Just the Way You Are

by Max Lucado

Don’t confuse God’s love with the love of people. That kind of love often increases with performances and decreases with mistakes. When my daughter was a toddler, she loved going to the park and playing in the sandbox. And often I’d give her an ice-cream treat. One day as I turned to do that, I saw her mouth was full of sand. Where I intended to put a delicacy, she had put dirt. Did I love her with dirt in her mouth? Absolutely. Was I going to allow her to keep the dirt in her mouth? No way. I loved her right where she was, but I refused to leave her there.

God does the same for us. “Spit the dirt out, honey,” our Father urges. I’ve got something better for you.” Jesus wants to give us a heart like his. Can you imagine a better offer?

Relationship Wins Over Religion

Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 7:18-19

When we begin a new Bible study, regardless of the book or topic being taught, we always do an overview that explains why we are sinners and why we desperately need a Savior. We usually start in Genesis Chapters one through three and discuss what happened in the Garden when man fell and sin entered the human race. After Genesis Chapter three, the rest of the Bible tells us about Jesus, our salvation through Him, and our reconciliation with our Heavenly Father. Our only hope for eternal life with our Lord in heaven rests solely on our faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

We do not teach about a religion but about a relationship with Jesus. Jesus came and died for us so that we could have a relationship with Him, regardless of the sin that exists within us. One of the hardest struggles for Christians is resting in the work that Jesus has already done for us. Once we believe in Jesus, truly receive Him into our hearts, then, we are filled with His Holy Spirit and sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). The seal cannot be broken. But so often, we live as if we still have something to prove to God. So many of us are still trying to work out our salvation in our own strength. We are trying so hard to please God that we are not letting His Holy Spirit truly fill us each day. Tension and stress hurt us in more ways than just physically or emotionally. Any relationship filled with stress and strife will ultimately be in danger of falling apart. The same is true of our relationship with Jesus. He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but we pull away from Him, by leaving and forsaking His presence.

Our mission is to evangelize the lost and awaken the saved to live empowered lives by the Work of God and His Holy Spirit. Daily Disciples Ministries makes a difference for the kingdom of God by teaching and training believers how to be in God's Word, how to pray and how to walk with Jesus every day, as His daily disciple.
Daily Disciples Ministries, Inc.

Dining on a Different Kind of Bread

by Adrian Rogers

“Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us.” - Numbers 14:9

When the Israelites were headed into the Promised Land, there were some demon-possessed giants called Anakim. And when the twelve spies went to spy out the land, ten came back saying, “The land is full of milk and honey, corn and wine, oil and pomegranates, figs and grapes. But, hey, we can’t take this land—there are giants in it!”

But two of the spies said, “Don’t fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us.” Bread, like your toast this morning. “Their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us; fear them not.” They said, “Look, these people are a piece of cake. They’re bread for us.”

Why do you eat bread? For strength. Bread gives energy. Bread is the staff of life. What was God saying? These things that look like problems? They are your food. “Anakim—the breakfast of champions.”

It’s when you feed on these problems that you grow. Our Lord isn’t looking for softies as disciples. Remember, you’re governed by His providence when you’re in a storm. He rules over all. And you are growing by His plan. In the storm you’re going to grow and become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who will you pray for today?

You probably have someone on your mind and heart who needs Jesus. She (or he) is not a Christian and she’s not interested in becoming a Christian. 

But if God is free to swoop down, uninvited, and lay hold of a person who is dead in trespasses and sins, and bring him or her to spiritual life — that gives us hope! If God saves, then you can ask him to save her. Can you imagine a more powerful incentive to pray? God can do in the lives of some of your loved ones what you can’t even imagine possible. 

Who will you pray for today, knowing that God can do the impossible in a person's heart?

The Silver Thread

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead.

The whole system of Christianity rests upon the fact that "Christ is risen from the dead;" for, "If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain: ye are yet in your sins." The divinity of Christ finds its surest proof in His resurrection, since He was "Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." It would not be unreasonable to doubt His Deity if He had not risen. Moreover, Christ's sovereignty depends upon His resurrection, "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living." Again, our justification, that choice blessing of the covenant, is linked with Christ's triumphant victory over death and the grave; for "He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Nay, more, our very regeneration is connected with His resurrection, for we are "Begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." And most certainly our ultimate resurrection rests here, for, "If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you." If Christ be not risen, then shall we not rise; but if He be risen then they who are asleep in Christ have not perished, but in their flesh shall surely behold their God. Thus, the silver thread of resurrection runs through all the believer's blessings, from his regeneration onwards to his eternal glory, and binds them together. How important then will this glorious fact be in his estimation, and how will he rejoice that beyond a doubt it is established, that "now is Christ risen from the dead."

