Application steps:

Read Luke 23 and 24. Write down all the responses of the women involved in these verses. Then consider how you might have responded.

Reflection points:

Do I believe Jesus has the power to care of any need in my life?

What keeps me from fully believing in the power of the resurrected Christ?

Verses of Truth:

Psalm 16:5-11, “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will best secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (NIV)

"Frightened Delight"

Luke 24:5, “In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (NIV).

I grabbed a stick and poked through the snowy ground. The stick struck the frozen dirt, so I shoved harder. My six-year-old heart wanted my pet hamster who had died in the early fall. I continued to jab blindly into the grave where I presumed Sugarplum lie buried.

Now when I look back, I am thankful I did not find the bones of Sugarplum.

However when I recall this childhood episode, it allows me to relate to the women who longed to be close to the body of Jesus. They went to where they last knew His broken body lay upon cold stone. But to their frightened delight they were greeted by angels, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

Do we realize we serve a Living God—Jesus? When anxiety washes over us, do we respond with knee-jerk reactions? Or do we instead believe that Jesus who resurrected from a tomb has more than enough power and ability to deal with any situation in our lives? Consider these verses written by the apostle Paul,

I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. (Ephesians 1:19-21 NLT)

Because Jesus rose from the grave, we do not need to fear the future. Instead, let’s take delight in His power

Whispers from the Heart:

Lord Jesus, remind me You are always present in my life. Help me rest in the knowledge that You hold the power to take care of all my needs.

I praise You this month, for your death and resurrection. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.

© 2007 By Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved. To Comment on this devotional, please contact us.