Each day of this past week we emailed an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. Here is the last of them as we culminate with the wonderful message of this Resurrection Sunday.

The Power of a Promise Kept

“And the third day He will rise again.” (Luke 18:33)

March 11, 1942 was a dark, desperate day at Corregidor.  The Pacific Theatre of war was threatening and bleak.  One island after another had been buffeted into submission by the Japanese.  The enemy was now marching confidently into the Philippines and surrender was inevitable. American General, Douglas MacArthur, spoke just three words as he stepped into the escape boat destined for Australia: that now famous line, “I shall return.”

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Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 7th Saying of Jesus on the Cross

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.  (Luke 23:46) Read the rest of this entry »

Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 6th Saying of Jesus on the Cross

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”  (John 19:30)

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Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 5th Saying of Jesus on the Cross

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. (John 19:28-29)

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Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 4th Saying of Jesus on the Cross

 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46) Read the rest of this entry »

Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 3rd Saying of Jesus on the Cross

“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”  (John 19:26-27)

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Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 2nd Saying of Jesus on the Cross

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? “And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”  (Luke 23:39-43)

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Each day of this week, leading up to Resurrection Sunday, we are emailing an early morning devotional out to First Assembly from our Pastoral Team. You can read them all right here.

The 1st Saying of Jesus on the Cross

Then said Jesus, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  (Luke 23:34)   

Jesus said these words right at the beginning of the crucifixion.  Many commentators have suggested it might well have been said whilst they were driving the nails in His hands and feet!   

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James, the brother of Jesus, gives us a clear little prescription for how to not only keep our heads above water when we’re going through a trial, but how to thrive and grow.  If you don’t need it this minute, file it away because you’re sure to need it soon enough.

James 1:2-8 …

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

James says we should anticipate “various trials” (v2). That tells me that I will be tested numerous times, and that the trials will come in an assortment of ways. So I need to be prepared for them in advance.  Whatever the type of trial I wake up to tomorrow morning, James gives me (and you) 3 instructions:

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“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

As the Apostle Paul is making an appeal to the church in Corinth for a generous offering to help the church in Macedonia, he is all of a sudden struck again by the thought of the unmatched generosity of God toward us. Verse 15 is an outburst. An exclamation.

The word “unspeakable” literally means “unexpounded”. Paul is not saying that what God has done for us shouldn’t or can’t be talked about, or that it is impossible to ever put into words. He is saying that the fullness of what God has given us in the sacrifice of Jesus has never been fully elaborated on. There is so much to what God has accomplished in His plan of redemption, that the riches of it keep on appearing; keep on unfolding.

I used to love to read The Cat in the Hat Comes Back to our kids at bedtime. You remember that story by Dr. Seuss?

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