30 Apr 2025
The devil is so keen on distracting Christians from the commission to go and make disciples and minister to the people because he knows the impact that can have on humanity. May we see through his plans and persevere and impact the world for God’s glory. Luke 10:1-16.
Resurrection 2.2: Sometimes, I Doubt!
Do doubts mean I don’t believe? Life is hard. People can let us down. Church people can wound us. Our prayers can feel like they go unanswered and ignored. Our physical health can deteriorate. Aging can steal a loved one’s mind before that precious one’s body gives out. We grow weary and worn by our circumstances or the monotony of our lives or the lack of joy we meet in each day. Before long, we can find ourselves beginning to doubt. We can sometimes doubt God’s goodness or doubt Jesus’ concern for us or doubt the historical reality of Jesus’ resurrection. Unfortunately, we fear to talk to anyone about our doubts. We wrestle with them alone. But why are we afraid to admit our doubts? Have we forgotten that we are not alone in having doubts? When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they [the apostles] did not believe the women, because their [the women’s] words seemed to them like nonsense (Luke 24:9-11). The apostles of Jesus doubted the news of his resurrection when they first heard. They were broken, weary, fearful, and shattered by their abandonment of their Lord, the ordeal of his crucifixion, and the horrors of Golgotha. Doubt was much easier to muster than faith or hope. Why do we give Thomas the nickname “Doubting Thomas”? Didn’t he state the obvious? Don’t we all know that dead people don’t rise from the dead and we’re not going to believe resurrection happens until we see it? So, if we watch and listen to the reactions of Jesus’ first disciples to his resurrection — if we linger with them in their doubt — then maybe we can find some peace and hope in our doubts! Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:24-25). The first reaction of nearly all of Jesus’ closest friends to reports that he has risen from the dead was pretty much like our initial reaction would be: “I doubt it!” The women who went to the tomb weren’t expecting him to rise from the dead (John 20:1-2; Luke 24:1-6). The apostles who heard the women’s testimony about Jesus being raised from the dead didn’t believe them (Luke 24:9-11). Peter and John weren’t expecting Jesus to be raised from the dead when they ran to the tomb based on the women’s report (Luke 24:12; John 20:3-9). The disciples on the road to Emmaus weren’t expecting Jesus to be raised from the dead and did not recognize him even as he walked, talked, and taught them (Luke 24:13-35). The rest of the apostles were not believers in Jesus’ resurrection until he appeared to them in the upper room and ate fish to prove he wasn’t merely a vision (Luke 24:36-45). Even as Jesus neared giving his final words to his disciples, some still doubted (Matthew 28:16-17). Skeptics doubting the bodily resurrection of Jesus shouldn’t surprise anyone. In fact, our occasional moments of doubt as Jesus’ followers shouldn’t surprise us. To put the matter simply, our experience makes clear that dead people don’t rise from the dead. Funerals are our final farewell to the bodily presence of those we love, not a prelude to their appearance at a dinner party three days later. A buried person’s body might appear again for exhumation, but not for conversation at a celebration dinner (Luke 24:36-43) or a beachside picnic (John 21:1-14). Doubters are not bad people; they’re just realistic ones. Those early doubters were not faithless, just normal. However, their skepticism followed by their passion become the foundation for the essential conviction of Christian faith: Jesus died, was buried, and was raised never to die again, and, fully alive, Jesus appeared to people who knew him (1 Corinthians 15:1-7). Christianity isn’t a religious philosophy, but a faith built on a historical fact: Jesus rose from the dead. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then Christianity and Christian faith are futile and pitiable — as the apostle Paul said (1 Corinthians 15:). Those early Christian witnesses of the resurrected Jesus were either liars and lunatics, or they were witnesses to a resurrected Jesus they called Lord. Those early doubters-turned-to-witnesses, however, become one of the foundations on which we can build our faith. They proclaimed a risen Jesus whom God made both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:33-36). They proclaimed this to the people who first had Jesus condemned and executed (Acts 2:32-36; Acts 4:1-13) — people they feared and from whom they hid in a locked room (John 20:19). They openly proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, allowing for anyone who wanted to try and contradict them (1 Corinthians 15:3-7). They wrote about Jesus’ resurrection while there were still witnesses around to either confirm or deny their claims and in the places where Jesus was known. Even more astonishingly, these once timid and fearful folks were so emboldened after their encounters with the resurrected Jesus that they were willing to give their lives for their testimony (Acts 4:18-34; Acts 12:1-4). This change may be the greatest testimony of all because their message didn’t make sense to their world (1 Corinthians 1:20-25, 30-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-2). Their proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead wasn’t easily received by a world that didn’t believe in any form of bodily resurrection (Acts 17:12-16, 30-32; 1 Corinthians 2:3-5). Despite every reason not to proclaim this message of a resurrected Jesus, those early disciples completely reoriented their lives to declare it. Peter