"The promise is fulfill'd, Redemption's work is done, Justice with mercy's reconciled, For God has raised His Son."

LOOKING UP TO THE GOD WHO LOVES ME

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him? And the son of man, that You care for him? —Psalm 8:3-4

When I was in college at the University of Texas, I used to go to the library at night to study. As I would walk home to my dorm at 11:00 p.m. or so, I would look up into the night sky and think about the greatness of God. I felt so small compared to the vastness of the universe. I would say with David, “Wow, Lord. Who am I that you would care for me or even give me a thought? You are so awesome, and I am so insignificant.”

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER

God is so much greater than our minds could ever comprehend. He created all that we see, all that the highest-powered telescopes can reveal, just by the power of His Word. He simply spoke it all into existence. Universes drip off His fingertips.

The Bible says that God is so “off the charts” glorious and majestic that He even has to humble Himself to behold the things in heaven (see Psalm 113:6). Did you catch that? Every time God looks around heaven, it is a humbling experience for Him. Now, that is glory to the nth degree!

And here is the even more amazing part: this same, infinite God is crazy in love with you and me. We matter to Him. He thinks about us all the time. His thoughts toward you and me outnumber the sand on the seashore (see Psalm 139:18). How cool is that?

WHY DOES GOD LOVE US?

Why does God love you and me so much? Why did He send His Son to die such a horrible death for us on the cross? It isn’t because you and I are so wonderful; it’s because God is so wonderful (see Deuteronomy 7:6-9). The Scripture clearly tells us, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Love is a big part of His nature. God chose to love us regardless of who we are or what we do. Because it was God’s choice, it is not dependent on you and me. Talk about getting off the performance-based acceptance train! Here is truth to put in your heart: There is nothing you can do to get God to love you any more than He already does, and there is nothing you can do to get God to love you any less than He already does. He just loves you!

Our job is to receive His love and rejoice in His love. Obedience to His commands comes when you realize that everything God tells us to do or not to do is for our greatest good. The God who loves me tells me yes to some things and no to other things. His commandments are not given to deprive me; they are given to bless me, because every one of them is given in love.

HOMEWORK

Tonight, go outside and look up into the starry sky. Consider His heavens. Consider how great He is. Then, remember that the awesome God who made all that you see knows your name. He knows your circumstances. He knows your victories and your struggles. He knows everything there is to know about you, and He loves you still.

Share your hopes, dreams, worries, and fears with Him. Tell Him that you love Him. Cast all your cares upon Him, because He really does care for you (see 1 Peter 5:7)! Remember this great word from Isaiah the Prophet, “For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like You, who works for those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 64:4 NLT)!  He truly will work in the hearts of those who will look to Him and wait for Him.  Will you do it?

Love,                                              

Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries    

Strength through Worship

  by Pastor Greg Laurie

“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” - (John 4:23)

When we worship on earth, we are in tune with what is happening in heaven. The Book of Revelation gives us this description of worship in heaven: “And they sang in a mighty chorus: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing’ ” (5:12).

When we worship, it helps us to get things into perspective. The psalmist Asaph asked the age-old question, “Why do the wicked prosper?”

And then it dawned on him:

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
      Truly, you put them on a slippery path
and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. (Psalm 73:17–18)

Sometimes we don’t understand why things are the way they are. But when we come and worship, when we hear the Word of God, it helps us gain perspective.

When our son died on a Thursday, my wife and I were in church the following Sunday. People told me my faith was so strong. But actually my faith was weak. I needed help. I needed God’s people. I needed to worship God. I needed to hear a Bible study.

And the moment I walked in, I was surrounded by God’s people. I knew they were praying for me. It helped me gain perspective and see God for who He is and see my problems for what they are. Sometimes we have big problems because we have a small God. But if we have a big God, then we will see, comparatively speaking, that we have small problems.

When we are praising the Lord on earth, we are joining the chorus of heaven. And God is looking for people to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Copyright © 2012 by Harvest Ministries.

