This One Thing
May 29th, 2006
Eric Clarke
Luke 24:1-8 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7′The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8 Then they remembered his words. NIV
As I read about the account of the women finding out about the resurrection of our Lord I am reminded that our faith is unique. Of all the religions in the world, ours is founded on a person not a way of thinking or a philosophy. The simple sentences “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!” is the foundational truth of everything we believe. In I Corinthians 15:17, Paul states that if Christ was not resurrected, our faith is a fraud and we are fools.
The truth of Jesus’ resurrection is the proof of our forgiveness; of God’s forgiveness through the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. It also demonstrates to us that our faith is a living faith, not a faith based on rules or laws, but a faith rooted in a relationship with the living God because we have a living Savior.
Of all the theological points we are willing to debate or question, this is non-negotiable; Jesus rose form the dead to prove He was God and that His sacrifice on our behalf was real. I am thankful that He is among the living because it reminds me that I too am among those that will live eternally with Him.
Father, thank you for your provision, for forgiving my sin and seeing me as blameless and as your child. I am awed by the resurrection and the implications it has for our faith and to the world. The empty tomb proclaims your glory and mercy. May we be reminded of those things as we reflect on this portion of your Word.
May 30th, 2006 at 7:03 am
Goodwill within the Body
“Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.” (Proverbs 14:9) The note within my bible reads: “Those with goodwill think the best of others and assume that others have good motives and intend to do what is right.”
How often do we have goodwill within our hearts? Do we ever question a brother or sister’s motives? I would like to think that I don’t, but thoughts sometimes get the best of me. Goodwill is extremely important for peace within the body of Christ. I would like to think it doesn’t happen, but I do hear assumptions, perceptions, judgments regarding other believer’s motives. This seems to be especially true towards our pastors.
It is so easy to spend our time analyzing others, looking for their mistakes and failures, watching for them to mess up. I wonder why we have this tendency. I think of two reasons. First, it is a comparison game. By finding mistakes (sin) in others, we seem to feel better about ourselves. Second, it’s a distraction. It is much easier to spend our time looking for others to mess up, than to analyze our own hearts.
As the body of Christ, it is extremely important to hold goodwill for others within our hearts in order for unity and peace to prevail. I believe one of Satan’s biggest ploys to break down a church is to whisper thoughts that stir up dissention and to plant seeds of destruction. As believers, we must rebuke those thoughts and turn our hearts back to goodwill. We must trust our pastors as the leader’s that God hand-picked for us. Sure, if we look hard enough we will find their mistakes for all fall short of the glory of God. But we must be careful before we cast the first stone, for only God knows all and sees the hearts of men. What we see, hear, perceive, judge may not be at all what is really happening. Let’s leave that job to God. We should spend our time praying for our fellow brothers and sisters, encouraging our pastors, keeping our tongues silent, and focusing our thoughts on God allowing Him to change and mold our hearts. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Phil 4:8
Lord, it is so much easier to look at others than to analyze my own heart. I am guilty of this often. Help me to take my eyes off men and turn them towards you. Please God mold my heart and thoughts so that goodwill prevails. Help me to keep a tighter reign on my tongue and to use it for words of encouragement. Help me to focus on removing the plank in my eye. May I seek forgiveness and peace and make amends quickly when I sin. Help me to focus on the excellent and praiseworthy and meditate more on you. In Jesus name, Amen.