Anglican Devotional 11 April 2023 – Why Are You Troubled?

anglican devotional

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 11 April 2023 – Why Are You Troubled?

Click HERE to Read Previous MESSAGES

TOPIC: Why Are You Troubled?

READ: Luke 24:36-49 (NKJV)

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”

But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

“Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”

So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.

And He took [it] and ate in their presence.

Then He said to them, “These [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and [the] Prophets and [the] Psalms concerning Me.”

And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

24:46. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

“and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

“And you are witnesses of these things.

“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

THE MESSAGE:

Jesus appeared physically to the troubled and doubting disciples as they listened to the story about His appearance at Emmaus (verse 36). He requested them to touch Him and ate broiled fish in their presence (verse 39,43) to prove that He is the risen Christ. He appeared “by many infallible proofs “over the next 40-days before His ascension (Acts l: 1-3; John 21: 1, 7 and 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8).

Today we are faced by many situations that trouble us and even cast doubts on the authenticity of God’s word. Jesus still appears through His word or other means, to many who are troubled, or who seek God diligently. His message during troubled times is threefold in our text which is, to be strengthened by the reality of His resurrection power.

His conquest over death shows that His power is Almighty and able to handle all our troubles. Secondly He wishes to open our hearts to understand the Scripture which will stabilise us in moments of confusion.(verse 45). He also wishes us to be endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit to enable to fulfil His mission in our lives (verse 49). As He told Thomas in John 20: 29, all that is required is for us to believe, even when we have not seen Him physically. In the same way, whatever it is that troubles us, He still says to us “Peace be still” (verse 36; Mark 4:39).

PRAYER: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)