Trading Spaces

by Ed Young

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Christ traded spaces with us on the cross. He died in our place, for our sin. But if you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, you only believe one-half of the Gospel. The other half of the Gospel is the fact that Christ fulfilled God's standard perfectly.  He was 100% righteous. So, had Christ been 90% righteous or 80% righteous, his sacrifice would not meet God's demands. He was 100% righteous.

So, once you bow the knee to Christ and ask him to come into your life to take residence, to come into the dwelling place of your heart, then the righteousness of Christ is imputed into your life. Thus, when God sees you, he sees Jesus and his perfect character. This is only able to take place because of the resurrection power.

That's the power that can renovate our minds and hearts today and that will one day completely renovate and restore our sin-torn bodies into glorified bodies that will live forever in heaven. The resurrection is the final hope of every Christ-follower. It is the "final reveal" of God's design and renovation: the perfection of our mind, body, and spirit. On the other side of the grave, when God says, "Okay, open your eyes and see your new space," you will open your eyes in a resurrected, recreated body, a completely new space that you will inhabit for eternity.

It will be the perfect space, designed by the perfect Designer (God the Father), rebuilt by the perfect Carpenter (Jesus Christ) and purchased at the ultimate cost (Christ's precious blood). But you've got to make the choice: Are you going to keep trying on your own to rebuild the rubble left by sin or are you going to let the Carpenter renovate your life into the perfect space.

Slow To Speak

by Tony Evans

In His Presence: Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (1 Peter 2:2).

In resigning ourselves to God’s Word, we must also be “slow to speak.” This means after we are quick to listen to what God says, we don’t argue with it. Many of us are too busy listening to ourselves talk to hear what God is really saying to us, and when we do hear Him, we don’t want to believe Him—we try to argue with Him!

One Minute Please

We must resign ourselves to the pure truth of God’s Word without adding our own perspective.


In The News:

Christians Targeted in Al-Shabaab Kenya University Massacre

by Carrie Dedrick

A brutal massacre at a Kenya university claimed the lives of 147 people Thursday (April 2). Four gunmen from terrorist group al-Shabaab stormed the dormitories of Garissa University College, singling out Christians to kill. 

 

An additional 100 people were injured; 500 traumatized students survived the Maundy Thursday terrorist attack. 

 

The attack extended 13 hours before Kenyan security forces regained control. 

 

In a post on GetReligion.org, Terry Mattingly says that all media outlets stressed the significance of targeting Christians except The Washington Post. 

 

Mattingly quoted The Washington Post’s story on the attack:

 

“NAIROBI -- Rescuers removed bodies of students from dormitories at a university in eastern Kenya Friday and airlifted injured survivors to the capital, one day after al-Shabab Islamist militants stormed the dorms and killed at least 147 people, most of them sleeping college students.

 

“Thursday’s massacre at Garissa University College at about 5:30 a.m. local time was the worst terrorist attack on Kenyan soil in nearly two decades and renewed fears that al-Shabab can still wage significant – and horrific – operations from its strongholds in neighboring Somalia.

 

“A student at Garissa University, who asked not to be named because of fears for his safety, said the government was retrieving bodies Friday. He said casualties littered the dormitory floors, most of them suffering from bullet wounds.”

 

The Post does not mention that Christians were targeted in the attack until the 15th paragraph. 

 

“I could not find one (news story) that buried the "Christian" angle deeper than the Post story,” Mattingly wrote. 

 

Publication date: April 6, 2015

Editor's Note:
Pray for the persecuted Christians...

Who Am I? An Internal Struggle

by Author Unknown To Me

 

            The New Age movement initially fosters the idea that you have no need to look beyond yourself, for you are a god. This sort of idea did not begin with the movement. It did not take long for certain New Age practitioners to admit being in touch with Ascended Masters and other beings with similar identifications. These errors had not begun with them either. The same fallen being has long been busy introducing people to error repackaging the same old lies over and over.

 

            When a person looks inside themselves apart from the working of the Holy Spirit they often come up with self-delusion they must either cover with a great lie or open themselves up to exterior delusion. So an abusive person can convince the self-obsessed they deserve evil done to them; or, the evil beings can bring temptations such as people experience naturally or unnaturally like we see today as the devils have established great headway with gender confusion.

 

            When people exile God from their culture and their lives an identity crisis occurs in each. This is plainly revealed in the first two chapters of Romans and could be understood as not only descriptive of past civilizations but our own as well. Never forget societies are made up of individuals. We should all ask ourselves how much we are impacted by ideas that assail such as:

   “You are what you look like.”

