Hope at the End of the Story - Wednesday April 20, 2011
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
A phone call in Kalamazoo in 1973 defied the odds. When Steve dialed a local time and temperature number, the phone company connected him to a not-yet-listed phone in Ypsilanti. It was his friend Bill who answered!
To Steve this was much more than just an "unlikely but true" event. It was encouragement straight from God! On the day of the phone call, Steve had been discouraged-unsure how to lead his summer outreach team. But through this miracle connection, Steve received some advice on leadership. Also, because of the miraculous nature of the connection, Steve was left with a strong sense that God had not forgotten him. God had ordained a phone connection! God was really with him and would lead him. That lifted his spirits!
To us the empty tomb of Jesus Christ is also more than just an "unlikely but true" event. The resurrection story shouts encouragement and hope. It's not only miraculous in and of itself, but it also portrays God's love and care. Jesus rose from the dead-thus I don't need to fear death. Eternal life is waiting for me! The death and resurrection of Jesus also shows God is for me. He wanted to be with me so much that He died for my sins to make it possible. The empty tomb proves the victory! And because Jesus Christ is alive, I can know that His Spirit is with me currently. The unlikely event of the empty tomb is not only true but also very encouraging. It's the story of our Eternal Lover fighting and winning eternal companionship with us.
Submitted by:
Rita Bergen
Lee's Summit Community Church
Lee's Summit, Missouri
One-Year Reading Plan:
Joshua 21:1-22:20
Luke 20:1-26
Psalms 89:1-13
Proverbs 13:15-16
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCB-ES: Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible B) The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from the Holy, Bible, New International Version, copyright B) 1973, 1978, 1984 by InternaB-tional Bible Society; (NKJV) are from New King James Version B) 1982 by Thomas Nelson; (NLT) are from the New Living Translation, B) 1996, Tyndale House Publishers; (ESV) are from English Standard VersionB., B) 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers; (TM) are from The Message B) 1993 by NavPress Publishers.