Believe in the Resurrection

How strong is your faith? What is your faith based on? Is your faith willing to stand when criticized? Is your faith based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Does the promise of resurrection help you get through tough times? Or are you unsure about the resurrection?

Resurrection is a challenging topic. No one living today has witnessed a resurrection. We may believe that Jesus was resurrected. Yet, for most of us, proving it is difficult to do. We don’t have the archeological data at hand. We do have eyewitness accounts we can rely on.

We know the accounts at the end of each of the gospels and the beginning of the book of Acts. Jesus appeared to His disciples, which included the twelve apostles and several women. The Apostle Paul states that Jesus appeared to more than five hundred at one time in 1 Corinthians 15:6. Paul teaches the resurrection in many of his letters.

How did Paul know Jesus was raised from the dead? He encountered Jesus. Jesus first appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Paul spends time in Arabia before returning to Damascus (Galatians 1:17). He states in Galatians 1:12 that he was taught by Jesus Himself.

But Jesus being resurrected, and the promise of resurrection is not new in the New Testament. As we read many of the Psalms, they speak of spending eternity with God, living in his house forever. We also read in the prophecies of Isaiah of salvation and the visions of Daniel. Finally, the Revelation of John speaks to visions of the followers of Christ being with Him forever.

I pray we all believe the resurrection is real. I pray we know how to respond to questions about the resurrection. I pray each one of us know that our faith is not in vain, and we will be resurrected. Believe in the resurrection. Know that Jesus was resurrected. Believe the eyewitnesses.

1 Corinthians 15:12-14 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.

True Happiness

Do you want to be happy? Do you continually seek new ways to make yourself happy? Are you consumed with trying to be happy? Have you found that happiness does not seem to last? Would like to know why? Would you like to know a better way?

We see people try a multitude of things to make themselves happy. Some latch on to drugs or alcohol. Some become addicted to buying things. Some try to eat their way to happiness. Still others will jump from one relationship to another seeking to find happiness.

We are told where and how to find happiness at the very beginning of the book of Psalms. The first step is to no follow wicked advice. We know there are people who give bad advice. They may even do it just to see someone fail. Or they may be involved in nefarious activities and seek to lure us into them. Avoiding them contributes to our happiness.

Next, we are told to avoid hanging around with those that complain. We know people who seem to do nothing but complain about something. Rather than sitting and listening to them, get up and walk away. Their complaining will only bring us down.

True happiness comes from obeying God and following his commands and principles. We know God will not lead us astray. He will not give us bad advice. When we meditate on God’s commands and principles, our lives are better, leading to more happiness. Not only are we happier but we produce fruit—good fruit. We also will not wither in the face of hard times. Rather than buckling under pressure, we stand in God’s promises.

I pray we all seek the true happiness that comes from God. I pray we avoid the negative advice of others. I pray each one of us hold onto God’s commands, principles, and promises. Seek true happiness. Avoid complainers. Avoid bad advice. Hold onto God’s commands. Walk in God’s principles. Trust in God’s promises.

Psalm 1:1-3

Happy are those 

who do not follow the advice of the wicked, 

or take the path that sinners tread, 

or sit in the seat of scoffers; 

but their delight is in the law of the Lord, 

and on his law they meditate day and night. 

They are like trees 

planted by streams of water, 

which yield their fruit in its season, 

and their leaves do not wither. 

In all that they do, they prosper.

Blessed by Trust

Yesterday, we discussed being careful who you trust. We know that some people will let us down or betray us. When that happens, our trust is broken. We may have our doubts about trusting God. We want to believe we can trust him. Or we may fully trust God.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God tells us why we should trust him. First, he says that we will be blessed. What does that mean? It means God blesses those who trust him. Those blessings come in many different forms. The best blessings come from his grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

God’s blessings are demonstrated by God’s description of a tree living by water. As our roots go deep into God, we will always be able to lean on him and know that he will provide. He points out that even when the heat comes, we will withstand it and will not wilt. We can interpret that as meaning when those tough times hit, and they will, our trust in God will carry us through them. We will know that God has a plan for us, and he will provide what we need.

