Easter: Thursday, May 3, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

Joshua 13:1-13

We see the Lord tell Joshua that he is not strong enough to drive out the remaining people; the Lord will do it. While we may or not be as old as Joshua in this passage, we are all frail. None of us are as strong as we would like to think that we are; it is only by God's power we can do anything. God will accomplish what He sets out to accomplish. He will do what He intends to do. The joy is that He will also use us. Let us remember that He is the one at work; He is the potter, we are vessel.

New Testament Lesson

Colossians 2:8-23

One of the things we can do in life, if we are not careful, is that we fall in love with form more than substance. For instance in this passage Paul warns the church not get caught of in the old things, the new moon, etc. He says they were just getting the people ready for this new day; they were pointing people toward Christ. Not that they were bad, but they were not the point. Jesus is the point.

We can get so used to, and so comfortable with the way that we like things done, that we can believe to feel like it is the only way it should be done. I like to pray a certain way and do my devotional life a certain way. It is not the only way. I like a certain type of music, it is not the only type. I like my church. It is not the only church. These things only point to God, they are not God. Do not follow in love only with the arrow pointing to God, fall in love with God.

Gospel Lesson

Luke 6:39-49

I once heard a great sermon base off this passage. The preacher said that you cannot say the phrase "No, Lord." The reason being is that if you say no, then He is not your Lord. You simply do not say not to your Lord. It is not allowed. We cannot (or should not) call Jesus Lord if we do not obey. It is not simply enough to like Jesus or think He's a swell fellow, or admire what He did on the cross. We must obey. If we are are going to call Him Lord, we must obey Him. As James tell us, even the devils believe, but do not obey. Let us believe, and obey.