Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.  “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.  Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third.  In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too.  At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?  He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”  Mark 12: 18-27

I read the Scriptures every day. I know my Bible quite well and I have a reading plan that I have followed for many years. Yet this good habit can easily become a routine and some mornings I have to admit that my intention is more on just getting it done rather than on having my heart warmed by its living presence.

God’s Word is living and active; powerful and life changing – if I allow it. Or it can be words on a page. Like a Sadducee, I can be in error because I am just looking for some new knowledge to re-enforce what I believe. Then in a couple of sentences, Jesus gives me a promise of heaven and an angelic body and ties in the Old Testament with the New.

With just one verse of the Old Testament, Jesus shows these “experts” that there is resurrection, hope and life with God. Rather than rejoicing in this life changing truth, I think that these men went away angry. Years later the Apostle Paul is debating this very truth with them. Yet, each morning I can leave thrilled, if I allow my heart to be warmed and touched by the living Word.

This morning was a wake up call for me by the Spirit. My sleepy head was going through a routine and I finished my time with a thrill to know that I have a resurrection hope that will not change with time, but is certain.

I want to live with the ongoing thrill of having God’s life changing truth in my heart as I go through the day. My routines can be boring or transforming, and I know which one I want.

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18

Brian Blacklock is regional director of The Navigators, East Quadrant, UK.  Brian and his wife Kath spent a number of years ministering here in Canada.
You can subscribe to his blog by email: brian.blacklock@navigators.co.uk