Daily Devotionals from Pastor Quintin Stieff

Today's Scripture

Matthew 28:1-10 (NIV)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. ²There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

⁸So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Today's Message

Afraid yet full of joy

The resurrection of Jesus Christ aroused both fear and joy in the hearts of his disciples. Why such starkly contradictory emotions?  

They were afraid because of the sheer intensity and magnitude of what had happened. A dead man had come back to life! An angel had spoken directly to them. The one they presumed dead was no longer in the tomb. He was already on his way back to Galilee. They would soon see him face to face.  

They were filled with joy because Jesus' promise had come true. He had said he would rise again. It was all true! They were overjoyed because the Lord who had seemingly been defeated was completely victorious. And he was back. He was alive again! The grave could not contain him.  

The resurrection should fill us with the same sort of fear and joy. We should be fearful and awestruck at the miracle that has occurred. It is nothing less than the most amazing thing that has ever happened. But there's also a reason for joy. The Son of God has borne our sin on the cross and suffered in our place. But it doesn't end there. The tomb is empty. He has defeated sin and death forever. He has opened the doors of paradise to us. Rejoice!

Today's Scripture

Matthew 27:62-66 (NIV)

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ⁶³"Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' ⁶⁴So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
⁶⁵"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."
⁶⁶So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Today's Message

The tomb was secure

The resurrection of Jesus is proof positive that he is the Living Son of God. This little passage gives us the clues that let us see that the resurrection is no hoax. Consider:  

• The Roman guards - The guards were well trained and subject to execution if they failed in their responsibilities. No one could have stolen the body!
• The tomb's seal - The seal itself was a guard against tampering with the burial place. If one was caught tampering with the tomb, thus breaking the seal, they were subject to severe penalties, including death.
• The stone - Jewish tradition tells us that the stone that was rolled in front of a tomb's entrance could weigh up to two tons. It could not be removed quickly or quietly by anyone.  It was a job that required an immense effort by many strong men.  Yet, the eyewitness accounts said the stone was completely removed from the entrance.   

Those who say that the disciples simply stole the body of Jesus do not understand the facts or history surrounding burial in the first century.  

The only plausible explanation is that Jesus really did rise from the dead.

Today's Scripture

Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.

Today's Message

Fortunate mourners

Jesus' words seem to contradict each other. How can people who mourn be blessed? But God's way of living usually contradicts the world's. If you want to live for God, you must be ready to say and do what seems strange to the world.  

You must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse. By giving up your own rights in order to serve others, you will one day receive everything God has in store for you.

Today's Scripture

Matthew 5:1-3 (NIV)

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ²and he began to teach them, saying:
³"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
     For they will be called sons of God."

Today's Message

Humility and greatness

In earthly kingdoms, power, authority, wealth, prestige, and success measure greatness. The "movers and shakers" are those who are terrifically self-confident and all too often are self-centered and arrogant. 

It's different in Jesus' kingdom. It is the poor in spirit who are great in the kingdom of heaven. It's the humble, the self-denying, the repentant, the needy. Greatness begins where arrogance ends.  

Those who are acutely aware of their own shortcomings and feel a deep, deep need for God truly experience the kingdom of heaven. They seen God reigning in their lives, circumstances, and decisions. 

Jesus says they will be called sons of God. They are the ones who are truly dependent on their Father. In God's kingdom, dependency isn't weakness. It's strength. Not in ourselves, but in God. 

Living below the poverty level is no shame. Particularly if the poverty is of the heart. When I realize how little I have of my own resources and how much I need God's resources, that's when I begin to experience God's reign in my heart. 

Ask God to examine your heart today. Ask him to show you any hint of pride or self-dependence. And ask him to fill up your heart with his strength and resources.

Today's Scripture

Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV)

³"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
     for they will be comforted.
⁵Blessed are the meek,
     for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
     for they will be filled.
⁷Blessed are the merciful,
     for they will be shown mercy.
⁸Blessed are the pure in heart,
     for they will see God.
⁹Blessed are the peacemakers,
     for they will be called sons of God.
¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Today's Message

Understanding "Blessing"

Over the next two weeks, we'll be delving into Jesus' message in the "Beatitudes." In them, Jesus gives a series of "blessings" to his followers. Every blessing is startling and counter-cultural.  

But today, let's just consider the whole idea of "blessing." In American culture, when someone says: "I've been blessed" or "They're blessed," we are often referring to financial and material well-being. Or perhaps to a happy home life, good job situation, or physical health. It almost always refers to our experience of positive outward circumstances. 

While these things may be blessings from God's hand, Jesus' idea of "blessing" transcends all these categories. When Jesus says: "Blessed are the..." he means that these people are experiencing God's goodness independent of outward circumstances. In fact, sometimes it means experiencing God's goodness in the midst of terrible circumstances. 

Today, prepare your heart to hear such a message. Do you really believe you can be a blessed person when God sends or allows negative circumstances into your life? Are you willing to re-align your idea of "blessing" with Jesus' idea? 

When we pray, "Lord, bless me," do we understand that may entail poverty, mourning, humility and persecution? These things aren't the blessings themselves, but often the channel through which God brings his deepest blessings. 

To pray "Lord, bless me" is a radical prayer in light of the Beatitudes.