Brighter Days

Photo by Aaron Burden on Pexels.com

Spring is taking its time here in the Midwest. Two days of 60’s temps were followed by four weeks of cool, cloudy, rainy weather. But spring is coming—it always does eventually. There’s hope in that thought, and I can’t remember a year when we didn’t finally see brighter days. As the wind howls southward, I feel like we’re hopelessly stuck in always-winter.

Can you recall a time when you felt hopeless? Join the club. Life brings ups and downs, sometimes more of the latter. God challenges us to respond to affliction in an unexpected way—by rejoicing. Romans chapter 5, verses 3-4 says “. . .we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” There’s a key to grace-filled responses as referenced earlier in the chapter, and that is faith in Jesus Christ. By His grace, we grow through hard times. Such progress is patterned as follows: suffering teaches perseverance. Perseverance produces character. From godly character, hope springs forth.

It sounds simple, but this trip from pain to hope could take days, months, or even years. It depends on our response. Let’s pray: Lord, please teach us to persevere in difficulty, knowing that we will glorify You through a joyful journey home.

Laundry Day

In our apartment building, the laundry facilities are shared. It was laundry day, and all our clothes were dry and ready to be folded. Matching up the socks, one turned up missing – my favorite! Where could it be? Under the bed? No. I felt my heart begin to race a little. My sock was lost. I rushed back down the hallway to the laundry room, looked in the dryer, and there it was. What a relief!

On the way back to my place, I passed my neighbor, Delores. We’re still getting acquainted. I smiled and said hello. She returned my greeting and headed to the elevator.

Here was my new friend, and I barely thought about how she was doing, pleased as I was in finding my sock. I had already wondered if she knew Jesus as Savior. Yet I casually greeted her, and we went our separate ways. Didn’t I care enough to reach out, to try and show love? I was busy. There was laundry to fold.

In Jonah 4:8-11, the prophet Jonah felt indignation when the shade God had provided disappeared, leaving him in the scorching sun. Yet he didn’t show compassion on thousands of people. God might have destroyed them had they not repented of their sin. Jonah missed the point of his trip to Ninevah and the joy of being in step with God.

Something is wrong when we care more about a lost object than a lost person. By my actions, I showed that my priority was me, not my neighbor.

So, what’s it going to be, love for people, or love for our own comfort? Will we be on God’s mission or ours? Let’s pray that we will have open hearts to hear God’s leading in our daily interactions with others.

He Arose!

Easter cross by Library of Congress is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

There is a church in the town where my son lives, and the sign out front this week says, “Silly Rabbit, Easter is About Jesus!” This is an amusing reference to the old TV commercial about Trix cereal being for kids, but it’s a good reminder. We consume jellybeans and buy stuffed bunnies, but Easter means much more.

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sin are the center of the Christian life and faith. One of my favorite hymns about the resurrection is “Christ Arose!” Written in 1874 by Pastor Robert Lowry, the song was inspired by Luke chapter 24, verses 5-8, especially the words of the angel at Jesus’ tomb: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” The hymn reminds me that Jesus’ resurrection purchased forgiveness and eternal life for me and everyone who trusts in Him.

The chorus ends, “He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!” Let’s worship and praise our Savior together this weekend.

Please take a few minutes to listen to “Christ Arose” sung by The Kingdom Quartet