Easter: Thursday, April 27, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Exodus 16:10-22

We see in this text that the people are to gather only enough manna for that one day. Why just enough for that one day? Wouldn’t gathering enough for two days be prudent? Aren’t we to plan ahead? Yes, we are to plan ahead, the Word says we must first count the cost before we do anything, but this is different.

It is different because this is a matter of trust and of faith. God wants the people to learn that they must trust Him for their everything and that should learn to depend upon Him for their provisions every day. Each day, God will provide. He doesn’t want to them to doubt. He knows that the road they face ahead will be long and hard, and they must learn to trust Him to take care of them.

Jesus told us to do the same thing. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Many of us pray that prayer on Sundays and each day of our lives. We have to ask God each day for our daily bread, trusting in Him to provide. And of course we are talking about more than bread, but every part of our lives.

Today, do you trust Him for the daily things of life? To you trust that He will give you what you need? Has He failed us before? Why would He start now? May He give us our daily bread today.

New Testament Lesson

1 Peter 2:11-25

We see in this passage the Christian must have a proper view of themselves. Because we are free in Christ, we are sometimes tempted to think that we are free to do whatever we like. That is not Christian freedom. Christian freedom means that we are free to do what is right. Part of what is right is a proper understanding of authority.

We all have authority over us. We all have a boss; we all have someone we report to. And, even if we didn’t, we all have God’s authority over us. We must learn to submit ourselves in a Christian way. Christ humbled Himself, even to death on a cross. In the same way we are not to think too highly of ourselves, rather we are to live lives of respect for each other, and for those that have authority over us.

But, who is our ultimate authority? God. He is the one that has the power of live and death, He is the one that is over all. So, let us as Christians live lives of respect and honor for all, submitting ourselves to God and His will.

Gospel Lesson

John 15:12-27

We see Jesus speak to the previous point of submission in this passage, where He says those famous words, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” We are to lay down our lives for those that we love. As a pastor, I am to lay down my life for my church. As husbands we are to lay down our lives for our wives, and as wives we are to lay down our lives for our husbands.

Love does not exalt its self, but rather submits itself. Love serves. Today, is there someone in your life that you love?

When was the last time you told them you loved them?

When was the last time you did something nice for them?

When was the last time you willing “let them have their way”?

When was the last time you laid down your life for them?

Jesus says that there is no great love than this. Today, let us not just talk about love, let us live love. And in the same time, when was the last time we laid down our lives for God and His will? Friends, it is not just enough to talk about it, let us live it.