Tag: <span>devotional</span>

Jesus is Alive in My Life
Published March 31, 2024

Jesus is Alive in My Life

“Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ.”   Ephesians 2:4-6

Easter Sunday as a joyous event celebrating the resurrection of Jesus is forever etched in my memory.

In Austria we lived in the shadow of a large church with an enormous bell tower (at least it looked like that to my childish eyes.) The bells rang faithfully morning and evening and on special occasions. But there was one day the bells did not ring.

That was on Good Friday when the priest used an instrument which made a rasping, sad sound. It was to remind us of Christ’s suffering and put us into a mood of mourning.

When Easter Sunday morning came, all the bells rang in a glorious symphony. The joyous sound floated across roof tops, hills and valleys carrying the good news, “Jesus has risen from the dead.”

But when I arrived at the church, I was disappointed to see the life-sized crucifix of Jesus’ body on the Cross was still there. If Jesus has risen from the dead, why is he still hanging on the cross? I wondered.

Don’t we do this too?

We go through the motions of celebrating that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. We accept it as part of our religion, but what difference does it really make to our lives today?

Is Jesus alive in your heart? Is he active in your life today?

The risen Lord Jesus Christ is not just up in heaven preparing a place for us, but he is presently down here on earth wanting to make His home in us and do His work through us.

How? We must die to our selfish ways and surrender to Christ on a daily basis. He has to become our very life from moment to moment. It will be “Christ in us working through us.” We depend on him to be our sufficiency for each new challenge. Then we can stop trying so hard and trusting more. What freedom comes with this realization!

Jesus, I depend on your strength and your life in me today. I want to do your will and your work today. What is it you want us to do today?

by Helen Lescheid
Used by Permission

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Further Reading

•  At the Foot of the Cross – Powerful Poem

•  A Trampled Rose

•  Touched by the Risen Lord

•  Salvation Explained

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thoughts by Helen Grace Lescheid Thoughts by Women

Nothing Can Separate Us
Published March 23, 2024

Nothing Can Separate Us

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

Are you facing trouble or hardship or persecution? Is conflict in your marriage, a loss of a job or illness weighing you down? Has your family disowned you or your friend deserted you? Are you experiencing a famine of food or a famine of hope? Is there danger or death looming on the horizon?

Then let me remind you that:

  • God chose you. (Romans 8:29-30)
  • God is your powerful ally. (Romans 8:31)
  • God gave up His Son for you, so He will look after you. (Romans 8:32)
  • Nothing can separate you from God’s love. (Romans 8:39)

We can be confident of these truths because, “Jesus Christ, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)

Can death separate us from God’s love?
No, because through Jesus we have the promise of eternal life. (John 3:16)

Can life isolate us from God’s love?
No, because God has promised to be with us always. (Matthew 28:20)

Can angels or demons keep us from God’s love?
No. Though there are spiritual forces at work in our world, God is greater than them all. (Matthew 10:28)

Can present troubles or future fears cut us off from God’s love?
No, because God is the great “I AM”, the God who is and was and is to come. (Revelation 1:8)

Can any powers that man or Satan exert over us defeat God’s love?
No, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 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.” (Romans 8:37-39)

Thank you Holy God that because of Jesus, nothing can separate me from Your love. Amen!

by Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

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Further Reading

•   The Relentless Tide of Gods Love 

•  Keep Yourself in God’s Love

•  Salvation Explained

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thoughts by Suzanne Benner Thoughts by Women