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If you were asked to make a choice and you could either choose life or death, you probably would adamantly say, “I choose life.” Good choice! Now, what if having that life meant putting your all into a relationship where that person would protect you, provide for you, love you, and even die for you? Are you all in for life? God has arranged it all, everything so that you may have life and it is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Life comes through Him, by putting your all into a relationship with Him.
There are so many things in our lives and in the world that capture our attention. We can either focus on all that is wrong and all that I want or we can remain true and focus on what God has in store through His purpose and plan and for His glory and honor. That’s what we’re coming together to learn from God’s word about this weekend— where is your focus? Keeping our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of the faith is necessary and we can only do that by being reminded that our focus is Christ.
We’ve been told over and again that we are never alone and that God is with us each and every day, through the thick and thin. And yet, there are days when we don’t feel Him near and wonder, “Does God even see me?” The Lord God, His name is El Roi, the God who sees me. Through the life of Hagar we understand that in our lowest moments, God sees our pain. He hears our cries. We can then rest in knowing God is never unaware of what we are going through. God doesn’t promise a quick fix to our problems, but He sees us and also sees the larger picture in His plan for you.
We are privileged. We know this side of the story of Jesus, but the Disciples of the day didn’t. I can hear them say: We thought He was going to deliver Israel from its captors. We thought He was going to usher in a new kingdom, a new government. We thought since He was a man of God that our lives would be free. And yet, it IS because He was our sacrifice we can know true freedom. It IS because He rose again, we can know new life. It IS because He came that we can know eternal life. We thought a lot of things about Christ— His coming, His ministry, His crucifixion and resurrection. Well, today you and I can know without a doubt that He lives and reigns forever and ever.
As fellow Christians we’re not supposed to wait to see what happens, we are to be what does happen. The tomb is empty, we’ve been told the good news that Jesus is alive and yet, we’re walking away. Until we come in direct contact with Jesus and have a conversation with Him do we truly recognize who He is through the Word of God and ultimately we have communion with Him. But it doesn’t end there. We are to be lit on fire with a passion so great that His story continues in and through our lives.
There are stories people tell over and over again that by the 100th time you kind of tune it out because you’ve heard it before. Maybe you could recite it from memory, verse-by-verse, action-by-action. The Good News, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus might be one of those stories. Well, you’ll want to perk those ears up, tune your hearts in this weekend as we once again proclaim that Jesus Christ is risen from the grave! New life has come! Our relationship between God and humanity has been restored. Now before you say I’ve heard it before, tune in to hear the Good News that anyone united with Christ gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.
God’s love manifests in our lives through the words and works of His people. When Jesus said He came to give us life abundant, He was not necessarily talking about money or things that the world deems important. He was speaking about receiving more and more of His love— to be blessed to overflowing so that it ends up pouring out in the lives of others. As we move closer to the cross of Christ, may we take on an attitude of gratitude for each word spoken and each deed done with love from the Father.
God’s love for us is not based on conditions. His love never changes. May we be reminded that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). That is how God demonstrated His love, His unfailing love for each one of us— for you. You may be thinking that God could never love you because of what you have done. God’s love is not based on what you have done but is based on what Jesus did on the cross. One thing in this life you can be guaranteed of is that God’s love is unfailing.
Let me ask you a question; What motivated God to send His Son to go to the cross to redeem us? (insert Jeopardy theme song here!) It was out of His great love for us that God sent His Son. God’s love when coupled with positive action shows how the redemptive love of the Father also is compassionate love for His children. We begin our series in Lent “God’s Love is Shown” by touching base on what is redemptive love and how we as Christians can show compassionate love toward others. We have been saved to love as He loved.
When we consider recent events in our world, we realize that everyone is looking for peace. What has you nervous today? What has you frustrated, anxious, or afraid? Whatever it may be, you need to discover that the only source for real peace that meets your need is Jesus Christ. The world tries to give you peace by changing your circumstance. If your neighbors are frustrating_ move. If your spouse is hard to live with — divorce. If someone has something you want— take with force. If don’t like your job— quit. Too much stress— escape. Jesus does not try to change your circumstances, He offers a change of heart instead. Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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