Tag: christianity

Why Does the Resurrection Continue to Matter two thousand years Later? Mark 16:1-7

Mark 16:1-7 New American Standard Bible

The Resurrection

16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of [a]James, and Salome bought spices so that they might come and anoint Him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, they *came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?” 4 And looking up, they *noticed that the stone had been rolled away;  [b]for it was extremely large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 But he *said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’”

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The Hope of the Resurrection

For many of us, the fear of our moment of death is our greatest fear. No matter how hard we try, maybe pray it away we won’t avoid death’s frightening reality.

Death seems like the last and greatest enemy.

But the good news is that in Jesus’ resurrection God has provided the solution to death and to the fear of death.

In our reading for today, what the women planned to do was not pretty, but it was an act of devotion to Jesus to see that he had a proper burial.

Because he had been crucified just before sundown on Friday, there hadn’t been time to properly anoint and prepare his body for his burial before their holy Sabbath day. So “when the Sabbath was over,” the women bought spices and went to anoint Jesus’ body, according to their custom.

But things didn’t go as planned.

Arriving at the tomb, the women were greeted by an angel, who told them something that quickly transformed their lives and changed the world.

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified,” said the angel. “He has risen! He is not here.”

In an instant their entire understanding of life and death began to change.

Jesus had gone from life to death to new life.

His resurrection became death’s defeat, and in the light of that, Paul could write, “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Christ is risen—for you!

Do you still believe that in 2025?

Why Does the Resurrection Matter?

What if the resurrection isn’t just about what happens after you die—but everything about how you live right now?

If we’re in Christ, we know that one day, God will bring us to a renewed, eternal physical kingdom where we will experience a glorified and perfected version of every beautiful thing we love about the world down here. 

1. Because of the resurrection, death has no more sting.

Death—whether our own or of a loved one—is life’s hardest experience because it feels so permanent.

But if the resurrection is true, it’s not permanent.

It’s temporary because Jesus took the sting out of death, its permanence.

This is why if our loved ones were in Christ, we don’t say things like, “I’ll never hold my baby again,” or “I’ll never see my wife again,” or “I’ll never hug my grandmother again.” Because in the new world, we will certainly hold, see, and hug them again, with our physical arms.

But what about our loved ones who weren’t saved?

That’s a hard reality to confront, and a question I don’t exactly know how to answer. What I do know is that in heaven, our capacity for love will increase.

I also know that Scripture says God will wipe away every tear from our eyes and make every sad thing come untrue.

With this in mind, I assume that somehow this means we’ll be at peace with the decisions that people made for themselves.

I don’t know how all that is going to work, but I’ve learned to trust Jesus in it.

In the meantime, I plead with everyone I know and love to come to Jesus.

2. Because of the resurrection, our worst pain is only light and momentary.

God promises that your pain actually becomes part of the beautiful thing he’s making you.

Paul writes that death is swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54).

When you swallow something, you digest it, and it becomes a factor in making you, well, you.

That’s what God’s going to do with our pain. It’s not just that we had pain on earth, and now we’re at the theme park of heaven and forget all about it.

No, in heaven, we’ll see how the pain we went through produced in us the incredible beauty and weight of glory we become.

Your situation may feel permanent, but it’s not.

Whatever situation you’re in—chronic pain, chronic illness, or disappointed dreams, a bad marriage, being alone—it’s all temporary.

Paul calls it light and momentary. 

That doesn’t mean we make light of our pain or live charmed lives free from pain. Paul experienced some of the worst pain possible for us to experience—betrayal, abandonment, torture, loneliness, and chronic illness. “But,” he said, “even the worst of the worst is all light and momentary, compared to the weight of glory that’s coming to me in the resurrection.” In the meantime, we live with abundant hope and persistent prayer that God can and will heal us from all of our pain, now or in the future.

3. Because of the resurrection, we can press forward with risk-taking, trial-enduring, death-defying obedience to Jesus.

For every missionary who has walked away from family and fortune and friends to carry the gospel to unreached places, the resurrection says, “It’s going to be worth it.

Your sacrifice was only temporary. Jesus is going to repay you one-hundred-fold in the kingdom to come.” 

Though it’s costly now, you’ll soon be home in eternity forever with Jesus and the ones you love. And you’ll be glad you gave your life so that other families could be there, too. Imagine what it will be like when you’ve been there for 10,000 years, knowing those who came to Christ because of your sacrifice.

You don’t know who they are now, but you will then.

So be bold, and death-defying in your obedience.

 1 Corinthians 15:58 Authorized (King James) Version

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

4. Because of the resurrection, living for Jesus is the only thing that makes sense.

Every one of us has a soul and a body.

For those of you who die united to Christ, your souls will immediately enter the presence and joy of God as you await the glorious resurrection of your bodies.

For those of you who die apart from Christ, your souls will immediately enter the judgment of God as you await the resurrection of your body.

But make no mistake, this resurrection isn’t unto eternal happiness, but eternal judgment and misery.

Jesus said in John 5, “The hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (vv. 28–29).

Friend, I cannot emphasize to you enough the utmost importance of what you do with Jesus.

He offers his resurrection to you if you repent of your sin and submit to him as Lord and Savior.

