Ecclesiastes 9:10 ” Whatever your hand finds to do – do it with all your might.”

We somehow have the audacity to think we can decide where, when, and how God can use us. What the Lord only desires, is wholehearted devotion in whatever He gives us to do…wherever that may be. We tend to see ourselves doing only great and mighty things for the Lord…while on the other hand, He may see us cleaning toilets and serving meals. Whether great or small the task, do it unto the Lord.

Proverbs 30: 5,6 ” Every word of God is flawless…Do not add to His words.”

The Lord’s creative revelation to us…the Bible…is perfect and pure, refined and purified like silver.(Psalm 12:6) We should never get stuck on one verse looking for error, but rather look at His divinely inspired Word in its entirety, in total context.

Revelations 11:15 ” The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever.”

Great countries rise and fall…mighty world powers come and go…but some day soon the Anointed One, Jesus Christ, will return and have total predominance over the universe. His kingdom will be firmly established… His power and authority never to be questioned…His dominion to endure through all generations. (Psalm 145:13)

Psalm 71:20 “Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth You will again bring me up.”

You’ve seen them around you…maybe you’ve even been one – the walking dead. Alive and breathing, but all but dead inside. When profound sadness and loss come to live within, we feel like we’ve been buried in the ground with no rescue in sight. But there is hope, there is restoration for us, if we look to the Lord. He will re-establish and strengthen us and bring us up from the grave of desolation and grief…to live again.

Romans 6:4 ” Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

On this Easter Sunday, the Lord extends to you this invitation for a new life…a life unlike the one you have right now…a life new and fresh with endless possibilities. It’s there for you today…all you need to do is say “Yes” to Jesus.

John 19:40 ” Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.”

Both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were members of the Jewish Council, but both were also secretly disciples of Jesus. Observance of the Law caused Joseph to boldly ask Pilate for the body, for it was Preparation Day, and the sun was quickly setting…they didn’t want the body of Jesus to remain on the cross during the Sabbath. So these two Teachers of the Law carefully prepared their Lord’s body according to custom, but pondering all the while what Jesus had said was to come.

Matthew 27:29 ” and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ they said.”

The Roman soldier’s intent was to ridicule, harass, and torture Jesus. These hardened warriors were skilled at killing and intent on intimidation. But the theatrics they forced Jesus to endure were in fact most fitting for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords…they just weren’t aware.

Luke 22:32 ” But I have prayed for you Simon Peter, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

“And when you have turned back..” Jesus knew the spiritual journey that Peter would take – from denying Him three times, to being reconciled back to Jesus following the Resurrection. There will come a point in every Believer’s life when their faith is tested…and most like Peter, will deny the Lord in one or another. But when we have turned back and received forgiveness, we truly then realize the immeasurable depth of God’s love for us…and we are changed.

John 13:5 ” After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disicples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.”

When we say “Yes” to Jesus, our bodies are totally bathed in His forgiveness and grace. We are justified once, for all and can stand blameless before God. But daily, we must wash our feet – for our feet walk in the world and on every evil thing that clings to it. Daily, we need to make a decision to live a life of holiness and righteousness unto the Lord. Thus every day we need to wash our feet…and the Lord will dry them off.

Mark 14:10 ” Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.”

Mark made a special point of showing that Judas had been one of the Lord’s trusted Disciples…that he had lived, traveled, and watched Jesus perform countless miracles over the span of those three years…but chose in the end to abandon Him for monetary gain. All of us would think to ourselves, “I’d never do such a thing to Jesus!” But every time we’re unfaithful to His teachings – we’re betraying Him. Every time we sell Jesus out for the things of the world – we’re turning our back on the Lord. Judas may have gone down in history as the great betrayer, but we’re all as guilty as he.