Easter Sunday Challenge Readings

Today's Reading: Psalm 94, Exodus 40, Esther 7, 1 Corinthians 12

Psalm 94 - 10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?
He who teaches man knowledge— 11 the Lord—knows the thoughts of man,that they are but a breath.

Happy Easter! It's been a good day. Today in church, I asked the question, "What would you do if you knew that today was your last day on planet earth?"

Most people will never know the day that they are going to die. Among those that do are convicted criminals, sentenced to the death penalty. Such were the men on either side of Jesus when Christ died on the cross for our sins.

While we may not know the day that we will die, God does. Psalm 94 tells us that the Lord knows the thoughts of man and that our days are but a breath. We spend so much time this side of heaven trying to make a name for us, instead of recognizing that history is truly His story. May we spend our days on the things that truly matter. May we be a people who store up treasure in heaven, recognizing that God is worth giving our very best to.

Exodus 40 - 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

In Exodus 40, God gave Moses instruction on how and when the tabernacle was to be constructed. Moses followed all of these instructions. And then something spectacular happened. The glory of the Lord filled that tabernacle!

What an impact this would have had on the children of Israel! This was a visible manifestation that God was present and that He was directing the children of Israel. Even Moses, the friend of God, the one whom God talked to on the mountain, was not allowed to enter the tent of meeting when God's presence filled it. Our God is an AWESOME God!

Esther 7 - My study Bible titles this chapter, the rescue of a nation. It's an appropriate title, as God does bring deliverance to the Jewish people, thwarting Haman's plan, and even requiring the life of Haman to be paid. But, the rescue of the Jewish people began in Esther's first chapter. These first seven chapters show what happens when we are willing to be God's people for such a time as this. God put you on this earth, at this time, in the place where He has you, for such a time as this. How are you using your influence to make a difference for Jesus Christ?

1 Corinthians 12 - 1 Corinthians' twelfth chapter has been called one of the greatest teaching on spiritual gifts in the Bible. Really, 1 Corinthians 12-14 should be taken in it's entirety as a teaching on spiritual gifts. Apparently there were some divisions in the church over which spiritual gifts were the greatest. Paul talks about all of the gifts being important for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Here are some of the things we should take from this passage:

1) Every follower of Jesus has at least one spiritual gift.

2) All of the gifts are vital to the body.

3) God has given local congregations every gift needed to accomplish his purposes.

4) When one member of the Body of Christ hurts, we all hurt.

5) There was a better way for this church to go in relation to spiritual gifts, which Paul would reveal in1 Corinthians 13. Hint: It's love!