Tuesday Tidbits

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

Leaving town and driving south on Interstate 95 last Thursday triggered memories of the movie Deep Impact. It is a 1998 science fiction disaster movie portraying the attempts to prepare for and destroy a gigantic comet set to collide with Earth and cause a mass extinction. The comet is named for Leo Beiderman, the teenage astronomer that discovered it. To cut to the end of a very long and intense movie, the diversion attempts failed, but it was successfully broken into pieces. But a large chunk lands off the coast of North Carolina and causes a massive tsunami. In the final scene, Beiderman and his family climb the Appalachian foothills to escape the catastrophic tidal surge. They reach the top and turn to look back. All they can see is the haze caused by the gigantic waters, but as the water rescinds, the sun breaks out in full glory, and it’s a happy ending. When we reached the rest stop at the North Carolina/Virginia border, people all around, myself included, were standing, marveling at the beautiful blue sky and breathing the clean air. Due to Canadian wildfires, many of us were driving south to escape the worst air quality ever recorded in Washington, DC. The air was dangerously smoky for several days, and the haze blocked the sun. Like in the movie, we were trying to outrun nature’s fury and look for a visible sun in the sky.

It struck me how ironic that we were smack in the middle of another potentially deadly historical event. First, the pandemic, and second, code Maroon air quality. June 8, 2023, is now recorded as the day the DC area had the worst air quality in the world. The whole experience was another vivid reminder of the fragility and vulnerability of humanity and that we are not in control. The meteorologists blamed the wind for pushing the smoke into the northeast. “For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind and declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness and treads on the high places of the earth, The Lord God of Hosts is His name” (Amos 4:13). The wind may have been the vehicle that pushed the smoke. Still, humanity always needs to be mindful of the Driver of the vehicle.  

Life is fragile, and even the non-Christian can agree with that, but it’s where we find our stability in the face of powerless control of our lives that differs greatly. At the end of the day, whether the sun is shining or hiding behind the haze, He is all that matters. He is the One that puts the wind in our sails. He calls us to rise each day ready to receive His fresh mercy and sustaining grace no matter how fragile our lives may feel or be. Life’s fragility reminds us of our intense need for God’s power, promises, and salvation. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.       

“Don’t be foolish. A seed must die before it can sprout from the ground. Wheat seeds and all other seeds look different from the sprouts that come up” 1 Cor 15:36 CEV

A dear friend recently gave me a book called Listening to the Language of the Bible. When I expressed my thanks, she said she thought it would be “right up my alley.” She reminded me of my love of words and their meaning. Not that I had forgotten how much delving into the original meaning of words excites me, but sometimes different seasons of life can undoubtedly sidetrack us, and I’m in one of those seasons with a lot of side roads!  The Bible was written in languages and cultures very different from our own. Much study and time by numerous scholars has been devoted to translating the nuances of Hebrew and Greek. However, digging a little deeper into the translated words and phrases can bring wisdom and rich new insights.

My devotional time has led me to the book of John. In chapter twelve, Jesus predicts his death. Jesus replied (to Andrew and Philip), “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds (John 12:23-24). I’ve heard many teachings on this verse, but with my mind tuned to the actual words of the passage, I decided to dig a bit deeper. As a farm girl, the concept that a seed must die to produce anything makes sense to me, but does it defy the law of biogenesis (I’m also a science girl!), which tells us that in nature, life comes from life. So what exactly did Jesus mean? Did He contradict the scientific law?

In the Bible, the word death or die can mean different things, depending on the context in which it is used. Death in the Bible means separation. Spiritual death occurs when we sin (Rom 6:23), and James tells us, “Anyone who doesn’t breathe is dead, and faith that doesn’t do anything is just as dead” (James 2:26). Sin separates us from God, faith apart from obedience is dead and our physical bodies die without breath. But plant life was not created in the image of God and did not have a spirit, so Jesus is not talking about death in the same way humans die.

