LUKE 24:1-9 – But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

THEME OF THE DAY. REMEMBER HIS WORDS. A lot of emotions are flying around in the hearts of the women in today’s scriptures. They come to the tomb of their beloved Lord, find it empty, and the whirlwind commences within their hearts – perplexed and frightened. Then appear the messengers of God. In the dialogue, these angels point these perplexed and frightened women to the cure for both heart conditions which is also the cure for those times we are perplexed and frightened in life. They directed these followers of the Lord Jesus to His Word – “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And the response of the ladies? They obeyed the command given by the angels – And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. From this account, let’s draw two applications. The first one in our ministry to other believers, and then to ourselves during those seasons of perplexity and fear.

One of the most important ministries we do in the lives of other believers is that of encouragement. It is a command and privilege (Hebrews 3:13; 10:23-25). The Apostle Paul would direct the Thessalonian believers to “comfort and encourage one another with the Word” (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11). Learn to minister God’s Word to one another for mutual encouragement, but be sensitive on the “how” and “when” and do so in love for their uplifting.

The other application deals with us as individuals. When we are going through those inevitable difficult spiritual seasons of life when it feels spiritually dark in our hearts, God is far away, and, like the women at the tomb, we are perplexed and frightened, what do we need? Promises and particularly, remembering the promises of the Lord Jesus. The angels directed the ladies to remember Christ’s Words and now I direct us to do likewise. And when perplexity and fear grip us, cling to these two promises of the Lord Jesus – His power to help us overcome all things and His Presence to be with us in all things – All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).

Remember His Words. They are not only the source of our lives in the Lord Jesus but the power to live our lives in the Lord Jesus.

PRAYER: “Lord, help me not to fall prey to ‘spiritual amnesia’ and not cling to Your always uplifting promises.”

QUOTE: “Remember His Words. He gave them to us to save and strengthen us for every step on the journey to heaven.”