First, let’s be the dads who are living life to the full because we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior and have been born again! Secondly, let’s choose to live our lives to the full because the resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead is active and alive in us! Finally, God has called us to be the dads our wives, kids, and world need us to be so let’s decide today to be active and alive, living life to the full for their sake and for the glory and honor of God!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
‘And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See, [here is] the place where they laid Him. ‘
Mark 16:6
Many years back, in an Easter production, I had the opportunity to play the angel at the tomb. I receive an interesting perspective as I studied about angels and how they seem to try and calm the people they are visiting and yet the magnitude of who they are and what they look like seems to still cause them fear. They are mighty warriors of God who come as messengers to speak truth, hope, and life into and over people.
Consider these examples of angels trying to help people live life to the full:
- ‘Then behold, a hand touched me and set me unsteadily on my hands and knees. So he said to me, “O Daniel, you highly regarded and greatly beloved man, understand the words that I am about to say to you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And while he was saying this word to me, I stood up trembling. Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision is in regard to the days yet to come.” When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. And behold, one who resembled the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, because of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. For how can such a [weakened] servant of my lord talk with such [a being] as my lord? For now there remains no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.” Then the one (Gabriel) whose appearance was like that of a man touched me again, and he strengthened me. He said, “O man, highly regarded and greatly beloved, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be strong.” Now when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” ‘ Daniel 10:10-19
- ‘And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw the angel, he was troubled and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. ‘ Luke 1:11-13
- ‘God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy from where he is [resting]. Get up, help the boy up, and hold him by the hand, for I will make him a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the [empty] skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with Ishmael, and he grew and developed; and he lived in the wilderness and became an [expert] archer. He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt. ‘ Genesis 21:17-21
- ‘In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah). And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in [swaddling] cloths and lying in a manger.” Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest [heaven], And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.” ‘ Luke 2:8-14
- ‘Now after the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. And a great earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone [from the opening of the tomb], and sat on it. The angel’s appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards shook, paralyzed with fear [at the sight] of him and became like dead men [pale and immobile]. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said [He would]. Come! See the place where He was lying. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee [as He promised]. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” So the women left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell [the good news to] the disciples. ‘ Matthew 28:1-8
- ‘For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, and said, ‘Stop being afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you [the lives of] all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I believe God and have complete confidence in Him that it will turn out exactly as I have been told; but we must run [the ship] aground on some island.” ‘ Acts 27:23-26
- ‘Then the angel said to me, “Write, ‘ Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me [further], “These are the true and exact words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he [stopped me and] said to me, “You must not do that; I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who have and hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God [alone]. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [His life and teaching are the heart of prophecy].” ‘ Revelation 19:9-10
Let’s not be stuck in the past or thinking the worst. Today’s verse speaks about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is a central belief of the Christian faith. It also conveys the message of hope, that despite death and suffering, there is the possibility of new life and renewal. Today let’s reflect on today’s verse of the day and how we can apply it to be the dads God created and purpose for us to be! Ultimately, living life to the fullest by pursuing Mark 16:6 means embracing the message of hope and renewal that it offers and applying it to our lives in a way that brings us joy, meaning, and purpose.
Live life to the full by pursuing today’s verse of the day and applying it to our lives!
Embracing the Christian faith:
For many people, embracing the Christian faith and accepting the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a way to find meaning, purpose, and hope in life. This can involve attending church, reading the Bible, and participating in Christian communities.
Finding hope and renewal:
Even for those who don’t follow the Christian faith, the message of hope and renewal in Mark 16:6 can be inspiring. It can remind us that even in the darkest moments of life, there is the possibility of new beginnings and transformation.
Embracing a positive outlook:
To live life to the fullest, we need to embrace a positive outlook and focus on the good things in life. This can involve cultivating gratitude, practicing mindfulness, and developing a sense of purpose.
Embrace forgiveness:
One of the key messages of the Christian faith is forgiveness. To live life to the fullest, we must learn to forgive ourselves and others for past mistakes and move forward with renewed hope.
Show compassion:
Jesus Christ was known for his compassion and empathy towards others. We can follow his example by showing kindness, empathy, and compassion to others.
Seek wisdom:
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a reminder that even in times of darkness and uncertainty, wisdom and guidance can be found. We can seek wisdom through prayer, meditation, and seeking the advice of trusted friends and mentors.
Live with purpose:
To live life to the fullest, we must have a sense of purpose and direction. We can find this by identifying our passions, setting goals, and working towards something that is meaningful to us.
Live in the present moment:
The message of hope and renewal in Mark 16:6 reminds us to focus on the present moment and not dwell on the past or worry about the future. We can practice mindfulness and live in the present moment by paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.
Serve others:
Jesus Christ lived a life of service and sacrifice, and we can follow his example by serving others. This can involve volunteering, donating to charity, or simply being there for friends and family when they need us.
Cultivate joy:
The message of hope and renewal in Mark 16:6 is ultimately a message of joy. To live life to the fullest, we must cultivate joy in our lives by finding things that make us happy, spending time with loved ones, and finding beauty in the world around us.
