Mon.’s Devo - The Waiting for Resurrection

Read: 2 Samuel 1:1-2:11; John 12:20-50; Psalm 118:19-29; Proverbs 15:27-28
When the Bible says, “on the third day” I always look to see how this is going to coincide with the resurrection. On the third day, Jesus’ disciples learned that Jesus didn’t die but he resurrected and it gave them hope and life. On the third day in today’s reading, David received word that Saul and Jonathan had been dead for three days. The one responsible gave them the news. He had been fighting on the side of the Amelekites and ran into Saul who was painfully dying. Saul asked him to put him out of his misery so he did. Then he took Saul’s crown and arm band and brought it to David expecting to be rewarded as a hero. Instead, he was killed. I can’t help but think this is how Judas could have felt when he betrayed Jesus. He expected honor and reward but instead he was so tormented he took his own life.
David and his men mourned for Saul then God told David to go to Hebron. Hebron was the place that they anointed kings. He joined with his family and was finally exalted to be the king over the tribe of Judah.
Abner, Saul’s commander took Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth and proclaimed him king. He made him king over Israel. Israel included all the tribes except Judah.
In John, it is time for Jesus to die and he said a profound statement about it. He said that unless the kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it cannot produce fruit, but if it does, it will produce many seeds.
Jesus had done many miraculous signs and yet, they still would not believe in him and now he was going to die with very little fruit. Even the leaders who did think he was the Messiah refused to stand up for him because they loved the praises of men more than the praises of God. The seed had to fall to the ground and die to produce fruit.
This is a true concept for us in our walk with God. When God puts a seed of destiny in our hearts we have to let that dream die before it will bring life. Many people lose heart and turn away from God during this process because they don’t understand it, but if you will hang on and wait, you will see the resurrection of your dream and destiny.
Lord, help us to hold on to faith even during the death process. Let your resurrection come.