Mary Of Magdala

There are times when each of us is disappointed when things don't turn out the way we want them to be. We all love to control the events in our lives and inevitably time comes when we discover we can't. People talk nowadays about their `comfort zone,' and when they find themselves out of it, they become agitated and anxious, not knowing what tomorrow might bring.

Mary of Magdala had had `seven demons' cast out of her by Jesus (Mark 16:9), and her appreciation of what Jesus had done resulted in complete devotion to Him. Now when Jesus had been crucified and buried, we can imagine Mary's sorrow as she came to the tomb with aromatic spices, as was the custom in those days, to embalm the body of Jesus. This indeed is a great `wake-up!' call for us - whether in life or death, we must continue ministering to the Lord just as Mary did (Luke 24:1), committing our lives to God and His Son Jesus Christ.

But God has a way of turning sorrow into joy in our lives. Like Mary, our sorrows can be changed into joy if we continue carrying out the great message of the gospel. Mary brought the news to the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that she heard Jesus telling her blessed words of wisdom for the disciples: "Go to my brethren and say to them `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (Luke 20:17-18).

Lessons for us:

· True devotion to the Lord Jesus always gains its reward.

· Whether we have much or little for God, let's hold what we have in our hearts for Him.

· When disappointments come in our lives, we should always focus on how the Lord endured to the end.

· We must always be near to Jesus and always recognise His voice and listen to what He is telling us.

I have often found assurance and joy in the words of Isaiah: "I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine" (Isa. 43:1). Assurance and joy were what Mary of Magdala needed as she approached the tomb of Jesus in that early morning, only to discover the stone was rolled away and the tomb empty.

Each of us has a name. His call to us is a personal one ­ "I have called thee by thy name." He has rights over us, "thou art mine." For Jesus had already paid the price for us through his precious sacrifice

Do you know him as your personal, risen Saviour as Mary did? "He calls his own sheep by name, and they know his voice" (John 10:3-4). How about us?

Bro. Gideon Hankomone, (Mazabuka, Zambia.)