Above Only Daily Devotional
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http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly
Monday, APRIL 16
Your Sorrow Shall be Turned to Joy
John 20:15-17 (Living Bible)
“Why are you crying?” he asked her. “Whom are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned toward him. “Master!” she exclaimed. “Don't touch me,” he cautioned, “for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them that I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.”
“Why are you crying?” he asked her. “Whom are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned toward him. “Master!” she exclaimed. “Don't touch me,” he cautioned, “for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them that I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.”
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Have you ever felt bad about a situation only to find out that the situation was even worse than you thought? Mary Magdalene came to mourn Jesus' death, and she found out that His Body was no longer in His grave! Right in the midst of her heightened grief, Jesus broke protocol and came to give her and His disciples unbelievable hope. (He was supposed to ascend to the Father first before appearing to them.) That is why He did not want her to touch Him yet. Contrary to her great fear and worry, Jesus was not dead and His body was not missing. Jesus was alive and He was right behind her. Imagine the joy as she screamed, “Master!” when she saw Him. You too are going to have reason to rejoice over seemingly impossible situations you may have felt grieved and almost lost hope about. You will experience and celebrate God's unbelievable resurrection power in that area of your life where you need it the most.
Do you know why Jesus emphasized that Mary should go and tell His disciples that He was ascending to His Father and their Father and His God and their God? By His suffering, death and resurrection, He had made them joint heirs with Him, Rom.8:17. He had made them just like Himself; with the same relationship with God that He had. This was double good news for Mary! Jesus was not only alive, He had made them alive together with Him in the Spirit! Because of Christ, you will receive double and unbelievably good news this year!
Jesus has already changed your story. You will see it and testify.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I receive the manifestation of Your resurrection power in my life and situation right now in Jesus' Name!
BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: 1 SAM 30-31; LUKE 13:23-35
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