We get a lot farther when we count on our Savior, who loves us with genuine love and whose wisdom and power are so great, to lead us across the confusing ways of the world, and through the busyness of our days, to the joy and peace of the Kingdom of God.
Most of us have experienced darkness in our lives in one way or another. Hope once so bright lost in darkness that seems to overwhelm any light we had.
Where’s your God today? Is he relegated to some small space, tucked away until you arrive at church? Or your small group? Was he left at home? Or was he your first thought this morning? Is he perhaps front and center? Does he feel near to you or far away?
We are called to trust the promise of Jesus, that when we do empty ourselves of self-centered ways, and the fear of being overwhelmed with the needs of others, we will be filled with the care and love which comes from God. This can produce a blessing for both those we care for and for ourselves as well.
Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross we no longer need protection from God’s wrath; in fact we can approach God without any fear – having the blessed assurance that God’s wrath has been appeased through the death of Christ.
The old habits of sin and death that bound us need to be removed as Jesus calls us from the grave. Our eyes need to be opened. Our hands need to be set free. Our feet need to be unbound. Like Lazarus we need to take off the old and put on the new, new clothes befitting new life.
We should stop trying by our own power to sin less and seek God’s strength in our lives to sin less! It is not up to our willpower but up to God’s power working in us newness of life.
Our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus means that we are living eternal life now. For followers of Jesus eternal life doesn’t begin when we die; it begins the moment we are born again. How might you invest your time differently if you really believed that your life has eternal value and implications?
