Blessed

Do you feel blessed? Do you want to be blessed? What kind of blessing are you looking for? Is it a physical blessing? Is it a financial blessing? Is it a mental blessing? Is it a relationship blessing? Have you considered the blessings you have already received and are currently receiving?

Desiring to be blessed is something we all experience. We have a variety of needs or perceived needs we ask blessings for. These cross many areas of our lives, including those mentioned above. Being blessed can mean different things to different people.

Jesus tells the disciples they are blessed. They are getting to see and experience what the prophets of long ago longed to see and hear. They were hearing God, in the form of Jesus, speak to the people of Israel. He was not only speaking to prophets or kings but was speaking to the common person. He was speaking to whomever came to hear His teachings.

They were watching Jesus perform miracles of healing, curing diseases, casting out demons, and raising people from the dead. They were witnessing Him rebuke the Jewish leadership for putting an excessive burden on the common person. They were experiencing God in human form. They were blessed far more than they recognized in the moment.

Though we have not had the same experiences as the disciples who followed Jesus in those days, we are often far more blessed than we recognize. It is only through reflection that we see our blessings. We are blessed in one way the disciples were not at the time Jesus tells them they were blessed—we have the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside us. Are we listening and following his guidance? Do we recognize that blessing?

I pray we all recognize that we are blessed richly. I pray we reflect on the blessings we have. I pray each one of us choose to listen to the Holy Spirit and experience more blessings because of it. Know that you are blessed. Reflect on your blessings. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Be blessed through him.

Matthew 13:16-17 “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Seeing is Believing

What does it take for you to believe? Do you need to see it to believe it? Do you like to touch and feel things? Do you like the sensory interaction? What will it take for you to believe in Jesus? Are you waiting for a personal interaction? Do you think it is all make believe?

Believing can be challenging at times. It can especially be difficult to believe in something as amazing as the resurrection. After all, who of us has seen someone raised from the dead? We can wrestle with it, try to believe, maybe believe it a little, and continue to have a little doubt.

The disciples who first discovered the empty tomb were troubled. Mary Magdalene and the other women with her thought someone had stolen the body. Peter and John likely thought the same thing. They gathered in fear that they might be the next ones to be hauled to the gallows by the Jewish leadership.

We can experience the same doubts. We may wonder if the story of Jesus’ resurrection is true. We may think it is impossible for anyone to be raised from the dead. We know intellectually that God can do anything, yet we may not have experienced him doing amazing things. Without seeing or experiencing something that only God can do, we can believe a little, but still have doubts.

The disciples had witnessed Jesus perform healings and raising people from the dead. They had heard His teachings and His claims to be the Son of God. They had heard Him state He would die and raise again on the third day. And they still did not understand it until He appeared to them. Even nearly two-thousand years later, knowing the whole story, we can find ourselves having the same doubts, even with eyewitness accounts.

I pray we all believe that Jesus rose from the dead. I pray we wrestle with the knowledge and allow it to sink in. I pray each one of us believe the eyewitness accounts and experience God’s awesome power. Eliminate your doubts. Believe Jesus rose from the dead. Believe the eyewitness accounts.

Luke 24:37-39 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

Peace of Christ

What does peace mean to you? Do you view it as a ceasing of fighting between two nations? Does it mean getting along well with others? Are you seeking peace, a harmonious relationship with someone in your life? Have you considered that peace can mean more?

We hear of peace talks between nations, especially during times of conflict or war. He may hear of two people or groups of people seeking to come to a peaceful solution. Our goal may be to get along with everyone. We may desire our workplace be a peaceful environment.

The Greek word used in the New Testament that is translated as peace, is equivalent to a Hebrew word many of us have heard of—shalom. It means to have a harmonious relationship between people or nations. It also can be used as a greeting or farewell and means “be well.”

When Jesus tells His disciples that He is leaving His peace with them, that He is giving His peace to them, there is a double meaning. Jesus is giving His disciples the ability to get along with others. He is giving them the ability to bring calm to a tumultuous situation. He is also bidding them farewell. He knows His time is coming soon to go to the cross.

Jesus grants us His peace as well if we ask Him for it. He will grant us the ability to bring calm to tumultuous situations. He will grant us the ability to remain calm when everyone around us is panicking. He will give us the peace He had when He walked this earth. How do we seek it? By first putting our trust in Him, if only just a little. Much like all other gifts Jesus can and will give us, peace and trust are gifts that will grow as our relationship and experience with Him grows.

I pray we all seek the peace of Jesus Christ. I pray we put our trust in Jesus. I pray each one of us accept the peace of Christ in our lives to both be calm and to welcome Him into our lives. Seek the peace of Jesus. Ask Jesus to grant you peace. Put your trust in Jesus. Accept His peace.

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Be On Guard

How well can you spot a liar? How well can you spot a pretender? Can you identify a person who has pulled the wool over someone’s eyes? Can you identify a person is attempting to fool you into believing they are someone they are not? Are you on your guard for these types of people?

We all know there are people who lie about many things. Some people seem to lie nearly every word they speak. We also know people who pretend to be someone they are not. They are attempting to fool people, and maybe us, into believing they are who they think we want them to be.

