No One Knows Trouble Like My Troubles

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.    Hebrews 4:14-16 (CEV)

For a long time I was convinced that Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, could not possibly understand my life, my pain, my difficulties. And then I took the time to really read the gospels. I took the time to see Jesus, consider what His facial expressions might have been, connected the dots on various scenes and thought about what might have been in some of the white spaces between some of the words. John says at the end of his gospel that not everything could be recorded because the all of it was too vast (John 21:25). I hope if you feel overwhelmed by life’s circumstances or alone in a struggle that you will take time today to look at the One who maybe does truly “get” you and cares about what you are going through.

Family and relationships. The gospels note that Jesus spent time away praying, on a mountain during the night, or away from the crowds that followed Him. I wonder if it wasn’t relationships that was a major factor in His time alone with His Father. The twelve guys closest to Him bickered a lot about who was the most important and missed the point of His teachings and actions despite all the time He spent daily with them. They kept trying to make Jesus’ mission fit their agenda instead of getting on board with Him. Rather narcissistic. And family? They thought He was crazy (Mark 3:21)! Jesus said that it was not those related by blood that were His family but those who “do the will of my Father” (Matthew 12:46-50). So if I struggle with people who criticize me more than love me, Jesus knows what that is like. If I wonder if there is anyone out there who is “for me,” Jesus knows who are my true friends and who are not.

Pain and sickness. If pain is part of life and suffering comes through sickness and depression, Jesus knows. He cried out Psalm 22:1 from the cross, “Why have you left me, God?!!” and if I continue to read that psalm, many of the verses describe His experience from the time He was arrested until He drew His last breath here on this earth. Beside His own experience, He saw the suffering and isolation of the lepers, the struggle of those struck with illness that left them paralyzed and poor as they sought cures. He didn’t ignore them but was moved with compassion and reached out to them.

Death and loss. Jesus wept when He was told of His cousin, John’s death (Matthew 14:12-13). He wept at the tomb of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35). He who said He was the resurrection and life, knew that our death here was not the end, and was still moved to tears as we grieve for the separation of those we love. Jesus knows that it is hard to walk on without someone that I count on. He described the gift that He would send after He left as the Counselor (John 14:15-27). This would be One that I could count on to help me and encourage me to walk on.

Need and loneliness. Jesus said that birds had nests and foxes had their holes but that He did not have a comfortable, warm home (Matthew 8:20). When the worse day of His earthly life came, the twelve people who had been with Him every day prior to that ran off and left Him to face humiliation, torture and death alone. Yes, Jesus is acquainted with my sorrows and needs.

Paul said that some may see the Cross as “foolishness” but it is actually the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). And so it is. The closer that I associate myself with Jesus and His life, especially the Cross, the closer I will know His comfort, His truth, and His wisdom. I overcome the troubles in my life by the Blood of Jesus the Lamb, the words of my testimony as we walk along this life and learn that my life is not defeated by death but is, in fact, victorious (Revelation 12:11).

Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross

– written by Frances J. Crosby and William Doane, sung by the Hastings College Choir (Hastings, NE)

Jesus, keep me near the Cross;
There a precious fountain,
Free to all — a healing stream —
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Chorus: In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning Star
Shed its beams around me.

Chorus

Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

Chorus

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Do You Tremble?

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from October 17, 2011]

Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.” Exodus 33:15 (NLT)

The LORD reigns! Let the peoples tremble.
He is enthroned above the cherubim.
Let the earth quake.         Psalm 99:1 (HCSB)

Lectionery Texts: Exodus 33:12-23, Psalm 99, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-21

Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Or had a tornado come through your town or over your head? Or a Category 5 hurricane blow across your area? The power of such natural disasters is spell-binding when seen on a movie or television screen but terrifying when it is lived out first hand. It is this kind of power that the writer of the psalm compares to God. But God created the wind, the earth, and the sea from which these come from, so He is more powerful than even these.

Moses went from Pharoah’s palace to making his way alone through the desert and then marrying in a foreign land. He became a shepherd for his father-in-law until that day in the mountain when he met God in a burning bush. God chose Moses to speak to Pharoah and lead His people to the Promised Land. Moses in no way felt he was qualified for that job! Moses found out the depth of God’s love for him and the rest of His children as he argued and whined his way through plagues and the walk across the Red Sea. The words of Moses is expressed from a heart that has learned from experience. Without the presence of God in my life, I will become lost.