Keeping within the context of the scripture, for the seed to fall to the ground, it must separate from the stalk. It no longer receives nourishment from the stalk, so it is not growing or being nurtured; it is slowly decaying, lying dormant until it gets nutrients from the soil to sprout and grow into a new plant. When the seed sprouts, the outside seed hull is separated from the budding plant, and the seed (hull) dies.  And that is precisely what the word “dies” means contextually in John 12:24. It means decaying. Seeds lie dormant and decay over centuries, so Jesus did not defy the law of biogenesis in His teaching. In context for us today, Jesus was the seed that had to die and be separated from His physical body and His disciples for His kingdom to grow. He could not remain the single seed. He had to die to produce many seeds. While hiding in the upper room (John 20:19), the disciples were decaying to fear until the nourishment of the Holy Spirit breathed new life into them, and they were emboldened to go out into the world to plant seeds. We lie dormant until someone comes into our lives with the Good News that gives us life. Just like the seed, the process of dormant, decaying, and death must happen for us to receive a life that never dies. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.  

The picture is of the Jezreel Valley or Valley of Megiddo, Israel, where many crops are grown.        

The Lord said, Later, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will even give my Spirit to my servants, both men and women…… Then I, the Lord will save everyone who faithfully worships me. Joel 2:28-32 (CEV)

I hope everyone had a reflective Memorial Day. The neighborhood was noticeably humming with activity and people on our daily walk. It was evident from the folks with coolers and unfamiliar faces that several parties took place on their Monday holiday. Realizing that advertisements and news stories abound, citing yesterday as the official start of the summer, I thought about how our family has traditionally commemorated Memorial Day.  I will confess I struggle with the party side of Memorial Day unless it is a celebration of a life given in service to this country. My deeply patriotic spirit wants to shout out that it is not about the hotdogs, hamburgers, and pool openings; it is about the men and women who gave up their yesterdays so we can have our tomorrows. Each Memorial Day evening for many years, we have watched the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS hosted by Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna, and this year was no different. If you have never seen the show, I recommend grabbing your tissues and Googling it. It is a beautiful tribute to all our fallen servicemen and women, with music and actors portraying real-life stories of our country’s veterans. One story concluded with the reminder that every day is Memorial Day for the families of our country’s true heroes. Similar words were declared by the Pastor the day before concerning Pentecost Sunday.

Every few years Pentecost Sunday and Memorial Day weekend occur simultaneously. The Feast of Pentecost is also a memorial day, celebrated each year by Christians as they remember the events recorded in Acts 2.  But it is a different kind of remembering. Instead of just remembering the past and commemorating a life taken in war, the events of Pentecost continue to live on in reality and aid us in the battle we fight every day. “We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world” (Eph 6:12). We can only do that with the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). Without the Holy Spirit we are totally defenseless.

When Peter addresses the crowd in Acts 2, he points to the Good News promised in Joel 2:28-32. God promised the people of Israel that one day, the Holy Spirit of God would be poured out in power on all of God’s people, and no one that comes to believe by faith would be denied. Joel promised it. It is realized at Pentecost. Each year at Pentecost, we are reminded that God keeps His promises, that Pentecost marks the church’s birthday, and that the church’s primary purpose is to share the love of Jesus with the world, with no exceptions. Pentecost was a watershed moment in God’s plan of salvation, and every day in the life of the Christian should be a Pentecost day. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.    

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love…I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow. John 15:10-11 (NLT)

The people of Israel booted out the aging prophet, Samuel and he anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. Very early in his reign, Saul failed the Lord’s test of obedience, and subsequently the Lord rejected him as king over Israel (1 Sam 15:26). The Lord then instructed Samuel, “Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king” (1 Sam 16:1). After seven of Jesse’s sons were rejected by the Lord, the youngest was called from tending the sheep. And the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” So Samuel took the oil and anointed him, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power (16:13).

Most bible scholars believe David was between ten and fifteen years old when Samuel anointed him. But he did not become king until he was thirty years old (2 Sam 5:4). Within those years, David enters the service of King Saul, kills Goliath, marries Saul’s daughter, and befriends Saul’s son Jonathan. But instead of being welcomed into the family with loving arms, the scripture tells us that “Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, Saul became still more afraid of him and remained his enemy the rest of his days” (1 Sam 18:28-29). And that is when the chase began. Saul was determined to kill David, and for years David ran from one place to another. At least on two separate occasions, David could have turned the tables, destroyed Saul, and taken his rightful place as king, but he didn’t.

