April 9: Matthew 28:1-7
Key Verse: Matthew 28:6
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Devotion:
One of the biggest comforts I get from being a Christian is I do not have to face death in the same way as the rest of the world! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like the idea of having to die physically, but I know in my heart that is not the end of everything but the beginning of something very special.
Seeing the pain and anguish some people face when they know they are coming to the end of their physical life should be enough to put anyone off; and seeing the demeanour of someone who knows Christ is quite different when they face their physical death. Jesus had to face so much more than we could imagine for our deaths because He was taking on a lot more than just physical death.
But today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the reason why He was not fearful of the physical death which faced Him a short while before. Many people look for ways in which they can live a few more years or stay looking younger as they get older, but what they lose sight of is the reason for living! Jesus example to us should change everyone's minds, but sadly many people close their minds off from the hope we have through Jesus.
Jesus death and resurrection gives us the hope of eternal life after our physical death and gives us a comfort which goes far beyond the anguish we may have to face when we near our physical death. Each person who went to look for Jesus in the tomb was looking to physical evidence and a reason to mourn. What they found was evidence Jesus had come back to life and a reason to celebrate!
Points to Ponder:
Do you get caught up in the anguish of death?
Will you look forward to the joy of eternal life instead?
April 8: 1 Peter 4:1-6
Key Verse: 1 Peter 4:2
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Devotion:
Jesus did not keep it a secret how we would have to face sufferings of various kinds just because we follow Him. The more we reflect Christ through our lives the more we will face opposition for simply doing what Christ asks of us. Nobody likes to be shown up for the things they do wrong, and living a Christ-like life will show up people around you just because people will see His ways through what you are doing.
People will try to tempt you into following earthly ways and will wonder why you do not join them in their wicked ways; the answer should be made clear to them so they understand why you choose to live the way you do. It is not your task to judge others or to shame them into doing or not doing something. It is your job to live more like Christ so others can see the difference and make decisions for themselves.
If we look into our lives we will see all sorts of things we have done wrong in our pasts and many of those things could well be worse than what others are doing – not because of the act itself but because of the intent behind the act. God wants us to continue to do what is right, but aiming to do what is righteous in all ways is a better aim in our lives.
Do not allow the world to convince you there is no sin when everyone else is doing it too – that just means everyone is sinning! Jesus gave His life for the things we have done wrong. If you have time today, spend a bit of time thinking of the times you chose to do wrong and what that did for Jesus. Spend a bit more time thinking of the things you do before you jump in and do it anyway!
Points to Ponder:
How often do you think before you act?
Will you spend a bit more time thinking?
April 7: John 18:15-18
Key Verse: John 18:17
‘You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?’ she asked Peter. He replied, ‘I am not.’
Devotion:
What do you do when people mock you about knowing Jesus? What do you do when people mock Jesus around you? We all like to think we would stand up for Jesus and not allow anything bad to be said about Him, but we may well fail in the same manner as Peter did here. The failure is not because we do not know Jesus or that we do not love Him, but because we fear for our own lives instead.
Jesus has taught us we are to deny ourselves and follow Him; but this is a very big ask of many people because they have so much to lose in the world. When a certain rich man asked Jesus how to be saved he was told he would have to sell everything first – this was the centre of this rich man's life! When we cling on to worldly things our bond with Jesus is not as strong as it could be and certainly not as strong as we think it is! The world and it’s temptations goes much deeper than all the bad things we can think of!
We are going to face many things in our lives which will tempt us away from Jesus just as Jesus Himself had to face temptation from the evil one! The temptations will sound much better than anything we have in our lives; that is what makes them temptations! Jesus knows we are going to face them and He tries to give us the strength to reject them – but it is our choice as to what we do in the end.
Peter chose the easy way out because he saw what was happening to Jesus. He did not want to get taken away by the Romans and probably could not see why this should happen to Jesus. He may have been thinking: how is Jesus not saving Himself? But Jesus made the choice to do this for us. He willingly gave His life for us.
Points to Ponder:
Who were Jesus disciples at this time?
Do you realise Jesus did this for you too?
April 6: John 13:1-11
Key Verse: John 13:10
Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’
Devotion:
Depending on where you are in the world today could be known as something like Maundy Thursday, Holy Thursday or Thursday of Mysteries. Whatever you know this day as, it is the day Christians commemorate some of the things Jesus did before being taken away; one of them being the washing of the feet of the disciples by Jesus. We may cringe a little at the thought of having to bow down and wash someone else's feet, but give a thought to Jesus back then...
We tend to walk around with shoes and socks or stockings to protect our feet and hence our feet are kept in a reasonable condition. Back then most people would be wearing some form of open sandal and walking around the dusty streets and paths would mean a whole lot of dirt would collect, and on hot days that may well mix in with sweat! Whilst I’m sure they would have cleaned their feet to some extent after coming into the house, things would still not be like nowadays!
Jesus did not do this because of the state of their feet but rather because of the state of their souls – and not the souls of their shoes! Jesus knew the state of each of the disciples. He knew what they were going through and He knew what they were about to face. That was of more concern to Him right now than the string of events which would be coming His way! That is love!
Peter did not want to have his Lord stoop down to wash his feet, so he objected to start with. But when Jesus hinted it was of more importance than anything to now Peter wanted Jesus to wash everything! But Jesus told him it was the single act of washing a single part which would make the whole clean. Jesus knows that cleaning us is going to be an ongoing task because we will continue to sin, but it is the first act of cleaning which proclaims us as clean forever!
Points to Ponder:
Do you get tied up in worrying about your sins?
Jesus has forgiven you the first time – that is enough!