Easter Week: Day 1 - Is God Really There?

Here is the problem for us regarding this question - everything in this world is hands on. If we want something - we get it. Well when we talk about God, we are not talking about something physical; we are talking about something Spiritual. We try to wrap our minds around something that is beyond our physical limitation. However, God did show us himself when he came down in the form of his Son. He made himself personal to us, to enter a relationship with him through his Son Jesus Christ. We can enter and feel the relationship when we accept Christ into our hearts.

Next is our Spiritual Limitations. We are sinners. There is no way around that. We are called to be holy and righteous but by ourselves we cannot achieve this. This is why we all need to have a relationship with God's son, Jesus. Sometimes it can be difficult for us to realize God is present, when we do such worldly things which clutter our hearts, minds, souls and lives and it makes it difficult to see and hear God, like we would normally. This whole week, we will be preparing for the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a reflection time. A time where we can take a look at our lives, and a time where we can assess where we stand with God. Here are a few things for you to think about this Easter week.

This week you may need to ask Jesus into your heart. Trust that his "redemption work" of dying on the cross and rising again for our sins is what saves. Trust in him completely for your life here on this earth, but more importantly eternal life. Also - take a look at the following this week!

Remember - it helps to copy, paste and print!

• Understand God's Heart
- Asking God to show you what he sees and feels
- Read what he has to say in the bible
- Spend time praying about showing you how to be more like him
• Put God first on your priority List
- Other things distract us from the world
- When we put other things first - he will seem Distant
- Don't ask - What is the minimum I can give to God, or what can I get by with. Rather, ask "what is the very most I can give to God? I want to give it all." When you discover the pleasure of living for God, you will want nothing less.
• Make him Real in your life
- Practice Conversations with Him
- Go above and beyond what is required and be "enraptured by our God."

Read John 14 - Don't worry - even the disciples didn't get it
Read John 15 - Remain in Jesus and he will remain in you
Read John 6:60 - Some doubted and didn't have faith

1.) Is the reality of God something difficult for you to grasp? Why do you think its easy to think of God as "Santa Claus?"

2.) Make of list of things you can sense God doing in your life. Maybe it was that he gave you strength when you needed it. Perhaps he gave you comfort. Maybe he did something more specific. Spend some time and think about when God made himself real to you.

3.) Read John 20. Read specifically about Thomas. Can you relate to him in this story? Wrestle with the text and think through this story. Memorize a few verses. Don't forget to remember the verses you have been memorizing since last week!

4.) Pray for what was mentioned above in the "bullet points."

Keep Rockin' for Jesus! Please leave comments on find me on Facebook with questions!

Vital Link Student Ministry, Pastor Joey Ruyter, 4.6.09