Daily Devotionals
Monday, April 1, 2024 (Mary Ann)
All things new
Early on that Sunday morning the women went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. But the stone had been rolled away from the entrance! And the tomb was empty! And then two men – oh my goodness – angels! – suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They asked:
“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”
I have to tell you a back story. I’m writing this Easter morning. Last night I agonized over what to write. I’d start with an idea, write something, but it went nowhere. Nothing – and I do mean nothing – made sense.
Then came the morning. And the question: So why do we look for the living among the dead?
We really do, you know. We go to the cemetery of our lives and root around in old dead self-perceptions, old dead habits, old dead destructive relationships, old dead thought patterns, old dead fears and anxieties ….
Trust me, Sisters, we won’t find what we’re looking for there. Those old things are dead, dead, dead because when we are in Christ we have new life.
Here’s what God says:
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” Revelation 21:5
Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection were all part of God’s plan – put in place before creation – for us. You and me! Put there to make us free of all that old junk that kept us from living – really living – with our risen King.
All Things New!
Last night was way too difficult. So can we please celebrate every morning as Easter morning for the rest of our earthly lives?
Mary Ann
Early on that Sunday morning the women went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. But the stone had been rolled away from the entrance! And the tomb was empty! And then two men – oh my goodness – angels! – suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They asked:
“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”
I have to tell you a back story. I’m writing this Easter morning. Last night I agonized over what to write. I’d start with an idea, write something, but it went nowhere. Nothing – and I do mean nothing – made sense.
Then came the morning. And the question: So why do we look for the living among the dead?
We really do, you know. We go to the cemetery of our lives and root around in old dead self-perceptions, old dead habits, old dead destructive relationships, old dead thought patterns, old dead fears and anxieties ….
Trust me, Sisters, we won’t find what we’re looking for there. Those old things are dead, dead, dead because when we are in Christ we have new life.
Here’s what God says:
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” Revelation 21:5
Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection were all part of God’s plan – put in place before creation – for us. You and me! Put there to make us free of all that old junk that kept us from living – really living – with our risen King.
All Things New!
Last night was way too difficult. So can we please celebrate every morning as Easter morning for the rest of our earthly lives?
Mary Ann