For those of you in Christ, this world is as close to hell as you will ever come.

For those of you outside of Christ, this world is as close to heaven as you’ll get.

Which resurrection do you want to be included in?

The resurrection to judgment or the resurrection to life? 

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Praying …

Psalm 19 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 19

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven,
and his circuit unto the ends of it:
and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors?
cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright,
and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord,
my strength, and my redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When we are not even close to being capable trust God is exceedingly able. Ephesians 3:20-21 

Ephesians 3:20-21 The Message

20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Fact or Fiction: God Should Be the Biggest Influencer of Your Wellness Journey?

Many people refer to God as “The Great Physician.”

Certainly, that’s one of many appropriate and valid ways to think of Him.

Since He created us and is all-powerful, He can certainly arrange for us to be healed when we need it.

He’s also willing and able to come alongside us and bring healing through the hands of healthcare providers, and He likely intervenes and protects us from sickness from time to time. 

Since His ways are immeasurably higher than ours, His thoughts higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), we’ll never know exactly why He may choose one option over another. Those reasons are probably as varied as the people He has created.

That being said, it’s always appropriate to go before Him and ask for whatever it is we need, whether that’s healing or we just want Him involved in helping us to enjoy staying healthy (Hebrews 4:16), Kingdon living into His Spiritual Gifts.

Suggested here are five reasons (of many) God should be the biggest influencer of your wellness journey.  

1. God Knows Our Bodies Better than We Do

In addition to being “The Great Physician,” God is also “The Great Creator.”

I once told a friend to whom I was witnessing that God is “The Great Engineer” because my friend’s background is engineering, and I believed he’d get a kick out of the connection.

It’s also true that God engineered our bodies with many complex systems and processes that keep us alive.

For example, there’s the cardiovascular system, nervous system, respiratory system, circulatory system, and so much more.

There’s a very intricate blend of many minerals and vitamins that are needed to keep the body functioning at top capacity.

If anything gets out of balance for any reason, we will all experience health problems. Truly, He “formed our inward parts,” and we are both “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139: 13-14). He knows how to restore order and can reveal that through healthcare providers, His Word, or a combination of both.

2. God Designed Us to Thrive in His Service

The healthier we are, the easier it is to be involved in the work of the Lord with the talents, skills, and gifting’s He has given to us. God has put many types of fruits, vegetables, and herbs on this earth for our benefit.

The vitamins, minerals, fiber, and natural sugar these items provide help the body maintain its health and even make some repairs on its own.

Even the animals are for our benefit since many of them provide the protein our bodies need to function properly.

Believe it or not, even a reasonable amount of carbohydrates and fats are necessary.

Getting enough water and sleep are likely the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle. 

Experts generally break down essential nutrients for a healthy lifestyle into two categories: macronutrients and micronutrients.

Macronutrients are what provide our bodies with energy, and in general, those are made up of protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

Micronutrients are basically made up of vitamins and minerals, which support the immune system, metabolism, cells, and more, according to Healthline. 

3. God Modeled and Encourages Rest for Our Renewal

God set up the idea of adequate rest from the very beginning of time.

In the book of Genesis it specifically states that God “rested” from creating everything on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2).

When Elijah had been extremely busy with God’s work and was very tired and possibly even feeling burned out, he went and slept under a broom tree for a while (1 Kings 19:5-8). 

Today, it’s just as important for us to get adequate sleep.

When we’re sleep deficient, we’re more vulnerable to colds, the flu, and even more serious ailments.

When we get adequate sleep (about 7-8 hours per night), it benefits our mental health, heart health, blood sugar regulation, our ability to function mentally, benefits our immune system, reduces stress, helps with physical functioning, helps with weight management and control, according to the Sleep Foundation. 

4. God Created Us to Move and Be Active

We live in a day and time when many of us spend our work day behind a desk.

So it’s important to take time to exercise.

Not only does adequate exercise lower stress levels, but the release of endorphins enhances our mental health and the physical activity puts us at a lower risk for serious diseases.

Adequate exercise can also help with a better quality of sleep, according to Healthline.

In general, about 30 minutes five times per week is considered the minimum amount for maintaining your present weight, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

That can also be broken up into 15 minutes twice per day if that’s a better scheduling fit.

5. God Offers Health Guidance through His Word

The Lord was very involved in even the practical aspects of the lives of the Hebrews in the Old Testament.

Many of the laws He instructed them to keep in the Old Testament were connected to helping them maintain their health in practical ways.

In the 11th chapter of the book of Leviticus, the Lord was very specific about what the Hebrews should and shouldn’t eat. 

Today, many people refer to this specific diet (with minor alterations) as The Mediterranean Diet.

It has been linked to being especially beneficial to those who struggle with heart disease or come from a background that puts them at much high risk for heart disease, according to The Cleveland Clinic.

It’s also believed that this diet may help stabilize blood sugar and lower cholesterol and triglycerides, according to Medline Plus.

In addition, The Endocrine Society has found the Mediterranean Diet may help reduce the symptoms of menopause.

For more information on the Mediterranean Diet, check out The Bible Cure by Dr. Reginald Cherry.

While the focus of this passage is on God, on “him who is able,” I want to draw our attention to one other key phrase in this passage — “his power that is at work within us.” 

