Friday Easter Week Two - Apr 25
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Meditation
Friday of Easter Week Two focuses on the grace of God in the lives of real people. The Psalmist celebrates how God cares for us, never leaving us under the power of death, but instead giving us hope for all aspects of our lives. Real people face real issues. My heart weeps for the families, friends and loved ones of the Malaysian flight 370. Of the South Korean ferry. Of the Ukrainian and Russians that face off and are ready to kill. Of the victims of shootings every day in this country and around the world. Of the doctors killed in Afghanistan. Of the victims of brutality in Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, South America and North America—everywhere there are victims.
The Psalmist rests in the Lord. When the grief is too overwhelming, we cannot find peace without God’s grace.
The Song of Solomon celebrates the equal love of two people—elevating the relationship to one of equality. “I belong to my lover and my lover belongs to me.” The women friends question the bride about her lover—‘Where has he gone?’—suggestion there might be an issue that could raise eyebrows. The bride responds that she knows where her love has gone, she can trust her relationship.
The New Testament lesson in I Corinthians restates the basic good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. Something I have observed in studying the Scriptures. The authors of the Bible tend to mention things that are problems. They explain things that were not understood. The 15th chapter of the epistle to the church in Corinth and Paul is addressing them with the statements that Jesus died and rose again? “I want to remind you…” he says. Apparently, the Corinthian church struggled with whether Christ had died and risen, so Paul had to remind them. Hence, he spells it out precisely.
When I was a child memorizing John 3:16—God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son—I didn’t have to be told it again. That was the core of what I believed. Then, learning on Easter that Jesus rose again was also the core. Yet, here are the Corinthians needing to be reminded of the key points. Jesus died. Jesus was buried. Jesus rose on the third day. Jesus was seen by 500 people and then also by Paul, himself (in an abnormal way when Jesus called to him on the Road to Damascus and then again, in the desert where he received one-on-one training).
The Corinthian church had exploded with converts from the various gods and temples in Greek worship. Their knowledge didn’t have the strong Jewish traditions that so many of the first churches had. Scholars that followed Christ brought their prior knowledge. Saul was a Pharisee—well-read in both Jewish traditions and Greek education—brought his massive knowledge to the Christian leadership. However, he followed his reminder of the core values of Christian faith, with his own disclaimer that all the apostles proclaimed this, and he, too, the least of all apostles because he murdered Christians. As a murderer, he never forgot his humble beginnings.
But the beauty is grace.
A murderer, Saul, could be saved by grace, and become Paul. The least of all saints could change and transform the world. If Saul can be the recipient of such grace, cannot we all?
Yes! The resounding truth is grace—God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense—is available to everyone of us. Where we lie on the spectrum of good and bad is irrelevant.
One of Paul’s unique qualities was that humility—his recognition of how far down the ladder of goodness he was. There was a terrible shooting in Kansas by a man who hated Jews. He killed two Methodists and a Catholic, but his intention was clear. Even someone as awful as that can be a recipient of God’s grace. The worst villains can be recipients. We may cringe at the thought, but God’s grace transforms. When they are saved by grace, they change their behaviors. Yes, some people claim they do things in Christ’s name, but Jesus specifically said, “I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:33)
We can trust in that grace for us. We can pray for that grace for others. Years ago, a serial killer of 21 people was serving a sentence for over 200 years. His prison chaplain invited him to a Bible Study despite the fact that he was feared by both guards and prisoners alike. The convict came. He heard the good news of Jesus dying for His sins and believed.
His life transformed as he studied and grew in the knowledge of God. Prisoners crowded the Bible Studies because they wondered what had changed him so much. More became Christians. The prison population changed because of his influence. Where he had sown terror, he sowed grace. He wrote an apology to every one of the family members of his victims. The families responded to his authentic transformation and wrote the Warden suggesting that he take his message to the neighborhoods and gangs that he had come out of. The long and short. Every one of the extended family members wrote the parole board asking for a special dispensation for him to be released to carry the message. After serving only 20 years of a 200 year sentence, he was released to carry the good news.
God’s grace transforms—the best and the worst of us. We come equally to the throne of Grace and celebrate the incredible gift of God. We belong to God and he belongs to us—just as the bride declared. We are the family of God.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Easter Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 16;Song of Solomon 5:9—6:3;1 Corinthians 15:1-11&version=KJV;GNT;NCV;NIV;ERV (multiple versions)
Friday of Easter Week Two
Psalm 16
Song of Solomon 5:9-6:3
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 118:24
King James Version (KJV)
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
King James Version (KJV)
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, You give us so much. We can rest in you, trusting in your grace, for you didn't even hold back you Son, Jesus, who sacrificed his life for our sins. Thank you and help us to glorify your name in all that we do and say. In Jesus name, Amen
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in this Season of Easter.
