The Stone's been rolled away!!

Scripture:  Matt 28:1 & 2, & 6 “Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene & the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.  Suddenly there was a great earthquake!  For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone and sat on it…….”He isn’t here!  He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.  Come, see where his body was lying”

 

Observation: Jesus has risen.   He has overcome death and vacated the tomb!!!  Did He need the stone rolled away to let Him out?  Of course not – we have evidence in other appearances that locked doors & walls were no barrier to Him in His resurrected body!!  No, it has occurred to me that the appearing of the angel & the rolling of the stone was purely for the 2 Mary’s - & later the disciples’ – benefit.  The Lord needed to “pull out all stops” to show He truly lived.  What an amazing plan.  What an amazing thought that the Creator of the Heavens & the earth would stoop to walk upon this earth, to die for humanity to restore us to Himself, & then go to great lengths to prove the veracity of His word!!  He could have just walked through the tombstone & turned up with the disciples.  But, no, with His great love, He appears first to those dedicated women who are at the tomb to do what they can for Him.  Later, He tells Thomas “believing is seeing”, and for those to come, that is true, but on this resurrection morning, seeing was the first step to believing, and He continued to woo & to love His followers into complete belief by ensuring the stone was rolled away!

 

Application: The love of the Lord displayed in the effort He went to to show the disciples that he truly was risen is a fresh revelation to me of His desire that ALL come to Him in faith – that He would have NONE perish!  As He met these dear ones where they were, as He ensured that the evidence of His resurrection was clear, as he ensured the tombstone was rolled away for them, not for Him, so He meets each one of us today!!  He goes out of His way to roll away our tombstones – those things that keep us trapped in unbelief & despair.  The stone’s been rolled away alright, but it wasn’t to let Him out – it was to let me out of the prison that my own sinfulness & choices had put me in!! To show me afresh how deeply He loves me.  He did it all for me – this is just the extra “proof” of that – He is going the extra mile!  He loves me!!  How grateful I am!!

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, You love me!!!  My heart so full of gratitude that You were the One - & still are – who moved every obstacle – including that tombstone – to my ability to believe that You died and rose again for me!!!  I catch a glimpse of the joy of the 2 Mary’s who came to anoint Your earthly body & discovered You gone!  I join in their joy.  You did it all for me, and I am so thankful!!

In Jesus’ name   Amen.

 

Sue Otto

I am surrounded

Scripture:

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.  Psalm 125:2

 

Observation:

Such security if found in God.  The Psalmist speaks of how on the perimeter of the valley that surrounds Jerusalem the mountains encircle the city and offer safety.  He compares this ring of mountains that hem in Jerusalem to the way the Lord protects His people- it is like a natural defense on every side.  I get the picture from the surrounding verses that the nation was either under Gentile domination or the rule of very wicked leaders.  But as if declaring it not only over the city but over himself, the psalmist affirms just as the mountains of Jerusalem are unshakeable, so are the righteous believer who are secure in God.

 

Application:

Just like the unshakeable mountains that surround Jerusalem, God surrounds me.  He protects me.  He hems me in from either side- He is my defense.  

 

Prayer:

Father, thank you.   Thank you for surrounding me today, for going before me, for encompassing my heart and hedging protection over my every move. The lengths you go to to protect me remind me of how precious I am to you.  That you encircle me and defend me reveals your rock-solid dependability and security.  It’s you who defends me from the assault of the enemy and I renew my trust in YOU today.  Thank you for reminding me of how secure I am when hidden between the mountains of your great love for me.

 

 

 

Hayley

Immaculate Conception

Scripture

Matthew 1: 18 “Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit” (New Living Translation).

 

Observation

There are many aspects about Christianity that make up the corpus of its belief system. This event, stated in a simple sentence would prove to be one of the greatest events ever listed amongst the Christian faith. God coming to earth as a child, born of a virgin, fathered by the Holy Spirit. With all of our education and knowledge of biology we know that this is humanly impossible. But Matthew records this was not only a human event with human constrictions. This was an Immaculate Conception that brought the Creator from the halls of heaven into His creation. The time of Immanuel had come.

 

Application

My human logic has been shaped and educated over the years to rationalise and test every claim made against a set of rules or laws. The Immaculate Conception goes against all of this logic and breaks all of the rules! Therefore my humanity cannot grasp this divine event and so faith enters. As I think about Mary receiving Christ, I am confronted by the concept of me receiving Christ into my own life. An Immaculate Conception took place in my life when I received Jesus as my Lord & Saviour. He came and birthed a new life in me when I was born again into his family. My life can now be pregnant with potential conceived by the Holy Spirit. And I have a choice – to try and rationalise this event or begin to live in faith as a newly born child of Christ.

 

Prayer

Jesus I thank you for new life. Being born into your family has been the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. Thank you. May I live out all of the implanted potential the Holy Spirit has deposited in me and may I see your kingdom continue to bear many children.

A Small Cog In The Big Wheel.

 

 

Scripture:

 

1 Corinthians 12:12

‘Our bodies have many parts, but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together.  So it is with the ‘Body’ of Christ.’

 

Observation:

 

Have you seen those big posters on the walls of a fitness centre where the diagrams explain all the stretches the body is able to do?  Muscles a plenty!  I am sure they all have names for each of them but I wouldn’t have a clue!  The doctors surgery and chiropractor also have charts, naming different bones and veins and organs of the body.  Some I am familiar with, some not so.  But all these charts are from the same human body, all have a ‘part’ to play to make a ‘whole’ body. 

 

Without the heart, blood could not be pumped around the body and be oxygenated.  Without the lungs, no air could be inhaled for the blood.  Without the eyes, there’s no vision . . . . . I could go on and on, but each part of the body has an important role to play in the proper day to day functioning.

