Daily Reading: Mark 16
Scripture Focus: Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? (Mark 16.3)
Devotional Thought: Have you ever felt like those women who – on Easter morning – were going to anoint the body of Jesus? Faced with the thought of a huge stone blocking the grave, they had no plan. All they could do was take turns asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us?”
A legitimate question. The guards that were there wouldn’t help. No one else was going. They only had their own arms and legs to put to the task. They knew that wasn’t enough. But, they went anyway. Serving Jesus, they believed that somehow they would get that stone out of the way. Their trek to the tomb and their repeated questions were a type of prayer.
God came through. And he did it in even bigger ways than they imagined. He not only rolled that stone away, with the resurrection of Jesus he rolled the stone of death away! Jesus Christ took the battle to Satan’s stronghold. Death was no match for the Son of God!
Perhaps you are facing an insurmountable task or problem. You may be asking yourself, “Why am I doing this? Why am I going through this?” Like those women on Easter morning, keep on walking. Do not shrink from the battle. Do not quit in resignation. There is great victory for the one who believes in Jesus and who keeps on going even though the situation seems hopeless! In the face of the insurmountable, God will enable you to “Mount up with wings as eagles!” And like those women, you will look up and see that the stone has been rolled back – even though it is very large.
Prayer: Lord, we know that when you came forth from the grave, you defeated death! There is no enemy that can stand against you. Help us to trust you and keep on going even in the face of the impossible. Roll away our stones, O Lord. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: 13 Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. 15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah 17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. 19 Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! 20 Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah. (Psalm 9.13-20)
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