Luke 24:5-8 (NIV) 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
First off, what an awesome God we serve! Jesus is alive! He rose from the grave! There is not one other world religion that worships a living, eternal God.
I have been encouraged reading this passage today. The women who went to prepare the body of Christ FORGOT what Jesus had told them. Praise God it’s not just me that forgets!
It must be human nature for us to “file away” those things God tells us. In this passage, it’s when – and only when – the women are faced with the reality of Jesus’ words – and reminded of what he had told them – do they remember what He said.
I find this happens to me from time to time. Just recently, I felt that God was giving me some very specific information about something which I am passionate about. If what was going on in my head were true, it would be an awesome blessing and expression of God’s goodness. I would love to tell you that I clung to those words, but I didn’t. I actually dismissed it as my own selfishness and filed it away under “wishful thinking.” Several days later, God reminded me of what he had said and gave me even more details. Again, I told myself that I was just making it up and again “filed it away”.
Can I tell you something? A short time after that, every single word of what God said came true, and manifested itself in my life. It was exactly what He said it would be – to every detail. Do you know what I did? I “… remembered his words.” just like the women at his grave.
First of all, I was so encouraged to know that I did in fact hear Father God and that I heard Him very specifically. Secondly, I was encouraged because of His blessing that he promised.
James 1:17 (NIV) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Jas 1:17). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
That passage confirms two things about my Papa:
- Every good thing – and that includes good thoughts – comes from Him
- He never, ever changes.
It is also a lesson for me personally to remember the sound of His voice; to not dismiss those things as “wishful thinking” and file them away somewhere.
Papa,
You are such a good Father. You love to lavish your children with good gifts. Thank you for your voice. Forgive me for dismissing your goodness to me and doubting that what I heard was from you. Daddy, help me listen so much that I never forget the sound of your voice and that I could recognize it in the midst of a storm. Amen.
Running After Papa…