The Daily Paine

Much of our religion has become godless and has degenerated into a mere matter of attitudes, opinions, ideas and actions.”   
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“Wanting someone without a commitment to that someone is always one step away from hate.”
–Ravi Zacharias

Some call this day, Resurrection Monday.  That’s an okay term, but then tomorrow is Resurrection Tuesday and so on.  Since that triumphant Sunday, everyday is a resurrection day until He returns.  But here is a question that needs to be answered.  What are you doing about it now?
Jesus said to obey His commandments if we love Him, yet so many try to walk so close to that line.  Do we fail to forget the lesson from Judas?  He was with the Lord most every day for three years and yet He failed to recognize the importance of realizing that keeping His commandments was from the heart.  Try to warn someone of a lifestyle and they will cry, “Legalism.”  Or, “who are you to judge?”  Some even take it to the postmodern extent, “In my opinion, this is not what Jesus meant.”
But, if we are not taking Jesus’ words to heart, can we really believe in a resurrection?  Jesus said as the Father had sent Him so He is sending us.  Maybe I should ask, where is He sending us?  It might just be your workplace.  Then I hear the sound, “Oh, they won’t let me witness there. I’ll get fired.”  Hmmm, what a dilemma.  The voice of the boss versus the voice of the Lord.  However, do not despair, there are many ways to witness.
Perhaps, after your encounter with Christ, you simply decide to go fishing.  That is what several of the disciples did.  They had seen the Lord, talked with Him, but He was gone someplace else to they decided to go fishing.  Let me digress to yesterday, current year.  Does it make a difference what we wear when we are with the Lord?  After all, He just sees the heart, or….  We have come along way from dressing our best when we meet the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Now, go back to the disciples fishing.  “When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, an swam ashore.” (John 21:7, NLT)  For some reason Peter didn’t want to appear before the Lord naked.
I could mention others and wonder about them.  Nicodemus, what was he doing?  Annas and Caiaphas, when they heard of the resurrection, what were their thoughts?  Lazarus, Martha, and the list could go on.  Right now, the important thing is, what are we doing since the Resurrection?

“Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’  ‘Yes, Lord,’ Peter said, ‘you know I love you.’  ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus said.”
–John 21:16 (NLT)