Daily Prayer for April 30
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:41-42, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we lift our eyes to you. You allow earthly events to follow their own course, and even your own Son had to suffer and die. But your plan is already prepared and you will act in our time according to your will. We pray, “Your will be done, your will!” In the midst of all the suffering let your love be revealed in many places, wherever it is possible for people to understand it. You have always protected us; protect us still. You have done much for us and we want to praise your name. We want to be people who always acknowledge you and praise you, for you will never let any be lost who hope in you. Be with us this night, help us, and send us the strength we need to serve you, also in our everyday life. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Jimmy Carter and Servant Leadership Andy Stanton-Henry Even if Jimmy Carter wasn’t the saint some have made him, we could use more examplars of his approach to leadership. Read now Who Will Help a Stranded Manatee? Boze Herrington A. M. Juster’s children’s picture book Girlatee smuggles a timely message into a breezy tale. Read now “If I Go Back, They Will Kill Me” Sarah Killam Crosby Helping refugees in Greece and Nevada has given me a different perspective on views I hear from many Christians today. Read now The Story of a Controversial Devotional Painting Joseph Michael Fino, CFR Most devotional art is old, formal, and sentimental. The painting I brought to church on Divine Mercy Sunday, a week after Easter, was none of these. Read now Not Just Good, but Beautiful: Complementarity as Divine Harmony Pope Francis Over a decade ago, Pope Francis reflected on the beauty of complementarity between man and woman in marriage. Read now
Today’s Verse – Philippians 4:8
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. —Philippians 4:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Let’s get our minds out of the gutter and get our hearts focused on God’s glory. Let’s get our minds out of the focus on problems, difficulties, and horrible things we see in our world today and remind ourselves of God’s goodness and the glorious things that pertain to him. If “we become what we behold,” then let’s choose to focus our gaze on: …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. My Prayer… Righteous and Holy God, you are marvelous and glorious, perfect in every way and beyond my comprehension. Please awaken the character of your holiness within me through the power of your Holy Spirit. I don’t want minor changes, but the Spirit’s transformation to become more like Jesus. Please help me see and focus upon the good and glorious things that reflect your nature and not the divisiveness, sleeze, and fluff of my world. In Jesus’ name, I pray for your help to rise above the meaningless, vain, and nasty things of my world and focus on you and your glory so I can bring others to you. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
29 Apr 2025
Over and above trying to live a life that glorifies God, there may be spiritual battles waged against us. We know the enemy’s modus operandi. But Jehovah is on our side. He is greater than all our enemies put together. May He protect us and defeat every wicked scheme plotted against us. Psalm 3:1-8.
Today’s Verse – Psalm 85:6
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? —Psalm 85:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Our Father, God, loves his children even when they are rebellious. However, God showed Israel that their rebellion would drive his presence and blessing from them. But with their genuine repentance and their confession of sin, God joyously promises to bring revival, renewal, and restoration. He gives them, and gives us as Jesus’ disciples, this very prayer as we turn our hearts to God, repent of our past sins, and return to His ways of living: Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? And the Father will answer, “YES!” My Prayer… Father and Almighty LORD, please forgive me for my sins. I confess them freely to you now… (Be specific about the sins you want to confess.) Having you in my life, honoring your Kingdom with my behavior, and honoring your love with my graciousness toward others are very important to me. Please revive me again and empower me to love, do good deeds, and live a holy life so that you will be praised. In Jesus’ name. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
28 Apr 2025
We may not see the outcome of the plans of God at the moment, but we can trust that He will fulfill what He promised. He knows our circumstances, and He cares. Isaiah 25:1-8.
