Tuesday, March 31, 2015

JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 26-27

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

This photo is of the Jordan Valley wilderness (or Judean Desert) looking towards Jerusalem, which is just beyond the horizon.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 26:23

May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.

We may be dismayed as a result of today’s reading. Man’s inhumanity to man is evident, and yet David was loyal to Saul, who became his enemy. David loved Saul as evidenced by David’s lament at Saul’s death. As a shepherd, David’s enemies were the mountain lions and the bears. He would have led his flocks through the above pictured territory to the table lands just to the north. He wrote, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23). We have the advantage of looking ahead through the centuries to the Seed of David, Jesus, who loves unconditionally and who has won the ultimate battle against the “last enemy” (read 1 Corinthians 15:20-28). “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
The resurrection of Jesus is the proof of Jesus’ total victory!!! The words of the angels found in Luke 24:6 are “He is not here, He is risen!” (click here to read a resurrection chapter, Luke 24).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, in another resurrection chapter (1 Corinthians 15), Your servant Paul draws a conclusion from the fact that You are risen from the dead. I conclude with Paul that I am to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” I pray for Your resurrection power to be released more and more in me to produce in a greater way those results. In Your conquering Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve stood at the graves of my mother and father, one in Ruperts, Quebec, and the other in Elgin, Ontario. Mother died when I was 12 and Dad when I was 36. I heard the minister say the words of Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life.” I thought, “It’s true! I believe it!” As I read the words on their grave stones, I’ve exclaimed, “O Lord, the resurrection could happen right now while I’m standing here!” But I walk away knowing that there’s still work to be done.

Bruce Stacey, my son-in-law, created the animated video shows called God Rocks where the rocks speak. Bruce was inspired by the words of Jesus on Palm Sunday, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40). My favourite episode in the series is called “Rez, the Rock that Rolled.” The rock’s name had been “Tombstone,” an unhappy, pessimistic rock. But when he was rolled away by the angels and Jesus walked out of the tomb, his name was changed to “Rez!” His whole nature and outlook on life was transformed. Here is a link to some visuals from that episode (Unfortunately, I’m told that the DVDs of this episode are currently out of stock).

Yours in complete confidence that the stone was rolled away and “He is risen!”

David

The Garden Tomb, Jerusalem.

Many believe that it was inside this “Garden Tomb” in Jerusalem that Jesus’ body was laid. This tomb was originally made for a shorter man, perhaps Joseph of Arimathea, but as you can see on the right, the end was dug out to fit a taller man’s body.

14 thoughts on “Tuesday, March 31, 2015

  1. That is an amazing DVD clip sorry to hear it is out maybe a reprint can be done
    this is great for all children to view
    thank you for the short clip

  2. So much killing! What an awful life – killing all the people in each town/area. Red sky this morning in Southern Ontario.

  3. Good morning everyone: I will miss the Good Friday service and Easter Sunday, I am having my surgery (God Willing) on Thursday and expect to be home on Good Friday. I would really appreciate your prayers, as I may have mentioned before this is the 4th time for the same operation. I read I Corinthiians 15 and was so encouraged by it, The Lord Jesus will see me through. Bless each and everyone of you and Sah I will pray for your situation. Eleanor M.

    • Yes, Lord. We lift Eleanor up to you and pray for your hands to guide the surgeons who operate on her to successfully bring healing to her body, this fourth and final time. Protect her with the precious blood of Jesus, amen!

  4. Times were certainly tough when David and Saul lived on this earth….ghastly undertakings of these men.

    “Today is Tuesday of Holy Week. On this day our Lord confronted Pharisees and Sadducees who sought to kill him (John 11:53-57). In three days he will face the rejection of the crowds who shouted their adulation just two days ago. He will be mocked, beaten, and killed.

    How did our Lord respond? By loving those who hated him. By forgiving them as they executed him. By praying for them as they crucified him (Luke 23:34). And the world has never been the same.”

    May God bless each of us in our needs.

  5. I am very interested in growing spiritually in the Holy Spirit. I need some enthusiasm and more love for Jesus, but am struggling. Please pray for and encourage me in some way. Thank you. Evelyn

    • I think you should be encouraged by fact that you are struggling. As we grow in the flesh we struggled. We struggle to turn over as a baby, learning to walk as a toddler, learning how speak, to read. We struggled with our first broken heart when we fell in love for the first time as a teen, struggle to learn to drive a car, deciding what career or path to take in life. Later we struggle in our marriages,or single life, our jobs, raising children or not having them. We struggle with pain, loss, and aging. Every level of growth is accompany by struggle. So if you are struggling in your spirit, then you are growing. Just tell God you are willing, co-operate with Him. He is more interested in your growth than you are. And the best way I know to love Jesus more is to open your heart to receive His love. The more you are willing to allow Him to love you, the more you will be able to love– He is the gas, you are the car, and your heart is the gas tank. Let Him fill you with love, don’t try to be the gas, just let Him fill you. Be willing and open. And you sound like you are– and remember sometimes struggling is part of the journey, not a failure.

  6. Jesus, Lord God Almighty, what a Great Victory you won for us…How faithful and true all Your ways are…what a Joy it is to know You Live, You are Alive, You Arose and Live forevermore…and we live in You, we who believe and know You Are Alive in us. Thank You, Thank You, thank You. Amen! and Amen!

    I’m looking forward for the coming days to celebrate Your Victory in remembrance in all You have done.

    The way and character of Jesus evident in David…who loved his enemy Saul! and did no harm to him. The killing a doing away of sinfulness of man.

  7. Thank you Rev. David and Rev. Reynold for today’s pictures…especially the tomb, as a reminder that “JESUS IS ALIVE, HE HAS RISEN”!!! and the tomb is empty. PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!

  8. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice for the world. Had a good time of prayer this morning and felt the reality of His presence. Lord we commit Eleanor and Evelyn to you today for a special touch of Your Spirit. Thank you David and family for your continued faithfulness.

  9. Sah, maybe you can speak to someone at crossroads who can maybe help connect you to a good tenant. Email someone at Crossroads. It is sometimes hard for christians to find good landlords.

    • Thanks so much for the prayers, I am trusting The Lord and I feel privileged that I am part of the family of God. It is so comforting to have others pray when we are in need. Bless you.

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