Don’t look for what really matters in the wrong places!

Word from the Center
Written By Dr. Gregory Seltz

There are days when we are reminded that certain things matter, but that other things matter the most! This is one of those days! When it comes to finding a good place to help you to “get your act together” or “get your life together,” it may be profitable to look at a healthy eating guide, the latest personal planner, or some self-motivating books or novels. But none of those places can truly deal with the issues that ail us. On Easter Sunday, God calls all of humanity to look into the empty tomb of Jesus to come to terms with their deepest need, and also to see His answer for it. Human beings are sinful, broken, and incapable of their own rescue. God the Father sent His Son Jesus to live our life, to die our death, and, by His resurrection, to give us eternal life as a gift. So, look into His empty tomb today. It matters for you!

First, it’s important to realize why it’s important to look into this particular tomb, the empty tomb of Jesus the Christ. In his book, Therefore Stand, Wilbur M. Smith notes that, “of the four great religions of the world resting directly upon personalities rather than upon some philosophical system, the Christian faith is the only one that even talks about an empty tomb in relation to its founder, Jesus.” He adds,

Buddha is dead, Mohammed is dead, Confucius is dead, but Christ is alive! but there is even more…. of all the great leaders of the world…. the pharoahs, the generals, the warriors, the emperors, the kings, even the presidents
…. You can visit them at their impressive tombs! But they’re still dead.[1]

But the One born of a virgin, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, the One crucified, dead and buried, this Jesus, this one alone is arisen and lives and reigns to all eternity.

And, most importantly, the empty tomb of Jesus demonstrates the success of his mission as this world’s Messiah, this world’s savior. The cross proclaims our need for a savior, and the empty tomb proclaims that there is only one savior for the world.

Jesus is the one Lord, crucified and risen, who, as the Bible says, “has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

Several years ago I was privileged to lead a group of people to the traditional site of the empty tomb of Jesus. It was an awesome experience. When we stood together at HIS EMPTY TOMB, we were invited to believe and proclaim that he did all of this for the whole world, which means He did this for each one of us
as well! Today, by faith, I pray that you can say that too. Don’t look for answers to the ultimate questions of life in people or places that will only disappoint. Look to Christ’s cross and empty tomb, the place where God fulfills His promise of life and salvation for you, now and forever.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, Your cross and resurrection are public displays of the uniqueness of Your saving mission and ministry. Help me to realize the awesome truth that You did all of that for each one of us because You love us. AMEN.

[1] Wilbur W. Smith, Therefore Stand: A Plea for a Vigorous Apologetic in This Critical Hour of the Christian Faith (Moody Press, 1945).

See Also
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Today’s verses are 2nd Corinthians 5:19-20, where St. Paul says, 

19 That God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not counting man’s sins against them. And He has committed to us this ministry of reconciliation, 20 for we are God’s ambassadors, as though were making His appeal through us, be reconciled to God!

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9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

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The Bulletin Insert is designed to be printed and cut in half to fit conveniently inside a Sunday worship bulletin. Each month an insert will offer insight, encouragement, and information from the LCRL on the topics of Religious Liberty, Life, Marriage, or Education.

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The dates identifying the LCRL bulletin blurbs are only suggestions. Please feel free to use any and all of the bulletin blurbs as your ministry needs allow.

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May Bulletin Insert
May Bulletin Insert

The Bulletin Insert is designed to be printed and cut in half to fit conveniently inside a Sunday worship bulletin. Each month an insert will offer insight, encouragement, and information from the LCRL on the topics of Religious Liberty, Life, Marriage, or Education.

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May 2025 Bulletin Blurbs

The dates identifying the LCRL bulletin blurbs are only suggestions. Please feel free to use any and all of the bulletin blurbs as your ministry needs allow.

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Their eyes got as big as saucers, and their huge smiles started to waver. I paused for a bit with a very serious look on my face, because it is all, sadly, true. I then continued, “However, you’re about to enter one of the most beautiful experiences you can ever have on earth. You’ll have glimpses of heaven that most will never see. You’ll delight in the love of Jesus overflowing to you from your spouse. When you fall, you’ll have each other to speak words of forgiveness and renewal. Your joy will grow and overflow to everyone. And I can say this with certainty.”

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17 …. What then is this that is written: “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER STONE?” 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.

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April Prayer Partner Thursday
April Prayer Partner Thursday

Prayer Partner Thursday provides a month-long prayer emphasis in one of the four Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty areas of emphasis: Religious Liberty, Sanctity of Life, Educational Freedom, and Marriage as an Institution (family).

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17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

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Making the Case for Life

It’s easy to talk about your pro-life beliefs with your Christian friends. You’re all coming from the same source: the Bible. But what happens when you chat with friends or teachers who aren’t Christian, who don’t see the Bible as anything at all? How can you stand up for life in a pro-choice world?

Dr. Gregory Seltz
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