Day 5 – Truth or Fiction?

Your Next 40 Days - Day 5

Read

Matthew 28:5-7, 16-17

Reflect

I love books. I love the experience of reading books; turning the pages, writing notes in the margins and highlighting parts in yellow.

Ironically, you’re likely reading this on a laptop, tablet or smart phone… but I still love books.

So naturally I like bookstores. I like the smell, the music playing in the background and the various sections from which to browse.

But one area of the bookstore that I avoid is the fiction section. I’m not sure why, but I’ve just never been interested in the genre. If it’s not true, why read it? At least sections like history, sports, finance, theology or psychology have a chance of being true.

But fiction is what it is…fiction. It doesn’t even try to hide it, it admits it up front: “What you’re about to read isn’t true but please read it anyway.”

Perhaps, the most challenging statement to comprehend or even believe in the Bible is the one made in today’s reading. “He is not here, He is risen just as He said.”

How do you respond to it? Do you see it as history? Do you see it as fiction? What would it take to convince you it was true?

Respond

Belong – Because you can belong before you believe.
Even if you have a hard time believing Jesus was raised from the dead, how does the passage encourage you to keep seeking answers? (v17)

Believe – Because those who belong often start to believe.
Have you ever changed your mind about something? What would it take for you to believe that Jesus is alive even though He died?

Become – Because everyone who believes can become someone new.
What does it mean for you personally, that you have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead?

Dear God, Thank you for proving that You have power over death. Help me to believe and to understand what it means for me. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

– by Dan Barber

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Carey Nieuwhof

Written By

Carey Nieuwhof

Carey is the founding pastor of Connexus Church and has been serving in ministry since 1995. He is passionate about leading people into a relationship with Christ and helping people thrive in life and leadership.

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