The example goes on to state that even in drought, a time of severe testing, we will not be anxious. Our trust in God allows us to face the toughest of times without fear or anxiety. He says that we will continue to bear fruit through it all. That means that our testimony of how God is carrying us through it will have a positive impact on others.

How does this happen? Notice that God states the roots of the tree grow toward the stream. That means we send our roots toward God. How do we do that? We build our relationship with him through prayer, reading God’s Word, and experiencing him throughout our daily lives. Our experience comes even during the smallest of speedbumps, by turning it over to him. When we do, we see God working and our faith (roots) grow stronger in him.

I pray we all choose to build our relationship with God. I pray we experience God in the small things. I pray each one of us will send our roots toward God so that we trust him in all circumstances. Build your relationship with God. Experience God in your life. Put your roots in God. Trust God at all times.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, 

whose trust is the Lord.

They shall be like a tree planted by water, 

sending out its roots by the stream. 

It shall not fear when heat comes, 

and its leaves shall stay green; 

in the year of drought it is not anxious, 

and it does not cease to bear fruit.

Who to Trust

Where do we put our trust? What do we trust in? Who do we trust in? Are there consequences if we put our trust in the wrong person or wrong things? We have “In God We Trust” on our money, but to we really? Or are we trusting in ourselves or someone else?

Trust can be given quickly. It can be taken away quickly. It can be challenging for us to put our trust in anyone, especially if we have been burned in the past. We may not trust our vehicle if has broken down on us before. We may no longer trust a friend who has betrayed us.

As we go through life, we will trust and stop trusting. There may be people we trust who we rarely interact with because we no longer live close to them. Those people may have played a key role in our lives at one point but now are distant. Our trust has not waned, it simply isn’t as active as it once was.

On the other hand, there may be people who we once trusted but no longer trust. Perhaps they were a close friend who turned against us. Maybe they are a parent who betrayed our trust long before we discovered their deeds of mistrust. They may be a co-worker who we confided in and ratted on us.

The prophet Jeremiah records words he received from God that tells us if we put our trust in people, we are cursed. What does that mean? Are we to never trust anyone? No. It means we are to trust God above all. If we continually trust in people over God, we will turn away from him. Think about it. Isn’t this evident in our society today? We need to put our trust in God. He needs to be who we rely on.

I pray we all are careful who we trust. I pray we put our trust in God. I pray each one of us will rely on God, knowing he is always with us, even when others desert us. Be careful who you trust. Put your trust in God. Rely on God. Know that God is always with you.

Jeremiah 17:5

Thus says the Lord: 

Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals 

and make mere flesh their strength, 

whose hearts turn away from the Lord.

Rule the World

Do you want to rule the world? Have you played the game, “If I was king/queen for a day?” What are the things you would do? How would you change the nation or the world? How do you think you would wield that power? Would it be good?

Almost everyone complains about something our community, state, or national leaders are doing. We make a case for why we would handle it differently. However, when people do obtain the power to rule, they are often changed by the power they have.

Jesus tells us that if we will hold onto Him and continue to His works, we will rule the world with Him. The good news is that He will be with us every moment and we will not allow the power of ruling to go to our head. By ruling beside Jesus, our ego is kept in check. Otherwise, we may be derailed by the infatuation with power.

The full consummation of this rule will come when Christ returns. However, we share in it preliminarily now in that we have His power to speak His truth. We have His power to bring people to Him and to His church. We have His power to carry His plan in this world today. He has already given us that.

This concept of ruling the world with Christ is not new to John, who authors Revelation. In Daniel 7, Daniel is given a vision of “one like a son of man” who comes before the “Ancient of Days”, which is God the Father, and He is given authority over all the nations. Additionally, the holy people (those who belong to Christ) will rule with Him. 

I pray we all look forward to ruling the world with Christ. I pray we know that we have power from Jesus here and now. I pray each one of us use Jesus’ power to speak His truth to expand His kingdom. Hold onto Jesus. Continue Jesus’ works. Rule the world beside Jesus.