…and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with the joy from the Holy Spirit.     1 Thessalonians 1:6 (HCSB)

I have often heard people say that as soon as they committed their lives to Jesus “all hell broke loose”. I am part of that group. But it was also during this time that I repeated Moses’ words, “LORD, if You aren’t with me, I will never make it through so do not send me out of Your presence.” God is faithful in all times but it seems that in difficult times I “tune in” to hear His voice and argue less.

As my relationship with my LORD continues to grow and evolve, I pray for His wisdom and guidance through each season of my life. The psalm writer proclaims his witness that when I call on God, He will answer. So I will continue to fall on my knees and seek His face and sit at His feet to learn what and who is on His heart. I want to imitate my LORD. That makes my heart tremble with anticipation and holy fear.

 

 

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Worship – Forever?

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice:

The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!

13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say:
Blessing and honor and glory and dominion
to the One seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:11-14 (HCSB)

Worship. Giving homage, a manifestation of my love to my LORD. The apostle John seems to be telling me that my life in heaven will be about worship. So that would beg the question: Do I like to worship? If I do not, heaven may not seem like such a “wonderful place,” eh?

I love musical worship. Melodies and lyrics express so many emotions.
“LORD, I love You!”
“LORD, help me!”
“Jesus, You gave Your life for me. How can I thank You?”
“I need You more today than I did yesterday, Jesus.”
There’s so much that I lay at the feet of God in musical worship. It is always refreshing.

But worship is more than music. Proclaiming the Scripture is also worship. Do you remember in the Old Testament how Ezra stood and read the Scriptures for like 5-6 hours? And the people stood all during his reading! The promises, the beauty of the poetry, the power of God are all found in God’s Word and are certainly worship when I read them and commit them to my heart.

Sharing testimonies about what God is doing in our lives is also worship. These stories encourage, teach and, yes, even correct us. I do not know why we don’t have testimonies or “sharing” every time we gather. It is a wonderful thing to see others encouraged and even come to know Jesus through the simple telling of how God is active and living in someone’s life.

I have read this passage of Scripture several times. I have many pictures that run through my mind as I read the passage. What do you think heaven is going to be like? What do you think you will be doing in heaven for all time? I know it will be beautiful. The specifics of that beauty – that seems beyond what I can grasp. And what I will be doing? I don’t know but if I am with Jesus and so many that I love – I don’t really care! I am just so very grateful that I will be there! I’m going to spend some time in thankful worship …

I Can Only Imagine written and sung by MercyMe

 

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Never Alone

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias.2 Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples.3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing!”

The others said, “We will go with you.” They went out in their boat. But they didn’t catch a thing that night.

4 Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was.5 Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?”

“No!” they answered.                          John 21:1-5 (CEV)

Lectionary texts: Acts 9:1-20, Psalm 30, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19

I love this story! Have you ever been in just a terrible season in your life? And whatever the reason: sickness, bad relationship, loneliness, a death, loss of a dream – and you just want to “Stop the world turning, I want to get off!” I think this is where Peter was on this day. He was low, really low. Jesus’ death and the loss of the dream that he had about what “could have been,” has Peter in a place where he is seeking comfort. He is going fishing. I can so identify. When I am in such a place, I do not want to do anything complicated and I want activities that are comfortable and familiar to me. That was fishing to Peter and these men.

I think it is important to notice that they did stay together on this day. It is a principle for me to remember – that no matter how much I may want to go off by myself and wallow alone in my pain, it is always dangerous to go off alone. Remember that Peter warned that Satan prowls around looking to ambush those who isolate themselves (1 Peter 5:8). So have God identify that friend that God wants in your life that you can always count on and be comfortable around, no matter what the circumstance.

It is also important to notice that they did not have a successful night. They went off by themselves and did not catch anything. If I am going to be a ‘fisher of men’ I need to make sure I am following Jesus’ lead, not going off on my own idea of what God might want me to do or, worse yet, not even consult Him.

I need to remember another principle. If my heart is truly desiring to follow Jesus, then when I get off His path, Jesus will come find me. He will call me back from the ‘rabbit trail’ that I may have gone off on and set me back on His straight and narrow path that leads to His righteousness.

And if I have really messed up my life, Jesus shows later in this same chapter that He is about mercy and forgiveness. Jesus reinstated Peter as He, with a repeated question, reminds Peter that he does love the LORD and he can be used to build God’s Kingdom. It is about repenting, making a change, and stepping back on God’s path, beginning again.

