Daily Bread May 23

Do You Know Where the Tomb Is?
By David Schaal of Lamoni, IA, USA


For “Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” -1 Peter 3:10-12 NRSV

The good news of Easter is that the living Christ arises in the tomb and walks into the morning sun through an opening once blocked by a big rock with guards posted by it so it could not be moved! What part of your life needs Christ to arise in it this Easter? You may have sealed off that part of your soul with some pretty big rocks. Some of those rocks have names and can be “called out.”

For instance, the rock of selfishness can seal off the blessings of being a servant. The boulder of harbored grudges can chain our souls to resentment and recycled pain. The failure to forgive ourselves or love ourselves can be like giant stones that block the entrance to joy. In a world of frenetic activity, excessive busyness can be like a stone that prevents us from entering new and wonderful levels of intimacy with friends, family, and God. The rock of arrogance is like a pedestal we stand on to elevate ourselves inappropriately, and consequently entomb us from freedom that can come with humility.

The stones are real. However, Easter is all about stones being rolled away and the living Christ rising in witness of God’s love and power.

The story of Easter morning begins when women go to the garden where Jesus had been buried. As you prepare for Easter, which garden do you need to enter to encounter the resurrected Christ?

It may be in whatever part of your soul you have entombed something that needs new life. Perhaps Christ will meet you there. Perhaps Jesus will rise in portions of your life that need resurrection. There’s no way to manipulate this, demand it, or predict how or when it might happen. The best we can do is present our whole selves to God and allow Christ to rise in us in a manner of his own choosing.

It’s probably a good idea, though, to give our “guards” the day off. After all, stones can be rolled away whether they are on duty or not.

Prayer Phrase

Spirit, now live in me.

Spiritual Practice

Breathe deeply and enter a few minutes of silence. Be attentive to where you sense new life emerging in you. Search your memories of the previous day. When did you notice the sacredness of life in surprising places or forms in the world around you?

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.

Click here to comment or read online.

Comments Off on Daily Bread May 23

Filed under Daily Bread Devotional

Comments are closed.