Revelation 2:26 To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations;

Fishing

What are you catching, other than a cold? Are you even out looking to catch something or someone? If you are looking to catch someone, who are you seeking to catch? What are you using to attract them? Have you considered what they might be attracted to?

Whether we admit or not, we are fishing. We may be fishing for a complement. We may be fishing for a promotion. We may be fishing for a mate. We may be fishing for a business partner. We may be fishing for some thing or some person. We may be fishing for fish.

Peter, James, and John were fishermen. They had had a long night of fishing with no luck. Their nets were empty, they were tired, and they were ready to quit. But Jesus had another idea. He told them to go out to some deep water and let their nets down. Peter objected but ultimately agreed. The result? They caught so many fish it took both boats to haul them in.

Yet, Jesus wasn’t done with them. He told them they were no longer going to fish for fish but would fish for people. He called them to follow Him. He would instruct them over the next three years and send them out to bring people into the kingdom of God. They would tell the good news of Jesus.

So, back to our questions. What are we fishing for? We should be fishing for people just as the apostles were sent out to do. We should be seeking to bring people into the kingdom of God. That is our mission. That is one of the reasons God had Jesus’ life and teaching chronicled. So, we could learn from Him and seek the lost.

I pray we all know what we are fishing for. I pray we learn from Jesus’ teachings. I pray each one of us will speak the good news of Jesus and seek to bring people into the kingdom of God. Learn from Jesus. Know what you are fishing for. Speak the good news. Bring people to Jesus.

Luke 5:10b Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”

Believe the Witnesses

Do you believe in resurrection? Do you know that many people do not believe in it? Do you know Christians who are unsure about it? Are you unsure about it? Have you ever thought about what it would be like to see someone who had been resurrected?

We mention resurrection often when talking about Jesus. Yet, we don’t really discuss it much. We don’t go into much detail about how it occurred or will occur for us. In fact, we discuss it so little that many Christians may not fully believe that we all will be resurrected.

Why is it so hard to believe? First, I would venture to state that none of us have encountered someone who has been resurrected. We may be aware of people whose heart had stopped and had been resuscitated, but not someone who had died and been resurrected. To think that someone had been dead for three days then resurrected is far-fetched for our human medical knowledge. But that is exactly what God did through Jesus.

How can we be sure? Scripture tells it happened. We have eyewitness accounts. Not only do have eyewitness accounts but we have appearances to large numbers of people at one time. We know Jesus appeared to His disciples in an upper room. Likely it was at least the remaining eleven apostles but could have included other followers of His. The Apostle Paul tells us Jesus appeared to more than five hundred disciples at one time.

Some will still want to doubt. Doubting eyewitnesses does not make it any less true. We would be far better off to believe their witness. We would also do well to believe Jesus’ promise that we will be resurrected and that He will come back to take us to be with Him.

I pray we all believe that Jesus was resurrected. I pray we believe the eyewitnesses of His resurrection. I pray each one of us believe we will be resurrected, and Jesus will come for us. Believe in the resurrection. Believe Jesus. Believe the eyewitnesses. Know that you will be resurrected.

1 Corinthians 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.

Remember Jesus

How often do you need to be reminded of something you heard? Are you gifted to remember everything you hear? Or do you need to be reminded from time-to-time? Can you remember the history lessons you learned in school? Can you remember what your spouse told you yesterday?

Our memories are often good when we are young but are less dependable as we grow older. It may be due to the aging process, but I somethings wonder if it is not the sheer volume of things we have stored in our brains. Regardless, we need to be reminded of things.

The Apostle Paul is reminding the members of the church in Corinth of the good news he had proclaimed to them. He reminds them that Jesus died for their sins. He was raised on the third day. That Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled the prophecy in Scripture. He also reminds them that Jesus appeared to the apostles after He rose from the dead.

