Today, we celebrate the incredible truth that Jesus Christ is the only person in human history to rise from the dead—and this is not just a historical fact confined to the past. Jesus calls us to follow His path now. He invites us to take up our cross and follow Him—today. He promises that resurrection life is possible for us now.

In our Scripture passage, Paul speaks of us sharing in the same death as Jesus. Our old self has been crucified and has died. When we choose to follow Christ, we leave behind our old sinful patterns and lifestyle. Being crucified and buried with Christ means that something in our lives is put to death and left behind. We no longer indulge in our former way of living—it is dead and buried.

The good news of Easter is that just as we share in Jesus’ death, we also share in His resurrection. When we follow Him, our lives become fused with His. We gain His presence, His strength, His power, and His Spirit within us. Resurrection is not only a future hope—it is a present reality.

Jesus came to heal us. He calls us to live His life, not our own self-centered one. And as we live this new life in Christ, we experience a peace and joy that surpass all understanding. Our new life is a miracle, just like Jesus’ physical resurrection.

Jesus came to set us free so that we might have life—and have it abundantly. This is not just good news for someday - it is good news for today and for all eternity.

Weekly Devotional 4.21.2025

He is Risen: Resurrection Hope

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

The word "hope" can mean several things depending on the context in which it is used. Our greatest hope is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. His resurrection offers us hope for today, tomorrow, and eternity for all who put their faith in Jesus. When we anchor our deepest desires in temporary and fleeting things, our contentment will last only as long as those things are successful. When we hear the hope of the gospel, Jesus’ power over death, and the promise of eternal life that comes with believing in him, we receive an everlasting and unwavering hope.

There is a four word question that Jesus often asks people he encounters: "What do you seek?" What about you? If the Resurrected Lord were here and asked you that question, what would you say? What is your expectation of Jesus?

There are many layers to the story of the Triumphal Entry, a sort of misnomer in itself. Jesus was embracing all the Old Testament imagery of Messiah and the time was now right at Passover. The people were ready, waving palm branches and putting garments in the road- something they would only do for a king. They are welcoming him as king, but they have a misunderstanding of what kind of king he will be and what kind of kingdom he will establish. Some of the same people from that crowd may have been some of the very same people shouting "Crucify him!" later that very same week. They wanted a war horse, but Jesus rode in on the donkey, an animal that symbolizes peace. They want a king on a throne, but Jesus was lifted up on the cross. They want a kingdom coming in power and Jesus brings a kingdom of self sacrifice and love.

What do we seek from Jesus now?

What do you seek?

This week as we go through the central part of our faith, let's set the cross before our hearts and minds. May we follow him more closely and be transformed by his power and Spirit and by his example - that we too would be known by our service and our love.

Weekly Devotional 4.14.2025

Hosanna in the Highest: The Triumphal Entry

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday, when Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. When Jesus enters, He comes as a conquering King, yet He redefines what this looks like. Instead of a warhorse, He rides in on a humble donkey. Jesus arrived with far less than what other kings possessed, but His power and authority were far more significant—Christ the King is the ruler over an eternal kingdom. The crowds quickly became lost in the pomp and circumstance of the Passover festivities, failing to recognize Jesus as the Messianic king. As Christians, we can easily lose ourselves in the celebration of the season, missing the person and work of Jesus. This Easter, what will you celebrate more? Will you worship Jesus alongside the crowds but turn away when the celebration ends?

This is an important season in the life of the church as we make our way to Holy Week. Lent is a journey toward death. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he was trying to sidetrack him from death. But in being faithful to God, Jesus was moving toward death. We take up our crosses as well.

Death is not something to be avoided at all costs, but because we are resurrection people, we are promised a new life- a new heaven and new earth with no more brokenness and death. As believers, we need not fear death. Our future is sure.

On the cusp of Holy Week, we’re going to reflect on a death in the life of Moses. Last week, we looked at Moses’ discouragement and today we come to the end of his story in Deuteronomy 34:1-8.

As Moses comes to the end of his life- God takes him up on Mount Nebo and shows him the Promised Land. He dies at the age of 120 and God mysteriously buries him. There are some things that Moses does before he dies:

• Moses was prepared. He blessed the future leaders and put everything in order.
• Moses told the truth to the people. He told them about the trials and temptations that they would encounter. He even gave them a song to help them remember and implored them to choose life.
• Moses blesses the tribes. Like Moses, we can make sure that we bless our families, friends, our children.

Moses doesn’t die alone and Moses doesn’t die in fear. We don’t have to be afraid either as we have the resurrection promise of new life.

What matters at the end - for Moses and for us - is that before our time comes, we need to make sure we have presented ourselves before God to follow Jesus as Lord, so that the Lord knows us. That’s the most essential part of being prepared for what’s next.

In our scripture passage today, we see Moses dealing with the Israelites complaining. To be fair to the Israelites, they have left the only home they ever knew and have been wandering in the desert for a long time.

But here they complain about the manna God has given them. They describe the different types of food they had in Egypt and they long to return to slavery!

Moses has had enough of the people’s complaining and he lays his burdens on God. He asks God to kill him so that he doesn’t have to deal with his current predicament!

3 big forces are pressing in on Moses:

He feels constant criticism.

He feels the feeling of a crushing burden.

He feels alone.

The most important thing that Moses does in this passage is that he presents his feelings to God. He is honest with God. When Moses does this, God provides for him. This is an example for all of us.

God is at work far beyond what Moses can see. He is also at work in OUR life far beyond what we can see. Ask him for his help. He is with us. We are not alone.

Jesus came not to give us burdens, but to bear our burdens. That is the beauty of his grace. He gives us rest. He provides. Trust him.

Have you ever been changed by a friendship?

In Exodus 33, after Moses had received the commandments and the golden calf incident, Moses began meeting with God "as one would speak with a friend."

Moses asks: "Please let me know your ways so that I may know You." (Exodus 33:13) and "Please, show me your glory!" (Exodus 33:18)

After the Lord answered Moses, it changed him. From then on, he had to be veiled because the glory of the Lord had shown so brightly on him.

Being a friend of Jesus changes us into people growing in love. How do we do this?

1. We ask
2. We practice spiritual disciplines like sabbath, solitude, prayer, fasting, scripture, community, generosity, service, witness

Let's be intentional in living in a way that leads to friendship with Jesus.

Ryan McCoy, FBC Shreveport Minister of Discipleship, delivered a powerful and artful sermon yesterday in the form of a soliloquy from the point of view of Pharaoh from the stories of Moses in Exodus. In looking at it from this point of view, we were able to connect with the ways in which the postures of Pharoah's heart might mirror our own. He expounded upon the way Pharoah reacted to Yahweh's demands with these words:

"Haven't you ever felt that burning need for control? It's MY life, MY path, MY power, MY authority... I've seen the power of God, but I'm not ready to stop being god myself. I can do it all on my own."

At the end, Ryan offered up this prayer for us all:

"God you are great and mighty and you care for your people. You love us so much that you pull us out of bondage and out of death and into life. Lord may we humble ourselves before you. May we bow before your cross, come to your altar and say that you are God in this land, that you are God over all and that includes me. Lord, may we give up what we think is our power so that we can enjoy life. We love you and we trust you. In your son's name we pray."

Amen.