SCRIPTURE But the angel told the woman, "Don't be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.' Listen, I have told you. So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news." (Matthew 28:5-8)OBSERVATION The resurrection of Jesus is not normally something I think about at Christmas. However, there are similarities: angels, good news, a miraculous event involving Jesus, joy and life. As I read through this passage, the phrase "do not be afraid" stuck out. It is the consistent message of the angels when they began to talk to people. This is especially true with the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.
- The angel went to Zechariah to tell him Elizabeth was going to have a baby in her old age, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah." (Luke 1:13)
- The angel told Mary she was going to have a child by the power of the Holy Spirit, "Do not be afraid, Mary." (Luke 1:26)
- The angel brought the message of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, "Don't be afraid." (Luke 2:10)
APPLICATION In each of these situations, the people were faced with new, unknown, and often frightening circumstances. Into those events, God said, "do not be afraid." It seems that there are a lot of crazy things happening in this world and it would be easy to fear. God's message is still, "Don't be afraid." Jesus' final words in Matthew were, "I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) His presence is what conquers fear. Knowing that He walks with me through the ups and downs of life helps diminish the fear factor. It's going to be ok. God is personally involved in my life, He has not left me alone, and there are no circumstances I face that are beyond His help or control. PRAYER Lord, thanks for the reminder that I don't have to fear. You are with me and I can have joy not only because of the birth of Jesus, but because He is alive and with me to the very end of the age.
SCRIPTURE
God's Love Is Eternal
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.
His love is eternal.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love is eternal.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His love is eternal.
4 He alone does great wonders.
His love is eternal.
5 He made the heavens skillfully.
His love is eternal.
6 He spread the land on the waters.
His love is eternal.
7 He made the great lights:
His love is eternal.
8 the sun to rule by day,
His love is eternal.
9 the moon and stars to rule by night.
His love is eternal.
10 He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians
His love is eternal.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love is eternal.
12 with a strong hand and outstretched arm.
His love is eternal.
13 He divided the Red Sea
His love is eternal.
14 and led Israel through,
His love is eternal.
15 but hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.
His love is eternal.
16 He led His people in the wilderness.
His love is eternal.
17 He struck down great kings
His love is eternal.
18 and slaughtered famous kings-
His love is eternal.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love is eternal.
20 and Og king of Bashan-
His love is eternal.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love is eternal.
22 an inheritance to Israel His servant.
His love is eternal.
23 He remembered us in our humiliation
His love is eternal.
24 and rescued us from our foes.
His love is eternal.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love is eternal.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven!
His love is eternal.
(Psalm 136)
OBSERVATION
The psalmist reflects on God. He is good. He created everything. He protects and rescues His people. He gives food to every creature. The refrain, "His love is eternal," explains God's motivation. It's as if, at the end of each phrase, the psalmist reminds himself of the reason God does what He does. He loves with a love that will never die. It endures forever.
APPLICATION
Even if it is difficult to find things to be thankful for, I can always thank God for His eternal love, goodness, protection, and provision. When I hear His heartbeat of love, circumstances look totally different. It is then I can give thanks and worship the only One who is worthy...God. Through tears, sorrow, sadness, joy, and celebration, God remains consistent. He is always good and loves forever.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for your eternal love. The love that lasts forever.
SCRIPTURE
Brothers, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in evil and adult in your thinking. (1 Corinthians 14:20)
OBSERVATION
The Apostle Paul was addressing the Corinthian church about a few things they needed to change in order to grow. He was concerned that people would mature in their faith. In 1 Corinthians 14, he's challenging the church to teach in a way that people could understand. The whole point of ministry is to build up other people. In this section of his letter to the Corinthians he wants people to grow in their thinking. To mature in their knowledge of Christ.
The problem was the Corinthian's immaturity; they were divided, tolerated sexual immorality, got drunk at church, caused people to stumble in their faith...just to name a few. They were street smart but spiritually unaware. As Paul would say, they were adults in evil and childish in their thinking. Their "maturity" came from experiencing the evils of the Roman culture in which they lived. Paul wants them to grow up, be mature in their thinking, and not be experts in evil. "I want you to be wise about what is good, yet innocent about what is evil." (Romans 16:19)
APPLICATION
It's easy to be an evil expert. It doesn't take much effort to learn about things that are not godly. I can understand the Corinthian's situation and the culture they found themselves in. However, God wants me to grow in my thinking...not just knowing more stuff but developing a biblical worldview that shapes how I live. What I think about is important. Since I'm an adult, I've pretty much lost the innocence of youth but Paul, talking to adults, encourages me to once again become an infant in evil. It doesn't mean I'm naive about the world or the struggles people face. It does mean I think less about the world and more about God, developing the mind of Christ. Meditating on Christ and developing His life in me. It's good to be innocent about evil. God desires that for my life. True maturity comes when my mind is informed and transformed by Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to become and infant in evil and adult in my thinking by developing the mind of Christ.
SCRIPTURE
We are Jews by birth and not "Gentile sinners"; yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are also found to be sinners, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. For through the law I have died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. (Galatians 2:15-21)
OBSERVATION
Paul is making a contrast between living a life by the law and living a life by faith. The life of law is about doing things, keeping the checklist, as a way to earn God's favor. Hoping the good outweighs the bad. Its focus is on the external but it never gets to the root of the issue...my heart. Living by faith means trust. It is through Jesus I am justified (declared "not guilty" before God) from my sin. It is an inside job because Christ lives in me. He changes my heart and produces a new life.
APPLICATION
Here is the struggle. How do I live a life pleasing to God? Paul alludes to that in this passage. Essentially, there are two ways to live:
First, My own strength (the flesh) => Trying to do good things => No justification (right relationship with God) because I'll fall short.
Second, The strength of Christ => Die to self (crucified with Christ) => Live by faith => Right relationship with God (justified).
It's really about freedom. I can try to do it on my own or, I can let Christ do it through me. It's a matter of getting self (the flesh) out of the way and allowing Christ, living in me, to direct my life. The reality is, as a follower of Jesus, he is living in me through the power of the Holy Spirit. When I get angry, yield to temptation, or live in a way that does not honor God, it is in those moments my flesh is calling the shots.
Crucifixion was a long, slow, painful process. If I have been crucified with Christ it sometimes means a long, slow, painful process of bringing my life under his control. Some areas die quickly. However, there are still areas of self that want to stay alive and remain in control...sins and bad habits that linger.
Paul repeatedly warns the Galatians about the temptation to revert to living by the flesh. I think that's why Jesus said I am to carry my cross daily. It is a daily thing to bring self to the cross and have the life of Jesus lived out in my life.
PRAYER
Lord, today help me to live by faith and not in the flesh. I want Jesus, who lives in me, to call the shots.
