new church life: march / april 2014
good and true, putting our lives in the Lord’s hands, and trusting in His power
to bring us safely through the valley we walk through with Him.
Whatever human dignity we have comes from the Lord, and no matter
how undignified, embarrassing and humiliating our lot may ever be physically,
His presence will comfort and sustain us from within – giving us the strength
to follow the example He gave us with His dying breath: “Father, into Thy
hands I commend My spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
Footnote: These are brave words, written in a moment of calm, not in
a state of fear and pain. But it is good, while in a calm and rational state, to
contemplate choices we might face in a desperate situation when it is hard
to think clearly. I am not suggesting that we should not avail ourselves of
powerful pain medications, but that a previously adopted philosophy of
leaving our ultimate fate in God's hands can strengthen us in the midst of
despair and anguish. "Hard cases make bad law." What we want to avoid, as
a society, is a philosophy that says we can and should control every aspect of
life and death, leaving nothing to providence.
(WEO)
stirring things up at easter
Easter, like every other story in the Word, is ultimately about our own lives and
our relationship with the Lord. The week leading up to the crucifixion began
with confrontation and ended with hope. We aren’t meant to be onlookers,
watching from the safe distance of 2,000 years. We are part of the drama.
The confrontation began after Jesus entered Jerusalem and purged the
temple. The Romans and high priests felt their power threatened. When
they saw “the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in
the temple and saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were indignant,”
(Matthew 21:15) and openly challenged Him.
They took Him to Pilate, accusing Him of “perverting the nation, and
forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”
But when Pilate found no fault in Him, “they were the more fierce, saying, ‘He
stirs up the people, teaching through all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this
place.’” (Luke 23: 1-4)
Yes, Jesus was stirring up the people, rousing them – and us – from
spiritual lethargy. It is something God still does to help us regenerate and
be led to heaven. That requires “stirring things up” within us as we face our
challenges. We know He is always with us, working through the conscience
built on the remains He has implanted in us, and inspiring us to repent and do
what we know is right.
This sets up a clash of good and bad feelings, leaving us with a choice:
106