Why is Paul reminding them of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection? Perhaps they had gotten wrapped up in unimportant trivial debates or arguments. If so, this message applies to us today. I often witnessed members of churches getting wrapped up in ancillary topics, even creating division over them. They have forgotten that Jesus should be our main focus.

Churches have divided and split over how to serve communion, who can become members, who is leading the church, who the church hires for staff positions, and even who the pastor is. They forgot that Jesus is the head of the church. They forgot they all are sinners and need His forgiving grace and mercy. They forgot that every member’s purpose is to serve Him.

I pray we all are reminded regularly of the good news of Jesus. I pray we make Jesus our main focus. I pray each one of us remember our purpose is to serve Jesus by the grace He has given us. Remember the good news. Make Jesus your focus. Serve Jesus. Live in His grace.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

Kings Shall Bow

What is your perception of your nation’s leaders? Do you believe they have good leadership skills? Do you believe they have the country’s best interests at heart? Do you believe they were put into power by God? Do you believe they have put their faith in God?

National leaders in countries all around the world have different perspectives. Some of them are dictators. Some are monarchs. Some have led military coups. Some are elected. They come from a variety of backgrounds and rule based on various government structures.

When we see what some of the national leaders do, we wonder if they have even heard of God. Yet, God certainly knows them. He knows them better than they know themselves. God knows what they will do. He knows how to coerce them into doing what he needs done to accomplish his plan.

Regardless of how infused with power these leaders are, they will all bow to God and praise him. The question is not if. It is a matter of when and whether they will do so as faithful followers of Jesus or as antagonistic, rebellious, opposers to Him. That promise has been made many times over throughout Scripture.

Therefore, we should all pray for our leaders. Pray that they know Jesus. Pray that they follow Him. Pray that, if they don’t know Him, they choose to learn about Him. Pray that God moves in their lives. Pray that God grants them wisdom and discernment. Pray for them daily. Encourage others to pray for them.

I pray we all take a serious look at our national leaders. I pray we ask God to use them to accomplish his plan. I pray each one of us pray specifically for our leaders at all levels. Pray for national leaders. Pray that God works in their lives. Pray that God uses them to accomplish his plan.

Psalm 138:4-5

All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, 

for they have heard the words of your mouth. 

They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, 

for great is the glory of the Lord.

Volunteer for God

Do you volunteer to take on tasks? Do you volunteer without knowing what the task is? What kinds of tasks are you willing to volunteer for? Are they only tasks that you know will be simple to accomplish? Will you volunteer for a task that stretches your abilities?

Most of us volunteer for tasks, whether we think we do or not. Yet, we won’t often volunteer for unknown tasks, those that are not fully explained. We often will volunteer for those that we are confident we can accomplish. Yet seldom will we volunteer for more difficult tasks.

I remember when I was in the Marine Corps, we learned not to volunteer during training classes. Usually, it was because we did not want to be brought to the front of the class and made to look foolish. Instructors wizened up to this and would sometimes ask for a volunteer, then tell the brave soul who volunteered that they could choose someone to replace them. Of course, there would be groans and grumbles.

God asks for volunteers. In today’s passage, Isaiah volunteers. Not only does he volunteer but he volunteers for an unknown task. God is asks who will go and Isaiah speaks up to say he will. He doesn’t know that God is going have him take a message to his countrymen they do not want to hear. Though the message ends with hope, it consists of doom and gloom.

The message was a forecast of the future. It was a warning from God that things were going to get worse before they get better. But the message was reassuring to the nation of Israel. Though there would be destruction, the nation would not be completely wiped out. There would be a remnant to rebuild with.

The same message could be delivered today to the church. There may be people within the church who fail to listen. There may be people who leave. Yet, there will be a remnant who will rebuild the church. The rebuilding will be done according to God’s plan.

I pray we all heed God’s message. I pray we seek to follow God’s plan. I pray each one of us will volunteer to carry God’s message, take on his tasks, and build the church in Christ’s image. Heed God’s message. Follow God’s plan. Carry God’s message. Do what God asks.

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”