Besides the passage in John, take a few minutes and read Psalm 30. What a wonderful blessing of strength and encouragement

Draw Me Close written and sung by Michael W Smith

 

 

 

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Wait for It!

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

18He said, “What is God’s kingdom like? To what can I compare it? 19It is like a mustard seed which someone plants in his garden. It grew and became a tree and the birds in the sky came and perched on its branches.” — Luke 13:18-19 (HN)

Henry Neufeld

[reprinted from November 16, 2009]

We like to get things fast. We like to see the connections and to know just how we got whatever we got. This desire for “instant gratification” is often an accusation of the older generation of the younger, or of our various preachers or moral leaders of this generation as opposed to all generations. But really, it’s just a human thing. We all like it. I preach patience, but all too often I practice impatience. If I manage to appear patient, be assured that it’s only by the grace of God! If I don’t appear patient, well, I’m human.

I have even thought that Adam and Eve may have failed precisely on the point of timing. Many times we ask why God would make a perfect garden and yet place in it a tree that was poisonous not just to those who might eat it, but to all their descendants, to an entire species. But perhaps the tree represents something necessary, and that knowledge of good and evil was something that would have to come sometime, but in God’s timing. That would explain the tree being there, but being forbidden. Adam and Eve couldn’t wait. I could be wrong on this, but it’s intriguing.

But whether it started with Adam and Eve or not, it certainly is pervasive. Waiting, trusting, receiving without knowing—all these things really get on our last nerve! But God tends to work with greater subtlety.

We encounter this problem in evangelism. Someone shares their faith with a friend or neighbor, and gets no response. What happens? They get impatient, even desperate. Who can I get to persuade them? Why are they so slow? Surely they understand the importance.

But God says that the kingdom works like a tiny seed. You plant it. It grows. It becomes something much more than you thought when you did the planting. But for many of us this isn’t good enough. God should get in there and fix things now, while I’m watching. And somewhere in there we might even be thinking, “. . . and I should get the credit.”

Seed sowing is a principle of God’s kingdom. It means that God uses things that don’t look like much to accomplish things that are really quite incredible. That means that we will often not be able to get the connections, see the work go on, or account for the credit due to the various workers involved.

The same is true in your own life. The gospel is trying to grow inside you and transform you. You may wish that you had patience right now, so that you could accept this sowing principle in your heart, but God is likely to grow you up slowly. God is not a God of instant gratification.

What seeds is God nurturing in your heart?

Though it tarries, wait for it!” — Habakkuk 2:1 (HN)

Revelation Song written by Jennie Lee Riddle and sung by Phillips, Craig, & Dean

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Because He Lives

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.25 He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.26 Otherwise, He would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages,for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— 28 so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.      Hebrews 9:24-28 (HCSB)

Did you read that first line, verse 24? The Messiah is not hanging out just in church but He is in the presence of God for me. Jesus is in heaven where the Father lives with all those who have gone before me and He is also with me right now.

Another friend of mine has left this world and gone on to live with the Father in heaven. I am going to miss him. I weep for his family who will acutely miss him. For some period of time, determined by the Father, we will be separated. But Jesus bridges that separation. Right now, Jesus is with my friend in heaven and He is with me.

Because of Jesus, my friend passed through the separation, the door, between life here and eternal life. He doesn’t ever have to suffer or labor again. He ran the race given to him and completed it well. He met his appointment to die in this life and entered into the glory that is with Jesus.

Hallelujah!
Praise God in His sanctuary.
Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
2 Praise Him for His powerful acts;
praise Him for His abundant greatness.

3 Praise Him with trumpet blast;
praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance;
praise Him with flute and strings.
5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals;
praise Him with clashing cymbals.

6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!                                        Psalm 150 (HCSB)

Easter morning is still here. If it seems like it has dimmed in your world, then pull out your MP3 or iPad or iPhone and find a hymn or worship song like Psalm 150 and relocate the praise that is still resounding in the air. Jesus has overcome the darkness and defeat that was once death. No matter how many clouds attempt to block out the truth that the Light shines forth in Truth and always will, Jesus died once for all. There are no more rituals needed; no more sacrifices required. “It is finished.”

Jesus never said that I shouldn’t be sad or grieve when someone that I love has left me. He wept outside the grave of His cousin and friend, Lazarus (John 11). I personally think He wept out of compassion for Mary and Martha. He felt their pain and grief. But Jesus knew that just as Lazarus’ death was about to be defeated, so would my death and your death and all those that we love who chose Jesus. It is a once for all defeat.