Paul has earlier prayed that God would “strengthen you [the Ephesians and us] with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16).

While the Holy Spirit is far more than just God’s power, the Spirit clearly does live in us to bring us God’s power!

As we journey through this year, each day we will remind ourselves of God’s personal presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit within us is a powerful blessing that empowers us and transforms us.

Let’s never forget that we are not only saved by grace but that we are also vastly empowered by this gracious gift of the Holy Spirit within us to live for Jesus!

In the name of God, the Father and God, the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 103 The Message

103 1-2 O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing!

3-5     He forgives your sins—every one.
    He heals your diseases—every one.
    He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
    He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
    He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

6-18 God makes everything come out right;
    he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
    opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
    not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
    nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
    so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
    he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
    God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
    leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
    eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
    as they follow his Covenant ways
    and remember to do whatever he said.

19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
    he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels,
    ready and able to fly at his bidding,
    quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
    alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
    everything and everyone made by God.

And you, O my soul, bless God!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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It’s God’s power in times of real Pain: “We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.” 2 Corinthians 1:8–10

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 English Standard Version

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[a] of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

True or False: Christians do not have to pretend life feels great all the time?

The apostle Paul certainly didn’t mind admitting to hardship.

In fact, Paul’s enormous trials led him to say of his troubles in Asia, “We despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death.”

Trials and troubles of all magnitudes will inevitably come—and, like Paul, we don’t have to act as though everything is always fine.

As we are honest with ourselves and others about our trials, we must also remind ourselves that God has a purpose in our pain.

Paul says of his burden that “this was to make us rely not on ourselves.”

Isn’t it true that when life is going great, when everything seems rosy, we tend to just cruise along?

Then trouble hits, and suddenly we’re forced back to reliance on God.

He purposes affliction—illness, loss, difficulty in the workplace, a wayward child—that we might not rely on ourselves but on Him alone.

And what kind of God does Paul say we rely on in our trouble?

One “who raises the dead.”

In every death—both in the deaths of dreams, hopes, and health in life and then in death itself at the end of life—we can cling to God who has 100% triumphed over death and will lead us to fullness of life in eternity.

It is through the resurrection of Jesus Christ that God delivers us from sin now and frees us to hope in a final deliverance from all suffering and death.

As we await our full experience of resurrection hope, God uses our trials and weaknesses to keep us close to Him.

In Jesus’ own life, resurrection power came after crucifixion pain.

The same pattern holds for us.

It is in dying that we live.

It is in weakness that we are strong. It is in emptiness that we are full.

It is in self-forgetfulness that we find true security and confidence in God.

When God sovereignly allows affliction to shake up your life, remember He has designed that very trial for us to draw closer to Him and rely more fully on Him.

And as you learn to rely on Him more and more, His strength will shine through your weakness, and you will know true spiritual power, even through the pain.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 16 English Standard Version

You Will Not Abandon My Soul

A Miktam[a] of David.

16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.[b]

4 The sorrows of those who run after[c] another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.[d]
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being[e] rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.[f]

11 You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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A God-Given Burden: “yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the very beginning to the end.” Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 Revised Standard Version

The God-Given Task

9 What gain has the worker from his toil?

10 I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man’s mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; 13 also that it is God’s gift to man that every one should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

To believe or not to believe in God … that is the most troubling of questions.

Ultimately, I believe there are no true atheists. Those who do claim atheism may be unwilling to publicly or privately acknowledge this about themselves, but God has given to every person a heavy burden. In the deep recesses of their being, they know that God is—and it is the very “is-ness” of God which creates a tug of war dilemma in men’s and women’s hearts and minds.

God created the world, and He made it beautiful in all of its perfection. God also made mankind to know Him, to commune with Him, to walk with Him in the garden, to and to enjoy all the benefits of His companionship. But man turned his back on the Designer, and as a result the perception of eternity that has been implanted within us is one which now largely taunts, tyrannizes and tests us.

People naturally seek to repress a knowledge of God (Romans 1:18-19), but a knowledge of God is inescapable. God has created us for a divine purpose—to know and worship Him—and unless we discover and fulfill that purpose, we will never be fully satisfied with anything else offered along life’s journey.

No relationship with a child, parent, spouse, lover, or friend can fulfill this great longing, nor can any experience, any possession, or any achievement.

This is the unacknowledged burden that God has laid on humanity: we will be forever dissatisfied until we do come to know the only thing that can bear the weight of our eternity—namely, to know Him and live in fellowship with Him.

You and I, who are creatures of time, were made for eternity.

We were made for God’s presence.

It should therefore be no surprise to us that when we turn away from Him, our lives are marked by frustration and confusion. When we choose to live in the dark, we lose our sight. The day that we finally acknowledge this is a great day.

The burden of being without God will weigh you down until you realize there has to be an answer somewhere, in someone else. And, of course, there is.

There are many things in this life that are beautiful, and we are free to enjoy them in accordance with the way God designed us to.

But there is nothing in this life that is ultimate, and we will not be free until we not only acknowledge this intellectually but live it out in our experience.

Is there something that you are determined to have, or to get, in your life because you think it will make you truly alive and fulfilled?