Conclusion
Friday of Easter Week Two teaches us that God’s grace covers everything. We are family because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for our salvation. Jesus died. Jesus was buried. Jesus rose again and was seen in the flesh by over 500 people. (So you can take it to the bank)
Paul adds that he also met Jesus personally (on the Road to Damascus and in the desert while under instruction for three years). Because of Paul’s personal experience, he offers us an eye-witness account which documents the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Friday of Easter Week Two focuses on the grace of God in the lives of real people. The Psalmist celebrates how God cares for us, never leaving us under the power of death, but instead giving us hope for all aspects of our lives. Real people face real issues. My heart weeps for the families, friends and loved ones of the Malaysian flight 370. Of the South Korean ferry. Of the Ukrainian and Russians that face off and are ready to kill. Of the victims of shootings every day in this country and around the world. Of the doctors killed in Afghanistan. Of the victims of brutality in Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, South America and North America—everywhere there are victims.
The Psalmist rests in the Lord. When the grief is too overwhelming, we cannot find peace without God’s grace.
The Song of Solomon celebrates the equal love of two people—elevating the relationship to one of equality. “I belong to my lover and my lover belongs to me.” The women friends question the bride about her lover—‘Where has he gone?’—suggestion there might be an issue that could raise eyebrows. The bride responds that she knows where her love has gone, she can trust her relationship.
The New Testament lesson in I Corinthians restates the basic good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. Something I have observed in studying the Scriptures. The authors of the Bible tend to mention things that are problems. They explain things that were not understood. The 15th chapter of the epistle to the church in Corinth and Paul is addressing them with the statements that Jesus died and rose again? “I want to remind you…” he says. Apparently, the Corinthian church struggled with whether Christ had died and risen, so Paul had to remind them. Hence, he spells it out precisely.
When I was a child memorizing John 3:16—God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son—I didn’t have to be told it again. That was the core of what I believed. Then, learning on Easter that Jesus rose again was also the core. Yet, here are the Corinthians needing to be reminded of the key points. Jesus died. Jesus was buried. Jesus rose on the third day. Jesus was seen by 500 people and then also by Paul, himself (in an abnormal way when Jesus called to him on the Road to Damascus and then again, in the desert where he received one-on-one training).
The Corinthian church had exploded with converts from the various gods and temples in Greek worship. Their knowledge didn’t have the strong Jewish traditions that so many of the first churches had. Scholars that followed Christ brought their prior knowledge. Saul was a Pharisee—well-read in both Jewish traditions and Greek education—brought his massive knowledge to the Christian leadership. However, he followed his reminder of the core values of Christian faith, with his own disclaimer that all the apostles proclaimed this, and he, too, the least of all apostles because he murdered Christians. As a murderer, he never forgot his humble beginnings.
But the beauty is grace.
A murderer, Saul, could be saved by grace, and become Paul. The least of all saints could change and transform the world. If Saul can be the recipient of such grace, cannot we all?
Yes! The resounding truth is grace—God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense—is available to everyone of us. Where we lie on the spectrum of good and bad is irrelevant.
One of Paul’s unique qualities was that humility—his recognition of how far down the ladder of goodness he was. There was a terrible shooting in Kansas by a man who hated Jews. He killed two Methodists and a Catholic, but his intention was clear. Even someone as awful as that can be a recipient of God’s grace. The worst villains can be recipients. We may cringe at the thought, but God’s grace transforms. When they are saved by grace, they change their behaviors. Yes, some people claim they do things in Christ’s name, but Jesus specifically said, “I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:33)
We can trust in that grace for us. We can pray for that grace for others. Years ago, a serial killer of 21 people was serving a sentence for over 200 years. His prison chaplain invited him to a Bible Study despite the fact that he was feared by both guards and prisoners alike. The convict came. He heard the good news of Jesus dying for His sins and believed.
His life transformed as he studied and grew in the knowledge of God. Prisoners crowded the Bible Studies because they wondered what had changed him so much. More became Christians. The prison population changed because of his influence. Where he had sown terror, he sowed grace. He wrote an apology to every one of the family members of his victims. The families responded to his authentic transformation and wrote the Warden suggesting that he take his message to the neighborhoods and gangs that he had come out of. The long and short. Every one of the extended family members wrote the parole board asking for a special dispensation for him to be released to carry the message. After serving only 20 years of a 200 year sentence, he was released to carry the good news.
God’s grace transforms—the best and the worst of us. We come equally to the throne of Grace and celebrate the incredible gift of God. We belong to God and he belongs to us—just as the bride declared. We are the family of God.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Easter Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 16;Song of Solomon 5:9—6:3;1 Corinthians 15:1-11&version=KJV;GNT;NCV;NIV;ERV (multiple versions)
Friday of Easter Week Two
Psalm 16
Song of Solomon 5:9-6:3
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 118:24
King James Version (KJV)
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
King James Version (KJV)
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, You give us so much. We can rest in you, trusting in your grace, for you didn't even hold back you Son, Jesus, who sacrificed his life for our sins. Thank you and help us to glorify your name in all that we do and say. In Jesus name, Amen
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in this Season of Easter.
Conclusion
Friday of Easter Week Two teaches us that God’s grace covers everything. We are family because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for our salvation. Jesus died. Jesus was buried. Jesus rose again and was seen in the flesh by over 500 people. (So you can take it to the bank)
Paul adds that he also met Jesus personally (on the Road to Damascus and in the desert while under instruction for three years). Because of Paul’s personal experience, he offers us an eye-witness account which documents the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
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