Although some may want to argue about whether Jesus’ resurrection was physical or not, Jesus Himself answered that question plainly. If He was only a spirit after the resurrection, they could not have handled (touched) Him.

To ensure that they knew that He was not merely an immaterial Being, He invited them to touch Him and look at His hands and feet. Showing them His hands and feet, which certainly had large scars on them, enabled them to see that He was the same One Who was crucified.

A physical resurrection is our hope for the future. John said, in I John 3:2: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Every believer – past and present – will one day be united with a new body and it will be like His glorious Body. Sickness, sorrow, and weakness will be gone – forever! “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption” (I Corinthians 15:42).

We do not know all about it yet, but we are promised it will be glorious! Christian, keep on following our Lord, and one day soon, you will be glad you did!

During this time of year, many churches will have meetings that are often labeled “revivals.” Although the word “revival” is not used in the Bible, the word “revive” is, and it means to be restored to health or life, be quickened, to restore to life, to grow, and to sustain life.

The very word suggests that there has been a drifting away from those things that make Christians spiritually healthy. The meetings are intended to apply means whereby those attending can be strengthened and brought back to strong spiritual health.

Because the world has a strong pull on believers that can cause them to lose their “first love” for Christ, special meetings are employed to help restore them to a right relationship with God. The desired result is to weaken the world’s grip on believers and bring them back to a close walk with God and a refilling of the Holy Spirit.

As is illustrated in Acts 4, the filling of the Spirit is to glorify God and empower witnesses for the spread of the Gospel. While some like to think the filling of the Spirit is for speaking in tongues, there is no mention of this in Acts 4. They asked for the Spirit’s fullness for boldness to speak and not be ashamed.

Although revival meetings should help believers to be what God wants them to be, they often fall short. Rarely do these meetings actually see a God-given revival. Each believer must seek to draw nigh to God, which requires personal confession of sins, time spent in prayer, surrender to the will of God, and action to start doing His will faithfully.

True revival is something that only God can do, which is why the text verse asks: “Wilt thou not revive us again?” While God must do it, believers are responsible to prepare their hearts so God can revive them. Do you need to start seeking personal revival?

God does not want anyone to worship an idol, or bow down to one. What He does want is for His people to come before Him in reverence, humility, and faith.

True respect for God must also include confession and a willingness to obey Him. How else can we say “Lord, Lord,” if there is no desire to do what He says? True worship must also include being truthful before God.

Our God is holy and He cannot tolerate deceit, sin, or lies. If these things be in the heart when you worship, it is in vain. Jesus told the religious leaders. in Mt. 15:9: “in vain they do worship me.”

If our worship is to be real, it needs to follow God’s plan. Although some people cannot be in church on Sunday, many more could than will actually step into a church and not forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is,” (Heb. 10:25).

Are you really worshipping God the way He is pleased with? Will He commend you for it?