What is it that you feel you could not live, or could not be happy, without?

Be careful not to allow something good to become your god.

Instead, pray, place your ultimate hopes on the shoulders of the only one who is strong enough to bear them: the Eternal One.

To believe or not to believe in God … that is the most troubling of questions.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 31 Revised Standard Version

Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

31 In thee, O Lord, do I seek refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in thy righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline thy ear to me,
    rescue me speedily!
Be thou a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me!

3 Yea, thou art my rock and my fortress;
    for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me,
4 take me out of the net which is hidden for me,
    for thou art my refuge.
5 Into thy hand I commit my spirit;
    thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

6 Thou hatest[a] those who pay regard to vain idols;
    but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love,
    because thou hast seen my affliction,
    thou hast taken heed of my adversities,
8 and hast not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
    thou hast set my feet in a broad place.

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eye is wasted from grief,
    my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
    and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,[b]
    and my bones waste away.

11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
    a horror[c] to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
    those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
    I have become like a broken vessel.
13 Yea, I hear the whispering of many—
    terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
    as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in thee, O Lord,
    I say, “Thou art my God.”
15 My times are in thy hand;
    deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors!
16 Let thy face shine on thy servant;
    save me in thy steadfast love!
17 Let me not be put to shame, O Lord,
    for I call on thee;
let the wicked be put to shame,
    let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be dumb,
    which speak insolently against the righteous
    in pride and contempt.

19 O how abundant is thy goodness,
    which thou hast laid up for those who fear thee,
and wrought for those who take refuge in thee,
    in the sight of the sons of men!
20 In the covert of thy presence thou hidest them
    from the plots of men;
thou holdest them safe under thy shelter
    from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord,
    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
    when I was beset as in a besieged city.
22 I had said in my alarm,
    “I am driven far[d] from thy sight.”
But thou didst hear my supplications,
    when I cried to thee for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!
    The Lord preserves the faithful,
    but abundantly requites him who acts haughtily.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the Lord!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Ancient expectations, Contemporary expectations: Why do you and I seek the living among the dead? He is not in the grave anymore, but has risen! Luke 24:4-8

Luke 24:1-8 Christian Standard Bible

Resurrection Morning

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they[a] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4  While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” 8 And they remembered his words.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

When we consider Jesus as Messiah, most of us think immediately in personal terms: 

Jesus is my Messiah.

He forgives my sins. He lives in me. 

All of which, of course, is true.

But 1st-century Jewish expectations concerning the messiahship of Jesus were far broader than that.

If we had talked with a 1st-century Jew about his or her messianic expectations, we would have discovered hopes that were, in a real sense, far grander in scope.

The Jews anticipated that their long-awaited Messiah would come to defeat the pagans by overwhelming force of presence or force of arms, who held sway over them, to rebuild the temple, and to establish God’s just reign upon the earth.

Theirs was a nationalistic hope—a hope that the Messiah would come and vindicate the nation of Israel.

Jesus’ arrival, along with the miracles He performed, stories He told, and the prophecies fulfilled, built to a great crescendo of the highest expectation among His followers. But just when they began to think He really would be the one to militaristically, politically overthrow Rome and redeem the people of Israel.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! to the Son of David “Save us, we Pray!

However, at Calvary they saw all their messianic hopes hanging up on a Roman gibbet. When Jesus was so badly beaten and bloodied and nailed, and then when Jesus cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30), many of them must have agreed.

How, then, did this group of believers, whose messianic hopes had been buried in a tomb, not only continue to believe that Jesus was the Messiah but stand in the streets near where He had been executed, make an unashamed declaration of His messiahship?

The answer which comes reverberating through the pages of the New Testament is found in the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

The angelic announcement to the women who had brought spices to embalm a corpse provoked a radical reassessment of what the believers had witnessed on the Friday and a complete change in their view of their lives and futures.

When the Messiah reappeared among them, as alive as ever, these previously sad, sorrowful, defeated, and brokenhearted disciples were transformed into bold, joyful witnesses.

They now bore testimony to the reality of Christ resurrected with a body that could be seen, handled, and touched, and yet possessing capacities to do what His pre-resurrection body had not done.

His work of salvation was finished; His life and His reign were most certainly not!

Only in the disciples’ recognition of His risen presence did Christ’s messiahship finally make sense.

Indeed, what the early Jewish believers discovered when they “found the stone rolled away from the tomb” (Luke 24:2) and saw that “Jesus himself stood among them” (v 36) was that an eternal hope, joy, and power ignited within their hearts.

And these remain available to all who put their trust in Jesus, the resurrected Messiah. It is the resurrection, and only the resurrection, that changes sadness, sorrow, and defeat into hope, joy, and power.

It is the resurrection, and only the resurrection, that declares our Messiah will defeat His enemies, will restore His people, and will rule from sea to sea.

The resurrection of Jesus will absolutely change everything about how you and I will go about your day today, tomorrow and as many tomorrows as God gifts us.

In the name of God, the Father and God the son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 24 Complete Jewish Bible

(0) By David. A psalm:

(1) The earth is Adonai’s, with all that is in it,
the world and those who live there;
2 for he set its foundations on the seas
and established it on the rivers.