 

Application:

 

I am part of a body that needs me to help it to function.  I am not the only part.  I may not be a big part, but nonetheless I am one of the many cogs in the wheel.  The cog beside me needs me and I need them.  The part on the other side of the body will notice if I am not functioning property.  I am needed, useful,I have a name and I have a gift.

 

The Body of Christ is made up on lots of parts just like me.  I am insignificant on my own – but I would be missed if you look at the chart and did a checklist.  My role to play has been chosen by God and with that he has given me the ability to carry it out – not in my own strength but His.

 

Prayer:

 

Thank you God that you saw fit to include me in your big plan.  My gifts are for your use and I pray that I be consistent, faithful and trustworthy to carry out whatever you desire of me.

 

A small cog in the big wheel.

 

Terry B

 

 

The Project

Scripture: 

 

1 Corinthians 3: 13 

‘There’s going to be a time of testing at Christ’s Judgement Day to see what kind of material each builder has used.  Everyone’s work will be put through the fire so that all can see whether or not it keeps its value and what was really accomplished.”

 

Observation:

 

It’s school project time and the students have been given a task.  It’s their own choice what the project is – but presentation date is set sometime in the distant future and owner onus is paramount.  The task is announced, expectations are set out clear and precise for all students to understand.

Any Questions?  Does everybody understand the task?  Are you sure you know what is required?  Any hands up?”  The teacher reiterates one more time – “don’t hesitate to contact me at any time if you don’t understand – I am here to help”

 

Materials to be used must be of top quality.  Write down the process of the task – what worked – what didn’t – complete the task and get ready for presentation day.  “I will expect to see your project delivered to the school on the said day for all to see.  Questions will be asked about the progress and result of your project so preparation is expected.

 

 

Application:

 

My task has been set before me by my God – clear and precise.  The  expectations are high but the Teacher is available at all times to guide, advise and encourage.  The task is mine – no-one else can do it for me.  The plan is set and the process needs to commence.  Procrastination is such a human fault – I must start, continue without stoping, and finish my task.

 

 

Prayer:

 

My materials and handbook for my journey to my destination are in my hand. Thank you Lord that you are with me through all the steps along the way.

When I stumble you are there to pick me up and I thank you for that.  You always have my best interest at hand and I know that you want me to achieve the best result possible. 

 

May all that I do -  be able to withstand the coming fire.

 

Terry B

 

 

 

 

FREEDOM for FREEDOMS sake!

Scripture:

Galatians 5 verse 1
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. STand firm, then, and do not
let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery"

Observation:

Christ has set us free so that we can live in freedom, so that we can be free.
No hidden meaning or hidden agenda, we were set free simply for this - to live
free.

Application:

Freedom, however, is a choice, it's not something forced upon me, it's
something I choose to live in. I need to stand firm in it, because just as
Christ offers me freedom, the enemy offers me slavery. Sounds like an easy
choice really, and it is, but the enemy has a way of making evil look good, a
way of dressing up sin so it looks appetising enough for me to indulge. But NO
- STAND FIRM! The enemy offers us tricks and deceit in EXCHANGE for slavery,
but Christ offers us freedom in EXCHANGE for MORE FREEDOM! He makes us free
for the sake of being being free! I think I'll take Him up on His offer.

Prayer:

God I don't want to live another day falling for the enemys lies, deceit and
seduction. Help me see his fake offers for the lies they are, they will only
ever buy me slavery and bondage. But you've called me to live in freedom,
you're freedom. To be free for the sake of being free! Thankyou for sending
your son, everyday thankyou. I pray I never get tired of thanking you...
FREEDOM!

Amen

James Williams

It's no longer I who lives!

Scripture

Galatians 2: 20 “I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.

 

Observation

Christ truly loved me. He didn’t baulk at the cross but he saw my life and the life of all humanity (before, during and after his lifetime here on earth) and because his love was true, he took our sin and nailed it to the cross. My life therefore belongs to him and as I make choices each day as to how I express my desires, my emotions, my decisions, my morality, my ethics… I constantly need to remember that it is Christ’s life that now resides in me and it is the way he would live that should shape my day and all it contains.

 

Application

I need an alarm bell in my head. Every time I go to make a decision, entertain a thought, feel fear, I need the alarm bell to ring to warn me of any impending action that may be contrary to what Christ would do. The wonderful reality is that I have that alarm bell. It is Christ’s presence in my life in the shape of the Holy Spirit. He has come to live in me! He becomes my activated, monitored alarm system. My job is to listen and take heed of the ringing tone he sets off in my head when a wrong choice is about to be made. Courage and boldness is available to carry it through. Wisdom and understanding comfort me. I remind myself – I died, He lives in me.

 

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for life.

 

Jim Jung

Only if you believe

John 11:22

Have faith in God.  I ASSURE you that you can say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and your command will be obeyed.  All that’s required is that you “REALLY BELIEVE” and do not doubt in your heart.  Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it………………..

 

Observation:

Jesus was really trying to get this point across, just believe.  Doubt in my heart is the thing that stops my answers to prayer.  Jesus said that I could pray for ANYTHING and where I believe I  can have it…. What an awesome promise, no conditions, no if or buts….. as long as I  believe with no doubt in my heart.

 

Application:

I need to keep my heart in the place of believing, I put conditions on things my self, and often give a justifying answer as to why prayers are not answered…… simply believe and have faith in what Jesus tells me, just believe, believe, believe.

 

Prayer:

Father, Help me to believe, take away the doubt that floods my heart.  Let me see the desires of my heart not doubting for a moment, I will stand on your promise and believe with all my heart that you will answer and give me answers to my prayers…

 

Amen

 

Stephen Hutchison