The Upper Room Devotion for Monday April 1, 2024, was written by Lisa Stackpole of Wisconnsin.
Scripture
1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.
Mark 16:1-6 NRSV
Author's Thoughts
As I was reading through the story of Christ's resurrection in Mark 16, something caught my eye. Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome were on their way to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body. Verse three makes it clear that they didn't know who would move the stone away from the tomb's entrance so that they could perform their task. And yet these women went anyway, and they were the first people to learn of the glorious news of Christ's resurrection. What a privilege!
I thought about all the times I have felt God leading me to do something, only to hesitate, convincing myself that I wouldn't succeed because of some obstacle I could not overcome on my own. How often have I left things undone due to my hesitation? How many blessings have I missed by not stepping forward in faith and trusting God to provide the help I need?
Years ago, when I was leaving my hometown for a job with a ministry in another state, friends gave me a plaque that reads, "The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you," I pray that I may keep those words and the example of the women in Mark's Gospel in mind when I feel God's leading in the future and that despite any uncertainty I may feel, I will go anyway.
Pastor Anthony's Thoughts
Friends,
Lisa's reflection, underscores our Resurrection message: "God will remove the stones that block our paths. God simply needs us to say "yes" to the assignment." May this Resurrection season find us moving forward, without hesitation, knowing that God will help us overcome any obstacle.
Author's Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me depend on your guidance rather than my own understanding. Amen.