   "You are what you buy.”

   “You’re just an animal with a conscience.”

   “You are whatever you choose to be.”

   “You are nothing.”

 

The answer probably is not a comfortable one. Even believers are assailed by the forces around them trying to distort their worldview and consequently how they see themselves.

 

            The struggle for identity can never be resolved without the recognition we are made in a two-fold image of God found in Genesis. He made us first to be representative of Him in the world and secondly two exercise dominion for Him in the world. Unfortunately man lost title to the earth through sin so the two fold image has become severely marred. When the individual surrenders his self-will to God will he begins to again become complete in Christ beginning with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So then it is possible to look inside and see something infinitely different from what was thought to be seen without our sins, shortcomings, and failings covered by the blood of Christ.

Peter and the Resurrection

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Profound sadness coupled with terror wrapped Peter's stomach and clenched it into tight, painful knot.

Yes, Jesus had told his disciples that he would be killed, even that he would be crucified. But Peter hadn't believed it. When you see daily miracles and hear incisive teaching from a confident public figure, you refuse to acknowledge that anything could ever change.

But overnight, Peter's world collapsed.

They had eaten Passover together on Thursday night. But only few hours later, Jesus was under arrest. A hasty trial lit by flickering lamps in the high priest's palace condemned Jesus. Then early-morning shuttles to Pilate, then Herod, then back again to Pilate sealed his fate. By 9 am soldiers were pounding nails into his hands and feet, jerking him upright on a cross to let him hang in the sun -- until the sun itself hid its face and left the onlookers to watch the Master die in the eerie chill of this very black day.

Peter had fled. In fact, none of the Twelve remained to see him buried. Only Mary Magdalene and a couple of wealthy followers were left to take his body down, carry it outside the city, and entomb it.

If you've ever felt despair at the pit of your stomach, then you know what Peter felt. When he did go out, he would walk in a kind of daze, utterly disoriented, shattered, the center of his world now a black hole, an empty void.

How could the Messiah, the heir of David's throne, be executed? It went against all logic. It was impossible -- yet it had happened, and oh so swiftly!

Peter slept fitfully Saturday night and when his eyes opened Sunday morning, the doom of death was heavy upon him. He pulled his cloak over his eyes, hoping he could fall back to sleep, but knowing he wouldn't.

All of a sudden someone was banging on the door. Soldiers! Peter got up with a start. How can I escape? Then he heard Mary Magdalene's voice, and his terror fell back into depression. Mary was breathless, troubled, her face stained with tears.

Peter grumbled, "Why did you have to wake me so early?"

Mary blurted out: "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb!"

Peter pulled his fellow-disciple John to his feet, slammed the door behind them, and began to run through the narrow streets, out the city gate, and then on to the tomb.

The great stone that had sealed the tomb stood open. As they entered, the sepulcher was empty, except for some folded graveclothes. The body was gone.

Folded? That was strange. Folded graveclothes but no body. Hardly what you'd expect from grave robbers.

John seemed convinced by the graveclothes that somehow Jesus had been resurrected or something, but Peter wasn't so sure. How could he believe that after so much had happened? He walked slowly back towards the city pondering, thinking, wanting to believe, but afraid to hope.

Suddenly, Jesus appeared. Peter, the so-called "rock," had publically betrayed him. He had shouted, "I don't know the man!" He was so unworthy. And yet here was Jesus before him. Peter fell to his knees and wept for joy.

Peter never said much to the others about this meeting -- what had been said, what had transpired. But after that you'd sometimes see Peter deep in thought, pensive. Then he would nod his head and traces of a smile would begin to transform his face into one written with thankfulness and joy and peace.

Peter had been whipsawed from his pit of despair and pulled by the Master into peace. Life had changed for the good. And since then many have found this same peace, this same smile of wonder at Jesus' amazing grace. Maybe you too. Jesus had risen -- and Peter never doubted him again.

Jesus Or The Easter Bunny?

"And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him." Mark 16:6

Happy Resurrection weekend to each and everyone. I choose to call it Resurrection Sunday and not Easter. I choose to acknowledge the death, burial and resurrection of my beloved Savior Jesus, and not the things that we typically think of when we think of Easter- such as the Easter bunny, colored eggs, hiding eggs, baskets of candies.

