“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” 1 Cor. 15:3-4
Today is Resurrection Sunday. It was not a typical celebration at all for our family. At 8 am my husband and I left to travel to urgent care as I have been battling some kind of nasty intestinal funk for 10 days. Weary and in pain. We left our teenage boys at home, knowing our younger of the two was coming down with another kind of sickness himself. It was so hard to leave him and not be able to care for him as I would normally do. A tearing at my heart. I also had a confidence, however, in the Lord that He would take care of Max. I also, knew big brother would also be looking after him. It’s surreal to be in this place, to see our boy’s faith take on a greater place of application. I had a hunch he may have had a fever brewing when I left, but I just had to HOPE he would remember everything I had taught him in holding onto Jesus as his strength and help.
As I sat for 4 hours, inbetween tests with my husband, I called to check on Max. He gave me a run down on his condition and in the same breath he said the most beautiful words. As I wasn’t there to care for him, but he knew the Lord was. He said: “I will fight the good fight mom. And I WILL finish the race”. (will with emphasis added. A determined proclamation) No greater joy!
It was a hard day. There was no celebrating with special dinners, or any special plans. The tests didn’t confirm anything, but ruled out many things, which was good. We are still waiting on more results. Also, continuing to ask God for wisdom, and given some good hope of healing to come soon.
As I reflected on this day, as I sat in the midst of a bunch of ill, broken, desperate people seeking help for their ailments, I cannot help but to think about Jesus.
Praise JESUS He lives! He has risen from the dead and He is Lord! This world is broken because of sin. He was broken all for love. Because He lives, I have been given the gift to live in eternity with Him forever. There will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more tears. It will be forever joy in His presence.
Those people in that place today, they all needed help. They needed a doctor. In the same way, every human is in need of the Great Physician, Christ the Lord to heal their souls. We must come, in our broken place, confessing we do not have the remedy, and acknowledging He is the Savior of our souls, He is the remedy.
So, today, I am thankful for all Jesus has done. That no matter the suffering, I remember where I am headed, I see all He has done, and hold onto His love and promises. I thank Him for my husband by my side. I thank Him for my man who will talk to strangers. That today, as I wiped the tears from my eyes waiting to go in for tests, a man and his wife walked by with a compassionate look in their eye, and my husband connected with them. When I returned, we gathered in a huddle in the middle of the lab waiting area, held hands and my husband prayed over this man who was there with his own pain. We also invited them to join us for church one Sunday. That’s pretty special!
I am thankful for every kind person who I encountered today. Truly a gift from the Lord. Thankful for a praying church. Thankful for the loving phone call by a member of our church body, to check in on me. A member of our prayer team. An elderly woman, a nurse, with compassion, extending her care to reach out to me. Thankful our family was able to attend our church’s Good Friday service (with a small window of feeling “okay”), and the loving, relational care, of a true family they extend to one another.
I am thankful Jesus came to endure my sin on the cross, and suffer in a way I never will.
I AM THANKFUL…
with no special dressing up, or dinner, or anything, special or planned, I could celebrate….
THAT I HAVE BEEN MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST!
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:2-9
Have you been made Alive in Christ? Have you sat in a broken place, and in desperation acknowledged the ONLY One Who can save you? Sin leads to death. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 Jn. 1:9 I hope today, if you haven’t, you will. He is waiting, and calling you to Him. Ready to give you the healing, hope and victory forevermore. Strength for today, hope for tomorrow. Promise of taking you out of the darkness of sin, death, and hell, and into an eternity of true LIFE.