On one such occasion, Saul entered a cave to relieve himself, and unbeknownst to him, David and his men were hiding in the back of the cave. David cuts off a corner of his hem to prove he could have killed him. When Saul exits the cave, David shouts to him, holding the hem. Another time, Saul is sleeping at the camp with his spear and water jug by his head. Instead of killing him, David took the spear and the water jug to once again prove he spared Saul’s life. David’s companion in crime declared that the Lord had delivered Saul into his hands and chastised him for not killing him. But David rebuked him, reminding him that the Lord had forbidden him to lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed (1 Sam 26:11). David’s faithfulness and allowing God’s plan and path to play out in His way is admirable and sets the example for us. How often has the Lord given us a definitive direction, and when opportunities present, we waffle or move forward in our own path?

As I pack boxes and prepare for our upcoming move, I can recall questioning God’s call for us to move to North Carolina many times. In the two years since we bought our new home, many things have changed,  and I ashamedly tried to use those instances to justify not walking in obedience to God’s call. Each time, I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit calling me to repentance and acceptance to follow the path He has chosen for us. Our obedience, even if it is painful, inexplicably releases Christ’s joy in us. Now with joyful expectation, I’m looking forward to my new home and the service God has prepared for us.  And when people ask me why we are moving to North Carolina, my joyful answer is that God told us to! And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.  

The picture is of our soon to be North Carolina home.

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

Samuel, the great prophet, had served Israel for many years by the time we arrive to the twelfth chapter of the book of 1 Samuel. But the people cried out for a king to rule over them, and the Lord granted them their desires.  Saul was thirty years old when he became king and reigned over Israel for forty-two years (I Sam 13:1). But not long into his reign, Samuel came to him with a mission from God. God would use Saul to punish the Amalekites for the attack on the Israelites as Moses led them out of Egypt. Joshua won the battle, but the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure Joshua hears it because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven” (Exodus 17:14). Fast forward in history, and because God does not forget. He always has a plan; He would use Saul to bring what He had declared to Moses to fruition.

Samuel delivered God’s message to Saul, and God’s instructions were very clear. “Now go attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys” (1 Sam 15:2-3). But when Saul attacked, he was unwilling to destroy completely. He did not kill King Agag and kept all the best livestock. Needless to say, the Lord was not pleased and revealed to Samuel that He was sorry He had ever made Saul king.  When Samuel confronts Saul, his response is twisted, self-righteous, and probably not unfamiliar to us.  He defends himself, declaring, “But I did obey the Lord.” He then takes his justification even further, admitting he brought back the king and the best of the livestock, buts it was all for the Lord, certainly not for his personal gain. He was sure God and Samuel would find this pleasing and not have a problem with a king and a few fat calves. But his version of obedience was far different from God’s undiluted instructions that told him to destroy everything with no exceptions. Amidst trying to defend his actions, he tells Samuel that he spared the livestock for sacrifice to the “Lord your God” not once but twice (1 Sam 15:15, 21). Notice Saul did not refer to the Lord as “his” God. He is distancing himself from God because that is what disobedience does. It clouds our judgment, puts us on the defensive, and creates a wedge between us and God.  

Samuel answers Saul’s defense with a question. “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams” (1 Sam 15:22). Whether Saul had nefarious intents for his disobedience, or he truly believed the sacrifices and spoilages of war laid on the alter would appease God and bring him reward we cannot judge. But what we can take away from this story is that God makes it very clear that what He wants from us is our hearts. And a heart for God leads to an offering of obedience and love—something a sacrifice will never render. The story of Saul continues next week, and that’s your Tuesday Tidbit. 

The picture, a representation of a sacrificial lamb, was taken while in Israel in Nazareth village. 

“But as for me, it is good to be near God.” Psalm 73:28

God’s assurance that He is ever present can be found throughout the Bible. He is there whether our days are filled with exhausting or unexpected demands and circumstances or mundane. Because we are spatial beings, we struggle with the concept of God being in all places at all times. But He is because He is God. This is mind-boggling to our finite minds, but it stays true to God’s nature. One of the most beautiful passages concerning God’s presence in our lives comes from Psalm 139:7-12.  

