GONE, THE TOMB IS EMPTY

The resurrection of Jesus from the grave is God's assurance that He has accepted his Son's sacrifice on the cross. 

1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain: ye are yet in your sins.

If Jesus had only died and not been resurrected, He would have been a mere martyr -- a good man dying for a cause. But Calvary's cross and the empty tomb are inseparably linked for eternity.

The immediate future may be uncertain, but if you have entrusted your eternal destiny to the One who rose from the dead, you have nothing to be afraid of. 

Gone, the stone is rolled back

Gone, the tomb is empty

Gone, to sit at the Father's side

Gone, over death triumphant

Gone, sin is defeated

Gone, He lives forever more

Eldridge Fox

RESURRECTION: FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIANITY

Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christianity would collapse like a house of cards.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Every major Christian doctrine depends on the resurrection. The following seven serve as examples:

1. SALVATION BY FAITH: 1 Corinthians 15:17
2. JUSTIFICATION BEFORE GOD: Romans 4:24,25
3. PEACE WITH GOD: Romans 5:21
4. THE INTERCESSORY MINISTRY OF CHRIST: Hebrews 7:24,25
5. THE PROMISE OF THE SECOND COMING: Titus 2:13
6. THE HOPE OF OUR BODILY RESURRECTION: 1 Corinthians 6:14
7. INDIVIDUAL JUDGMENT FOR ALL MEN: Acts 17:31

This Easter experience God's greatness through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus was engulfed by sorrow. 

Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further and fell on his face and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Jesus was not wrestling with or resisting God's will. He was yielding Himself to God's will.

As perfect Man, He felt the awful burden of sin, and His holy soul was repelled by it. Yet, as the Son of God, He knew that this was His mission in the world.

Salvation is free, but it is not cheap.

We can't comprehend it, but we were on the mind of Christ in his garden prayer and on the cross.

The look of love was on His face, Thorns were on His head

Blood was on His scarlet robe, stained a crimson red

Though His eyes were on the crowd, He looked ahead in time

And when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.

For He knew me, yet He loved me

He whose glory makes the heavens shine

So unworthy of such mercy

Yet when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.

Ronny Hinson

EXCELLENCE

If we want to be like God and be blessed by Him, we must strive for excellence.

Philippians 3;14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

IT HAS BEEN SAID:

Going far beyond the call of duty, doing more than others expect -- this is what excellence is all about. And it comes from striving, maintaining the highest standards, looking after the smallest detail, and going the extra mile. Excellence means caring -- it means making a special effort to do more. 

We offer God our best because He gave us His best. Some believer's try to give God as little as they can. God prefers no service to half-hearted service.

God doesn't expect you to be like someone else -- only to do your best.

LOSING EVERYTHING

In September of 2005 Gale and I and our bulldog fled Hurricane Rita, not knowing if our earthly possessions would be intact when we returned. Thank God they were. My brother Dale lost everything in the Joplin tornado.

In one day, Job, the richest man in the East, lost everything. God had bragged on his righteousness to Satan. 

"Take away that hedge you have around him," Satan said. "Let him lose everything, and he will curse you to your face."

But for his wife, God allowed Satan to take it all. He lost thousands of cattle, his ten children, and repugnant boils covered his body.

What did Job do?

Job 1:20 Then Job arose and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshipped.

21. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return tither: The Lord gave, and The Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of The Lord.

22. In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

We need Job's perspective. Our possessions are only "stuff". Christ in our hearts is what matters most.

COURAGE FOR THE CONFLICT

In his letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul wrote "We do not lose heart". He had every reason to quit the ministry.

1 Corinthians 4:1  Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

Like Paul, we have a valuable treasure in the Master. If we suffer for Him, it is for Jesus' sake. If we die to self, it is so that the life of Christ might be revealed in us. If we go through trials, it is so that Christ might be glorified.

Paul walked by faith and not by sight. He had a future hope that was both a destination and a motivation.

Every believer in Jesus Christ has these same marvelous possessions and can find through them courage for the conflict.  

RESPONDING TO GOD'S WORD

The Bible is different from other books. It gives us access to the Word of God. We must not only read it, but apply it to our lives.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving you own selves.

God's Word is challenging, demanding,  and positive. Its truth sometimes hurts. It's not something to be stored away in the back of our minds. It makes us better when we obey and cherish it.

When we look in God's Word we see who we really are, who Christ is, and who we can be through Him. 

We should ask God to prepare our heart before we study His Word. We should ask Him to conform us to the example of Jesus Christ.

Each time we hear God's Word -- Him speaking to us -- there must be a response. How do you respond?

Read God's Word every day.