I wonder, (I know the answer, so I am not asking for one) why we think that these things have anything to do with what Jesus did for us? What do the things that I have already named have to do with the cross or the empty tomb or the suffering that Jesus went through? They have nothing to do with it. These things were part of a pagan celebration to their goddess of fertility. We have adopted them in Christianity and made it a part of our celebration of Jesus' resurrection.

Some say that they know the difference, yet they celebrate both at the same time. Why would you want anything to distract from the true meaning? Why would you make Jesus share the celebration with a fictitious rabbit? Why would you minimize His suffering on the cross with anything? Why would we replace the miracle of the resurrection of Christ for the belief that a giant rabbit goes everywhere during the night leaving children baskets full of candy and colored eggs? We may say we know the difference, yet once church service is over in the morning, the rest of the day will be spent "worshipping" the bunny and eggs. I just don't get it. After what Jesus went through on the cross for us, why would we allow anything to overshadow it?

At Christmas we have adopted a slogan as a reminder that the celebration is all about the birth of Jesus and not Santa Claus-- "Jesus is the reason for the season". I think we need to take it out of storage during the resurrection season because it appears that we have forgotten that it is still true for this time as well-- "Jesus is the reason for the season, not the Easter bunny." After all, who laid down their life for you so that you could have eternal life and forgiveness of your sins-- Jesus or the Easter bunny!

Have a great day. Who are you "really" celebrating, Jesus or the Easter bunny? Take a long, hard and searching look at what you are doing before you answer.

Is Jesus Just Pretend?

by Tracie Miles

"But he replied, 'I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.'" John 20:25b (NLT)

She looked up at her daddy with eyes filled with concern, trying to put into words the fears and doubts which had crept into her 3-year-old mind.

It was a day dedicated to prayer and worship at my niece's Christian preschool where her father works and where they'd spent the morning praying for Jesus to join them and be present.

When the service finished, Berkeley tugged on her daddy's shirt, and as he looked at her distraught little face, he asked what was wrong. Hesitantly, she innocently asked "Daddy, is Jesus just pretend?"

He was taken aback by her question, but gently answered, "Of course not honey. He's very much alive and with us today."

Berkeley replied, "But He didn't come." They had asked Jesus to come, and in her mind, He hadn't shown up.

When my brother told me this story, my first reaction was a chuckle. How adorable is that? But my second thought was how even as adults, we sometimes wonder if Jesus is just pretend, simply because we don't see physical evidence of Him when we want to. Even one of Jesus's disciples, Thomas, doubted Jesus was really alive until he saw Him with his own eyes.

After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders (John 20:19), and Jesus appeared before them saying "Peace be with you." He showed them the wounds in His hands and His side and they were overcome with joy.

But Thomas was not there that evening to witness this encounter. Since he didn't see Jesus himself, he didn't believe Jesus had actually shown up. In today's key verse, Thomas stated he needed proof before he could believe Jesus was really alive and active.

I've been a doubting Thomas before myself.

I've spent nights wondering if Jesus was really with me when my heart was breaking, my mistakes were heavy burdens, and my problems seemed overwhelming. I've walked through days begging for Jesus to give me a sign, any sign, to prove He was with me. And just like Jesus showed Himself to Thomas, there was one particular day He showed Himself to me.

I was participating in a Bible study and instructed to do a timeline of my life. I half-heartedly began the exercise, but over the next hour, as I scribbled out decades of experiences, good and bad, my spiritual eyes were opened for the first time. I suddenly saw a picture of God's handiwork, and how He had been at work every step of the way.

When they were written in black and white, I began to see the happenings of my life from a new perspective — as tangible proof of Jesus. They were no longer just memories, but experiences that all fed my life story and mapped out a divinely designed future, purpose and plan just for me.

Only after Thomas saw Jesus for himself did he believe He was alive. Similarly, when the proof of Jesus was staring at me from my scribbled paper, I could not help but believe either.

However Jesus wants us to believe in Him even if we don't see the proof. In John 20:29b Jesus says, "Blessed are those who believe without seeing me" (NLT).

Sometimes we want proof that Jesus sees, cares and loves. But if we sincerely look for proof in our lives, seeking how and where He has been at work, what we see with our spiritual eyes will be so much better proof than what we could ever see with our physical ones.

