I had been reading my Bible this morning and quit to have my prayer time. I closed my Bible and laid it on the shelf beside me. That’s when these words came ringing through the silence in my heart.
“You quit too soon”. Too soon? Yes, too soon.
I had been reading about Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem; I read about the heads of the clans of Israel. I read Solomon’s words in Proverbs and David’s words in Psalms.
“ Words from good people are like pure silver, but thoughts from the wicked are worthless. 21 Good people say things that help others, but the wicked die from a lack of understanding.” Proverbs 10:20-21 ERV
“Our Lord, everything you do is kind and thoughtful, 18 and you are near to everyone whose prayers are sincere. 19 You satisfy the desires of all your worshipers, and you come to save them when they ask for help.” Psalm 145:17-18 CEV
These words were establishing themselves in my heart. I was beginning to praise God for what I read – how could I have quit too soon? It was then I remembered that my reading yesterday took me up to the last chapter of Luke.
I had read about the mock trial, the persecution and crucifixion of Jesus. The last I had read was of His burial. So, I picked up my Bible and opened to chapter 24 of Luke. The words jumped off the page…
Jesus Is Alive
24 “Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. 2 When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, 3 they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, 4 and they did not know what to think.
Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, “Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? 6 Jesus isn’t here! He has been raised from death. ” Luke 24:1-6 CEV
Now, don’t get religious on me. Listen to what I have to say. Of course, we all know that Jesus is alive.
JESUS IS ALIVE!
Too many times, we read the Bible like a history book, a good story or helpful instruction. But it is the living word of God!
John wrote in the first chapter of his writings that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. Jesus is the Word; He is alive and He is living with us through the pages of the book that we hold in our hands.
Heed the words of the angels – don’t go looking for the living where the dead are. When we need strength, go to the One who conquered death. When we need peace, go to the One who calmed the storm. When we need hope, go to the One who promises to satisfy our desires. When we need wisdom, go to the One whose words are like pure silver.
Don’t quit too soon!
“ For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[a] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 NLT
Jesus is alive and because He is, we have His life residing in us!
Don’t quit too soon, let the reality of the living Christ live, really live, in you!