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(This morning’s devotion is based on the Easter message: Jesus Wins! (CLICK HERE)

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A different perspective.

The women came looking for a body in the tomb.  They had seen Jesus taken off the cross and wrapped in linen cloths and buried in Joseph’s tomb.  They knew a big stone was rolled in front of the entrance and guards were protecting the entrance.  They were wondering how they would get in the tomb to finish honoring the body of Jesus with the burial traditions of the day.

What they saw was completely unexpected.  There was no body.  The stone was rolled away.  The guards had fled and two angels had replaced them.  “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He has risen!”

All of a sudden, the normal perspective of death and burial was overturned by a new perspective that was driven by the God who clearly exhibited power over death.  The resurrection gave a perspective that moved beyond the world’s paradigm to God’s paradigm and God’s truth.

Really the resurrection is a key event to validate the truth of all of God’s Word.  If the resurrection validates God’s perspective on life and death than what the world offers, it also validates God’s perspective on the rest of life.

As Paul spoke to the Corinthians we also see life through the wisdom of God which is going to sound like foolishness to the world.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 

Even though the message of the cross and the empty tomb seem ridiculous and foolish to many in the world, they are the foundation upon which the wisdom of God is validated.

If this truth is validated, it also gives validity to everything else God has said.  So that his Word now forms our viewpoint and perspective on life and the world. 

The Apostle John also reflected that children of God operate from a different view point.

1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 

One doesn’t have to look far to find worldly viewpoints on relationships, genders, marriage, success, world affairs, etc.  The resurrection invites us to view the world through God’s lens and God’s Word.

What changes today if you take the truth of God and see the world through it?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for validating your Word through the resurrection of Jesus.  Help us to view all of life through what we know is true, your Word.  AMEN.

(This morning’s devotion is based on the Easter message: Jesus Wins! (CLICK HERE)

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What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

This question is often asked in workshops or podcasts that are encouraging and supporting personal growth and setting goals.  Often times the greatest barrier to achieving a goal is the fear of failure.  The reason one doesn’t go back to school is a fear of failing the class.  The reason someone doesn’t invest in a property is because of the fear of the deal going bad.  A reason a boy doesn’t ask out a girl is because they are afraid of rejection.

What if you knew that you would not fail?  Would you go back to school?  Invest in the property? Ask that person out on a date?

Probably.

Confidence does a lot to inspire action.  Confidence comes when you know that there is nothing that will prevent your success.  Confidence comes on the back of multiple successes in that arena.

Confidence is not cockiness.  Cockiness is an expression of the ego for the purpose of making someone else know you are better than them and usually has the intent of making them feel they will never be like you.

Confidence on the other hand, is something that inspires others to action.  Just look at a child move forward when mom or dad express confidence they can do what they were afraid of doing.  Confidence is willing to go along side someone so they can gain confidence as well.  Confidence comes alongside the fearful to remove the fear and instill confidence.

The resurrection doesn’t guarantee us that we will pass the class, make a profit on an investment, or have the girl or guy say “Yes” when we ask them out.  But the resurrection does give us confidence as we go through life that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus.  The resurrection of Jesus prove that God’s plan of saving us was complete and accepted.  We have no fear to face death head on as it is an entry to eternity, not a separation from God’s love.  Look at the Apostle Paul’s confidence he has being connected to the living Jesus:

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

In some ways, the resurrection gives us confidence to do the things that we are afraid of doing.  As long as it is not sin, it will not separate us from the love of Jesus.  We know our biggest problem in life is taken care of.  We know that even if something doesn’t work out, God has our best interest in mind.  And we know best of all, we will not be separated from the love of God found in Jesus Christ.

So, today, move forward with confidence.  You are loved and your biggest battle over sin and Satan is won and the victory is yours.  Let the resurrection give you confidence today!

Apply: Read the verse above from Romans three times.  What confidence does it give you as you think about your day ahead?

Prayer: Lord thank you for giving me the confidence to live in the reality that nothing can separate me from your love.  Over come my fear.  Prevent me from being cocky.  Keep me in a spirit of confident faith today!  AMEN.

