“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/isa.11.6.ESV
“And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rev.5.5.ESV
“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of Lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rev.17.14.ESV
THERE IS NO ONE, NO THING LIKE OUR GOD
There will be a day when mercy and judgement kiss. On that glorious day we will know peace at a level that we’ve not ever experienced.
God is the lion of Judah who has and will conquer our enemy for all of eternity;
He is equally the lamb who was slain that redeemed me from the hands of death, the evil one, the sin that taunts me even on today, and my God, that Lion of Judah, that pure spotless Lamb, will rule and reign forever more.
Joy is the source of all my strength and endurance through the difficulties that life throws at me.
I cannot tell you how many countless times that joy has rescued me from various states of mind. The battlefield in my head fights against depression, regret and condemnation. The joy in my heart tells depression, regret and condemnation to sit down and shut up, because this is temporary.
Joy is a glimpse of eternity. It reminds us that one day, after Jesus returns, there will be no more tears, no more heartache, no more depression, no more regret and no more condemnation.
Maybe that’s why God tells us to be heavenly minded while we’re earthly present? Maybe, if we could just wrap our heads around it, the day after Jesus’s return we clock into eternity and out of the limitations of the clock?
God You are so good. This world has nothing for me. When time passes away and eternity is ever present, these problems we toil over will seem so small. Lord, help me make them small and You BIG, right now. in Jesus name amen!
“Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.” John 16:19-20 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/jhn.16.19-20.MSG
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
“Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, ‘Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, “In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me”? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.’” John 16:19-20 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/jhn.16.19-20.MSG)
Jesus tried to prepare His disciples through parables, teachings, shared meals, and ministry to the sick, but even the twelve closest to Him missed His message. He declared His purpose and fulfilled it. The night before Easter may have been silent on earth, but Heaven rejoiced as Jesus took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father, His earthly mission complete.
The Crucifixion: A Dark Day
“By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, ‘Father, I place my life in your hands!’ Then he breathed his last.” Luke 23:44-46 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.23.44-46.MSG)
Jesus breathed His last on earth and took His next breath in Heaven. What we see in the natural world doesn’t reflect the supernatural work done on our behalf. While the world mourned, Jesus conquered the devil, reclaimed what was stolen, recovered the keys of death (Revelation 1:18), paid our ransom with His blood, and canceled our debt with His life. The Bible isn’t just a story of Jesus’s life—it reveals why we were created, why the world is broken, and how God made a way for us to return to Him. It’s the greatest love story ever told, showing His abundant love for us before we even knew Him.
The Weight of Sin
“All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil.” Luke 23:48-49 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.23.48-49.MSG)
The crowd that crucified Jesus soon realized they may have killed an innocent man. As Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” We must be mindful of the crowds we follow. If their values don’t align with the Bible, they’ll lead us down a destructive path. If I had to choose, I’d have been among those clutching onto Jesus’s last words, watching His prophecy unfold through tear-filled eyes.
Preparing for the Resurrection
“The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus’ body was placed. Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes. They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.” Luke 23:55-56 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.23.55-56.MSG)
Forty days ago, I began preparing for this pivotal moment in history—Resurrection Day. You can deny it, but that doesn’t erase its significance. Historical evidence, both in the Bible and from sources like Josephus and Tacitus, confirms Jesus’s existence. Over 2,000 years of generations have passed down the impact of His life. I choose to stand with the Jesus-following crowd.
The Empty Tomb: He Is Risen!
The story doesn’t end in the graveyard.
“At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn’t find the body of the Master Jesus.” Luke 24:1-3 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.24.1-3.MSG)
Jesus was not there—the tomb was empty! He had told them they would grieve, but joy would follow. He did exactly as He promised. Believers should have been in awe, not surprised, as they witnessed the fulfillment of His words. God has a plan for us today: if we believe and confess that Jesus is Lord, death loses its sting, and we are not separated forever but only for a little while. God is so good.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
“They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: ‘Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.’ So he went in with them… He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him… While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’… He showed them his hands and feet… He took [fish] and ate it right before their eyes.” Luke 24:28-31, 33-43 MSG (https://bible.com/bible/97/luk.24.28-43.MSG)
Friends, Jesus is who He says He is. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and when He does, say YES! It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. God isn’t mad at you—He’s madly in love with you, having gone to extraordinary lengths to prove it through the cross and resurrection.
What does Easter mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
In 40 days we will remember what Jesus did for us.
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 ESV
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of our 40 day journey to the cross that Christ endured for us, for our sin, for our forgiveness of sin, for our salvation from hell, for our relationship with Him to be reconciled for all of eternity. I’m so glad that God did not allow the reconciliation of our relationship to be dependent on my own strength. I’m so grateful that it was on Jesus’s reputation and sinless life that paid a great price for my sinful decisions and behavior. I have struggled with many things throughout my life, but one that I can always find peace in, and put my full confidence in is when Jesus revealed Himself to me, I knew that I had found my savior from all those struggles and bad decisions.
If you choose to lay aside anything that gets in the way of Jesus revealing Himself to you? I promise you, that it will be the single most important decision you make, because it will ultimately lead to an eternity with the One Who created you. Jesus is real whether you acknowledge Him or not.
