Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Matthew 28:1-10
Set – Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 3
Go! – Matthew 28; 1 Thessalonians 1-3
Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the Sabbath, as the light of the next day, the first day of the week, crept over Palestine, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb to keep vigil. 2 Earlier there had been an earthquake. A messenger of the Lord had come down from heaven and had gone to the grave. He rolled away the stone and sat down on top of it. 3 He veritably glowed. He was vibrating with light. His clothes were light, white like transfiguration, like fresh snow. 4 The soldiers guarding the tomb were terrified. They froze like stone.
5 The messenger spoke to the women, to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.
Messenger of the Lord: Don’t be afraid. I know you are here keeping watch for Jesus who was crucified. 6 But Jesus is not here. He was raised, just as He said He would be. Come over to the grave, and see for yourself. 7 And then go straight to His disciples, and tell them He’s been raised from the dead and has gone on to Galilee. You’ll find Him there. Listen carefully to what I am telling you.
8 The women were both terrified and thrilled, and they quickly left the tomb and went to find the disciples and give them this outstandingly good news. 9 But while they were on their way, they saw Jesus Himself.
Jesus (greeting the women): Rejoice.
The women fell down before Him, kissing His feet and worshiping Him.
Jesus: 10 Don’t be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. Tell them I will meet them there.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
There is a dimension of life you seldom see in your everyday life. It’s all around you and when you read My word you become aware of its existence, but often people do not acknowledge the importance of the realm I speak of. There is a spiritual realm where a battle between good and evil takes place. Sometimes the spiritual realm’s beings break in upon the physical realm you see with your five senses. When it does the reaction is always the same – fear, terror.
When you see My warriors, you tremble in their presence. Look through My word at the experiences of every those who have seen My messengers. They all fell on their face or froze in place at the sight of one of My angels. Fearsome warriors with powers beyond human measure. Yet they are nothing compared to Me. On that first Easter morning, one came to visit the empty tomb. He rolled away the stone so those who came to finish the burial preparation could see that I was not there.
My messenger just sat casually on the stone while all who saw him cowed in his presence. Just the touch of his foot cause the ground beneath it to quake. The light of his clothing shone like the sun. The soldiers froze and trembled. These soldiers, feared by all who saw them, fell to the ground and cried like babies. The women trebled in fear. All who witnessed the scene remembered it forever just because of the fear the sight of this one figure brought to mind.
Now imagine the scene when My heavenly armies appear. Imagine a vast army of those warriors too numerous to count filling the hillsides and the sky coming to fight My battles. Imagine the power that army holds in their hands. If one messenger can cause the world’s best fighters to fall silent before him, imagine what an army of My warriors can do.
I have legions of armies at My disposal ready to do My bidding, one at a time or armies at a time. They operate in a dimension outside your sight, but they are there nonetheless. They fight for Me and for those who have faith in Me every moment. They keep the evil one at bay. They defeat Satan’s minions and ensure My plans succeed. They act as My hands and feet in the spiritual realm just as you act as My hands and feet in the physical realm.
Occasionally, I allow My messengers to cross over to be seen by you. Sometimes I let them interact personally with you. There are times they act as recipents of your grace and mercy as, unaware, you minister to My angels. So when you minister to them, I disguise them such that you do not recognize them. When they minister to you, they terrify you in their angelic form. Still, none compare to the power and majesty of the triune Godhead. When My messengers see Me, they fall on their face in honor and praise.
Why do I tell you all these things today? Because today you might need to know that you’re not alone. You might not see My messengers at work with you, but they are there at your side. They are working with you to keep you safe from the evil one, guarding your heart.
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