Victory!

Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory! (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Why does it matter that a Jewish carpenter who lived 2000 years ago lived to tell about when He was crucified by the Romans?

1 Corinthians 15:21-22– For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Romans 6:3-11–Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8–For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

1 Peter 1:3--Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:57–But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because we believe that that Jewish carpenter still lives, we also can live. His death gave us hope, life, and the victory.

Have a wonderful day rejoicing at Christ’s resurrection from the dead and His redemptive work in us!

He is not here, for He is risen!! (Matthew 28:6)

The Day of Despair

Can you imagine the despair of this day?
Jesus is DEAD. As Ashley has reminded us, He really did die. Everyone knew it. He was gone. In a tomb.

The disciples are in hiding. We often act as if this was shameful or cowardly, but put yourself in their places! They had followed this man for three years; they had followed Him out in the open, so they were well-known. Now He was gone.

What were they to do with their lives? Would they even get a chance, or would they too be hunted down and killed?

They could not see how this day was necessary. Have you ever come to a point of utter hopelessness and helplessness? Have you every looked at your life and seen no point, no purpose?

That's where we are without Christ. We are hopeless, without God in the world. We are separated from our only hope because of our sin. We are in despair. In our sin, it doesn't matter if the sun is shining, because we are bound to a place of darkness and utter isolation.

Have you ever seen yourself as this kind of sinner? HOPELESS?

We all know that the story doesn't end here, but in order for the story of the resurrection to be as joyful and hopeful as it is, we must understand our condition without it.

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:8

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

"For the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23a

"And you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit now at work among the sons of disobedience..." Ephesians 2:1-2

"Remember that at that time you were separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." Ephesians 2:12

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." Romans 5:12

The disciples didn't know the rest of the story, as we do. Today, meditate on who you are without Christ. Though it is not a pleasant thought, maybe it will help us to be bolder in sharing our faith, because we KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY.

All those around us who do not know Christ live like this every day of their lives. They have no hope. They are separated from Christ. They live Black Saturday every day.

As the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2, "REMEMBER..." Remembering our sin makes the Resurrection GLORIOUS! But if you don't know Christ as Savior, today is your life. Don't wait to turn to Christ and see how your darkness can be infused with His LIGHT!
If you have any questions about how to know Christ, comment on this post, or click the "contact me" button on the side of this page, and we would love to tell you about the REST OF THE STORY.

It doesn't get any better than this

“It doesn’t get any better than this.”

My pastor says that almost every Communion Sunday, and this week was no exception. And, as usual, it was true. It doesn’t get any better than when we are in the presence of a holy God worshiping Him and remembering what He has done for us. Those moments are sacred, and in the sacred, we feel God with us. We long for that...for a holy God who is with us. We know that He, the great I AM, the Holy One of Israel, has come and is with us. Like Moses before us, we stand on holy ground. We stand in the presence of God and know that He has forgiven us and we can approach the throne of grace with confidence (con < L. “with,” fidence=fidelis <. L. “faith;” we can approach with faith). And during Communion, we remember our God. We taste and see His goodness, and we know that we are forgiven. How can it get any better? It doesn’t–it doesn’t get any better than to know that Jesus has washed us with His own blood and presents us blameless before God. It doesn’t get any better than to remember that and rejoice in it with other believers.


Jesus promised that where two or three are gathered in His name, He will be there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Isn’t that what church is? A time when many gather together in His name to worship Him? And does that not mean that He will be there with us? We are in the presence of God. In His presence is joy. Joy complete and full there in the presence of God. No wonder Sundays are so full of joy. We are with God. Does it get any better?

Obedience

In my devotions right now, I'm studying Esther. I don't know about you, but when I know a Bible story backwards, forwards, and upside-down, and then go to study it, I catch myself quickly glazing over the truths I know so well! I begin to space off, and not really pay attention. As I started to study Esther, I was DETERMINED! I would NOT glaze over the book, and then come to the finish unchanged, and not knowing anything I hadn't known before!


Thus I began my study of Esther, asking God to "open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law!" He did.

Over and over obedience stood out at me as it never really had before! I think it comes back to passing over things I know well. I have been taught to be obedient for my ENTIRE LIFE! It is ingrained into the depths of me, and will never leave! But do I really know what obedience looks like? Do I obey?

I was specifically challenged with Esther's obedience to Mordecai! She was so submissive to Him...it's a good reminder to not just obey, but have a submissive attitude! Although Esther's obedience is amazing, I want to focus on someone far more important...the One Whose obedience gave us LIFE! Of course, I'm talking about Jesus!

I was talking with a friend a couple weeks ago, and she told me about something she does in her devotions. It sounded really neat, and so I started doing it too! At the end of my reading, I write down ways God loves me though the specific passage. Then, I write down ways I can love Christ back. With some passages it's easy, and with others it's more difficult, but I don't get up until I've written down both. It makes me think, and is an encouragement! I'm continually reminded of God's love for me!

All throughout the book of Esther I've been reminded that Jesus loved me by being obedient! In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus said, "Not my will," a true sign of obedience to His Father. In Philippians 2 Paul says Christ, "became obedient to the point of death, even the death of a cross!" Wow-- Christ's obedience saved my life! Paul goes on to say, "Therefore, God has also highly exalted Him, and given Him the name which is above every name, that AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW... AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER!" It is because of Christ's total obedience I am going to heaven and will one day share in His glory! He went above and beyond to show us that obedience is worth it! It is worth it.

When our little siblings see us, do they see obedience to our parents?
When people at church see us, do they see our obedience to authority?
When God sees the motives of our hearts, (which is all the time!) does He see obedience?
Do we obey?