Dear Jesus, I want to see with new spiritual vision how You have been at work in my life. Give me wisdom and discernment to see how You have been shaping me for purpose. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Simon from Cyrene Carries Jesus' Cross

by Max Lucado

“A man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming from the fields to the city. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus” (Mark 15:21)

Simon grumbles beneath his breath. His patience is as scarce as space on the Jerusalem streets. He’d hoped for a peaceful Passover. The city is anything but quiet. Simon prefers his open fields. And now, to top it off, the Roman guards are clearing the path for some who-knows-which-dignitary who’ll march his soldiers and strut his stallion past the people.

“There he is!”

Simon’s head and dozens of others turn. In an instant they know. This is no dignitary.

“It’s a crucifixion,” he hears someone whisper. Four soldiers. One criminal. Four spears. One cross. The inside corner of the cross saddles the convict’s shoulders. Its base drags in the dirt. Its top teeters in the air. The condemned man steadies the cross the best he can, but stumbles beneath its weight. He pushes himself to his feet and lurches forward before falling again. Simon can’t see the man’s face, only a head wreathed with thorny branches.

The sour-faced centurion grows more agitated with each diminishing step. He curses the criminal and the crowd.

“Hurry up!”

“Little hope of that,” Simon says to himself.

The cross-bearer stops in front of Simon and heaves for air. Simon winces at what he sees. The beam rubbing against an already raw back. Rivulets of crimson streaking the man’s face. His mouth hangs open, both out of pain and out of breath.

“His name is Jesus,” someone speaks softly.

“Move on!” commands the executioner.

But Jesus can’t. His body leans and feet try, but he can’t move. The beam begins to sway. Jesus tries to steady it, but can’t. Like a just-cut tree, the cross begins to topple toward the crowd. Everyone steps back, except the farmer. Simon instinctively extends his strong hands and catches the cross.

Jesus falls face-first in the dirt and stays there. Simon pushes the cross back on its side. The centurion looks at the exhausted Christ and the bulky bystander and needs only an instant to make the decision. He presses the flat of his spear on Simon’s shoulders.

“You! Take the cross!”

Simon dares to object, “Sir, I don’t even know the man!”

“I don’t care. Take up the cross.”

Simon growls, balances the timber against his shoulder, and steps out of the crowd onto the street, out of anonymity into history, and becomes the first in a line of millions who will take up the cross and follow Christ.

He did literally what God calls us to do figuratively: take up the cross and follow Jesus. “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me” (Luke. 9:23 CEV).

What the Resurrection of Christ Means to Us

Part Two of Two by Pastor R. Jordan
The import of the resurrection does not end with our justification, however, for it also

OFFERS A FORCE TO BE EXPERIENCED

     ".. .like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, EVEN SO WE ALSO SHOULD WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE" (Rom. 6:4).

This is the practical impact in the believer's life of the reality of Christ's resurrection. Rom. 8:10,11 declare:

"And if CHRIST BE IN YOU, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

    "But IF THE SPIRIT OF HIM THAT RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELL IN YOU, HE THAT RAISED UP CHRIST FROM THE DEAD SHALL ALSO QUICKEN YOUR MORTAL BODIES BY HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN YOU."

The resurrection life of Christ is a power, a force, to be experienced by every believer. The "newness of life" received from Christ means that He lives His life in us.

Christianity is not a religion--it is a life. It is Christ in us living His life through us. This is the essence of Christianity.

Have you ever found the Christian life difficult to live? If not, you will!  In fact, it is not only difficult, it is impossible. Only Jesus Christ can live His life--and He does just that as we simply walk by faith in His marvelous grace to us.

Experiencing this glorious freedom and power is the goal Paul set before himself and us:

"That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death:
"If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (Phil. 3:10,11).

There is something else, too, which Christ's resurrection does for us. It

ASSURES A FUTURE THAT IS GLORIOUS

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (I Thess. 4:14).

The future of many things may be very uncertain, but for the believer it is only glorious. No matter how difficult things may be for us now, one day it will only be ''glory for me!"

One day soon our ever-living Savior will return for us and in that day He "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Phil. 3:21).

May God help us to rejoice in the reality of the resurrection of Christ and all God has made it mean to us.

Truth can't be judged on the basis of popularity.  

What the Resurrection of Christ Means to Us

Part One of Two by Pastor R. Jordan

"Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was
raised from the dead according to my gospel."
-II Tim. 2:8

When the Apostle of the Gentiles declared that Jesus Christ was "raised from the dead according to my gospel" he made it imperative that we understand just what this tremendous event means to us.

