More Than Good Enough

APR 17 / Sunday – Read John 20:1-18 / 1 Corinthians 15:3-57

Overview: God doesn’t settle for good enough. God gives more–the Resurrection of Christ and the promise of our resurrection.

18 / Mon – One word  |  Read John 20:15-16

Mary was the first to see Jesus after the resurrection. Wrapped in grief because Jesus’ body had been ‘taken,’ she did not recognize the man standing in front of her. Not until he said her name. Has this happened to you? Has there been a time when you could not see that the Lord was right there because your mind was too filled by the circumstances you were dealing with? And then he spoke to you? When Jesus speaks, everything changes.

19 / Tue – Look and see  |  Read Luke 24:13-35

“We had hoped,” they said, “that he was the one…”  These disciples had put their trust in Jesus, had followed him, believed he would bring their deliverance. Now he was dead. Have you been in that place where your hopes have been crushed? Is there a way for hope to be restored? Look in verse 32 to find what opened their eyes to the truth. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the scriptures to your understanding. There is nothing, no-thing, that’s irredeemable by our omniscient, omnipotent God.

20 / Wed – Doubts  |  Read John 20:24-28

Thomas was not present on Easter Sunday evening when Jesus appeared to the disciples the first time. And he was unable to believe what they told him. Why do you suppose that is? Had life before meeting Jesus been filled with repeated disappointments? Did his grief run so deep, he could not let himself believe again? Whatever the case Jesus understood and showed up just for him. God isn’t offended by your honesty. He will reveal himself when you ask.

21 / Thu – Seeing is believing?  |  Read Acts 1:1-3 / 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 / John 20:29

Think of the person in your life you have loved the most and who has died. What would you give to have just one more day with them? If that were granted, what would you do? What would you say? What questions might you ask? That is the gift Jesus’ disciples were given – 40 days with him after the resurrection. You might wish you could have been there and talked personally with Jesus but he said you are more blessed because you believe, though you have not seen. That is precious to him.

22 / Fri – Why is the resurrection so important?  |  Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-22

The resurrection is central to the Christian faith. Paul lays out the reasons here. If there was no resurrection, then nothing else Jesus said or did can be trusted. He might have been a good man but deluded. Yet he did come back from the dead. And you can trust what he said. When life gets tough, remember this isn’t the end of the story. He has given you eternal life, here and now. It’s good but it is just the beginning, a prelude to life forever with him.

23 / Sat – Temporary  |  Read 1 Corinthians 15:42-58

Everyone has their stuff. Bodies betray us. Minds become forgetful. The plans that our physical selves can’t seem to keep up with. Life can be wonderful or even ‘perfect’ at times, then doesn’t last. It seems you were made for more than your body can do at the moment. Why? Sin has taken its toll. God has given you a new heart, a new spirit here and now and the promise of a new body in the future. How does this encourage you when life is less than you’d hoped for?