Easter: Thursday, April 3, 2008

Old Testament Lesson

Exodus 16:10-22

We see the Lord provide for their needs. We see Him provide food for them. We see Him provide for them the stuff of life. But notice, they are only to get enough for one day. They are not to get enough for two days, they are not get extra, they are not to gather in a "savings" if you will. Why?

Remember the prayer our Lord taught us to pray? Give us this day our daily bread? In this passage they are to get their daily bread? Why did the Lord say daily bread? Why are they only to do enough for that day? They (and we) must learn to trust Him every day, day by day for our needs. We must learn to put our faith and hope for this day not in our own strength but in His.

And we must learn to not worry about tomorrow. Focus on today. He will provide for us tomorrow. Today is the day that we are to focus on. Tomorrow will take care of itself. For just as He provides today, He will provide tomorrow.

New Testament Lesson

1 Peter 2:11-25

We see Peter tell us that sometimes we will suffer for doing right. Sometimes we may suffer for following God. Following God is not a protective hedge against all harm and suffering. God's people will suffer like others.. In fact, sometimes our suffering will come because we serve God. But, we have hope and strength in the midst of whatever we are going through, because God is with us. And if we suffer for His sake, if we suffer for doing His will, He will reward us. Today, in all that we go through, let us rejoice in Him!

Gospel Lesson

John 15:12-27

He leaves with us one great command, one thing that we are called to do above all us. Of all the things that a Christian is supposed to do, that is called to do, that is commanded to do, this is the most important, this is the most vital, this is who we are supposed to be, this shows our faith above all else. Love. We are called to Love. We are called to love God, and we are called to love each other. That is the command of the Christian, that is the path of the Christian life.

Today, let us love. Let us love God, and let us love each other. For if we do that, we are following the command of our savior.