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My wife Teresa and I took our 6 and 4 year old son and daughter bowling yesterday. As I watched them do something they’d never done before I realized that that’s how we need to look at life as we live for God. Sometimes God has us do some things we’ve never done before. We need to do Gods will like our son and daughter acted. There excitement in doing something new was refreshing. Of course if they always threw the ball in the gutter they would have eventually gotten discouraged and given up. The bumpers kept them out of the gutter and ensured they hit the pins. God works the same way, we can work for Him and live for Him and know that we’ll hit the pins because God is keeping us in the lane. Psa 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. Psa 62:7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Psa 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. |
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As we head into Easter weekend my thoughts have turned to the resurrection of Jesus. As I read the passage below this morning four words stood out. “Just as he said“. Here’s Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, coming to the tomb with spices to prepare the body. And of course, Jesus is gone. The angel tells them and throws in those four words “just as he said”. He could have ended the sentence in verse 6 with “….He is risen” but he added those four words. Could it have been because Mary and Mary hadn’t truly believed that he would rise in three days and the angel just wanted to get the point across that Jesus said this so you should have known it was true? If they did truly believe it, why bring the spices for the body? Aren’t we the same way? As we head into Easter Sunday, let’s realize that everything was “just as He said” and so will everything that is to be. Mat 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 28:2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 28:3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 28:4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 28:5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 28:6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.” |
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I was sitting in my kids room last night and Lionel there hampster was just running away in his wheel. As I watched him I wondered if he actually thought he was going somewhere. He was running for all it was worth, just as hard as he could go. I wonder how many of us live our lives that way. We’re on the wheel of life just running and running and running never getting anywhere. Isn’t that the way this world is setup? We strive everyday for the things of this world running just as fast as we can go. Ultimately we’re like Lionel, never truly going anywhere. Maybe that’s because we’re running toward the wrong thing. If we’re running toward this world, what are we going to gain? When we die all this stuff isn’t going with us. But if we’re running toward Jesus, when we die we will be with Him and have eternal life. We can’t serve two masters so we have to decide. Run toward the ways of this world, or run toward Jesus. I’ve hopped off that hampster wheel and set my sights on Christ. I pray that you’ll do the same. |
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Jesus had a way of turning everything into a learning experience. The woman at the well, the lady who was about to be stoned, and even a lady that invited Jesus into her home. Luke 10:38-42 tells us about how Martha invited Jesus into her home. Her sister Mary was there as well. Luk 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 10:40 But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. We see from the text that Martha invited Jesus into her home. Two things are happening, Martha is busy getting everything ready and Mary is learning at the feet of Jesus. When Martha finally has had enough she goes to Jesus and tells him to tell Mary to help. But look at Jesus' response and here's where he takes the situation and teaches Martha and us something. He tells Martha that she's concern about the wrong things. She should be concern about the one needful thing she needs, learning the word of God, not the external things. How many times do we put something in our lives before Jesus and the infallable, inerrant word of God? Whether it's work, hobbies, friends, or anything that truly takes our sites off of Jesus. It's easy to get caught up in the ways and wants of this world. We have to realize when that's happening. How longs it been since you picked up your bible? Grab it now and come back to the feet of Jesus. |
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As I was heading down the interstate early this morning the fog was really thick in some areas. Here in the mountains you'll hit a patch of thick fog and just that quick it's clear as a bell. Then the next thing you know, your back in it. I got to thinking that's how it is with life. Sometimes fog invades our life. Times that send us through trials and tribulations. These trials can come from a couple of things. God gives us some trials to help us grow and sometimes attacks come from satan. One thing is for certain, when you've put your trust in Jesus you know that eventually things will clear up. That's what life is about, depending on Jesus. We can't depend on anything else. Charles Spurgeon said it best, "In God I have everything I want, in myself there's nothing but sin and misery". If you in some foggy area right now in your life, give it to Jesus and know that because of him it will clear up. |
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