. I love to hear a testimony of a changed life. I have known drug addicts, gang members and people from the “underworld” who have given their lives to Christ and were changed by His power. I have met people who have been bound by addictions, hurt by abuse and oppressed under the weight of depression all set free by the blood of Jesus.
It is an encouragement to see the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit at work in the world. I, for one was insulated from most of these issues. I tend to relate more with Timothy. My grandparents were saved soon after they came over to America from Italy. My parents were raised in church, and followed Christ throughout their lives. When I came along, I had no choice – church was where our family went, whenever the doors were open.
Then, one day, at a children’s camp (Camp Woodhaven in West Boylston, MA) I personally received the salvation offered by Jesus Christ. I have tried to follow His leading ever since.
Sometimes I used to feel that I missed out on something, when I would hear the testimonies of how God saved people from an evil life. But when I grew older I realized the blessing of being born into a Christian home. God kept me from some of the things that could have destroyed me. I have a testimony of the Lord’s power to keep and protect a life from the darkness of the world.
So, whether you came to Christ from a life of great sin, or you were raised in church, be grateful to the Lord for His presence in your life. The fact is, we all need a Savior. No one is too far away from His love. Equally, no one is good enough to deserve His love. We all need the power of the cross to set us free. Praise God for His grace that He freely gives to all who seek Him.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, Christian witness, devotion, disciple, encouragement, evil, faith, God's faithfulness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, praise, protection, sin, testimony, trust, world
Psalm 91:9-13
If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the LORD, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
One of the major themes throughout the Word of God is, “Fear not!” We can rest assured in the shelter of the Lord. We don’t need to worry over the path ahead. We know that the Lord has everything under control.
But there is a big “if.” If you make the Lord your dwelling place and refuge.
Would someone observing you for the first time say that you seem to live in the presence of God? Is your whole life wrapped up in seeking Him? Is He your refuge and dwelling place? Do you run to Him first in times of trouble?
These are the questions for you to ponder today as you are quiet in the presence of the Lord. If you cannot answer them affirmatively then you need to move closer to God. You need to seek the guidance of His Spirit to show you the path toward intimacy with the Lord.
Even if you can answer yes to the above – your relationship needs constant cultivation in order for it to keep from becoming stagnant. Go to the Lord today for a fresh touch of His presence. Receive what you need to get you through this day victoriously.
Tags: Bible, Christian, devotion, distractions, encouragement, Holy Spirit, holy worship, presence of the lord, protection, testimony, trust
Acts 1:9-11
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
(NIV)
Yesterday I shared about the reason we need to know about the return of the Lord. We saw that Jesus taught His disciples that the important thing was being a witness. After explaining all this to the disciples, He rose from the earth and was taken out of their sight. The tragedy is that there are too many Christians around who are just like those disciples. You know them. It’s almost as if their life can be summed up with those words, “WHY ARE YOU LOOKING UP INTO HEAVEN?”
That seems to be their whole outlook on life. Their only goal is to find out when Jesus is coming back. “Lord, is it today? Can somebody tell me? Is it going to be this week?” Their whole Christian life is looking to see when Jesus is coming back. In doing that they miss the main emphasis given to us by Christ, which is “BE A WITNESS.”
What we usually find when we read through the Scripture is that when Jesus or the Apostles talk about the Second Coming of the Lord, the main theme of the teaching is usually about something else. The Return of Christ itself is not their main focus. When we think about it, the main emphasis should be the change that is needed in our lives to prepare us for the return of the Lord. The apostles only seem to use the return of Christ as a side illustration to emphasize the urgency that is needed to spur us on to change our ways.
There are so many people worried about what’s going to happen next. They are always asking, “Am I going to make it?” If that’s you – SNAP OUT OF IT! God is going to see us through. I’ll tell you now how it all ends – we win. All the rest is about how we get there. The end has already been written even though we haven’t reached it yet.
Christ is returning. That is a Scriptural fact. The real issue is what I am doing with this knowledge. Am I sitting back, doing nothing until He comes to get me? Or is it propelling me forward to share God’s love with others? The choice is yours.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, Christian witness, church, devotion, God's will, Jesus Christ, prepare, return of Christ, second coming, testimony
The Bible talks a lot about the return of Christ. Why is that so important to us?
Acts 1:6-8
So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(NIV)
The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is probably the most talked about subject in all of Christianity. Unfortunately, many believers miss the point of why God put this teaching in the Scripture. Too many people want to know about Christ’s return for the wrong reasons. Some want to know simply to satisfy their curiosity. Others like sensationalism. These are not good reasons to study the Word of God.
As Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure into Heaven, He tells the them to go to Jerusalem and wait there for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When that happens, they will be given all the power that they need to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
As they share this time with the Lord, they ask Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” This was a burning question that they had on their minds. Think of it. Jesus rose from the dead! When Jesus was ministering on earth He was able to feed 5,000 people with just a few loaves and fishes. Just imagine Him leading the army of Israel. The Romans can’t kill him. He can supply all the food they need. He can get money out of a fish’s mouth. How could they lose with a commander like that? The disciples must have decided that now is the time to restore the Kingdom of Israel.
