My husband and I teach a third grade Sunday School class at church. I look forward to sharing the Easter story with the children every year. Using resurrection eggs, we share details of how Christ suffered because He was compelled by His love for us and how He is powerful, even over death. We have broken down Scriptures and shared the passionate story over a dozen times. But God in His goodness continues to bring life through His words. Yesterday during our lesson something jumped out to me that I had never thought of before.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples." Matthew 28:5-7a
After comforting the women, God's messenger invited them to come and see - to come and see that Jesus wasn't there, that He had risen.
There is such grace and love in this invitation. The angel could have told them Jesus wasn't in there and instructed the women to go tell the disciples. I think they would have believed the angel, just like Mary, Joseph and many others in Scripture heard God speak through His angels. But God wanted them to experience Jesus' resurrection. The angel told them what they were going to find, then God invited them in to see it for themselves.
Maybe yesterday you went to church for the first time in a long time. Maybe you heard others talking about the resurrection, but you haven't experienced the hope that comes from having a relationship with a risen Savior. God doesn't want you to just know about Him. He wants you to experience Him.
Experiencing the resurrection is not about a set of rules or a list of good works. God's invitation isn't based on how often you attend church, how much money you put in the offering plate, how eloquently you pray or even how many Scriptures you can recite. He welcomes anyone who seeks Him. It doesn't matter where you have come from or what past you have brought with you.
If you come looking for Him, God will invite you to see for yourself that He is powerful, loving and merciful. You will be invited to not just hear about the resurrection, but to experience the resurrected Savior!
Promise for today:
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
There is such grace and love in this invitation. The angel could have told them Jesus wasn't in there and instructed the women to go tell the disciples. I think they would have believed the angel, just like Mary, Joseph and many others in Scripture heard God speak through His angels. But God wanted them to experience Jesus' resurrection. The angel told them what they were going to find, then God invited them in to see it for themselves.
Maybe yesterday you went to church for the first time in a long time. Maybe you heard others talking about the resurrection, but you haven't experienced the hope that comes from having a relationship with a risen Savior. God doesn't want you to just know about Him. He wants you to experience Him.
Experiencing the resurrection is not about a set of rules or a list of good works. God's invitation isn't based on how often you attend church, how much money you put in the offering plate, how eloquently you pray or even how many Scriptures you can recite. He welcomes anyone who seeks Him. It doesn't matter where you have come from or what past you have brought with you.
If you come looking for Him, God will invite you to see for yourself that He is powerful, loving and merciful. You will be invited to not just hear about the resurrection, but to experience the resurrected Savior!
Promise for today:
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
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