We don’t know how to explain it, and often words cannot describe His omnipresence’s impression on our lives. It’s not merely a theological or intellectual statement to say God is everywhere; it has real-life ramifications.  To believe and understand this Godly characteristic changes everything for us, and there are times when meditating or recognizing God’s constant companionship will make all the difference in our hearts, minds, and emotions.

Being constantly aware of God in all corners of our life draws us closer to Him. But there are times when we particularly need His reassuring presence.  Times of trouble or temptation and times when we are called to surrender our will and submit to what He has ordained for us. We all feel overwhelmed when God calls us to do something we never thought of doing and didn’t want to do in the first place. When God called out to Moses from the burning bush (Ex 3:4) and tasked him with leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he questioned God and tried to get out of the assignment. But God reassured him that He would certainly be with him (Ex 3:12). God knew that Moses needed the reassurance of His constant presence.

Even though God is always present, there are moments when God seems to manifest Himself to us more vividly than at other times. It can be through a great worship experience, devotion, and even through flowers. Last week was a particularly challenging week for me. Various demands and obligations pulled me from every direction, and I was starting to feel overwhelmed. I wasn’t meditating or being mindful of God’s presence in the chaos. I was like the diligent staff officer, executing the details. Then a text came from a friend alerting me that flowers should be arriving the next day. This was the second time she had ordered them. The first order never arrived, and the fight to be reimbursed took weeks. In her mind, the flowers were late, but the timing was perfect in light of my stressful week. God’s timing is always perfect. The beautiful flowers made me stop and be reminded of the joy and comfort of His ever-present, abiding presence. He is always near, right beside us. It is my prayer that you will bask in His presence daily. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” Habukkak 3:19

I have confessed my affection for little books, and now another confession. The small book of the Bible that I find most intriguing and my favorite is the book of Habakkuk. I was excited when our Bible study recently spent two weeks in this little book. It is only three chapters long, and I invite you to read it for the first time or the 50^th time when you can.  Because the Bible is timeless, Habakkuk can bring clarity and peace to the turbulent times we live in now or help you navigate a rocky path you may be walking.

Habakkuk has always intrigued me because it is not a book of sermons or prophetic announcements. It is the recorded conversation between a man and his God. Habakkuk is troubled by the life of a nation, Judah. He questioned God why he would allow Judah to pursue an ungodly path. He couldn’t understand why God would allow the circumstances to continue, which would eventually lead to the destruction of Judah by the Babylonians. Sound familiar to you? How often, when we turn on the television or look at our phones, do we ask God why the violence, hate, and war and when will it end? Or why the sickness, injustice, financial instability, or family turmoil? How long will it last?

Habakkuk did not hold back from asking God the hard questions. We are not unlike Habakkuk; we want to know why. We falsely believe the confusion and fear of our circumstances or worldly circumstances will be soothed by just knowing the plan. In reality, if we knew the plan or could understand God’s mysterious ways in the framework of our flawed humanity, we would think we had a better plan.  

Habakkuk sets a beautiful pattern to emulate when life is perplexing and challenging. First, practice patience and allow God to be God. The Lord told Habakkuk, “Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told” (Hab 1:5). God’s ways are not our ways. His ways will always leave us standing in amazement if we allow Him to work in our lives. Secondly, he reminded himself of who God is (Hab 1:12-17).  We can do the same by studying God’s undeniable nature found in His word. Just a few characteristics of God are holiness (Rev 15:4), eternal (John 4:24), sovereign (Psalm 147:5), immutable (Heb 13:8) and love (1 John 4:8).  In chapter two, Habakkuk purposed himself to pray and wait on the Lord’s answer to his question. God knows the answers to all our prayers, and He will answer those prayers in His way and on His timeline. When we know God, not just know of God, trusting Him with the answers and the timing will bring us peace and comfort even during unexplainable circumstances.

And lastly, in chapter three, Habakkuk’s prayer turned to praise. It reminds me of the song by Cast in Crowns, I Will Praise You in the Storm. “For You are who You are no matter where I am…..and though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm.” These lyrics depict one of my favorite verses, “though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Hab 3:17-18). Amen! Praise Him that He can be trusted with absolutely everything that touches our lives that we cannot understand or control. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.     