Surprisingly, Jesus tells them that they don’t need to know the Father’s timetable. The most important thing to know is how to be a witness. We know about the Return of Christ in order to be a WITNESS. Why? By knowing the times and seasons, we can better understand the hour in which we are living. We can better understand the closeness of Christ’s return. It is this information that will give us the incentive we need to bring others into the kingdom before it’s too late. That’s why Jesus shares with them the exhortation that they don’t have to worry about the “when”.
You don’t have to be anxious about the day or the hour of His return either. These things are all in the Father’s hands. That’s His job. What you and I need to know is how to be the best witness we can be. We must major on how to bring God’s glory to the earth while we still have that chance.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christian, Christian witness, church, devotion, encouragement, God's will, Jesus Christ, prepare, return of Christ, second coming, testimony
Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
(NIV)
This was the description of the early church in the book of Acts. The church was an exciting place. They were growing and reaching their world with the Gospel of Christ. The secret was their devotion to Christ in a number of ways – one of which was the fellowship.
It all come down to what devotion means. The Greek word for devotion literally means “strong, steadfast, and enduring toward.” Believers would probably all agree that we need to be strong and enduring toward reading the Bible. We must continue steadfastly in prayer. What we have a problem in is the fellowship.
When it comes to meeting together with the body of Christ, many act like it is only a good idea if there is nothing better to do. Parties, sports activities, and playtime come first in the lives of many Christians. Then we wonder why the church in America seems to be very ineffective in reaching our culture.
It’s time for us to return to the values that propelled the early church forward. We must embrace the same spirit of fellowship. Be a part of what God is doing in these last days. Devote yourself to the fellowship of believers that God has called you to. Let this work in you as it did in those who first received the Gospel.
Tags: attendance, Bible, Christian, church, devoted, devotion, early church, fellowship, meeting, testimony, unity
Proverbs 31:18
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
(NIV)
This verse really emphasizes the true purpose of a lamp. If the sun is shining brightly, and your house has a lot of windows, there is no need for a lamp. Turning a lamp on at that point is a waste of energy, and you probably wouldn’t even notice that it was on.
The time that a lamp is needed is after the sun goes down. When you light a lamp in a dark room, there is no hiding it. As a matter of fact, even a small light can have that effect. I have been in a hotel room where the tiny red light on the smoke detector has kept me awake for hours!
The darker it gets, the more the light is needed. That is true in the spirit as well. We live in a dark society – spiritually speaking. And it seems to be getting darker and darker with each passing day. That tells me that there is a reason God has us here in this place, at this time in history.
So many people spend their lifetimes trying to find purpose. That should be no problem at all for the Christian. We are to shine the light of Christ wherever we are. That is our destiny. To light up the darkness of this world.
Therefore, I need to spend quality time in the presence of the Source of that light. If I am to adequately reflect Christ, then I need to abide in Him. Spend time with the Lord today. Let His joy, strength, and purpose flood your soul. Then allow His light to spill out to all those around you who need to come into His light.
Tags: Bible, bright, Christ, Christian, Christian witness, darkness, devotion, glory, Jesus Christ, lamp, light, presence of the lord, reflect, testimony, world
Exodus 27:20
“Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning.”
(NIV)
Hopefully, all believers want to be a light for Christ in this dark world. What trips us up is the fact that it doesn’t just happen. Left to myself I would do nothing worthy of the Lord’s glory.
It follows the same principle as in the verse above. If Israel wanted the lamps in the tabernacle to continue to burn brightly, they had to be tended to. It was not just a once a week task. Olives had to be picked and crushed for their oil. The oil had to be filtered for clarity. The wicks had to be changed when they had burned down. The oil level in the lamps needed to be monitored frequently.
In the same way, hearing a sermon and singing some songs once a week is not enough to keep us burning bright for the Lord. It is a daily task to tend to the needs of our spirits. We need the solid food of the Word of God. We need the living water of the presence of God. We need to be meditating on His Word throughout the day. These are the things that keep the lamp going.
As I said in my post yesterday, it is not my light that is shining. But that doesn’t mean I have no part to play. Unless the lamp is prepared, there will be no place in me for the light of Christ to ignite. Keep your lamp in good condition. Give the fire of the Lord a ready home to light up your world.
Tags: Bible, burning, Christian, Christian witness, darkness, devotion, glory, Jesus Christ, lamp, light, oil, prepare, presence of the lord, testimony, world
Psalm 18:28
You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
(NIV)
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”
Sometimes children’s songs are the most profound. Notice how the song says I’m gonna let it shine, not I’m gonna make it shine. Simply put, I can’t be a light apart from Christ. He is the light of the world.
David said that it is the Lord that kept his lamp burning. It was God who turned his darkness into light. I am only a light as I reflect the light of Christ. As soon as I think it is my goodness lighting up the world around me, I plunge back into darkness.
I need to see myself as the moon. A great source of light and beauty at night. Yet none of it comes from its own glory. The moon only reflects the glory of the sun. In the same way we reflect Christ to the world.
When we take our eyes off of the Lord and begin to think we are so great, it is like a lunar eclipse. Our flesh starts to cast a shadow over the light. Depend upon God for your light today. Then you can be the lamp God intended you to be.
Tags: Bible, Christian, Christian witness, devotion, glory, Jesus Christ, light, presence of the lord, reflect, testimony
The Spirit and the Word 