Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11: 28-30 (NLT)The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 (NKJV)
So how was this past week for you?
For your other loved ones?
Did you feel, or are you now feeling, triumphant?
Yesterday, on Palm Sunday, as a Christian community around the world, we paused to remember Christ’s “triumphal” entry into Jerusalem.
“Triumphal”—we might wonder to ourselves, if we look past the betrayal, confusion and uncertainty, desolation, abandonment, cruelty, wrenching despair and hopelessness that took place in that week after Christ entered Jerusalem.
All taking place during a week we call “Holy Week,” stretching from Palm Sunday to Easter morning.
But, of course, it was truly a “triumphal” entry from His very first step—because it was all part of the fulfillment of God’s plan for His children. All part of God’s plan leading to His gift of grace to you and to me of eternal salvation. A plan that had to include all the betrayal, confusion and uncertainty, desolation, abandonment, cruelty and wrenching despair and hopelessness that took place.
And then ultimately, a plan that was all finally wrapped up in the glorious eternal sunrise of Easter morning, a sunrise of hope in the empty tomb and the Risen Christ.
The ultimate triumph.
All part of the eternal triumph of God through His Son, Jesus Christ—for you and for me.
How does that fit into your planning for the week ahead?
Have you thought about that ultimate eternal triumph being an overarching part of your planning and consciousness during this week ahead?
During one of the recent briefings regarding the Coronavirus pandemic, we were warned of the expected intensity and increase of cases and losses in the next few weeks. And also, that we should now avoid grocery stores and pharmacies for that period.
So now let me ask, how is this week ahead shaping up for you?
As you and I deal with the concerns and uncertainty of our day, and of the week ahead, where do we look to find triumph to press on? And with the unexpected burdens of the world-wide pandemic, with the heartache, loss, and despair it brings, where might we find a moment of rest and peace?
How about in this invitation from Christ—
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
But Lord, we’d like it if the days were a little brighter, a little less heavy, maybe just a bit more certain and hopeful. And then we remember the words of King David—
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”
We may have a tough week ahead of us. But so did Christ.
And His led to the ultimate triumph for you and for me—and for whatever we go through, and whatever we face, today, tomorrow and always.
The ultimate triumph over all.
So may I suggest that we step into each day of this upcoming week, no matter what we face—personally or together, and by whatever name—embracing the ultimate triumph Christ secured for us—a daily, eternal, relationship of rest, light, strength, and salvation with Him.
Embracing hope in a life of ultimate triumph over all—with Him.
In His Name–Scott