I challenge you that whether you’re a believer of Jesus one day or 90 days, or anything in between, take the steps to fast anything that you allow to get in the way of having a committed relationship with God. If you’re an unbeliever or doubter or unsure of this whole Jesus thing? Take the 40 day challenge to lay aside those doubts and pose your questions to God about Him. He will show up.
Lord, the next 40 days is not about rituals and traditions within a specific denomination. It is a time of reflection, remembering and reminding me of what You’ve done to secure my eternity, with You. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to know You more, to give up things that get in the way of our relationship. May we not leave this next 40 days the same as we entered it. In Jesus Name, Amen!
“It is only when you understand the transcendence of God that you see how amazing his immanence is, and what a huge privilege it is to be able to enjoy intimate friendship with God.”
The Bible with Nick and Pippa Gumble, Classic version 2025, day 33
We get to have an intimate relationship and friendship with God.
Transcendence means: God exists apart from, and is not subject to the limitations of, the material universe. He is above and beyond, surpassing and excelling, greatly superior to us.
Immanence means: it is possible to experience his immediate friendship.
What that spoke to me was, God doesn’t need me, He wants to be in my life, just because of the me He created, to be a deep, intimate friend to Him. He owes me nothing. He gave me life.
The real question is: “What will I do with the gift of life, He gave me?” Knowing that He did not HAVE to create me or you, but He did. Knowing this, leads to the realization that you and I must have a purpose. The meaning of that gift of life given to you and me, is to find out why & then use every ounce of breath we have in our lungs doing exactly that.
Psalms 25:14-15 the Message
Lord, You are my creator as well as my best friend. Help me remember that if and when I lose sight of that. Amen.
Are you lost? Christians and non-Christians alike hit seasons in their life when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Good news, feelings are not facts, they’re just feelings and this too shall pass. If you’re anything like me that last sentence made you cringe, a little angry or if you’re willing, gave you a different perspective. Which leads me to my next question.
Do you want to be found? Specifically, by God? Most of us put God in a corner, in our most desperate times, in an attempt to fix the problem ourselves. We fail to realize, God, doesn’t care how you got there, He only cares that you want Him in all areas of your life. Even the messy parts, yes, the really messy stuff that you probably even contributed to, rather indirectly or directly. God just wants to be with you. That’s why He created you. You were created for the sole purpose of being in relationship with God. It was His plan before you were ever born.
No matter where you’ve been. No matter what you’ve done or how far you’ve run, He’s there, waiting to find you. So I’ll ask you again, “Do you want to be found, by Him? Are you aware that you’re lost and need Him?”
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?” Matthew 18:12 ESV
Dear Lord, I am lost and ready to be found by YOU! Like a wandering sheep, I had no idea how bad things would get apart from You. I just want to be in Your presence, in Your care and lead by You. Amen
Great faith is a product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials,’ -Smith Wigglesworth.
Reading my devotions today and this quote has just stuck with me. So many people are struggling with different things (myself included), and I thought it might encourage someone as much as it encouraged me.
What I felt the Lord say in response: “Your test shall become a testimony that leads others to Me! Your trials shall lead you to victory! Your fight, struggle, that thing that is causing so much resistance in your marriage, your finances, your prodigal coming home, is developing a faith in you that you never thought possible. Trust and believe, that though the enemy comes to kill, rob, steal, destroy, I come to give life to the full! Though you experience the troubles, trials and tests of this world, I have overcome this world! Though you may be surrounded by the darkness, I am the light that overwhelms the darkness and the darkness has to flee!”
I’m so grateful that God speaks such words of wisdom and encouragement. It makes me respond with, “Is there really anything too hard for God?” There is nothing I’m going through that God has not been through Himself. His track record is 100% conquered all evil, in His death on the cross. Holy Spirit, help to remind me of that in the middle of the tests, trials, fights, and resistance. The struggle is so real but so are You, God! Amen.
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV
I am part of God’s family now. My life is no longer about what this world can offer me. I long to see my life worked out in eternity. I believe that I was once one way and now I know I am a child of the Uncreated One, who created everyone, a Royal Family, that wants me to walk in the identity I was created for.
Who am I? I am a child of God.
Lord, thank You for showing me who I am more than 35 years ago. Sometimes, I forget and fall back into old patterns that block the view of Your plan and purpose for my life. Help me clear the foggy mirror, to see that I am a child of God, even when I mess up. I just want to run to You, in those moments of defeat, so that Your presence reminds me who and Whose, I am. Amen.
Many know the story of Jesus calming the storm while in the boat with the disciples. (Mark 4:35-41) What’s interesting to me is that while Jesus was sleeping, they were afraid of the ginormous storm rocking their boat. However, after Jesus turned churning waters, into a sheet of reflective glass with just three words, “Peace, Be still.”, they were terrified of Jesus and of the power Jesus displayed.
It’s like up to that point they understood the storm’s power but had not truly understood the power of the man, Jesus, though they had supposedly known Him, walked with Him and ministered along side of Him.
I want to recognize that Jesus is just as powerful asleep, in my boat (life), though a storm is present, as He can, at any moment, calm the storm around me. To go a little deeper, the storm of worry cannot rock the trust I build in knowing Him, intimately, personally and intellectually. I either believe Him, or I don’t, but trust and believe go hand in hand, in every storm I face.
Lord, help me with my unbelief so that my trust in You keeps the storm of worry out of me. Amen.
From the Depths of Kell 