Opened Up

by Kathy Lay

This Week’s Verse: Mark 7:34, “(Jesus) looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ). (NIV)

Devotion:
We’ve finally reached that much-anticipated time of year when life begins to burst forth all around us. Isn’t that just like God to time the celebration of his Son’s resurrection with the new life springing up in nature right before our very eyes?

We feel rejuvenated by the sun’s warm rays. We inhale and savor the special smell that blows in on the spring wind. We pause to appreciate the blooming of a myriad of different buds. And we marvel at life—though, it temporarily rests, it faithfully returns.

That’s what Jesus’ death and resurrection mean to us too. In this week’s verse, Jesus commanded the blind man’s eyes to be opened. Opened eyes resulted in an opened and changed heart. Jesus had a new devoted follower. That’s the miracle of allowing ourselves to be opened to the Man who opened the grave.

When we die to ourselves under His Lordship, we inherit life. Both here, to the fullest, and in heaven, for eternity. With Him!

Around us, the buds were shut. They’re starting to open and they’re so beautiful.

Jesus’s body was shut up in the tomb. The tomb was opened. And beautiful life—eternal life—was made possible.

Sometimes we shut him out of our lives. May our hearts be always open.

The result will be your blossoming. How truly beautiful.

Father, we rejoice in the resurrection! Just as you walked out of the open grave, open up new life in each of us, even as we open up to receiving it. Thank you for that marvelous Resurrection Power that you want to display in our sometimes closed-minded day-to-day existence. We claim it now, in Jesus' Name!

Application:
Are there areas of your life you've closed off to the Lord? Ask and allow Him to open them up and fill them with His Resurrection Power. He will allow you to bloom! What better way to celebrate Easter?

Power Verses:
Revelation 3:8, “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me."(NLT)
Song of Solomon 6:11, "One day I went strolling through the orchard, looking for signs of spring, Looking for buds about to burst into flower, anticipating readiness, ripeness. Before I knew it my heart was raptured, carried away by lofty thoughts!"(MSG)
Isaiah 35:1-2, "The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy..."(NIV)