3 Who may go up to the mountain of Adonai?
Who can stand in his holy place?
4 Those with clean hands and pure hearts,
who don’t make vanities the purpose of their lives
or swear oaths just to deceive.
5 They will receive a blessing from Adonai
and justice from God, who saves them.
6 Such is the character of those who seek him,
of Ya‘akov, who seeks your face. (Selah)

7 Lift up your heads, you gates!
Lift them up, everlasting doors,
so that the glorious king can enter!
8 Who is he, this glorious king?
Adonai, strong and mighty,
Adonai, mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, you gates!
Lift them up, everlasting doors,
so that the glorious king can enter!
10 Who is he, this glorious king?
Adonai-Tzva’ot —
he is the glorious king. (Selah)

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Capable or Incapable of Walking Out of the dark Shadows of our Disbelief? Luke 23:50-54

Luke 23:50-54 Amplified Bible

Jesus Is Buried

50 A man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), a good and honorable man 51 (he had not consented to the Council’s plan and action) a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for and expecting the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And [after receiving permission] he took it down and wrapped it in a linen [burial] cloth and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54 It was the day of preparation [for the Sabbath], and the Sabbath was dawning.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.


Jesus’ burial was by no means a foregone conclusion, for two main reasons.

First, the crucifixion of criminals was often not the end of their humiliation; they were often barred from the honor of a proper burial.

Second, the release of a corpse depended solely upon a relative or a friend requesting permission to bury the body—and who was left to bury Jesus?

The disciples had fled for their lives, the crowd had dispersed, and the women were unprepared to make such a request.

It is into this moment of history that an entirely unexpected individual emerges authoritatively, suddenly and silently—a highly respected individual who “was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38).

Fear silenced Joseph of Arimathea up to this point. Jesus’ life and teaching had attracted him, brought him to saving faith, but his faith remained clandestine.

He went about his spiritual business in a secretive way—until the cross brought him out out of the shadows, into the open. And so, after too long hanging back in the shadows, Joseph walked, “went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.”

The Gospel narrative describes Joseph’s careful handling of Jesus’ body as he “took it down” from the cross, “wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid” (Luke 23:53).

We read likewise of Rabbi Nicodemus, “who earlier had come to Jesus by night … bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes” to assist Joseph in the burial process (John 19:39).

Joseph and Nicodemus’ brief and singular appearance is also a clear reminder to us of God’s subtle providence at work at all times and in all places.

God prepared both Joseph and Nicodemus for this very moment. Both were highly fearful and secretive, but God used them for good, just as He does us.

Those first steps away from the darkness will always be the hardest to walk.

Both Joseph and Nicodemus had presumably missed many opportunities to stand up for their true King; they had presumably kept quiet so many times when they should have spoken out.

Yet it was these men whom God ensured would be present on this day for this important task. And both rose to complete it, risking everything—status, his reputation, his safety—to honor Jesus by ensuring that He had a proper burial.

You may find yourself identifying with either Nicodemus or Joseph: you have been living as a secret shadowed disciple, believing but afraid to let anyone in your neighborhood or workplace know about your faith.

If so, then today, pray, like both Joseph and Nicodemus to ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive your fearfulness and enable you, like both both men, in the light of the cross, to take your stand boldly for Him in the love of Christ.

You may have missed too many moments in the past when you had the chance to stand for your King; but God is always ready to give you the task of honoring His Son, and in those future efforts you need not pass up the next opportunity.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.

A [a]Mikhtam of David.

16 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
2 [b]I said to the Lord, “You are [c]my Lord;
I have nothing good besides You.”
3 As for the [d]saints who are on the earth,
[e]They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them.
4 [f]The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.

7 I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
Indeed, my [g]mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to [h]Sheol;
You will not [i]allow Your [j]Holy One to [k]undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the way of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Cross Opens Our Eyes: When the Centurion saw what had just taken place, he looked, praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” Luke 23:47

Luke 23:47 Amplified Bible

47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he began praising and honoring God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

We cannot, have not understood the cross unless it has changed us personally.

After Jesus “breathed his last” (Luke 23:46), Luke records for us the reactions of those who witnessed the crucifixion.

“All the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts” (v 48).

Yes, there was sadness, but once the spectacle was over, they left to get on with their lives.

Verse 49 then informs us that “all his acquaintances … stood at a distance watching”—and we can only imagine what was running through their minds.

But the most striking and the most personal reaction that

Luke captures is that of the Roman centurion, who, seeing what had happened, “praised God, saying, ‘Certainly this man was innocent!’”—or, as the NIV renders it, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

Here, amid the darkness of hypocritical religious leaders, cynical rulers, and callous passersby, is a glimmer of light.

Perhaps the last person we would expect to see the truth—a man with no previous connection to Jesus, no background in Old Testament studies, and no predisposition to the things of God—This Roman Centurion, not only grasped the significance of what he was looking at but responded personally to it too!

He saw “what had taken place”—heard the words of Jesus, saw the darkness overhead, the manner of His death—and realized, 

Here is no ordinary man. Here is a man who is different from every other man. Here is a man who is entirely innocent, wholly righteous. 

Indeed, Mark adds that the centurion confessed that the man on the cross was “the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).

