First, I'm struck by Christ's love for me. For me. His love for me is what this whole day is about. He didn't have to do what he did. He didn't have to come and die. He didn't have to rise again. He didn't have to send his Spirit to me. He didn't have to bring me new life. He didn't have to promise to give me eternal life, to come again to bring me to be with him forever. He didn't have to give me the hope that comes with being a new creation, to be redeemed in this life and to be made perfect in the life to come. He didn't have to do any of that. But he did. And he did it because his love for me is completely and utterly extravagant! So I had to listen to one of my favourite Casting Crowns songs a couple of times to reflect on this...
Your Love Is Extravagant (Casting Crowns)
Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
I feel like moving to the rhythm of Your grace
Your fragrance is intoxicating in our secret place
Your love is extravagant
Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again
Spread wide in the arms of Christ is the love that covers sin
No greater love have I ever known; You considered me a friend
Capture my heart again
Your love is extravagant
Your friendship, it is intimate
The other thing that's striking me about Easter today is the new life that comes with Christ's resurrection. And there are signs of it everywhere! I think we've turned a corner here into "spring" (or as near to spring as it gets here!). It's been raining a bit for the past few days, and it's amazing to see how quickly things get green! I've been so amazing by the tiny little green shoots that burst forth from the hard ground as soon as it gets sprinkled by a little rain.
Here's a photo from the side of our house during dry season (March):
Now here's the same tree and the side of the house today:
New life indeed! When I see those little buds of green growing so fast (seriously, I think I can actually see them growing!), I am so reminded of the new life that Christ gives. And I pray that I can also grow that fast... but I know I fail so horribly so often. But God knows that, and that's why He came, because he loves me so much and knows that I sure can't save myself! I need his new life!
A new facet to this new life that hasn't really struck me before is the fact that since Christ has been raised from the dead, so, too, will we (and those who have died before us) will also be raised to new life. The grass springs to life each rainy season, and dies... only to come back to life again, just as Christ sprung to life and will bring us each to new life once again. And that means I will see those who have passed from this life to death again, when we are all raised to eternal life. Steve and baby Cora have just passed from life to death before me, but we will all be raised to new life once again (truthfully, I don't quite know how this works, and in eternity, it seems like Steve and Cora are already enjoying that new life, 'cause I don't know how the whole time-space continuum works in Eternity!).
"... because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself. All this is for your benefit so that the grace that is reaching more and more people maye cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore, we do not lost heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away day by day, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day..." (2 Cor. 4)
Like I said, these are just the rambling thoughts through my head as I reflect on the Resurrection today, so I thought I'd share them... maybe you will also be encouraged by them today!
1 comment:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I was encouraged! It's not been the easiest year for you but the love of Christ overcomes..
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