Because of limited space, we offer the following brief (and admittedly incomplete) outline, and trust our readers will use it as a springboard to look further into this important truth. The resurrection of Jesus Christ.

REPRESENTS A FACT TO BE BELIEVED

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
     "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (I Cor. 15:3,4).
 
The resurrection of Christ is not fiction--His body was not stolen by His followers, nor did He somehow revive from a death-like coma and walk away by Himself. Further, the resurrection of Christ is not a fable--the modernist claim that He "lives on" in the "continuation of the spiritual principles He taught" is the real "religion myth"!

No, the resurrection of Christ is a fact of history to be accepted and believed. The "many infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3) of His resurrection make it an event as thoroughly and historically validated as any in past history.

Our faith does not rest on a coffin lid! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact to be believed. It also

PRESENTS A FAITH TO BE EMBRACED

     "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Rom. 10:9).

Our faith is to rest in the fact of the resurrection of Christ-not simply in the historic reality but also in the divinely revealed meaning of this event:

"[Christ] was delivered for our offences, and was RAISED AGAIN FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION" (Rom. 4:25).

The reality of Christ's resurrection declares the finality of the work of Calvary. When "Christ died for our sins, "He thoroughly put away sin, paying its penalty in full. Thus, the debt of sin having been paid, death could not hold Him. His resurrection is, as it were, the receipt that declares: "Paid in full!"

It is because the shed blood of Christ fully and completely paid for sin that Jesus Christ could be raised from the dead--and thus, with a perfect redemption accomplished and attested to, we can be declared righteous in Him.

SON of GOD

Mark 15:39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” God was glorified in Jesus’ death! That centurion had never experienced a crucifixion like this one. Jesus did not cry for mercy or try to escape; rather, He prayed for the people who put Him on the cross, “Father, forgive them”. He spoke to the other victims of crucifixion about life with God after death. As He was dying, for three hours in the middle of the day, the sky went dark. When Jesus died, there was a massive earthquake and the rocks were splitting. It was a terrifying experience. As the centurion took in all that he had heard and seen from Jesus, he could come to only one conclusion: “Truly this man was the Son of God!” God was not only glorified in Jesus’ miracles and in His words that so amazed His listeners. The glory of Jesus’ life went way beyond His training of the disciples. God was also glorified in Jesus’ suffering and death. God is challenging you today not to think of the hard times you face as opponents of God’s work in your life. God is as much glorified by your spiritual response to those times as He is by your times of great victory and blessing.

Picture of the Messiah

Dr. Mike Evans calls Pesach/Passover “the most Messianic of all the Jewish feasts – the one that most points to the life and death of Christ…” While all the feasts are important to the fulfillment of history and of God’s revelation while testifying of the Saviour, this feast is so special God had Moses instruct the Chosen People “this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it for an ordinance for ever.” (Exodus 12:14) And it is from the Passover observance Lord Jesus instituted his “Remembrance” observed in the Church in Communion throughout the Church Age. (1Cor. 11:17-34)
 

The Passover marks the beginning of the religious year while Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the civil year. I will not state it as an absolute but I strongly suspicion that in the Millennial Reign of Christ the Passover will mark both the religious and civil year because mankind will live under the theocracy of the King of kings and LORD of lords.

 

The first Passover meal was held on the night of the tenth and final plague on Egypt, the death of the firstborn. It is because we know Pharaoh did not die that night we can see he is not the one traditionally thought to be the king. Ramses was not the Pharaoh as commonly pictured. But more importantly the death of the firstborn because of Egypt’s sin on that night pointed toward that time in history when God the Father would give His only begotten Son for all men’s sin so they might be reconciled to Him.

 

Moses told the Children of Israel to come to the Passover table dressed and ready to depart. The meal was eaten standing ready to move at a moment’s notice. Today, the Jewish Seder is eaten with the one presiding over the table sitting and leaning on an chair arm on a pillow because they are no longer slaves. Those whom the Lord Jesus makes free shall be free indeed! (John 8:36) But most who preside at the observance of the Lord’s Supper do so standing. There is a reason for doing this. For the Church is once more ready to depart at a moment’s notice to meet the Lord our Passover in the air!

GOD Hates

God is love, says 1 John 4:8. We like that. It is comforting, like a warm blanket on a chilly night.

