Easter: Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

Joshua 21:43-45, 22:1-6

We see here God keeping His promises to the people. That is one thing in life we don't have to worry about. God will be true to what He says He will do. That is one of the amazing things about God. God wants to enter into covenant with us. Normally, a covenant is between two equal parties. Our covenant with God is. He is greater than we are, yet, He still wants to, and will, keep His word to us, if we keep our part of the covenant.

We are the children of the New Covenant. God has promised to give us life eternal, and life even now, if we will believe and obey. He will be true to what He said He will do. Will we keep our part of the bargain? That is what got the people in trouble so often in the Old Testament. God was true to what He said He would do. The people were not true to what they said that would do. We have the same problem today. Will we keep our promises towards God? He keeps His. May we keep ours.

New Testament Lesson

Romans 13:1-14

One of the interesting accusations made towards Christians during the early church was that they were not good citizens of the Roman government because they would not worship Cesar. In all actuality, they were the best citizens because they did what Paul commanded them to in this passage. Respect the authorities, live a humble and honest life, and try to do right by everyone.

We live in an age of personal destruction. We see it in politics on both the national and local level. We all know it has been like this for many years, but it seems to have got so much more personal lately. It is not just enough for us to defeat our opponent, we must destroy them. It is not just enough to disagree with some one's opponent, that opinion makes them a terrible person.

Paul tells us to respect one another, those in power, and those not. And, try to live a life of love and peace with everyone. That doesn't happen much in our current age. But, if those of us that are Christians do not do that, who will. Remember, our words carry a lot of weight. Let us be careful what we say, and how we say it. Let us try to build up one another not tear down. Let us seek to live and love and be the people God has called us to be.

Gospel Lesson

Luke 8:16-25

We see three things in this passage. First, we cannot hide the light of Christ within us. If you are a Christian it should shine through all that you do. There should be no doubt by the way that we live that we are a Christian. If our lifestyle makes folks doubt if we are a Christian are not, we need to examine the way that we are living.

Second, as the church, we are family. Jesus said that those that do His will are His family. Our church is more than just a gathering together of people, but it is a family. It is a body. Remember that family sticks together.

Last, He cares about us, as He calmed the ways. But, He demands faith of us. If we believe, we will see even greater things that that.