Reflections on Tuesday morning

 It is Tuesday of Holy Week. We are moving steadily towards this coming Thursday and Friday. What difference does this make? We are moving towards the most important event that has ever happened in this world. Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, true God and true Man, is going to the cross. He will be nailed to the tree. He will suffer terribly. He will die. He will be buried. As amazing as all that is, that isn't the most amazing thing that takes place. What is?

Jesus rises from the dead! He rises! He lives again! Death could not hold Him. The grave had to give Him up. He crushed that power of death. Wow! I think about that and I am blown away. 

As Jesus' body is laid in the grave on Friday late afternoon, there was no life in it. It was a corpse. We don't like to think about Jesus being a corpse, but that is what it was. Lifeless. That was the goal of the cross, to kill a person. It wasn't meant to be nice. It wasn't an easy way to die. They did not think about a "humane" way to put a person to death. They knew that crucifixion was inhumane and terribly painful. And the outcome was meant to kill a person. They meant to torment Jesus. They meant for Him to suffer. They meant for Him to die. 

And He did. He died.

Overwhelming to think about. Jesus, God's Son, died. He was a corpse. He was lifeless. I think about that every time someone dies. There is no life in the body. It is terrible. The body is cold, lifeless, clay. No matter what we do, no matter what we want, death wins. The grave holds them. Tears flow. Hearts break. And emptiness ensues.

Except for the fact that Jesus did not remain dead. He rose on Sunday morning. He destroyed the power of the death. He broke open the wicked little fingers of the grave. He bent them back and broke them off so that they could not hold onto Him. He came to life again. He lives!

That assures us that death is not the end. It takes each one of us. It pulls us into the ground. It laughs at our tears and at the terror it brings to the life of the one dieing and to those around him. And then Jesus steps out of the grave, and the grave reels in terror. Jesus defeats death! He brings life from death. He gives more than just a few more years. He gives eternal life. Everyone who dies will rise again - those who believe in Jesus as their Savior will rise to eternal life with Him in heaven, those who do not believe in Him as their Savior will rise and spend eternity in hell, separated from Him for an eternity. 

Yes, we are moving towards this most important event in the history of mankind. There is no other event that has such eternal significance. Jesus' life, death and resurrection. It is amazing, wonderful and beyond comprehesion. Thankfully we do not have to fully understand it to receive the gift of life. By faith, we hold fast to the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

It's raining, it's pouring, I sure wasn't snoring

 Sitting here watching it rain. We need this rain at this time of the year. Helps get the plants growing. I put some grass seed out and I sure hope that it takes hold. This last winter was hard on the yard. It needs the seed to grow and fill in the spots that are bare, especially where the dogs like to walk or stand at the fence so they can bark at anything that happens to go past.

Makes me think about my life. The winter was hard on me too. In truth, this last year, with all the covid stuff, the challenges of worship and gatherings, the decisions that needed to be made at different times, was really difficult. There are some bare spots in my life because of it. Worn down and bare, I seek ways to fill those spots in. But in the end, just like me making my grass seed grow, I cannot fill those spots in on my own. I might want to try but I have to finally say, "I can't do it." 

This is when I turn to the Word of God for strength and for filling in the bare spots in my life. Isaiah 55:10-11 states, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." What a wonderful promise the Lord gives in these verses. He will water my dry soul. He will cause the seed sown in my heart to sprout and to flourish. He will fill in those "bare spots" that some after a particularly difficult time. Instead of looking to myself, I look to the Lord. He waters me. He causes me to grow. He fills in all those areas for me. Praise be to God!

Yes, it is raining. What a lovely rain. If only Wrigley hadn't wanted to go out and play ball right when it was starting. Standing there in the rain, picking up and tossing the ball for my chocolate lab, I thought about how God stands in the rain, and takes care of me. I will run around here and there, getting soaking wet, and God will smile and stay with me the whole time.

What a wonderful God we follow. He loves us so much. As we are drawing close to Holy Week (this Sunday is Palm Sunday), we learn just how much He loves us. I look forward to seeing you in worship. If you are from another congregation, I will bet that your pastor would love to see you in worship too. Let's get together and see what the Lord has done and continues to do for us. 

