Author Archive
So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:7, CSB
Jesus’ body is not in the tomb, and this gives us confidence to share the Gospel and trust our living God to move in the lives of others.
This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
1 John 5:14, CSB
Jesus’ body is not in the tomb, having resurrected and ascended to the Father. Therefore, we can know He hears our prayers and helps us in this life and for the next.
God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
Romans 3:25, CSB
Jesus’ body is not in the tomb after dying for our sins, so we can know our sins are forgiven forever and hope for eternity with God.
Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
Psalm 16:9-10, CSB
Jesus’ body is not in the tomb, so we can have joy in knowing that death is not the end for all who believe in Christ.
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
John 16:33, CSB
Jesus’ body is not in the tomb, so we know that He can overcome all this world can do. Have peace knowing the Savior who defeats sin, death, and the problems of this world.
This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Meditate on Luke 9:31 and Christ’s Resurrection.
This Sunday: Meditate on Luke 9:31 and Christ’s Resurrection
So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee“
Luke 24:5-6, CSB
Christ is risen. He was dead and buried, but He is not there anymore. Our God and Savior lives.
No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13, CSB
Christ has freed us, and He has freed us from sin by His own blood and from the terror of God by calling us friends.
One of the funniest moments of the 2003 film “Elf” was Buddy the Elf seeing a feral raccoon, spreading out his arms, and asking, “Does someone need a hug?” (It did not go well.)
Something I like to tell people is that on January 9, 2000, Jesus hugged me in welcome to His Family. On July 26, 2000, I finally returned the hug.
It is nice to think about receiving a comforting hug when life feels overwhelming, things are generally crazy, or having just gone through a horrible situation.
It is also nice to look back through the Bible and see how God has been there for His people:
In the Exodus, God said He rescued Israel with a mighty hand and outstretched arm (Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 4:34, 5:15, 7:19; Psalm 136:12).
Within Israel and their Exile, God welcomes those who come to Him humbly and for His glory (1 Kings 8:41-43; 2 Chronicles 6:32-33; Ezekiel 20:34).
We can see how God has been taking care of His people, yes even under judgment at times.
What is the most comforting is that God came to us to take the punishment we deserve for disobedience. He promised to do this when He spoke with Abraham 4,000 years ago (Genesis 15), and there are so many places that it is laid out in the Hebrew Scriptures (such as Genesis 22, Psalm 22, and Daniel 9:26).
Good Friday is good, because we see the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who saw all the sinfulness of this world, come to us in the midst of our fear, pain, and anxiety. The one who stretched out His arm with His might hands came to comfort us with those strong arms and hands.
So, on that terrible Friday 2,000 years ago, Jesus opened His arms for us. We are the feral raccoons, rooting around in garbage and attacking the God who loves us. He took the punishment we deserved, holding back God’s wrath for those of us who will believe.
Yet this same God who took on His own wrath, with those same strong, mighty, scarred arms, reaches out to us to hold us and comfort us.
When we look at the cross, we see God opening His arms to us.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28, NIV
Christ has freed us from sin by His sacrifice. He has saved us from God’s wrath and freed us to live for Him.
a simple man of God 