Mark 16:1-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
He Is Risen
16 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”
8 So they went out quickly[a] and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord
9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
This stone can represent so many things in our lives that keep us from getting close to Jesus. Maybe it is your spouse,or your child, maybe it's your job, maybe it's your friends. It could be an addiction, or a misconception that you need to change behaviors before coming to Christ but change seems to hard. Whatever it is once you decide to run to Jesus the rock is already moved away. The women just ran to him not looking back, not caring about what challenges were ahead of them, they just ran. As soon as you make a choice to be closer to God, he makes a way. What seems impossible or difficult, is easy. You just have to make up your mind.
Matthew 6:19-34
New International Version (NIV)
Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light.23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[c]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
There is a lot of meat to chew over in that last passage of scripture but what it boils down to is seeking God first. No one says you can't have or want nice things, clothes, a car, a house, even wealth or to be financially secure. But your first desire should be for the Lord Jesus to be a part of your life. You should want him regardless of what condition your life is in. Your desire for him shouldn't grow only because you are going through difficulties and then diminish when things are going well for you. Nor should your gratefulness for his goodness, be for him only when things are good and then when you go through hard times "Thank you God" almost never is on your tongue or in your heart. God is good all the time Amen!. God wants your heart all the time. How do we give him our heart by seeking him daily, by trusting him completely. and by knowing who he is to us.
Psalm 24:1 The Earth is the Lords, and all it contains, The world, and all those who dwell in it.
So we are his. We don't belong to anyone or anything else. So our hearts are his too.
Matthew 28:20 Jesus is always with us.
Jesus is our only mediator between God and ourselves. 1 Tim. 2:5
Jesus is the bread of life. John 6:35
Jesus forever lives to make intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25
Jesus Cleanses from sin. 1 John 1:9
Jesus saves forever John 10:28
Jesus gives Joy John 15:11
Jesus gives peace John 14:27
Jesus is the good shepherd John 10:11-14
Jesus gives us treasures of wisdom, and knowledge Colossians 2:2-3
In Jesus we have been made complete Colossians 2:10
Jesus gives us understanding 1 John 5:20
Jesus overcomes the world John 16:33
Romans 8:38-39
New International Version (NIV)
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus is the way, truth, and the life John 14:6
Going it alone is the hardest way to live life. Jesus is always waiting for you to do it with you. So Let him in. Amen!
Revelation 3:20
New King James Version (NKJV)
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