Jim Lowe, a photographer who beautifully captures his stunning Shenandoah Valley, Virginia countryside and wildlife, took the picture.

“Any may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Romans 8:18-19 

There are those possessions in life that are cherished, cared for, and protected far differently than just the run-of-the-mill Tupperware container. It can be a family heirloom, a gift from a family member or friend, or a token from an unforgettable vacation. No matter the origin, the sentiment is the same. It is near and dear to your heart and, in most cases, irreplaceable. While living in Germany, I developed a passion for Volksmarching. The hikes would take me, Brooke in the jogging stroller, and my German friend, Maya, down worn paths, along streams, and through wooded forests. It was a fantastic way to see the countryside, sample local cuisines, and experience a different culture. At the end of the walk, your log would be noted, and mementos to commemorate your walk were available for purchase. I liked to collect the mugs and glassware with the names of the hosting town or village etched in the stone or glass. One of most favorite walks was in the city of Kitzingen, located in the German state of Bavaria along the Main River. The glass from that adventure became one of my most cherished possessions.  

The glass was never put in the dishwasher to preserve the beautiful etchings. It was always hand washed, dried, and put in the cabinet for safekeeping. But sadly, this week, after twenty-eight years of safeguarding my special glass, it slipped from my hand and broke. The tears flowed as I picked up the pieces, and memories flooded my mind. Because of a recent hand surgery that left me with zero grip strength, I routinely drop things now.  I finally mourned the loss of my hand’s trustworthiness as well as one of my most beloved, tangible possessions. When bedtime and prayer time came, I shared my sadness with God.  

Most scholars agree that Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, penned the book of Lamentations, often called the most sorrowful book of the Bible. It is Jeremiah’s compelling account of God’s post-judgment of Judah. After watching the spiraling destruction for decades, who better to lament? The Bible encourages us to express our grief to God, from the littlest things, like shattered glasses, to the deeper pains of loss, death, or betrayal. God longs for us to turn to Him during times of anguish. The Bible does not promise Believers an exemption from this world’s abounding troubles, hardships, or pain. But it offers us hope in the midst of that pain. Even though Jeremiah was in a horrific situation, a revitalizing thought sliced through the prophet’s heart and mind. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22). Jeremiah shifted his attention away from the surrounding circumstances and put his focus squarely on God. He reminded himself and the readers of one of God’s most comforting characteristics; God’s unfathomable love for His people. His love and sovereignty are completely trustworthy, even though we cannot fully comprehend them. 

Wading through our sadness and pain helps us to become tenderhearted, cognizant, and responsive to the Lord and others. This means we must first allow ourselves to feel the consequences of our loss, consider and align our hearts under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, release tears, and then relinquish our desire to understand the sovereignty of God. By doing so, we will still feel the pain but hopefully learn fruitful ways to shift our focus to the truth of God’s love and faithfulness. Those ways can be through healing tears, prayer, worship, scripture, and even writing a tidbit or two. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.    

“The Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

What was I thinking? That was the question I chastised myself with on the drive to Costco.  I volunteered to prepare dinner for my Bible study group and was audibly questioning and laughing at myself about my dessert choice. Greek was on the dinner menu, so I decided to make a Greek dessert. The problem was that I had never made the recipe, had never even tasted it, and couldn’t even pronounce the name of it. The night before our fellowship, the baking endeavor started. Baking is not a struggle for me, so I figured this would be no big deal. I assembled all the ingredients and then decided to read the reviews and soon discovered this was a very technique-sensitive dish and a process I had never done before. I realized this would be a big deal, and it was 9 pm. I thought to myself, let’s abandon ship and make a pound cake. Everyone loves a pound cake and strawberries, right?

Opting not to give in to trepidation, I decided to trudge forward with the Greek dessert. I was definitely out of my comfort zone with this decision. Over the past couple of years, God has taught me that being comfortable is not a place He desires me to stay. Deciding to sell a cherished home, buying a new home in a different state, moving and leaving friends and family, attending a new church, and retiring are all very uncomfortable. Feelings of fear, questions of why, and doubt name just a few of the emotions that creep into our minds when God calls us to be uncomfortable. Yet, when God calls, we must obey. And He promises that when we ask, He will lavishly give His wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). Throughout the Bible, the people God used were constantly living outside their comfort zones. God was always moving, molding, and calling them to trust Him and look to Him for wisdom and guidance in unfamiliar, uncomfortable places. I’m starting to learn that following God outside of our comfort zones allows us to experience Him in new and exciting ways. If we stay locked inside the mundaneness of predictable lives, we often settle for a safe, calculated, and pale Christian life.

