Journeying toward the Day of Pentecost, we begin in the act of Thanksgiving. Followers of the Messiah live in thanksgiving. The resurrection of Jesus is so powerful a reality that it finds expression in the thanks-giving people. In the Old Testament, the ways of God are so beautiful and His love so profound that when pursued they become life-transforming. For the ancient Jews this reality lead the psalmist to say, ‘The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation” (Ps. 118:14).
Easter people know about salvation. They know about God’s everlasting lovingkindness. They know the power of their God. It isn’t simply an intellectual knowing. More than this, it is an experiencing of something so foreign to what the mind can naturally conceive that it impacts the mind, the emotions, the will, and the physical world of one who has encountered Jesus in His resurrection.
Easter people know that God is on the move and they know that “His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Ps. 18:2). They know that somehow, some way, their lives are lived from within the life of one of whom death itself had to bow. They live in the very real world but in it they join with John Newton and sing,
Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
‘Tis grace hath bro’t me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home”
(From Amazing Grace, by John Newton, 1779)
On the journey of life God is present in grace to be God in our story, God in His world. God is present, day by day, as strength, song, salvation. Death still speaks in our world but that death is a defeated foe. Jesus has conquered death so that when death speaks, eternal life speaks louder. Death screams and Jesus simply points to an empty tomb.
Never forget that we are Easter people. We are resurrection people. We are victorious people.
“So grant us the certainty that beyond death there is life, Where the broken things are mended, and the lost things found; where there is rest for the weary, and joy for the sad; where all we have hoped and willed of good shall exist; where the dram will come true, and the ideal will be realized; where we shall be for ever with our Lord. So grant us the Easter certainty that life is stronger than death; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”
(William Barclay, A Barclay Prayer Book, ã The
William Barclay Estate 1990, 2003, p. 67)
No comments:
Post a Comment