Without the love of God, faith does not work. Very often we see contentious debates about biblical teachings. Doctrines are important, but we can cling to beliefs with determination, but without loving and trusting God.
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb
3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. Mark 16:1-4 NIV
The women wanted to anoint the body of their beloved Jesus. They just loved him. When people are moved by trust in God and pure love, we can see what faith really means.
They show their love for Jesus in a practical way. Real love always moves us to do something.
Love, faith and action are inseparable.
These women took the initiative.
We see no hint in the text that they were following instructions from the apostles. At that time, the apostles were intimidated and confused.
Once I was in a church which was planning a Christmas outreach in a shopping centre. I went to the shops with a young man from the church to pray for the Christmas celebration.
He asked me if I had the permission of the pastor. I was surprised. If you want to pray, do you need the permission of a pastor? Really?
When we are moved by the love of God, we will often take the initiative to bless our families, our neighbours or our colleagues.
But the women had a problem. The entrance of the tomb was blocked by an enormous stone.
When you are deeply moved by love and trust in God, you can stare impossibilities in the face and not turn back.
One missionary was convinced that God had told him to go to China, but he had no money and no ticket. He obeyed and went to the airport. He was familiar with testimonies where missionaries in similar situations got a ticket from someone at the airport.
He had to go to the toilet and when he left the wash-room, he was in China.
I know a woman who dreamed that she visited India, and there she met Christians and she was able to help them with wise advice. When she told me, I was not sure if that really happened or if maybe it was just a dream.
Then a missionary friend of mine told me about a friend of hers who visited China in a dream. She also doubted if it had really happened. Then she got an e-mail from a woman in China and with the e-mail was a photo of her visit.
There are Christians who believe that God worked amazing miracles in biblical times, but if someone claims to have experienced extraordinary miracles in our own time, they dismiss it as unbiblical or worse.
In the Bible that I read, it is part of God's nature to do the impossible. God's nature is unchanging.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIV
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Malachi 3:6
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb
3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. Mark 16:1-4 NIV
The women wanted to anoint the body of their beloved Jesus. They just loved him. When people are moved by trust in God and pure love, we can see what faith really means.
They show their love for Jesus in a practical way. Real love always moves us to do something.
Love, faith and action are inseparable.
These women took the initiative.
We see no hint in the text that they were following instructions from the apostles. At that time, the apostles were intimidated and confused.
Once I was in a church which was planning a Christmas outreach in a shopping centre. I went to the shops with a young man from the church to pray for the Christmas celebration.
He asked me if I had the permission of the pastor. I was surprised. If you want to pray, do you need the permission of a pastor? Really?
When we are moved by the love of God, we will often take the initiative to bless our families, our neighbours or our colleagues.
But the women had a problem. The entrance of the tomb was blocked by an enormous stone.
When you are deeply moved by love and trust in God, you can stare impossibilities in the face and not turn back.
One missionary was convinced that God had told him to go to China, but he had no money and no ticket. He obeyed and went to the airport. He was familiar with testimonies where missionaries in similar situations got a ticket from someone at the airport.
He had to go to the toilet and when he left the wash-room, he was in China.
I know a woman who dreamed that she visited India, and there she met Christians and she was able to help them with wise advice. When she told me, I was not sure if that really happened or if maybe it was just a dream.
Then a missionary friend of mine told me about a friend of hers who visited China in a dream. She also doubted if it had really happened. Then she got an e-mail from a woman in China and with the e-mail was a photo of her visit.
There are Christians who believe that God worked amazing miracles in biblical times, but if someone claims to have experienced extraordinary miracles in our own time, they dismiss it as unbiblical or worse.
In the Bible that I read, it is part of God's nature to do the impossible. God's nature is unchanging.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIV
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Malachi 3:6
- God’s mercy is part of His eternal character; so too is His supernatural way of working wonders.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV
