Jesus is alive!

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ©

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
(Matthew 28:6 (NIV))

Looking back at the last several weeks and what the whole world has endured, we need some good news!

There is no better news that we can receive than a heavenly announcement and acknowledgment that Jesus is alive!

When the angels announced that Jesus was not in the tomb, those who followed Jesus probably had been thinking prior to this announcement that their hopes had been shattered at the crucifixion. Can you imagine the joy that these words brought to them? They probably went from a feeling of despair and hopelessness to a feeling of jubilation and a peace that they did not understand.

What type of feelings have you experienced over the last several weeks? Be honest with yourself. Have you focused on the events of this world instead of focusing on God’s promises to those who love Him? If you have focused on God’s promises, I would venture to say that this Resurrection Sunday was probably a unique one as well as a blessed one. We may not have gathered in our church buildings to celebrate, but this reinforces the fact that buildings don’t make the church. People do!

Jesus came into the world to bring salvation to people, to individuals who would place their faith in Him. No matter how many people may be around you, in God’s plan, it doesn’t matter. He can call you in the middle of a large crowd or He can call you in the middle of a desert. If the world tries to keep His people from meeting together, then the Lord can meet with each one of us individually as He sees fit. This can only be done because we have placed our faith in His Son, Jesus, as our personal Lord and Savior. This only matters because of one very important piece of good news!

The grave could not hold Him!

The stone has been rolled away!

He defeated the power of sin and death!

There are many ways to express this absolute truth, but perhaps the one that is best is also the simplest.

Jesus is alive!

Copyright 1998 – 2020 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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How do you know Jesus?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
(1 John 2:4-6 (NIV))

What constitutes knowing Jesus?

There are many people who know that Jesus was a great teacher, but they do not follow what He taught. There are many people who know that Jesus was a prophet, yet they do not believe in what He foretold. There are those who say they know that Jesus offers salvation, yet they live their lives as if they have rejected this gift. There are many people who say that Jesus is the Son of God, yet they do not give Him the authority in their lives that this acknowledgment means. Then there are those who claim that Jesus is all of these and they model their lives upon the teachings, the prophetic words, the salvation, and the authority that He brought to this earth.

Where do you fall in this mix of possibilities? How do you know Jesus? Perhaps we should ask ourselves this question. How does Jesus know us? Would He see His teachings in our lives? Would He see His prophetic words in our lives? Would He see us in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Would He see us as a humble and willing servant?

Many people “know” Jesus. Is your knowledge of Him honest and sincere? Do you walk as Jesus did?

Copyright 1998 – 2017 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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Acknowledgement

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD”–
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Selah
(Psalms 32:5 (NIV))

Have you ever truly reflected on this simple, yet profound fact of God’s grace and mercy?

All we have to do is acknowledge that we are sinners, confessing our sins to God, and He will forgive them! Nothing could be simpler and nothing could be so complicated at the same time! It is so simple and elegant that we, in our efforts to make things more than they are, have come to the conclusion that because it is so simple that it must not be true. I suppose that you could say that this fits into the same category as the saying that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Perhaps we should take a look at the Word of God and what happens to those who acknowledge their sin and ask for forgiveness. They will be at the wedding feast of the Lamb! There is the free lunch. Not only are we, as sinners, not worthy of forgiveness, but after God forgives us, He invites us to the ultimate feast as part of the Bride of Christ.

God is good and His grace endures forever.

Have you taken the time to acknowledge your sins, confessing them before God? Have you accepted His grace and mercy?

Copyright 1998 – 2010 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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