Easter: Monday, April 21, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Leviticus 16:1-19

One of the things that we see, even in the Old Testament, is that is always wanting His people to have forgiveness for their sins. That is a constant theme within scripture. God longs to forgive His people, and will do all that He can do to forgive His people.  He will go to all the extremes to bring His people home, and will work as hard as He can work to restore that relationship. 

We have to do our part as well.  He has offered forgiveness and grace and mercy to us. All we have to do is receive the grace He longs to give!  

New Testament Lesson

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Paul reminds us that there is hope for all. God forgets no one. Some folk in his day worried that the dead may not have a part in the resurrection, while others thought that only the dead would be resurrected, who knew what would happen to the living?  Paul says, no, God's life is a gift to all. At the last judgement, the dead in Christ shall rise, and those that remain shall meet Him in the air! And the hope of eternal life is there for all that know Him.  

Today, and this is good to know on a Monday, we know that this life is not the end. There is more out there that we cannot see. There is life eternal, make for those that believe! Today, True life awaits for us.  May we live in it! 

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 6:1-15

Jesus reminds us that our faith is not about show.  We are not to hide our faith; we are to deny are faith; we are to live our faith. But, we are not to live our faith in way that puts down upon others. We are not to live our our faith in a way that makes us look superior or "holier" than others. We are not live our faith in a way that shows off. We are simply to live for God in all that we do, and in every action that we take, we try to glorify God. 

Today, let us live for Him. Not to show off for others, but simply because of all that He has done for us!