We have seen people in our workplaces who act one way when the boss is around and another when the boss is away. We may have experienced our immediate supervisor take credit for something we have done so as to gain a promotion.

How do we feel when we discover we are lied to or someone else is taking credit for our work? Generally, we are upset, angry, feel betrayed, frustrated, and may even feel helpless. What do we do when we discover the falseness? We may distance ourselves from that person or start looking for a new job.

Jesus warns His disciples to be on guard for false messiahs. They will attempt to lead us astray. They may even perform acts that appear to be miraculous. Their sole purpose is to lead us away from our faith in Jesus. They desire fame, fortune, and power. They desire to have a large following and control over those people.

How do we be on our guard? We need to know the Scriptures. We need to evaluate people critically, especially those who appear to be “to-good-to-be-true”. We need to seek counsel from someone close to us whom we trust. None of us know everything, but working together we can identify the pretenders and liars.

I pray we all are on our guard for pretenders. I pray we especially guard ourselves against those who will lead us away from Jesus. I pray each one of us seek to be knowledgeable about God’s Word. Be on guard. Identify falseness. Remove yourself from pretenders. Seek counsel from someone you trust. Know God’s Word. Hold on to your faith in Jesus.

Mark 13:21-23 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”

Compiling Data Into Knowledge

What is the most important bit of knowledge you have learned? Is it discovering a scientific fact no one else knew? Is it something you learned about another person? Does it change as you live and learn more? Have you considered you may know the most important fact there is to know?

We learn something new every day, whether we think we do or not. Much of what we learn has little impact on us. For instance, we learn each day what the weather is for the day. It may have little or no impact on us, at least on the surface. But there are other things we learn that are significant.

As adults, much of our learning comes from life experiences. Those experiences come through relationships, on the job training, or continuing education. Our experiences can teach us many things. However, we do not always pay attention to what we are learning and do not always put the pieces together to fully understand what we have learned. Sometimes, what we learn are merely data points to us and we do not compile them into true knowledge. Without putting them together as knowledge, we cannot adequately act upon them.

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul lays out a handful of data points. We must put them together, understand what they mean individually, then understand what they mean when compiled into a whole. Jesus died for our sins. He was buried. He rose from the dead. He appeared to several people after rising from the dead.

Each data point can stand on its own. On their own, they have one meaning. But when we compile them into a single piece of knowledge, they take on a more profound meaning. It is the fulfillment of God’s promises. It is the fulfillment of Jesus’ statements to His disciples. It can be the genesis of our believing His other teachings. It provides us with not just forgiveness but hope and salvation. It becomes the most important bit of knowledge we can learn in our lives.

I pray we all know that Jesus’ story is true. I pray we understand what it means for us. I pray each one of us will compile the data points of Jesus’ life and teaching into knowledge we can use. Compile the data into knowledge. Understand Jesus’ story. Be in awe and amazed at what He has done. Trust He will fulfill His promises.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.

Empty Grave

Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Yes, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. He left the grave empty, with the exception of the grave clothes. The linen wrappings and the face cloth were left behind. But Jesus was no longer there.

Mary, Peter, and John were all amazed. Peter and John returned to where the other disciples were staying. I’m sure they were excited and ready to pass the news along that Jesus had risen from the grave. There was likely a very lively conversation.

Mary hung around. She was thinking someone had moved His body. She was about to receive an even bigger surprise. Jesus was about to make a personal appearance to her. He was about to comfort her and show her that her belief in Him was not in vain.

How do we encounter the risen Savior? Do we receive Him with excitement? Does that excitement continue? The risen Christ is the most wonderful reason for excitement. Believing in Him with joy, hope, and faith is an awesome experience.

Because He has risen, we have the hope of eternity spent with Him. We have been promised that we will live because He lives. Jesus has paved the way for us. Our belief that He is risen is the first step we take in our faith and following Him.

I pray we all believe in the risen Christ. I pray we accept the hope Jesus provides when we put our faith in Him. I pray each one of us will choose to follow the risen Savior. Believe Jesus has risen. Be joyous about it. Experience Him. Put your faith in Jesus. Trust that you will live with Him.

John 20:6-7 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

Waiting in Grief

Do you like waiting? What if you are waiting in grief? What if all your hopes had just been dashed? What if you feel as though your dreams were just crushed? Do you look for something to put your hope in? Is the waiting excruciating in one of these situations?

Our culture has conditioned us to absolutely abhor waiting. We live in an instant gratification society. Waiting is not something we like to do. Waiting is made worse when we are grieving the loss of a loved one. The waiting between a death and the funeral can be draining.

The disciples—the Apostles and Jesus’ other close followers—were distraught. Their dreams of a new king who would rejuvenate, revitalize, renew Israel had died. They were huddled in a room, hoping they would not be the next ones to be dragged through the streets and crucified for being a follower of Jesus.

The disciples had witnessed the gruesome crucifixion. They had witnessed Jesus’ body being brought down from the cross. They had witnessed His body being put into a tomb. They may have been alongside Nicodemus, who wrapped the body and put spices on it. The shock of what had happened was overwhelming.