I Need You More written and sung by Lindell Cooley

 

 

 

 

 

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Come Away With Me

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

Note 4/3/13: I felt this message in my spirit again today. “Come away with Me today. Let us spend time together.” Jesus says.

[Originally printed June 11, 2012]

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!       2 Corinthians 5:15-17 (NLT)

Ezekiel 17:22-24, Psalm 92, 2 Corinthians 5:6-17, Mark 4:26-34

In the Mark text of this week’s lectionary, Jesus is teaching us something using a familiar theme of seeds. He says that when seeds are scattered there is a growth that happens whether I “tend” the seeds or am just lazy and sleep. He also mentions the mustard seed, such a tiny seeds, that grows and becomes so large that others can make use of it. Mark says that Jesus explained all these parables to His disciples when they were alone.

And there is one of those principles that has no shortcut. If I want Jesus to show me and teach me, I have to take time to study and listen. The real depth of my relationship with Him is not going to happen in a ‘drive-thru’ moment on Sunday morning. I hope that we are getting great teaching there but it was Jesus’ plan that we, His disciples, would come away with Him and spend more time digging into His Word.

And what I heard today, when I was sitting and listening through these four passages was: God is doing so much in my life.

He is taking me, small and weak, and will plant me, water me with His Spirit, fertilize me with His words so that I will produce much fruit in His Kingdom (Ezekiel 17:22-24). But the point is what He is doing to put me in His fruitful garden.

He is doing great deeds and there are great blessings that will come to those of us who are in “right relationship” (righteous) with our LORD (Psalm 92). The lectionary people left out verses 5-11 but I think that is a mistake. I need to know the consequences of not choosing the LORD. I have grown in my relationship with God that I obey because I love Him but it is always a good thing to keep the negative discipline in mind!

He is with me, just as Jesus said, to the end (Matthew 28). God knows my weaknesses. He knows my fears. Most of us when we think of dying know we are going to heaven but we may have some questions, some uncertainty when we come to those moments as we leave this world behind. 2 Corinthians 5 passage tells me that I am reconciled to God. I have no ‘fine print’ in this contract. We are in a covenant together and by faith, I must walk in that assurance. And it is that walk that may persuade others that Jesus died for us all and that all have the same promise of an eternal relationship with Him.

Now I hope, I pray, that when you read these passages that some other point comes to you. Don’t be afraid to disagree with me or your pastor. My relationship with God took a GIANT leap the night that I disagreed with the evangelist, the teacher, that I had been listening to for so many weeks. I do not even remember what the passage was but while he made a great point, the passage that he quoted didn’t make that point. But that’s OK! None of us are going to hit it on the mark every time. That’s just another reason that Jesus wants to meet with me regularly. It’s an opportunity to correct and encourage.

Jesus wants to spend time with me. How important is that to me? Whatever is really important to me is what I will make time for.

The song that I bring today was not recorded as a “Christian” song but it is a love song. The singer wants us to spend time together. I believe that God loves me with that kind of passionate love. And as I listen to this song, I hear Him, lovingly, passionately asking me: Come away with me, Jody. It makes me weep to receive such love from my LORD. It makes me weep to think that I would not make time for us. Come away – Come away.

Come Away With Me by Norah Jones (2002)

 

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Peace! Go! Receive! Believe!

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

20 Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”22 After saying this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” …

Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.”

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book.31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.    John 20:19-23, 29-31 (HCSB)

Lectionary texts: Acts 5:27-32, Psalm 150, Revelation 1:4-8, John 20:19-31

Next Sunday, as it often happens every year, Thomas, one of only twelve chosen by Jesus to spread the Good News, is going to again be labeled “Doubting Thomas.” Not by me. I am bypassing this one incident in the life of this wonderful man of God who went on to take the Gospel into India and there died a martyr. I am going to focus on the orders that Jesus has for me.

Peace. It is much easier to grasp the peace that the resurrected Jesus brings when I am looking back over 2000 years. If three days after my son died as I was busily trying to dig out of the debris of Hurricane Ivan and prepare for the visitors that were expected, my son had suddenly appeared and said, “Hey, Mom! Relax. I’m not really dead. Jesus sends you His peace!” it might have taken some mental and spiritual work on my part to grab on to the peace. But that’s a point I need to understand. Even in unexpected, mind-blowing, I-don’t-understand times, Jesus is there and His peace is sufficient for me. It’s not about intellectual abilities. It’s like 1 + 1 = 2. Jesus + nothing from me = Victory. I do not bring anything to the equation. I just have what He gives and it’s always a plus.

