What Do We Do Now, Knowing We Have A Living Savior?

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

                  Do you ever wonder what the disciples did after they believed that Christ had risen? Do wonder what they thought after their Master had risen from the dead like He said? Do you think they still thought that NOW Jesus would set up his kingdom? I wondered if that was their thoughts or maybe confusion. We know that in John 21, Jesus found the disciples back to their old life fishing. Jesus tells the disciples to throw the net on the other side and cast out again, and so they did. Then Jesus calls them to the shore and and questions Peter commitment. We can gather from this that they still had reservations about Jesus and his master plan. After this meeting again with the disciples, Peter and the others never question Jesus or waver in their faith of who Jesus is and his plan.

                   We know that in Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gives the Great Commission, and this is what Jesus wanted his disciples to do, now that they knew and believed that Jesus had risen. With this last command that Jesus gives to his disciples, it still applies to his disciples today. Christian, now that we know what happened and what Jesus' death and conquering of the grave meant, do something with it. Jesus says this is what you do with the good news of my resurrection, GO! Tell the world, and I am with you always. So fellow Christian if you are wondering what to do next, go tell someone about Jesus and his life, death, and resurrection. It will change someone's life. God doesn't want us to be idle and go back to what we used to do, He first wants the good news to change our lives and then show others how it can change their lives. Are you active seeking the lost, that is the question. I challenge you today to do something with what you know!

Crossroads Baptist Church,
Youth Pastor Scott Hopkins

   

It Is Finished

Wednesday
April 16, 2014

           Have you ever started something that seemed so important to you at the time that you could'nt wait to finish it, but through time, troubles, trials and life you gave up on it? We all have done this in some way or another in our lives. Sometimes we think we are wasting our time with it because of all the problems that have arisen during the the time we have taken on it. In the Bible though, Jesus makes sure that everything is finished and completed before he is done with the situation.     

           In John 19 and verse 30 the Bible states that Jesus said, "it is finished." With this saying came a lot of meaning. In John 17:4 the Bibles says, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." This is a reference to exactly why Jesus said it is finished. We know that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. This was his purpose here on earth, and he completed that task there on the cross. Everything said and prophesied about leading up to that moment had been taken care of and accomplished. He bridged the gap between God and man so that man could come boldly in God's presence. Before then a high priest had to atone for the sins of the people, but now all can come and ask for forgiveness from the Father without a high priest. Jesus Christ is our high priest who intercedes for us daily. It is finished is such a powerful saying, and the magnitude of it is immense. I thank God that Jesus finished it and nailed my sins to that old rugged cross and died for me so that I may have direct access to the throne of grace. So I leave you with this question, are you thankful for Jesus finishing what He started?

Youth Minister Scott Hopkins
Crossroads Baptist Church

Hope, Doubt, and Belief

Hope, Doubt, and Belief By Paul Chappell

Tuesday, Apr 8, 2014 “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:27–29 The Bible does not tell us why Thomas was not present with the other disciples on the evening of the resurrection when Jesus appeared to His followers. But whatever the reason, when he heard the good news from the disciples, he did not believe it. He declared that unless he could personally evaluate the evidence (see the Lord for himself and touch the wounds of the crucifixion), he would not believe. Yet when Jesus appeared to him the following week, Thomas no longer doubted. Seeing the risen Lord changed his heart from doubt to faith. For Thomas, seeing really was believing. But that is not what faith is; faith believes in what it cannot see. Faith takes the Word of God at face value. The story of Thomas highlights the connection between faith and hope. Thomas knew that Jesus had died on the cross. And even though Jesus had told the disciples that He would die and be resurrected, they did not believe there was hope following the cross and the borrowed tomb. Their minds were limited to what was possible from the standpoint of human reasoning. They failed to take into account what God was able to do, and, as a result, they lost hope. The loss of hope led to Thomas’ loss of faith, but meeting Jesus immediately restored it. While we do not see Jesus in person as Thomas did, we do have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and that gives us hope no matter what else is happening. Today’s Renewal Principle:  Never underestimate what God is able to do to fulfill the promises of His Word or His power to work in your life.