Pursue Christ's agenda

"Instead of claiming to know what God says, ask questions of one another, such as ‘How do we understand God in this?’ But don’t go around pretending to know it all, saying ‘God told me this . . . God told me that. . . .’" ~ Jeremiah 23:35 (MSG)

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. ~ Colossians 3:1 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

As we live the resurrection life with Christ we will be pursuing the agenda that Christ is implementing.

PRAYER:

Risen Savior, I thank you for the new life that is mine because of the Easter event. Forgive me for pretending to know more about how that works out and what you are doing than I actually do. I treat my educated speculation as fact. Give me the humility to focus instead on living out your agenda. I don't need to be the know-it-all expert in all things spiritual. Give me the wisdom to keep my mouth closed. And please give me the wisdom to speak. I'm going to pursue your agenda over mine. Amen.

Christ gives me strength

When things are going well for you, be glad, and when trouble comes, just remember: God sends both happiness and trouble; you never know what is going to happen next. ~ Ecclesiastes 7:14 (GNT)

I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. Christ gives me the strength to face anything. ~ Philippians 4:12-13 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Christ gives us the strength to deal with both the good and the bad.

PRAYER:

Lord, I am grateful for the way that Christ strengthens me to deal with all that life throws my way. Sometimes I panic when the tough times come. I do that because I have temporarily taken my eyes off Jesus and my strength starts to fade. Please keep me mindful of your presence and the strength you provide. I'm going to be relaxed -- no matter what happens. For my contentment comes through the strength Christ shares with me. Amen.

Second Chances

Easter Monday

Jeremiah, say to the people, "This is what the Lord says:

'When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?'" ~ Jeremiah 8:4

A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” and so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”

Jesus said to him, "Take care of my sheep." ~ John 21:17

KEY IDEA:

The Lord gives his fallen people second chances.

PRAYER:

Lord, I'm so grateful that you are more interested in restoring sinners than in punishing them. You give us second -- third -- and fourth chances -- maybe even a lot more. Help me to not take your grace for granted. Use it to restore me so that I don't stumble so much. Praise be to the Risen Savior who raises up our fallen lives. Amen.

Death is defeated!

Resurrection Sunday

We live for seventy years or so (with luck we might make it to eighty), And what do we have to show for it? Trouble. Toil and trouble and a marker in the graveyard. ~ Psalm 90:10(MSG)

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus defeats death -- and that changes everything.

PRAYER:

Powerful God, thank you for raising Jesus from the dead. Thank you for defeating death on behalf of all of us. I want to start living the resurrection life right now. In spite of that desire I get distracted by old things and I need help overcoming them. But I am trusting in you to raise the resurrection life in me. Amen.