We may experience similar feelings and shock when a loved unexpectedly dies. When it happens, we do not know how to feel, but also feel a wide range of emotions. It is confusing. It is disconcerting. It is disorienting. We feel lost. We may be angry. Our demeanor can switch from sadness to anger to fear to crushing defeat in a manner of minutes.

I pray we all take time to think about the disciples’ emotions. I pray we ponder how we might feel or have felt when we lose a loved one. I pray each one of us realize there is a purpose to waiting. Recognize your emotions. Understand what it means to lose. Know that waiting has a purpose. Learn to trust God in your waiting.

John 19:41-42 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Crucified for Us

How does the crucifixion of Jesus affect you? Does it only remind you that you have been forgiven? Does it only remind you that salvation is available to you? Does it only remind you that there is hope? Or does it have a much deeper meaning to you?

Jesus’ crucifixion should affect us deep in our soul, deep in our inner being, right down to our very last cell. We need to pause for a few moments and reflect deeply on what He did for us. Let’s just make a quick comparison.

Let’s suppose we were in mortal danger. Perhaps someone was threatening our very life while standing directly in front of us. We are frightened and thinking we are about to die. Suddenly, someone overpowers the would-be attacker and removes the threat. How do we feel about the person who just saved us?

Now, let’s take that one step further. Let’s assume the person who saved us was a close relative. Let’s assume that person was mortally wounded while saving us. I believe I can reasonably assume each one of us will remember that person for the rest of our lives. Not only that, but we will celebrate their birthdays, weep tears over their grave on the anniversary of their death, and we may even dedicate our lives to honoring them by how we live.

If we are willing to do all this for someone who saved our mortal life, shouldn’t we do the same for the One who has granted us eternal life? Perhaps we need to reflect deeply on what Jesus has done for us.

I pray we all reflect deeply on Jesus. I pray we recall His ministry and saving grace. I pray each one of us will seek to honor Him by the way we live our lives. Take time to reflect on Jesus. Ponder Jesus’ death. Understand what He did for you. Dedicate your life in remembrance of Him.

John 19:16b-18 So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

The Known Future

Do you want to know the future? Do you wish you knew how your life would turn out? Do you simply want to know what’s ahead of you for the next week, month, or year? Would you like to know when your last day on this earth is? How do you think Jesus felt as He knew His time drew near?

We may often wish we knew what is ahead of us. We say that if we knew then what we know now we would have made different decisions. When we boil it all down, it is about being able to control our lives. We want to control not only our lives but others’ lives in respect to how they affect ours.

We might reconsider knowing the future. Jesus knew His future and it had a tremendous effect on Him. Remember, in the garden as He was praying, He sweat drops as thick as blood. Knowing the future, especially a future we consider bad, can have a huge impact on us.

Even though Jesus knew His appointed time to go to the cross was near, He continued to give instruction to His disciples. He continued to encourage them. He even told them what they would do—that they would leave Him alone. He told them they would face persecution.

Jesus also told His disciples to take courage. Regardless of what happens during our lives, if we follow Him, we will be with Him for eternity. Jesus has overcome this world and will take His followers to be with Him. We need to put more stock into this reality and less into the worries of this world. We can accept the peace of Jesus. To do so, we must first put our trust, our faith in Him. We must believe that He is in control, not us.

I pray we all trust Jesus at His Word. I pray we put our faith in Him. I pray each one of us will accept the peace of Jesus into our lives. Trust that Jesus has conquered this world. Look to the future of eternity with Him. Accept Jesus’ peace. Put your faith in Him.

John 16:32-33 “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”

Do Not Be Troubled

Is your heart troubled? Are you yearning for peace? Do you long for relief and rest? Are you looking for someone or something to put your trust in? Do you need your confidence boosted? Have you put your faith in God and in Jesus Christ? Will you trust the One who will return?

We may experience many unsettling situations during our lives. They can range from minor scrapes and bruises to serious diseases or illnesses. We may experience broken relationships or the death of a family member. We may feel as though the world is crumbling around us.

It is during times of trouble we need a solid foundation to stand on. We need something or someone we can count on to be there regardless of what we are going through. Jesus knows that. He knew it when He told the disciples to put their trust in Him. He knew He was to go to the cross soon and the disciples would be troubled.

Just like the disciples Jesus addressed, we can put our trust in Him. We can take comfort in knowing that He is preparing a place for us. It is not just any place, but a place for all eternity that will never decay but be a perfect place for us forever.

Not only is Jesus preparing a place for us, but He has promised to return. At His return, evil will be wiped out forever, there will be a bodily resurrection, and an eternity of bliss will begin. This is the foundation we can stand on. A foundation that will not crumble but will hold us steady when we are faced with troubling situations.

I pray we all believe in God and Jesus Christ. I pray we put our faith in Jesus. I pray each one of us will trust Jesus at His word and know that He will return to take us to a perfect place for eternity. Do not be troubled. Stand on the firm foundation. Put your faith in Jesus. Know that He will return. Trust that He is preparing a place for you.

John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”