(This morning’s devotion is based on the Easter message: Jesus Wins! (CLICK HERE)

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Is Easter over?

Last evening my wife and I went over to church and packed away the Easter decor from our church’s Easter celebration.  The special table decorations and chair coverings now are in a box in the attic of the church.  The special banner inviting the community to worship on Easter morning and the thematic flags we had flying, folded and put away for the year.  As we walked out the door, I quipped, “Well, I guess Easter is done for the year.”

Of course I was saying it “tongue-in-cheek” but there is probably some truth to that in our lives.  Preparations, special celebrations and visits by family are now a thing of the 2023 past and captured in our memories and in our phone photo storage.  It’s easy to move on.

But not so fast.

Easter which marks the resurrection of Jesus is not just an event and a day on the calendar, it is to be a transformative reality each and every day.

Yesterday, we highlighted the reality that we live forgiven.  Today, we live with power!

Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead…

I can’t even imagine or begin to grasp the power that was used to raise Christ from the dead.  Is it measured in an amount of TNT explosives?  Is it measured in the amount of horsepower?  Is it measured in the number of things it can overcome in a short period of time?  What is this power?

We often think of the great “powers” of this earth.  In fact we have labeled countries like the United States “Super powers.”  This is more of an economic and military term.  However, there is a realm that we often lose sight of or don’t think about.  It’s the power of darkness that manifests itself as evil and darkness in the world around us.  The power that we need is not a political power, a positional power, or an explosive power.  We need power to overcome the spiritual forces of darkness that lurk in our own heart and the tragedies they bring.

What are those? Sin. Death. Devil.

The power that raised Jesus from the dead was the same power that overcame the condemnation of sin, the sting of death and the power of the devil.  This power equips us for spiritual warfare against all that would want to separate us from the Lord and lead us to live for ourselves and our own selfishness.

The Apostle Paul said it this way, “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

This is the power that is at work in you today.  So get ready for the battles you will face today…but do so with the confidence you have the power to say no to sin, stare down death with confidence it will not win and very clearly tell Satan to “Go to hell” and stop bothering you.

The power that resurrected Jesus is the power of God at work in you!  

Have a great day! 

Apply: What spiritual battles do you anticipate fighting today?  What new confidence can you have as you face those battles knowing the power that raised Jesus is the power that is at work in you as you have placed your trust in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your power that is at work in me.  Allow me to use this power with precision to disarm any spiritual attack that comes my way today.  AMEN.

(This morning’s devotion is based on the Easter message: Jesus Wins! (CLICK HERE)

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Today’s Monday, the day after Easter.

Perhaps you have the day off.  Perhaps it’s back to school or back to work.  Perhaps it’s a travel day back home after spending the weekend with family or friends.  Perhaps it’s a clean up and catch up day after a busy weekend.

I guess the question is, will Easter matter today.

To be honest, as a pastor there are moments when the busy routine of the last week is done when it’s easy to think, “I’m glad that’s over.”  I hate to admit it, but the thought floats through my mind.

But it’s not over.  And I ask forgiveness for even thinking that.

But do you feel the same at times?  Just glad the busy weekend is over.

Unfortunately, Easter can be “put away” to be “resurrected” again next year.

But let’s not do that. 

The victory that Jesus won and the victory he gives to us as a result are worthy of being part of every day.  In fact, the victory of Jesus is key to win every day!

We get to live as winners each day because of what Jesus accomplished by rising from the dead.  Like a come-from-behind win at the last second, Jesus came out of the tomb alive after it seemed like death had won and the game was over.  When the buzzer went off, the tomb was empty and Jesus was alive.

So what does that mean for your Monday?

Perhaps reflect on this point.

Today you can live with peace in your heart that you are fully forgiven and your relationship with the Lord is secure.  Why?

Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Jesus went to the cross because of our sin.  The death he experienced was the consequence our sin deserved.  He willingly endured the cross for you and me.

However, if he would have stayed dead, sin would have won.  He was raised to life for our justification.  

