Our Victory Comes Like Jesus’s

Today’s reading is Revelation 11.

May I encourage you not to get bogged down in the details of the vision of the two witnesses, but instead look in broad strokes? God’s holy ones are testifying against the world. After a 3 1/2 year ministry, they are killed. The world rejoices over them, excited about their post-witnesses time. But then, after 3 1/2 days, they were resurrected and ascended in the cloud. Can you see all the parallels to not only God’s servants throughout the Old Testament (Moses, Elijah, Elisha, etc.) but ultimately to Jesus Himself? What is the point? The point is that just like there was a time when it looked like Jesus had lost, there is a time when it looks like His followers lose. But in the end, He won and so will we. Jesus’s point in this vision is that His followers shouldn’t be surprised when things are tough, look at what their Savior went through before He won.

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 12.

Life in His Name

Today’s reading is John 20.

Peter had given the good confession in Matthew 16:16. John wrote this entire gospel so that we might make that exact same confession. Everything Jesus did was designed to show us He is the Christ, the anointed one. He is the Son of God. He went to the cross and then rose from the dead to prove that to us. When we believe it, we have life in His name. Do you believe it?

Monday’s reading is John 21.

The Resurrection

Today’s reading is John 2.

Interestingly, when Jesus said He would rebuild the temple in three days, everyone, including His disciples, thought He was talking about the building in Jerusalem. However, after He died and was resurrected, the disciples realized that wasn’t His meaning. Suddenly, they understood He was actually talking about the temple of His body. Understand what this means. The resurrection was THE central event in all of history. It changed everything, including the apostles’ perspective on everything they read in Scripture and heard their Master say. The resurrection changed everything for them; it should change everything for us. The resurrection is the basis of our victory. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is John 3.

99 Fears, but Death Won’t Be One

Today’s reading is Hebrews 2.

There are a lot of things to be afraid of. Snakes and spiders are at the top of my list. But one thing Christians don’t have to fear is death. We may fear the way we’re going to die. I certainly don’t look forward to a painful death. But we don’t have to fear death itself. We don’t go looking for it, but when it comes our way, we can welcome it. Jesus died so we don’t have to fear death. Jesus arose, therefore death holds no sway over us. Praise the Lord, we can mark one fear off our list.

Monday’s reading is Hebrews 3.

It’s All About This

Today’s reading is Matthew 28.

I’m sorry today’s post is late. And please don’t think I’m writing the following just to take the easy way out. It really is all about this and I really have nothing more to say:

“But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.'”

What more needs to be said?

Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 1.

He is risen! He is not here!

Today’s reading is Mark 16.

“And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back–it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here.”

What else needs to be said?

Tomorrow’s reading is 1 Peter 1.

What Do You Need to Know Today?

Today’s reading is Ephesians 1.

I know there are a lot of good things you need to know today. And I certainly don’t want to downplay the fact that you do need to know God’s will. However, Paul’s prayer for you is that today you will know the hope to which God has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe. The hope of eternity in His presence, the riches of eternal fellowship with Him, the power demonstrated when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead for us so we could have that eternal fellowship. Spend some time today pondering these things and pray for wisdom from God to understand them. If you know these things, God’s will for your life will come naturally.

Monday’s reading is Ephesians 2.

Jesus isn’t Offering Only Half Life

Today’s reading is Romans 8.

The victorious life Jesus offers through His victorious death and resurrection is not, as some suppose, merely having forgiveness while languishing in the bondage of continued sin because our flesh is naturally sinful. Certainly, the victory over sin is a growth process. But not only is their no condemnation in Christ, Christ is giving life to our mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwells in us. Yes, He is delivering us from our bodies of death, as we read yesterday, but that is because He is delivering us from our sins and our sinning. Jesus isn’t merely offering us some kind of half-life, some pseudo-life. He is offering us full and abundant life. Hang on to Him, life is growing in us through Him.

Monday’s reading is Romans 9.

The Boiled Down Victory in Jesus

Today’s reading is Acts 23

What does the victory in Jesus boil down to? “The hope and the resurrection of the dead” (Acts 23:6, ESV). Our victory is anchored on a historical event–the resurrection of Jesus. And it is focused toward a future event–the resurrection of us. Because we are certain of the first, we can be certain of the second. No wonder Paul could be willing to die; he knew he wouldn’t stay that way anymore than His Lord and Savior did.Praise the Lord and look to your resurrection.

Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 24

The Victorious Need Not Fear Death

Today’s reading is Acts 12.

Have you ever wondered why God let James die but then rescued Peter? On this side of eternity, we wonder why God would allow something so awful to happen to James while rescuing Peter. I assure you, on the other side of eternity when we are in God’s presence, we’ll wonder why God would do something so awful to Peter while rescuing James. Trust me, James didn’t get the raw end of this deal. As Revelation 14:13 will remind us, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” We are the victorious! We do not need to fear death. Praise the Lord.

Tomorrow’s reading is Acts 13.