With his eye for detail, Luke places a clear emphasis on seeing what took place on the cross.

He probably hoped that some readers would remember that when Jesus had read from the scroll of Isaiah earlier in His ministry, He had said, “The Spirit of the Lord … has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor … to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18).

Indeed, a great theme found throughout the Gospel of Luke is that of darkness being invaded by light—the confusion and rock hardness of people’s hearts and their minds being invaded by this vision of the liberating power of God’s truth.

Any attempt to articulate Christianity that denies the centrality of the cross can never lead to saving faith.

And while we do not always understand how the Spirit moves in leading men and women to be born again, our message must always and ever be the same: “Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

It is beholding the cross that brings life for anyone who responds to the man who hung there by confessing who He is and praising God for His saving work.

Unless and until the cross becomes 100% personal to us, it is useless for us.

So, when was the last time you simply looked at your Savior on the cross and tried to grasp the fullest magnitude of this moment and knelt to praised God?

In the name of God, the father and God the son and God the Holy Spirit

Praying …

The Works and the Word of God.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.
2 
Day after day pours forth speech,
And night after night reveals knowledge.
3 
There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars];
Their voice is not heard.
4 
Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth,
Their words to the end of the world.
In them and in the heavens He has made a tent for the sun,
5 
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 
The sun’s rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 
The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul;
The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 
The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
10 
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed];
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 
Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.
13 
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins;
Let them not rule and have control over me.
Then I will be blameless (complete),
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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He Breathed His Last: Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

Luke 23:46 New King James Version

46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The simplicity of these words points us to truths that lie too deep for tears.

Luke, with his eye for detail, gives us an “orderly account” of Jesus’ crucifixion—an account which, he explains at the start of his Gospel, is the result of very careful investigation and has been written in order that his readers “may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:3-4).

He doesn’t seek to bathe his writing in pathos.

Instead, he writes in order that we may understand truth. And so Jesus’ dying breath is recounted for us in a simple phrase: “He breathed his last.”

What Luke does want us to linger on is Jesus’ control over His final breath.

He chose to commit His spirit into His Father’s loving hands.

He knew that His work was done.

Sin was paid for, the curtain was torn, and His people could come into His Father’s presence eternally.

Coupled with everything Jesus said prior to His crucifixion, His final words refute the notion that His death was simply that of a helpless victim being overwhelmed by cruel circumstances.

He had told His disciples months before that He was going up to Jerusalem and that “the Son of Man must suffer many things and be … killed” (Luke 9:22).

John tells us that He had explained to them, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:17-18).

Jesus went to the cross not helplessly but willingly.

In accord with the Father’s purpose, He chose the exact moment that He would lay down his life for His sheep (John 10:11).

Here, then, we see the very Author of life willingly taking His final breaths and reminding us of His absolute authority as well as His inexhaustible love.

“He breathed his last” so that you might breathe in the fresh, purified air that was made available to you the moment you were born again.

“He breathed his last” so that one day you will stand in a restored creation and breathe air into lungs that will never decay or perish.

He who is sovereign over the air you breathe sovereignly breathed His last.

He is worthy of nothing less than your praise and adoration.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Divine Vandalism: And the moment arrived and the Sun stopped shining, and then suddenly the curtain of His temple was shredded into two halves. Luke 23:44-46

Luke 23:44-46 New International Version

The Death of Jesus

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[a] When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

As Jesus’ ministry progressed, one of the great concerns of the Jewish religious establishment was that He had, it appeared, claimed that He would destroy the temple and raise it again in three days (John 2:19).

Indeed, this was one of the main charges brought against Him (Mark 14:58).

When Jesus was on the cross, then, passersby’s mocked, spit and ridiculed Him, shouting, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!” (Matthew 27:40).

But there He remained, hanging on the cross, in the darkness.

And then, in the midst of the darkness and the upheaval of the crucifixion, all of a sudden something completely mysterious and utterly unexpected happened: it was God Himself desecrated the temple, earthquake shaking its foundations.

“The curtain of the temple was torn in two,” Luke tells us.

This was the very curtain that hung in the temple to symbolically bar the way into God’s presence.

It was the great sign that imperfect people could not be in the same space as the holy God.

All through the Old Testament, anyone who had presumed to come into God’s presence without observing the ceremonial cleansing rituals and making the necessary sacrifices had died (for instance, Numbers 3:2-4).

But now, suddenly, as Jesus was on the very verge of death, this symbol of restrictive exclusivity was destroyed right down the middle.

By destroying it, God declared that the old priestly ritual for entrance into His presence had been abolished and the barrier of sin dividing humanity from their Maker had been obliterated.

There is no longer any need to keep our distance from God. Instead, “we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain” (Hebrews 10:19-20).

Our access to God isn’t restricted to a temple or a church or any other building, nor must it be through a merely human priest or a guru.

No, 2,000 years ago God broke into history of humanity to establish, directly, unhindered access to Himself through Jesus.

Now there is “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

The temple curtain being torn in two was divine vandalism on our behalf!

You don’t have to be sidetracked by priests and rituals anymore.

They can be nothing but pointless. Instead, you can come to God, just as you are, confident of divine welcome and mercy and help, all because of Jesus.