To be justified is to be declared “not guilty.”  It’s a legal declaration that has binding effects.  Even though the evidence may point against us, Jesus comes between us and the Judge and gives us his perfect life even as our sin is put on his shoulders.  The Judge, God himself, then declares us “not guilty.”  The resurrection of Jesus is the proof that his payment on the cross was sufficient for sin.  So sin was punished, just not in you or me.  Yet, we are given the status of “not guilty.”

What does that mean for you today?  If your conscience torments you about something you have done in the past, or struggling with today and your conclusion is that God cannot love you and will never forgive you, look into the empty tomb.  If you know that your wrong doing has affected people you love and care about and you can never forgive yourself, look into the empty tomb.  If you are facing death and are fearful that God will never accept you into heaven because you haven’t been good enough, look into the empty tomb.

Jesus won and gives you his victory.

Live today as a winner…fully forgiven and right with God…because Jesus lives!

 

Apply: What sin of the past does Satan love to bring back into your mind?  When it comes simply say, “the tomb is empty.  I am forgiven.”

Prayer: Lord thank you for raising your Son from the dead as full assurance his death on the cross was payment in full for all of our sins.  Help us to live today as winners, confident we have been declared not guilty and that declaration stands.  AMEN.

He’s not going to need them anymore.

Any rational person would have thought the same.  It had happened hundreds of times before.  A criminal who was crucified had no need of his personal belongings after the crucifixion.  It wasn’t normal practice to let a person come off a cross alive.

A dead man does not need his clothes.

The soldiers knew this.

So, they divided the plunder…except Jesus’ clothes were not separable.  The garment he was wearing wasn’t a patchwork of pieces, but rather a piece woven from top to bottom.  Instead of ruining the piece, the soldiers did this.

John 19:23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

Matthew’s Gospel chimes in:

Matthew 27:35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.

The garment wasn’t folded up and given to Mary in honor of her son like we would a flag at the burial of a military veteran.  The clothing wasn’t placed over the shoulders of one of the disciples like Elijah passing the leadership baton to Elisha.  The cloth was lost to history at the hands of the Roman soldiers.  We don’t even know who won the casting of lots.

So why the detail?  What does the fate of Jesus’ clothing have to do with the significance of his crucifixion and work of salvation?  

1. The detail of prophecy is matched by the detail of fulfillment.

Jesus didn’t speak from the cross and say, “Hey soldiers, I almost forgot, but could you do me a favor and cast lots for my clothing?  There’s a prophecy in the Psalms that I have to fulfill in order to get them all in and someone needs to cast lots for my clothing.”  Nope.  Pagan soldiers were just doing their job and getting a little extra payment for serving on the crucifixion detail.  Fulfilling Scripture was the farthest thing from their mind.  Yet God knew lots would be cast.  The Gospel of John records and proves the truth of God’s Word and the person of Jesus to the very smallest detail.

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. (Psalm 22:18)

So this is what the soldiers did.

1. The Priest becomes the sacrifice.

One commentator noted that a seamless garment was the garb of the high priest.

The first century Jewish historian Josephus stated in his book “Antiquities (History) of the Jews” that the temple’s high priest had to wear clothes (a vestment) colored blue. This clothing was not made by pieces of cloth sewn together, or even two large pieces. It was, instead, one long vestment that was parted along the breast and back.*

Is it a subtle way the Lord communicates that Jesus who serves as our High Priest now placed himself in the role of sacrifice?  Perhaps…

1. No one expected Jesus to live again.

Not one of the soldiers quipped, “Hey, we can’t take this guy’s clothes.  He’s going to be alive again in three days.”  No one around challenged the soldiers or tried to get possession of Jesus’ clothes so he could use them again in three days.  Everyone there knew the end result of Jesus’ crucifixion was death.  He wouldn’t swoon, faint, or pass out.  He would be dead.  And dead people don’t need their clothes.

So the soldiers cast lots for his clothing.

It was all part of God’s plan to carry out every detail, fulfill every promise, and assure every person the price of death was paid for every sin.  

Today we remember.  Jesus died for you.

Apply: What detail of Good Friday stirs your soul today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for humbling yourself and becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross…for me.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on Sunday’s Message: A Regime Change (CLICK HERE)