Resurrection 2.1: In the Breaking of the Bread
What if this song speaks the truth about Jesus’ promise to meet us in our world today? Years ago, one of the songs youth groups sang had these words: Have you seen Jesus my Lord,He’s here in plain view.Take a look, open your eyes;He’ll show it to you. What if these words are much more than cheesy lyrics to an emotional youth group song from long ago and far away? What if this song speaks the truth about Jesus’ promise to meet us in our world today? As we think about Jesus’ resurrection, we must not confine the reality of the risen Christ to a few Sunday appearances after his resurrection (John 20:19-28), a fishing trip with a few of his apostles (John 21:1-14), or the forty days he showed himself alive with many convincing proofs (Acts 1:1-3). As important as Jesus’ historical bodily post-resurrection appearances were to his disciples, Jesus promised more than these appearances. The Christ promised to be present with us as we live as his disciples in an authentic community (Matthew 18:20 and the context of chapter 18), genuine compassion (Matthew 25:40 and the context of chapter 25), and on mission making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). I believe if we spent more time reading the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), we would find many ways Jesus promised to be present with us today. We often overlook one of these times that the Lord assured he would be present: The Lord’s Supper — also called The Eucharist, Holy Communion, and The Supper. Unfortunately, much of our modern church practice has reduced The Supper to an assembly line, get-it-done-in-a-hurry, passing of crackers and juice. Often, this practice drains our holy encounter with Jesus of his anticipated presence and spiritual mystery. This modern celebration of The Supper reduces the body and blood of Jesus to a small crumble of cracker and a quick sip of wine or grape juice. For many churches, it’s a seldom held occurrence. For others, it’s treated almost as a nuisance, or interruption: something to get done in a hurry to keep our worship productions on schedule. Even when churches claim The Supper is cherished and celebrated weekly (cf. Acts 16:20), some allow it to become routine, merely symbolic, and quickly administered. What if Jesus is present in our celebration of The Supper? What if he does meet us as our host in the breaking of the bread?[SONG] What if the sharing of The Supper is a time when Jesus steps through the boundaries of history and fulfills our anticipation of his presence while we await the Kingdom in all its fullness? What if we, too, are supposed to recognize Jesus among us in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup? What if there is as much mystery, Kingdom, and presence in our celebration of The Supper as there is the memory of what he accomplished at Golgotha and the empty tomb? When Jesus shared The Supper with his disciples before his death, he made some compelling claims. The bread is his body — nowhere does Scripture say it represents his body or is an emblem of anything: it is his body, and we are his body as we share in taking the bread. The wine is his blood: it was poured out for many and is the seal of a new covenant that brings grace and the forgiveness of sin. Even more, for early believers, Jesus’ promises to be present and be recognized among them were more than mere echoes from the past. They were opportunities to encounter their living Lord: When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:14-17). When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread (Luke 24:30-35). Let’s challenge each other to more: More than crackers and juice.More than a routine ritual to get done in a hurry.More than an intrusion into our song and sermon filled services designed to entertain and delight. Let’s challenge each other to more: More openness to mystery.More anticipation of the Lord’s presence.More Jesus! Near the close of the first century, Jesus spoke to the believers at Laodicea. These people had never seen him — except for John who sent them this letter. However, Jesus gave them a promise. He promised them, and us: Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me (Revelation 3:20). Jesus’ promise to come in an eat with us was NOT given to unbelievers. This promise was an altar call to believers whose faith had grown stale, whose worship had become routine, and whose discipleship had grown lukewarm (Revelation 3:14-16). That promise remains viable for us today. We need to open our hearts to more: to our living and resurrected Lord. Jesus longs
Today’s Verse – Psalm 121:8
The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. —Psalm 121:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Today’s verse builds on yesterday’s verse and thoughts. Does it matter to anyone that I’m here? Does anyone notice when I’m gone? Does anybody care if I make it home or never leave the house? The answers? “Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!” The LORD, the Savior of Israel and the Father of Jesus, knows all about us and our comings and goings. He will watch over us, now and forevermore. He will never forsake us or leave us (Hebrews 13:5-6; Romans 8:38-39). My Prayer… Father, thank you for being there when I rise and watching over me. Almighty God, thank you for being with me when I return home at the end of my day, escorting and welcoming me. I thank you most of all, dear Father, that when I leave this life and go to the next, you will be with me to escort me out of this life and welcome me home to life with you, forever! In Jesus’ name, I know this is true, and praise you. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Psalm 121:3
He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber… —Psalm 121:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I still remember when my children were little. I would sneak in and watch them sleep. Sometimes, it was to check on them when they were sick. Sometimes, it was to sit and pray for them, joining the LORD as he watched over them while they slept. Sometimes, it was to bathe myself in the grace and wonder of God’s love for such blessings. Even now that they are much older, I still love to be around them and pray for them when I visit them in their homes. I still marvel at the wonder of these precious gifts from the Father to Donna and me. To know that my Abba Father in heaven looks at me in the same adoring way, that he will not let my foot slip, and will not slumber as he watches over me with delight and joy, ah, that fills me with unspeakable wonder. Our Abba will not let our feet slip! Our Abba will not slumber. My Prayer… Now I lay me down to sleep, And pray you LORD my soul to keep, Safely in your loving care Confident you’re always there. Thank you for your grace and love, And for Jesus now above. I share with him my every care, Confident, he’s always there. In Jesus’ name, I humbly pray, To awaken with you to a brand new day. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.