“Set your affections on things above.” Col. 3:2

We are apt to be much affected by earthly things, but our affections must be permanently fixed on things above. Let us lift our eyes and hearts to heaven this morning; there are the proper objects of our love, desire, and esteem. There is Jehovah our heavenly Father, dwelling in unapproachable light. There is Jesus, our dear and adorable Saviour, exalted, dignified and glorified at the right-hand of the Father. There is the Holy Spirit, our divine, gracious and condescending Comforter. There the love, favour, and presence of God are fully enjoyed. There peace, rest, and happiness are eternally realized. There is the crown of righteousness, the throne of glory, and the rivers of pleasure which our God has promised, and set before us. There are our brethren who have gone home before us, and there our affections should be. What is earth or time? We shall soon have done with both. Let us then SET OUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE, AND NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH.

Why should my heart descend so low,
To brood on earth-a world of woe?
While heaven, where endless pleasures roll,
Waits to entrance my new-born soul.
Saviour! let thine attractions be
But felt in all their force by me
Then shall I mount on wings of love,
And fix and dwell on things above.  — By James Smith

Jesus is the resurrection! He quickens the dead in sin, and raises them to a life of righteousness. He calls us out of the grave of nature, and raises us up to live in his sight. He will also quicken the dead bodies of his saints, which sleep in him, and will raise them up to inhabit the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. He will change our vile bodies, and make them like his glorious body. He will conform us to himself, and we shall be exactly like him.

Then there will be no more evil in our hearts, no more disease in our bodies; we shall no more experience the inward conflict, nor be exposed to the assaults of Satan. We shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; but shall be as the angels of God in heaven. United to Jesus now, death cannot separate us from him; falling asleep in Jesus at death, we shall sweetly slumber, until the morning of the resurrection. And then we shall be satisfied, for we shall awake up in his likeness. Sweet thought this!

Nothing can separate us from Jesus. Whether we live or die, we are still one with him. Whether we die on our beds, surrounded by sympathizing friends; or die on the cold ground alone, amidst the roar of cannons, and the shouts of the warlike hosts, we die in Jesus. We sleep in Jesus. The soul departs to be with Jesus. And he who raised up Christ from the dead, will also quicken our mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwells in us. What a glorious hope! What a blessed prospect! Oh, to be one with Christ in life, in death, and forever!–Copied

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas– – –Matthew 16:4

America begins showing signs of Easter earlier and earlier every year. Plastic eggs for sale by the millions, chocolate eggs and bunny rabbits in every store, pastel colored Easter baskets and bundles of plastic green “grass” to fill them — the world’s signs of Easter can’t be missed. But today’s signs of Easter are a far cry from the signs that proved the reality of the very first Easter morning.

Jesus told His detractors who had asked Him for a miraculous sign that they would see only one sign — the sign of Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of a great fish before being rescued from death. On the third day after Jesus’ own death, He came out of the grave to give the world a sign it cannot deny. For a man to predict His own death and resurrection was something only God could do. The Gospel writers give us many proofs of His resurrection: sightings by witnesses, nail-scarred hands, a stone rolled away, and more. Truly, Jesus was — is! — alive.

As you prepare to celebrate Easter this Sunday, give thanks to God that your faith is not in vain — that Christ was raised for you (1 Corinthians 15:14).–Turning Point

“- – – our sufficiency is of God.” 2 Corinthians 3:5
Some days seem too difficult to deal with; we are overwhelmed by the obstacles before us. While we want to be brave and strong, we are too weak and weary to overcome the challenges confronting us. So instead of trying, we just sit down and cry—distraught that our ability isn’t up to the task. But there is a better way. Facing certain defeat, we need to change our perspective. We need to view our situation in the light of the Scriptures, for it is there that we see the source of our strength. This is what James Smith wanted his church to see back in 1840 when he wrote these words:

LET us think of this, whenever we are cast down on account of our weakness, or the difficulties we meet with in our way. We are weak, but Jesus is strong; and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He has given us His word, that He will work in us to will and to do of His own good pleasure. He speaks, and it is done. The word of the Lord knows no obstacles or difficulties; all things must obey Him. When He sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said, “Certainly I will be with thee:” and the Lord’s presence was his strength. He acts just so with us; His fullness is our sufficiency; it is opened to us in Jesus, and we receive from it according to our wants, weakness, and faith. “Through God, ” said David, “I shall do valiantly.” “I can do all things,” said Paul, “through Christ strengthening me.” Look not then at your own emptiness, or weakness; but look at what God is to His people, and what He has promised to give them, and sing, “OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD.” “God is our refuge and strength; and as our days so shall our strength be.” “His grace is sufficient for us; His strength is made perfect in weakness.”

When we cannot see our way,
We should trust, and still obey;
He who bids us forward go
Will instruct the way to know.