If we desire to increase our impact for God, that can often involve stepping outside our safe place. With all the changes that have occurred and continue to evolve, I have started questioning my purpose and how I will make a difference for God. When God appointed Joshua after the death of Moses to lead the Israelites across the Jordon, He promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” The Lord instructed Joshua to meditate on the Word day and night and to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:1-9). The Lord provided everything Joshua needed to fulfill his calling and purpose.  I am discovering that my purpose is not anchored in my occupation, where I go to church, or even where I live. My purpose is to trust God and be obedient to His guidance and direction no matter how uncomfortable the road may be. He alone is my purpose. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.

The picture is of the Portokalopita (Greek orange phyllo cake). All the Bible study Ladies were very gracious to give it a try. I bought a Costco cheesecake just in case, but it was not needed; all my fears and concerns were resolved when the Portokalopita was declared delicious.   

The man said, “Don’t be alarmed! You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, who was nailed to a cross. God has raised him to life, and he isn’t here. You can see the place where they put his body.” Mark 16:6

I hope everyone had a joyous Easter celebration filled with worship, food, family, and friends. I have been attending Easter Sunday services my entire life, and I shamefully admit that I thought I had heard just about every sermon version of Jesus’s death and resurrection. So, I love it when God smacks down my prideful attitude and gives me new pearls of insight into a familiar passage of His Word. He did just that this Easter weekend, and I pray I can convey how God renewed my mind about some of the most commemorated events in Christianity.

After Jesus’s resurrection, He came and stood among his disciples, but Thomas was not with them then. When they told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his, I will not believe it.” A week later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, and Thomas was among them this time. Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands” (John 20: 24-26). Instead of focusing on Thomas’s doubt or how His nail-scarred hands fulfilled Old Testament prophecy, consider how foolish and unnecessary it was to nail our Lord’s hands to the cross.  It was foolish because no manmade tool could have ever restrained the King of Heaven. He could have come down from the cross with or without nails at any time. It was unnecessary because it was not the nails that held Him to the cross but His love for you and me. The nails merely symbolize Christ’s amazing love for us and had absolutely no holding power over Jesus.

Most Easter morning sermons focus on the accounts found in the Gospels. We can rejoice from those accounts in the knowledge that Jesus took our sins upon Himself, He died and was buried, and on the third day arose from the dead. God fulfilled all His promises through Jesus; we were justified and made righteous at the cross. So why does Paul say in Romans 4:25, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification”? This is the only New Testament verse that ties justification to the Resurrection. All other accounts tied it to the cross. Our justification was accomplished when Jesus died on the cross, so what does Paul mean by this?

Think about when we purchase something online with a credit card. We fill out all the necessary information and hit the purchase button. Often we get an immediate confirmation response, but sometimes we receive a message that a confirmation email will be sent. Until that email comes, we would like to know if all the credit card info was correctly input; if it was accepted, will I receive the purchase I paid for? This is what happens with the Resurrection. Jesus pays for our sins on the cross, but the Resurrection justifies us because that’s our confidence that the purchase went through. It’s our confirmation email. Without the Resurrection, just like Thomas, we would wonder, is my sin truly atoned for by Jesus? The Resurrection is for our benefit alone, demonstrating that we would know that Jesus completely and wholly paid for our sins on the cross. The Resurrection vindicates our decision to put our faith in God and believe that Jesus died for our sins. Just like Thomas touching the nail holes in Jesus’s hands, it seals our faith; it shows us that Jesus was raised for our justification. Think about how well God knows the humanity that He created. He knew we would need confirmation. Out of His great love for us, He gave us the Resurrection to ease our fears, anxieties, and questions. God didn’t need the Resurrection; Jesus didn’t need the Resurrection, they knew the cross covered our sins, and we can be confident in this promise because of that 3^rd Day! And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.    

The picture is of the empty Garden Tomb in Jerusalem.