Shake Things Up

Daily Reading: Matthew 28

Scripture Focus: And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. (Matthew 28.2)

Devotional Thought: Two earthquakes shook things up when Jesus died and rose again.  The first earthquake tore the curtain in the temple, giving us access to God.  A second earthquake rolled the stone away, making possible uninterrupted fellowship with God. 

Too many of us think about the resurrection in terms of the future – we will one day enter into eternal life with God.  Jesus rose again from the dead so that we can have eternal life right now!  The stone of separation is rolled away and the angel is sitting on it – right now!  Yes, we know that one day we will see Jesus, and we will be like him for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3.2).  But, also remember this: “Everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (v. 3).  This means, among other things, that we set our minds and hearts completely upon Jesus!  We set ourselves aside for him!  We enter into eternal life with him here below.

Are you waiting for heaven before you live in complete victory?  You don’t need to.  You can live in uninterrupted fellowship with Jesus here and now – even in the midst of sickness, pain, suffering, and sorrow.  Jesus once had told his disciples, “The kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11.12).  In another place he told them, “The good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it” (Luke 16.16).  I say it’s time we force our way into the Kingdom!  We need an earthquake.  Shake things up, Lord!

Prayer: Lord, I know that I have been given access to God by the blood of Jesus.  Help me now to live in uninterrupted fellowship with you.  Shake up my life and roll away all the stones that inhibit me from seeing you.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 90.1-6

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You return man to dust and say, "Return, O children of man!"

4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:

6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.