Month: April 2021

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NLT

Today is the day after the resurrection and this verse keeps coming to mind. The concept of our old self dying with Christ, is hard to grasp, much less live out. Maybe one question we could ask ourselves in regards to this old and new life is who does the world see, me or Christ? If I am honest, you have seen much of me because I did not always choose to live “trusting in the Son of God”. How misguided one can become in thinking God would give his Son to die for our sin, but no more. Like he would just leave us humans to figure out this mess by ourselves. That is not the loving Father I know.

As we celebrated yesterday, I thought about Jesus leaving the borrowed tomb and his grave clothes too. What if we asked the Lord what old self still remains that needs to be left behind? After all, we are loved, our sins are forgiven and we have been given a new life. We are free to live loved and whole. What keeps us from trusting His love and death? For me, I would say I was asking the wrongs things to give me life. What would you say keeps you from living?

Today we celebrate Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross. Knowing the Resurrection did indeed happen on Sunday, does not change the significance of this day, but I have missed it so many times. This year feels different. The weight of the day is real. My mind keeps dwelling on the helplessness of those that watched who love him. Maybe you know that feeling too, of watching someone you love suffer. Will there ever be a good day again? On this side of suffering, I can say with all honesty, yes, there will be many.

I am learning suffering does not need to be qualified or compared; it is not a contest any of us wants to win. It is part of being a human and something we all have in common. Perhaps the difference is what we do with what we now know because of the suffering, a decision each must make.

Maybe today if you know someone in the middle of their Friday, you can give the gift of listening and offer the reassurance that Sunday will come. Each experience is different and a good friend knows this too. When the room feels dark, a gentle word or even silence, cast a soft light, almost like a candle. May the Lord use our glow from suffering to bring him glory this Easter weekend.

Over two thousand years ago, on a Saturday much like today, Jesus had died and lay in a borrowed tomb. I am so thankful that it was borrowed and not permanent. Trying to place myself there, I imagine wanting to be quiet. What words do you exchange after what your eyes have just witnessed? How do you explain the grief that crushes your heart? Yes, I would be silent. And if I had listened and believed Jesus was who he said he was and is, I would have found a place to sit by the tomb. Silence and waiting would have filled my Saturday.

Where do you find yourself today? Maybe the reminder of death hits very close to home, for you know the day after death too. So today we can wait together. It seems appropriate to tell the Lord how I am feeling about this waiting after death. He already knows, but somehow telling him opens my heart. I do not expect answers, for that does not bring back life. What I will receive is peace in the waiting and know this is not the end of the story. Sunday is coming….