Wellspring of Joy
Romans 6:3
Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Pondering Point
The week of Easter, reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus, is not merely about Jesus dying and then rising from the dead. It’s about those baptized in Jesus Christ, who live in Christ, and who ultimately “never die” in Christ (John 11:26). His death IS our death; HIS rising from the dead produces OUR rising from the dead in Him. The empty grave is confirmation that we are HIS and nothing – not even death – can separate us. That promise and gift is ours now, not just in eternity.
Prayer for the Day
Father God, thank You for reconciling me to Yourself through Jesus Christ and giving me new life in Him. Today, remembering my baptism, I once again die to sin so that I may live in Jesus through the glory of Your Holy Name. Amen.
A year after I got back from sabbatical, I taught through Paul's letter to the Thessalonians. After three months of sitting in his short missive, one line in particular kept coming back to haunt me. Something about it imprinted on my brain; it has become my manifesto. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. I'm struck by the juxtaposition of Paul's words. The word ambition next to the word quiet. These two words sound like enemies, not friends. When I hear ambition, I generally think of hurry or its new synonym hustle and all that comes with a driven, careerist kind of life. I imagine the latest celeb entrepreneur or type A professional – driven to succeed, even at the cost of his or her soul. But Paul says we are to aim our ambition – the pent-up energy and drive that we all have at some level – at something else entirely: a quiet life. That's the goal, the end, the vision of success: a quiet life.
~ J.M. Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, pp. 252, 253
Studying the Book of Hebrews
For further contemplation during Holy Week, we offer the opportunity to join us meditating on sections from the New Testament letter to the Hebrews.
Hebrews 12:14-29
Warning and Encouragement
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.
The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”