Monday, November 25, 2024
Believe
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27-28
Please read or listen to John 20-21 today. Imagine what it would have been like to see Jesus alive when you had seen him so horribly mutilated and murdered. At this point, the disciples do not yet fully understand what is happening, but they know that they are seeing Jesus alive. He comes and goes, but it is him. He is not dead. Imagine the hope that would overflow in your life and in your heart. Imagine the questions you would have. Imagine being the one who did not see him. Imagine being Thomas listening to the rest talk about how Jesus had shown them his hands and his side (20:20), but Thomas was not there to see it. Jesus makes a special trip just for Thomas. Thomas has just sought to experience the same thing his friends did—to see the risen Christ and the wounds that were yet visible. Jesus meets his request. He comes and shows Thomas and tells Thomas to stop disbelieving. Thomas does. He believes. He who had been identified as a doubter has a new definition—he is a believer. That is what an encounter with the risen Christ brings into the life of a person—an opportunity for a new definition. You do not need to be defined by the things that have defeated you. You can be defined by the Savior who purchased your pardon and offers forgiveness. What do you need to do today to take hold of your new identity? What area of disbelief do you need to put aside? Who needs to know they can be set free?
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Blessed
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
Today, please read and/or listen to John 20:19-29 and 1 Peter 1:8-9. Jesus lets Thomas and the disciples know that while they are blessed because they have actually seen the risen Christ, there is a special blessing that awaits those who believe without seeing! Once again use your biblical imagination to consider what it would be like to see Jesus alive and try to imagine what it would be like to tell others! Thomas is one who represents those who needed to see Jesus in the flesh. Jesus acknowledges that belief is indeed a gift and is special. It is why so many were allowed the privilege of seeing Jesus in the flesh before he ascended. Yet, many, many more would and will believe without an “in the flesh” encounter with the Savior. If you are a follower of Jesus reading this devotion—this is you! You have believed without seeing and so you live under the beatitude that Jesus spoke over you. You are specially blessed to believe. In his first epistle, Peter seems to expand on this blessing (read 1 Peter 1:8-9). What an amazing blessing to be filled with glory and rejoicing with joy that is inexpressible. If you have been rescued from your death sentence and been brought into the glorious light of salvation by faith in Jesus it is because you have had an encounter with the living Christ. You have been embraced by his love and have responded in love for him. That love is a special blessing that is given by the Lord. How does the inexpressible joy of the blessing of the presence of Jesus in your life impact your day to day, moment by moment life?
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Expectation
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation. 1 Peter 1:3
Please read and/or listen to 1 Peter 1:1-12 today. Peter knew what it was to live a hard life. He was imprisoned, beaten, scorned, and dismissed as ignorant. He knew as well that those who had been exiled knew what it was to live a hard life. That is why he wrote his letter to them. He wanted to encourage them in their situation. He reminded them that they were born again because of the resurrection. That allowed them to live with great expectation! The resurrection is truly the greatest sign that John records for us in his gospel. John and Peter both saw Jesus alive. They have an eyewitness account. Our salvation is secured through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Because he lives, we can know that if we believe we will truly live as well. That significant truth allows us to have an eternal perspective that draws us into great expectation living. Whatever the circumstances of your life, praising God for your salvation allows you to live in the expectation of seeing what God is up to! Do you have a heart of gratitude and praise? How can you be more aware of the abundance of life that is within you/ You have been reborn! You have new life in Christ! Praise God! I am set free. Sin is no longer my master. I can’t wait to see Jesus and to see how each thing that came into my life was part of his amazing plan. I pray that as I live with grateful expectation that many will see and know they can be set free as well. What are you praising God for right now? Are you living in eager expectation because of your new life?
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Live
Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live John 14:19
Today we will focus on the verse above. The cross of Christ won for us the victory that we could never have won for ourselves. On the cross God placed our sins on Jesus, and he bore the punishment due us. In his death, Jesus took upon himself the curse introduced by Adam’s choice to sin. With the death of Christ, our sins became powerless to rule over us. By his death, Jesus destroyed the devil’s works and condemned him. He crushed the head of the serpent! The cross of Christ is vital to our salvation and thus is a main aspect of the salvation message. But the resurrection of Christ is also foundational to the gospel message. Our salvation stands or falls based on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, as Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 15:12–19. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, his promise holds true for us: “Because I live, you also will live” and death—our great enemy—will be defeated. Jesus’ resurrection is also important because it is through his resurrection that God declares us righteous: Jesus was “delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25). Finally, the gift of the Holy Spirit is sent from the resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus. It is the death and resurrection of Jesus that makes it possible for us to be right before a holy God and have the Spirit to live the full life available to us. Consider the promise of Jesus that you will also live—if you truly believe in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Friday, November 29, 2024
Importance
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Please read and/or listen to 1 Corinthians 15 today. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is fundamental to our faith. First Corinthians 15 is a detailed explanation of the importance of Jesus’ resurrection. Verse 14 states, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” In fact, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (verse 17), and believers who have died are “lost” (verse 18). He goes on to say that in fact Jesus has indeed been raised from the dead (verse 20). He conquered death. As the Holy Son of God, Jesus overcame death once and for all, as Peter explained: “It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:24). The triumphant, risen Christ said, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18). Keys are a symbol of authority. Jesus is sovereign over death. Christ’s conquest of death was permanent and eternal. This is of first importance to us. We serve a risen Savior! Jesus is alive and is interceding for us but also since he is alive, we can be sure that we no longer need to fear death if we trust in him alone and give our lives to him. Have you taken hold of that which is of first importance? Do you fear death? Do you have someone you know who is living in fear? How can you pass on to them that which is of first importance?
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Resurrection
For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:53
Would you please read and/or listen to 1 Corinthians 15 again today? It is amazing to think of what Jesus’ resurrection means for our future. Paul says that those of us who die with Jesus as our Savior will be raised and our bodies will be changed. Not only the dead in Christ, but all those who are alive when the trumpet of the Lord sounds. Each will receive a new body. They will become imperishable bodies. Glorious bodies like Jesus’s body (Philippians 3:20-21). The mortal body must be put away so that immortality can be put on—that which is mortal must be swallowed up by life (2 Corinthians 5:4). The resurrection of Jesus secures this hope for us! He is the firstfruits of those raised from the dead. In other words, just as the firstfruits of a plant secure the hope of future harvest, so also the resurrection of Jesus secures the future hope of our resurrection. When we put on these new imperishable, immortal bodies then we will declare, “Death where is your sting?” (15:54-55). Apart from Jesus there is no hope of resurrection. There is only despair. Many will choose not to believe, and they will not experience what is spoken of here. Instead, they will spend eternity separated from the one, true God and will forever be tormented by their sin and pride. Have you taken hold of the Savior? Is he your hope for resurrection? Are you living in grateful expectation, praising God for his life in you? Ask God to allow you to live this day in grateful expectation!
Tomorrow we will begin our Advent messages considering that a King is born!