Something a little different, just some thoughts about my weekend.
Yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is my favorite day of the year and has the most spiritual meaning. I love so much about Easter, primarily the spiritual significance; of course, my Lord conquered death and, in so doing, brought hope for you and me. I like the spring weather and the children all dressed up in their Easter suits and dresses. I love gathering to celebrate my freedom in Christ by eating ham with the fam after church! For folks in my line of work, it is one of the most challenging weekends, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
If I am transparent, it hurts; Easter hurts.
Well, it isn’t just Easter; it is every holiday. If you have spent many years building traditions around special days, then perhaps you understand the pain that comes when those routines come to an end. The special days bring mixed emotions of joy and sadness for many of us, reminders of both what remains and what has been relinquished.
What helps these holiday hurts?
Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
The “God of consolation” has a beautiful way of providing “consolation prizes” to losers. Primarily, when you lose something or someone, he offers himself. Your loss drives you to the cross and HIM, in which case the “consolation prize” is better than the first prize.
He also has a way of sending little consolation prizes to help along the way. The picture from yesterday that I used for this morning's thought is just such an example. For many years my pre sermon routine remained the same until an important highlight went away, but God sent consolation. My grandbaby now insists on coming into my study, replacing an old habit with a new one. God goes before us. He understands our struggles and knows what we need to get through them. If the loss of lost rituals haunts you, look for the new ones that God is trying to send your way. He does that; he helps the hurt with excellent consolation.
My 2021 Bible Reading Plan
April 5, 2021
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