Go. The Father sent Jesus to be born, live His life in Kingdom building, die to this life so that He would live forever. And that is what the Father wants for me. “Go, Jody. Do not speed through life, thinking only of yourself. Do not coast through life without My purpose. And do not miss the opportunities to work in My Kingdom and catch of glimpse of what is to come! And don’t worry – Jesus is the Way!” Whether I go and work in a village in another part of the world or help those in need in the town where I was born or reach out across the world wide web to teach and encourage, it is not about whether anyone else counts my steps. It is only whether I heard the Father’s voice and followed Jesus where He led me.

Receive. Too often I think we pay more attention to the “forgiving and retaining” part of this passage and miss the bigger point. Jesus gave the power of the Holy Spirit to me. When I walk through my own desert of trial and temptation, I walk with His Spirit. When I am asked to speak or give what I have or wash the feet of someone or forgive someone who doesn’t realize how they are hurting/killing me, I have His Spirit for all that I need. I “just” have to receive it and that is about commitment to our relationship. Take the time to soak the Spirit into my spirit.

Believe. This can be the biggest stumbling block of all. A step of faith. Bible study and prayer are the essential water and fertilizer of our faith. But it is that daily step toward Jesus, believing that He is who He says He is, that brings Light into our lives and keeps us growing. Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are my branches. If you believe in Me, you will be able to do many things in the Kingdom. Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, my paraphrase) Simple but not easy order. Believe.

When You Believe written by Stephen Schwartz, from the movie Prince of Egypt

 

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He’s STILL Alive!

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

Here I am the day after Easter. What happens the day after? Where are all the posts on Facebook today that say “He is Risen!” or “Jesus is Alive!” Isn’t Jesus still alive today?

What did the disciples do the day after they found the tomb empty? Did they sleep from just pure emotional and physical exhaustion? Did they immediately hide themselves away behind locked doors? We don’t know because the Bible isn’t that time specific. But more important than what the disciples did in the 1st century is what am I going to do every day?

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus …

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything,but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 3:12-14, 4:4-8 (NIV)

And that is what I am doing today. I am spending time listening to Jesus because He is alive in my life! Excuse me while I read this Scripture again. I need to hear it again in my spirit. There’s no “foolishness” here on April 1.

 He’s Alive written by Bill & Gloria Gaither, sung by David Phelps

 

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“It it finished.”

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Jody Neufeld

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.       1 John 4:7-14 (NLT)

It is easy to spend more time today preparing for an Easter Sunday feast or pressing that new dress or ribbon to hold back pretty curls than to take the time to do more than acknowledge the extraordinary price of Friday. “It. is. Finished.”

I will read again Luke 22-23 and John 17-19. I include John 17 because it reminds me that despite the horrific hours that were about to unfold, Jesus never forgot the promised victory that would occur because of His sacrifice and our need for His intercession in the centuries to come.

There are so many emotions today as I meditate on these passages and the love represented in them. No one, no one has ever loved me like Jesus. No one ever will. If I think about how much I love my children and what I would be willing to do for them – that love is only a fraction of how much the Father loves me! How do I show my love for the Father? How do I tap into the depth of that love?

It was in John’s letter to the Church that I found the direction to move. John reminds me that God is love. When I open myself to the LORD, He fills me with who He is and so that means I am filled with His love. And the full expression of His love is in loving others. I can see His love, in all its many facets, when I love others. I see the healing. I see the compassion. I see the forgiveness. I see the encouragement. God’s love is a living thing.

Jesus did it all. There is nothing that I need to do. There is nothing required of me to complete my redemption from sin. Jesus dotted every “i” and crossed ever “t.” I am under no obligation to pay Jesus back for His sacrifice. Loving others and serving them is an opportunity to freely allow His love to flow through me into others and that actually draws me closer to God.

Easter can be a time of a new beginning. If I haven’t spent time with my LORD like my deep down spirit wants to – now is the time to make a change. It can be a time to take a step and begin my day in prayer and end my day with a reading and prayer. And throughout the day, ask the Holy Spirit to keep me open to hear His voice that will direct me to reach out to others with His love.

Through it all – every moment of my life – it’s trials and triumphs – is already ordained to end in victory. Jesus has destroyed death and when the time comes, He will take me home to live with Him in Paradise forever and ever. There is no repayment for that. There is love.

How Great Thou Art sung by Carrie Underwood

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