A Confident Christ Dies

Luke 23:46-49 New International Version

46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[a] When he had said this, he breathed his last.

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

In his words from the cross, Jesus demonstrated that he knew how to live, because he knew how to die.

We hear it in the first word he uttered in this saying: “Father …” Then, in effect, the faithful Son confidently declared, “I’m coming home!”

In those days, the words Jesus used were often taught to children as a bedtime prayer: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (see Psalm 31:5).

They signify entrusting all of one’s being to God for safekeeping. (Psalm 23)

What a comfort it is to be able to entrust our whole lives and all our joys and concerns to God!

And Jesus said these words not secretly or silently but with a loud voice.

He was saying, in effect, “Father, I’m coming home. My mission is complete. I love you. I trust you. As always, I commit my spirit to you.”

Doing the same, we can live and die in the confidence of knowing we will go home to our Father when he calls. We can say confidently, in words adapted from an old confession, “My ‘only comfort in life and in death’ is that I belong … to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ’” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 1).

Jesus ended his time on earth with confidence in the Father.

Can you and I step up our faith, hope and love to do exactly that too?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

31 1-2 I run to you, God; I run for dear life.
    Don’t let me down!
    Take me seriously this time!
Get down on my level and listen,
    and please—no procrastination!
Your granite cave a hiding place,
    your high cliff nest a place of safety.

3-5 You’re my cave to hide in,
    my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader,
    be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps;
    I want to hide in you.
I’ve put my life in your hands.
    You won’t drop me,
    you’ll never let me down.

6-13 I hate all this silly religion,
    but you, God, I trust.
I’m leaping and singing in the circle of your love;
    you saw my pain,
    you disarmed my tormentors,
You didn’t leave me in their clutches
    but gave me room to breathe.
Be kind to me, God—
    I’m in deep, deep trouble again.
I’ve cried my eyes out;
    I feel hollow inside.
My life leaks away, groan by groan;
    my years fade out in sighs.
My troubles have worn me out,
    turned my bones to powder.
To my enemies I’m a monster;
    I’m ridiculed by the neighbors.
My friends are horrified;
    they cross the street to avoid me.
They want to blot me from memory,
    forget me like a corpse in a grave,
    discard me like a broken dish in the trash.
The street-talk gossip has me
    “criminally insane”!
Behind locked doors they plot
    how to ruin me for good.

14-18 Desperate, I throw myself on you:
    you are my God!
Hour by hour I place my days in your hand,
    safe from the hands out to get me.
Warm me, your servant, with a smile;
    save me because you love me.
Don’t embarrass me by not showing up;
    I’ve given you plenty of notice.
Embarrass the wicked, stand them up,
    leave them stupidly shaking their heads
    as they drift down to hell.
Gag those loudmouthed liars
    who heckle me, your follower,
    with jeers and catcalls.

19-22 What a stack of blessing you have piled up
    for those who worship you,
Ready and waiting for all who run to you
    to escape an unkind world.
You hide them safely away
    from the opposition.
As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces,
    you silence the poisonous gossip.
Blessed God!
    His love is the wonder of the world.
Trapped by a siege, I panicked.
    “Out of sight, out of mind,” I said.
But you heard me say it,
    you heard and listened.

23 Love God, all you saints;
    God takes care of all who stay close to him,
But he pays back in full
    those arrogant enough to go it alone.

24 Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up.
    Expect God to get here soon.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Standing at the Border or Trekking through Samaria: Some Fresh Ways to Spread the Gospel. John 4:39-42

John 4:39-42 Amplified Bible

The Samaritans

39 Now many Samaritans from that city believed in Him and trusted Him [as Savior] because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked Him to remain with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed in Him [with a deep, abiding trust] because of His word [His personal message to them]; 42 and they told the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; for [now] we have heard Him for ourselves and know [with confident assurance] that this One is truly the Savior of [all] the world.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The Samaritan woman who had met Jesus at the well (John 4:1-30) ran back to her town, informed everyone Jesus had told her everything she had ever done.

Her story wasn’t a shining example of how to be a great person.

But she shared how Jesus had talked with her and given her hope, despite her complicated past, and she invited others to come hear Jesus as well.

As a result, many Samaritans believed in Jesus both because of her testimony and because of his teaching.

It truly amazes me what can happen when we share our stories and we are able to spend quality time with Jesus and his followers.

Jesus can use any story to help people put their faith in him.

How might Jesus use your story to bring others to learn about him and his great salvation?

The Samaritan woman shared her story about how Jesus had changed her. Can we do that too?

No one’s life is beyond saving through the power of Jesus.

The Lord can use all of our stories to bring others into his loving embrace.

How will you use your story and your encounter with Jesus to tell someone about his love today?

How can we share our faith in ways that will motivate people to pay attention?

Experiencing Jesus’ love inspires us to share that love with others.

We know Jesus has called us all to spread the gospel message, yet evangelizing can be challenging.

How can we share our faith in ways that will motivate people to pay attention?

Here are 5 fresh ways to spread the gospel.

What Does it Mean to Spread the Gospel?

Spreading the gospel means spreading the ultimate good news: that a loving God offers people an opportunity to enjoy true love forever, through relationships with their Creator.

