In our youth, we tend not to think much about death. But as the years pass, it becomes an increasingly inescapable reality. Death sweeps away our closest friends and loved ones, sometimes unexpectedly, sometimes after prolonged suffering. Who will stop the terrible procession of death? Who can stop it? Only the One who did stop it by suffering it on our behalf and rising again, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus not only cares, but has the power to heal and save us from death forever.

Distance posed no barrier to the saving work of Jesus. He healed people just as easily from afar as He did up close, revealing His divine and comprehensive authority. Whether we feel distant from our church family, from our mother on Mother’s Day, or even from God Himself, the grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient to draw us near once again to the glory and praise of God.

As we begin our tour of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we’ll see that at the outset he presents his apostolic credentials as a divinely called apostle. This call forms an important part of his purpose in writing the letter. As we consider the implications for Paul’s call, we will also note that the Bible uses calling a few different ways, and these have important application for us today.

How should Christians live in the midst of a pandemic? The same way we are called to live at all times: as disciples of Christ who focus on His kingdom! The remainder of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain calls us to an enduring faith as we reflect our Head, clear our eyes, examine our hearts, and engage our feet, following the One who persevered unto death to grant us eternal life.

Christians are familiar with Jesus as the Redeemer of his people occupying the offices of prophet, priest, and king. But we rarely connect his offices to his estates of humiliation and exaltation. The Sunday following Easter is the perfect time to look at Christ’s estate of exaltation, as the biblical writers teach us that his work of redemption entered a new phase, beginning with his resurrection from the dead. And this new phase has important implications for us today.

No one likes to be poor, hungry, sad, or rejected any more than they like to be separated, isolated, and quarantined on Easter Sunday! But Jesus teaches us that such trials are not always bad. In fact, they often enable us to reject what the world prizes and focus on the King whose kingdom is glorious and eternal. Easter in exile can become Easter in exaltation through faith in the Savior who rose from the dead!

Dr. Fred Putnam prayerfully speaks on the last seven sayings of Christ on the Cross.

To call the apostles "ordinary" was actually quite generous. Like us, they were sinful mixtures of doubt, impatience, selfishness, pride, fear, and disbelief. Left to themselves, they could do nothing. But they were also men who were called by God, forgiven by Him, and commissioned to proclaim His Son. Extraordinary times like ours do not call for extraordinary saints. They call for ordinary sinners who proclaim an extraordinary Savior.

It wasn’t long before dark clouds began to gather around Jesus’ ministry. Even as He proclaimed the kingdom of God and healed the sick, opposition arose from the religious leaders. A storm was descending that would lead to the cross. But Jesus did not flinch. He completed His God-given mission with sobriety, fidelity, and expectancy, paving the way for everyone who would follow Him by faith. No matter how great our storm, Jesus is greater and will deliver us in the end.

Proverbs has much to say about the problem of laziness and the importance of hard work. Solomon addresses indolence and industriousness directly, and his wise counsel serves as a springboard to think biblically about work and rest.