But like a rock dropped into the stillness of a pond are the words, "God hates." The ripples that result disturb the tranquility of the water's surface.

Our minds are jolted to a reality that too often we want to ignore.

God is love, but there are things He hates. This really ought to catch our attention! We should sit up and take notice when the One who loves us so much that He would give His Son to die for us says in His Word that there are things He hates. "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him." Proverbs 6:16. This does not mean there are only six or seven things God objects to. Hebrew poetry uses a phrase like this to indicate that these are definitely on the list! It is like the flashing lights at a railroad crossing, saying, "Look out!"

Included in the list is "a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." v. 19. Earlier in the chapter this person is described as one "who plots evil with deceit in his heart." v. 14. His mouth, his winking, even his body language bring about alienation and conflict.

God hates this. That should be enough to keep us from causing dissension- - but sadly we know that dissension can be found even among the people of God.

Consider your words and what you do. Is your heart set on causing conflict?

The heart of Christianity is reconciliation first of all us to God! And we are to be people reconciled to one another. Examine you heart. Are you by words or deed sowing seeds of dissension?

Great Responsibility

By Skip Heitzig

Hearing the truth carries responsibility. Listen to the words of Jesus:

"'If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.' Then He said to them, 'Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him'" (Mark 4:23-25).
If you learn spiritual truth and you apply that truth, more truth will be given to you for you to apply to your heart. This is why some people get bored with Bible study, because they never apply the truth to their hearts or their lives. It never penetrates. They just think, Yes, I kind of understand it. That's sort of an interesting fact.
They never ask God for that truth to transform the way they do business, treat their wives, love their husbands, or speak to the world at large. And eventually, if you're exposed to Bible truth without really making that kind of application, you'll get bored with it. You'll lose what you have. It won't make sense to you. God won't reveal anything to you unless you put into practice what He has already revealed to you. Why should He tell you any more of His secrets?
In Mark 4:26-29, Jesus gave a parable about a man who scatters seed; it grows, but "he himself does not know how" (v. 27). That's how the gospel works. You share the truth of the gospel with somebody, and they listen to it.
You can't see what's going on inside that person's mental processes or inside their heart, but God may be working in their life, and pretty soon there are signs of life. A little leaf starts sticking out of ground, so to speak. You say, "Oh, look; he's interested in spiritual things." Soon, more of the plant comes out, then the full head of grain, and eventually "he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come" (v. 29). That is, at the right time God reaps that individual into His kingdom. That person eventually comes to know Christ.
A farmer can't make a seed grow. He plants the seed, but he doesn't know what stage of growth it's in until he sees it come up out of the ground. So when we share, we don't know what effect it's going to have, but life may be happening all around us.
You might have some wonderful surprises like I've had with some of the people that I've shared with: they get saved, and you don't know how it happened. Someone may come up to you and tell you, "I got saved because of your testimony to me!" Or maybe you won't know until after you get to heaven. It's okay either way.
But there are two things I want you to take away here: Keep on applying to your life what God tells you when He speaks to you in His Word. Then He will reveal more to you. And keep on sharing with the people in your life, even if they seem hard-hearted. You don't know what God is doing inside them.

Where You Can Find Peace in the Midst of Pain

by Dr. Jack Graham

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

There was a father and his little girl who lost their wife and mother suddenly one night in a car accident. As the daddy was putting his daughter to bed that night, they both sat there in darkness when the little girl broke the silence, “Daddy, this is a dark night. I think it’s the darkest night we’ve ever had.”

“Yes, baby,” the dad responded, “I think it is.”

Then the little girl reached out in the darkness, touched her Daddy’s face, and said, “Good. Your face is toward me.” And with that, the little girl laid her head down, closed her eyes, and slept.

In the deepest imaginable pain, that little girl was comforted by knowing her daddy was there and his face was toward her. And in our own deep pain, we can take comfort knowing that our heavenly Daddy keeps His face toward us even in the darkest of nights. We may not be able to see it, but we can be sure it’s there.

Real and lasting comfort from pain isn’t found by just numbing what hurts. Real comfort is found in knowing that in the depths of sorrow, you are deeply and truly loved by a Father who knows exactly how you feel. Find your true peace and rest in the Father who loves you.

FIND PEACE IN THE MIDST OF PAIN BY TRUSTING IN THE FATHER WHO LOVES YOU AND WILL NEVER LEAVE YOUR SIDE