Following the Way of the Lord

The world we live in is challenging. It is challenging to remain a Bible believing Christian. Many do not want to accept the Bible as the Word of God. Instead of looking to the Lord's Word for guidance in life, people today base their actions and thoughts upon their feelings or the direction of the world. The challenge for the Christian is to be in the world but not become a part of the world. What that is saying is that the Christian is to live each day as a Child of God, following the way of the Lord, instead of following the sinfulness of the world. Yes, Scripture tells us that the world and our very nature is sinful. The one that wants to follow the way of the Lord is challenged because it is tempting to turn from that Word and trust in one's own personal feelings. Those feelings change like the wind. The Word of God does not. That really makes it difficult to follow the way of the Lord.

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20 ESV) In order to justify one's own way of life, this is the temptation. It is good to act against the way of the Lord. It is evil and wrong to point out sinful behavior in the world. When the Christian does try to stay focused on that which the Lord says, he or she is attacked by many, until the Christian quits speaking out at all. Why? Because it is difficult to remain focused on the life of faith while being attacked over and over again by those who refuse to listen to the Word of God.

Jesus told us that it will become more difficult to remain faithful. He says, "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all the nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:9-13 ESV) Yes, it will be difficult. It will be tempting to say nothing. It will be challenging to remain faithful to the Word of the Lord in a world that seeks to lift up sin behavior as normal. 

What shall I do? I shall continue to keep the Word of the Lord in my heart and life. I will hold fast to the way that the Lord would have me live. (No, I am not saying that I will not sin. I will. When that happens, I will confess my sin to the Lord and, repenting, I will turn from that sinfulness.) I pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to guide me as I try to live not according to my sinful nature, but according to the life I have in Christ. "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11 ESV) Lord, help me to live according to Your will. 

The change in weather.

 The weather is quite amazing. One week we are facing unbelievably col temperatures, hitting as cold as 24 degrees below zero. Snow piled everywhere. Bundling up. Caring for the animals, making sure they are safe in bitter weather. Farmers having to chip away ice to get water for their critters. People trying to keep their pipes from freezing. Layers of clothes. Heavy coats. Scarfs. Hats. Meetings cancelled. Schools closed. 

Then the next week, temps in the 50s, then the 60s and finally the 70s. Up to 90 degree temperature swing in about 2 weeks. 14 days after bitter cold, windows are open. People are walking in shirt sleeves and shorts. Sitting on the porch. Tulips pushing through the ground. Early trees looking like they are just about ready burst as the buds get their fuzziness of pre-explosion look. Night time lows in the 50s and 60s. Winds blowing without a wind chill. No wind chill! 

It is said many times that if you don't like the weather, wait till tomorrow and it will change. That is what is taking place. It happens regularly. Weather changes. Winds blow in warm weather. Winds blow in cold weather. Just wait, it will change.

Makes me wonder, is that how your spiritual life is? Do you change spiritually with the winds of change? When something new comes along, do you embrace it, without even thinking about it? I believe that it happens often. When the wind blows in something new or different, do you embrace what is said? If so, how do you know if it is true or correct? Or are you going to be like Pilate and ask, "What is truth?" 

When you look at a new teaching, don't just accept it. Open your Bible. Study what it says. See if the new teaching is based in Scripture or in the feelings of the person putting it forward. Often, we base things upon feelings, without Scripture. That is not only dangerous but it is spiritually deadly. Satan loves to have us base our faith upon feelings. Why? Because our feelings are shifting ground and changes with how the winds are blowing. 

I guess I am saying, continue to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the Word of God. Make it a regular part of your daily routine. Spend time in Bible study with others. Attend worship and hear that Word each and every week. Don't rely upon yourself or your feelings. Rely upon the unchanging Word of God. 

What will the weather be next week? I don't know. What will God's Word tell us next week? Jesus loves us, dies for us, rises for us, cares for us, forgives us, helps us and it is all shown to us in that wonderful Word. Keep the focus where it needs to be. 

And...enjoy the beautiful weather.