The word “gospel” literally means “good news”. When we spread the gospel, we share the good news of how Jesus – the world’s Savior – made eternal salvation possible for all souls who place their faith in him. 

John 3:16 proclaims the essence of the gospel message:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Jesus calls everyone who connects with him to help other people connect with him, as well, by sharing the gospel message. He urges us in Mark 16:15-16: “… ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

What Does the Bible Tell Us about Spreading the Gospel?

That call from Jesus to preach the gospel to all creation is known as the Great Commission – the assignment that Jesus gave people after his Resurrection and before his Ascension to heaven.

The Bible records the Great Commission in several other places.

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus exhorts: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Luke 24:47 mentions that “… repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

In John 20:21, Jesus references spreading the gospel when he says: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Finally, in Acts 1:8, Jesus describes spreading the gospel as his witnesses to others:

“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.”

The Bible says that Christians are serving as ambassadors for Jesus as we interact with others. 

2 Corinthians 5:20 declares:

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

So, God is counting on us spread the gospel.

He wants us to faithfully say “yes” to that call.

We can do so by serving as examples of what faith in action looks like, as the apostle Paul writes in 

1 Corinthians 11:1-2: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.”

We can also spread the gospel through conversations, as the apostle Peter points out in 1 Peter 3:15-16:

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience…”.

Many people are searching for the hope that Jesus can give them, yet not enough people are spreading the gospel message to reach them all yet.

Jesus says to his disciples in 

Matthew 9:37-38: “… The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

We don’t need to worry about anything but faithfully sharing the gospel message.

When we do so, we can trust God to bring positive results from our efforts. 

2 Timothy 2:15 encourages us simply to:

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 

Romans 1:16 urges us to keep the gospel’s power in mind:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…”.

5 Fresh Ways to Spread the Gospel

When you’re considering how best to spread the gospel message to people you know, start with prayer.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you day by day with wisdom on how to share the gospel, and to bring people into your life who need to hear its message.

Try these 5 fresh ways to share the ultimate good news with people:

1. Let God’s love flow through your life. Welcoming God’s love to flow through your life and into other people’s lives is the most powerful way you can share the gospel.

That’s because God is love at his core. “God is love” 1 John 4:8 declares.

So, whenever people experience love by interacting with you, that will point them toward God. Nothing inspires people more than love.

Once you love people, they will talk with you, and then you can tell them about God’s love for them.

2. Listen to people’s stories. Everyone has stories that are valuable.

Show people you care about them by listening to their stories.

Listen more than you talk.

Then, after you’ve gotten to know people, point out how you see God at work in their lives.

Ask them consider how their personal stories can fit into the greater story of what God is doing in the world.

God has designed our minds to respond to stories, and because of that, Jesus often spoke in parables (stories) to share spiritual truths.

Stories engage both our intellect and our emotions.

By listening to people’s stories, you can connect with them on both levels and help them connect with the gospel on both levels, as well.

3. Don’t judge people, but accept them for who they are. 

Often, people are afraid of talking with others about God, because they’re afraid of being judged.

Keep in mind that only God can judge someone (Romans 2), and if we try to judge others, we will be judged ourselves (Matthew 7).

Help people relax around you by refraining from judging them, no matter how much you may disagree with their choices.

Just as God meets you where you are, meet other people where they are. Show them some unconditional love. If people know you’re a safe person to open up to, they’ll likely be much more open to discussing the gospel message with you.

4. Highlight what nature reveals about God. Help people discover more about the Creator by spending time with them in creation. 

Romans 1:20 proclaims: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Since nature reveals the wonder of God’s character, it’s the perfect setting for sharing the gospel message. Take a nature walk during the day, stargaze at night, or pursue any other type outdoor activity you all mutually enjoy together.

As the nature around you inspires you, enjoy conversations about God together.

5. Encourage questions rather than just giving answers. 

While it’s important to give people answers to their spiritual questions, don’t stop there.

You can help them engage more deeply with the gospel message by encouraging them to keep asking more questions.

That will prayerfully motivate them to seek God more.

Spark people’s curiosity.

Challenge them to try praying, even if they’re not yet sure that God exists or that he will answer their prayers.

Ask them to try studying the Bible, and offer to help them do so.

Don’t limit your conversations to only what you’re comfortable talking about; be willing to talk about anything that interests them.

If you don’t know something, be honest rather than giving a pat answer, and then help them discover more about what they’re wondering.

In Conclusion …

Trust, Believe, display faith. The hope God offers is too good to keep to yourself.

Jesus calls all believers to spread the gospel to other people. Please don’t hesitate to spread the gospel whenever you have the opportunity to do so.

Simply do your best, and trust God with the results.

As you do come to share God’s good news with people in fresh ways, both God’s love and God’s Shalom (John 14:27) will flow through you and into their lives.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 119:9-16 Complete Jewish Bible

ב (Bet)

9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
don’t let me stray from your mitzvot.
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I won’t sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, Adonai!
Teach me your laws.
13 I proclaim with my mouth
all the rulings you have spoken.
14 I rejoice in the way of your instruction
more than in any kind of wealth.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
and keep my eyes on your ways.
16 I will find my delight in your regulations.
I will not forget your word.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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