April 6 | 1 Peter 1:3-5

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DAILY READING

1 Peter 1:3-5

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REFLECTION

Living Hope

by Mary Alice McGinnis

Spring has always been my favorite time of year. The tease of warmer temperatures. The spring rain that causes the grass to start turning green. The once bare trees that had gone dormant during the frigid days of winter, suddenly explode with beautiful white, pink, or red blossoms. Many things that have been stripped of life begin to awaken.

My favorite? The spring flowers. Especially tulips. I trace my fascination with tulips back to my childhood.

One spring, right outside of our front door, a singular bright red tulip sprung up early due to early warm spring temperatures. I was so excited!! It was so lovely, and it gave me HOPE that spring was right around the corner! I awoke one morning, and much to my dismay, I discovered my lovely little tulip struggling beneath the blanket of snow. This little red reflection of hope was in danger of freezing, withering, and dying.

Life is like that, isn’t it? We get our hopes up; we anticipate something wonderful, only to find our hopes dashed. We put our trust in things and people that disappoint us.

What do you wish would never waste away? Is there anything you wish were restored to perfection? What would you like to never fade or wither?

What if there was a hope that was LIVING? What if there was a life that was indestructible? What if that life was as pure as the most pristine water from a crystal-clear spring? What if it could never become ruined, deformed, or impaired? What if it could never wrinkle, wither or fade away? What if it were IMPERISHABLE, UNSPOILABLE, and UNFADING?

Wouldn’t that we too much to hope for?

Because of His GREAT MERCY, God our Father has given us a different kind of hope, a hope in which we can be absolutely confident. A LIVING HOPE. He proved His ability to grant us such a secure hope when He raised Jesus from the grave. Because of the resurrected Jesus, we have been granted a sure inheritance.

Our inheritance is not a place or a thing, it is a PERSON. And it begins NOW!

Psalm 16:5 (Amplified version) says, “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance, my cup [He is all I need].”

"There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ." (Lyrics from "In Christ Alone," by Stuart Townend)

PRAYER

Dear Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I lift my heart in grateful praise to You.

You have given ME Your great mercy.

You have granted ME new birth.

You have breathed into ME living HOPE - not the dead hopes of this world.

Your hope is living, imperishable, unspoiled, and unfading hope.

You have conquered death itself.

You are my inheritance, my portion, my cup. You are my everything.

You are guarding and shielding me even now, and will bring me fully restored to Your side for all eternity. 

I praise YOU from the depths of my heart.

April 5 Acts 1:1-10

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DAILY READING 

Acts 1:1-10

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REFLECTION

Don't Leave Home Without It!

by Judy Webb

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” (Acts 1:4)

And what a gift it was and is today. Can you, as a Christian, imagine going through life, making sound choices, writing wise words, or even deciding important things without this gift to at your side?

If you were to peek at my journal, you would find a constant prayer, “Come Holy Spirit! Fill me with your wisdom and inspiration.” I could not write a word worth reading were it not for the Holy Spirit’s presence at my side. He provides me with inspiration, insight, and courage. He will do the same for you if you but ask. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all…and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Once the Holy Spirit was given to Jesus’ followers, nothing was ever the same again. They were inspired. They became bold, strong, and determined. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, they were unstoppable. Fearless when embracing this gift, they traveled to dangerous places, spoke words of truth with conviction, love, and confidence. Again, everything changed.

The Holy Spirit gives power, God’s kind of power. The Book of Acts is the eyewitness account of all Jesus said and did. To be a witness for Jesus is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus told his people to wait for the gift my Father promised.  They waited and were blessed by the Spirit’s appearance. And everything changed from that day until now.

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PRAYER PRACTICE

Dear Jesus, thank for you telling your disciples to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the promise to us that when we ask for wisdom, you will generously give it to us. Keep us ever aware of your gifts and your love. Amen.

April 4 | Mark 16:19-20

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DAILY READING

Mark 16:19-20

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REFLECTION

He Sat Down…But He Isn’t Finished

by Kristin Schoeff

Do you ever get the feeling that the Lord is trying to get your attention—repeating the message he wants you to receive? When I read today’s Bible passage, its theme was remarkably similar to one I've seen throughout the book of Mark, and it left me pondering and praying about how Jesus wants to work this more into our lives.

In these two short verses that complete the Gospel of Mark, I was struck by the fact that after Jesus gave his disciples final instructions, he “was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19 ESV) A place at someone’s right hand in the Bible denotes honor and power. Jesus had earned that place at God the Father’s right hand by his finished work on the cross and his victory over sin and death. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus “endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." And what do you do when you complete your job? You sit down!

When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, before he ascended to heaven, he gave them their marching orders (in the previous verses, Mark 16:15-18)—to go into the world and preach the gospel, promising them that miraculous signs would go with those who believed in him—they would have the power to drive out demons, and bring healing to the sick (along with some other more unusual signs!). These were three things that Jesus focused his ministry on, and had trained, equipped and given his disciples authority to do while he was still with them and he sent them out two by two (see Mark 3:14-15; Mark 6:7-13; Matthew 10:1,7).

In Mark 16:20, after Jesus was taken up to heaven, his disciples began to preach the gospel as he had told them to. But they were not left to do this work in their own power. As they went out, preaching the good news, "the Lord worked with them" – confirming his word by the signs that accompanied it. Jesus may have sat down, but he was by no means done working. He chose to continue his work through those who believed.

So that brings us to today. Jesus is still seated at the right hand of God, still calling on those who believe in him to continue his work. Do you believe? Might the Lord even confirm the words of hope and good news that he gives you to share with signs of his power? It’s something to consider and pray for. Jesus wants his followers to continue to multiply his ministry here on earth—through the power and authority he has given to us.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, here we are. Send us; use us; fill us; empower us to be your hands and feet in this world, to your glory and the building of your Kingdom. In your holy name, Amen.