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 This week, we delve into the profound narrative of Jesus and Lazarus, a story that serves as a powerful microcosm of the journey one takes from spiritual death to vibrant new life as a Jesus follower. Through this exploration, we will unpack the layers of meaning embedded within the raising of Lazarus, examining its connection to Jesus’s own promised resurrection and the hope it ignites within us. We will then turn our attention to the comforting promises of Jesus: his assurance of being with us, the promise of eternal life, his dedication to preparing a place for us, and the unwavering declaration that nothing can separate us from his love. These promises, rooted in the resurrection, provide a solid foundation for our faith, offering solace and unwavering hope as we navigate the complexities of life and anticipate the fullness of eternal life with him. A collective reflection on God’s grace and our chances for renewal Saturday, April 12, 2025 |
An invisible rope Romans 8:38-39 I am a proud child of the ‘80s, and as with any decade, the ‘80s had its fair share of stereotypes. For instance, if you scroll through any social media platform today, you will see reels or memes about parenting in the ‘80s: laissez-faire, yet disciplinarian. Nevertheless, some parents elected to keep their children close in public with child leashes/harnesses. When I was around five years old, I went to K-Mart with my mom. While walking down an aisle, I noticed another little girl about my age attached to her mother with a coil cord affixed with a Velcro strap to each of their wrists. The girl really tested her limits by wandering away as far as the cord allowed, so far that I was afraid it might snap! Then I remember smiling a bit smugly to myself, recognizing that I was not a naughty girl and did not need a leash to keep me close. Now, as a mother myself, I realize that her magnetizing love kept me near my mother: why would I have wanted to stray away? God’s love is like an invisible rope that keeps us tethered to him. As we travel on this journey with Jesus, we may be tempted to run from his presence, embarrassed by our sins and failure to live as a child of God whose witness draws others to him. But the truth is that there is literally nothing we can do, nothing anyone else can do, nor nothing an event can enact that will separate us from God’s love. Nothing. This truth does not give us free rein to give in to our selfish desires and commit sin because we know that God’s love will pull us back in; instead, this truth gives us confidence that we can walk through life unafraid, knowing that we have an all-powerful God who will be with us at every step. We can be bold to live out our faith as he has called us to do. As we reflect on God’s love during this season of Lent, let us remember that we worship a God who triumphed over death. Though we celebrate Jesus’s resurrection primarily on Easter, let us also remember that he triumphs over death for us daily. His defeat of death is the reason we can live eternally in his love. Prayer for Today: God, we are so thankful that your love for us is unconditional and everlasting. Nothing demonstrates your love more clearly than your “sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). Strengthen us as we share this good news with others and point them to your love. By Marci Gibbens |
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