Easter: Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Exodus 33:1-23

The Word says that the Lord spoke with Moses as a man speaks to his friend. What a great image of what prayer should be like. You know what it is like when you spend time with a dear friend, how you can speak and laugh and cry together? How you can have such a sense of peace and of joy? That is what prayer should be like.

Prayer is not as much about the words we pray as it is about spending time with our Lord. It is about coming into God's presence and bowing before Him.

But, you don't become best friends with someone the first time you meet. It takes a long time to know someone that deeply. Prayer is the same. The first time you pray, it may be hard and challenging and worrisome. But, keep praying. No one prays as they should. We are all learning and striving and praying. Is your prayer life not what you want it to be? Keep praying. Don't give up. The more time we spend with God, the more deeply we know Him and the more our friendship grows. Today, even when you might not feel like it; keep praying.

New Testament Lesson

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

The Gospel is good news to those that believe, but it is not always received well by the world. It will face opposition. The church is to be different that the world and is not conform to the values of the world. And, if we live and preach the Gospel, we will face opposition. But, we must not be discouraged by this, for it shows we are being faithful.

And while the Gospel may not be received by all, it is needed by all. And we must be faithful. While we present the Gospel for the sake of those that are in need, we also present it to the glory of God. While we may be opposed by the world, God will be with us. The one that we seek to please in life is not the world, but God.

Today, are you living more to please the world? Or more to please God? He must be the one we are most concerned with, and we we face such opposition for the Gospel, know that He is with us.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus tells us today that while we live by grace, grace is not an excuse to sin. Our righteousness must surpass that the Pharisees. What did He mean by that? It means that not only must our actions be right, but our heart must be right. You can do the right thing with wrong motives. That wrong motives invalidates the right action. For the Christian to be righteousness, it is not enough just to "do right," we must "be right." Like wise, our heart, our motives, they are worthless unless they produce a righteous life? What is a righteous life look like?

Matthew 22: 36-40

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Love of God and Love of neighbor. Today, friends, do you love your God will all you have? Do you love your neighbor as yourself. As Christians, that is what we must be doing.