Easter: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

1 Samuel 16:1-13

We see in David nothing outstanding, yet he was the one that God choose to lead His people. The Word says that God doesn't look at the things that we do, God looks inside at the heart. God saw inside of David something that no one else could see. This has two words for us.

First, God sees what you can be. God sees something special inside of each of us, for we are each made in His image (Genesis 1:27). He sees what you can be, what is special inside of you, that no one else possesses. You are a special person, unlike anyone else in all of creation. You have special gifts and talents that no one else has. God sees what you can become.

Second, that means that He sees who you really are. We all hid things. We hide our sin. We hide our secrets. We hide our disobedience. We don't like to let others see who we really are. I like to joke and say that everyone behaves for the preacher. Some folks don't, I know that, but many do. Our outside image often is very different from who we are on the inside. But, God knows what is inside of us. Just as He was able to see David's heart and righteousness, He can also see if our heart matches our what we say that we are. Today, does you heart match your lifestyle? Or, do we live one way and claim to be another?

New Testament Lesson

Ephesians 3:14-21

This passage has one of my favorite verses in all the Bible. That we may be able to know that love that surpasses knowledge. That is a great gift for us that believe, that we can know this love of God that is greater than our minds' ability to understand. Through the grace of our Lord, we can know just how much God loves. And, as Paul writes, that love can be that which gives us deep roots and a firm foundation.

Today, do you know that great love of God? Have you pondered just how much God loves you? Have you drank deep from His river of life? Friends, we can be loved like we have never been loved before! Today, do you know just how much your God loves you?

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 8:18-27

We see two stories in this passage. First we see Jesus tell His followers that they must follow Him first, be obedient to Him first, and leave everything else behind. You know, that's nice in theory, but we don't really like doing that. We see in this passage, that folks respond in different ways. One says he will, and Jesus said be careful, you will be giving up the things of the world, for foxes have dins but the Jesus had no where to lay His head. Then, another says that he will do, if he can bury his father first, to which Jesus said let the dead bury the dead.

If we are placing anything, anything in life above Jesus, we are not worthy of Him. Those are harsh words. That brings up storms in our lives, because we don't want to give up these things we've grown so accustomed to. But, Jesus said we must.

Then, we see how He handles those storms. He calms them. If we follow, if we trust and obey, He will calm the storms in our lives. He will speak peace, either to the raging sea, or our raging heart. Today, if you walk with Him, you can find peace. Today, do you follow? Will you allow Him to calm your storms?