For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.(Psalm 103:11-12 NIV)
Unlimited forgiveness. Unfailing love. Unbelievable mercy. Unfathomable joy.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14 NIV)
If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. But they didn’t want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them. (Hebrews 11:15-16 The Living Bible)
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. (Romans 5:6-8 The Message)
Linking with The Sunday Community, Still Saturday and Sunday Stillness
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. (Hebrews 11:13-14)
Whether you are leaving or arriving, seeking out or settling in, let the practice of prayer remind you of God’s faithful presence. (Rachel Hackenberg)
Why are you unsettled, O my soul?
Not knowing whether you come or you go.
Feeling tossed and tumbled
tugged and pulled–
a tug of war
internally;
eternally wondering
wandering
waiting
wanting
longing for
home.
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 The Message)
On Monday, I returned to the Botanical Gardens. One of the benefits of garden membership includes the annual orchid show. I love the uninhibited beauty displayed by these floral messengers. The orchids pictured above reminded me that in Christ, my face unabashedly reflects His glory.
In this world of dark clouds, broken lives and certain death, we can glimpse the glory that was exchanged on that fateful day in another garden. That God would unconditionally offer Himself to us, fills me with indescribable joy.
I want to be like the orchids, uninhibited by shame. Jesus promises fresh life in the Spirit, where condemnation gives way to confirmation. A new way of living with and through His indwelling Spirit is available to us today and forever.
The marks of brokenness and our physical end may still haunt us, but He lifts us up.
And if we dare to look into His eyes, we will see reflected there a new and different person than we ever dared to imagine.
We are His delightful children. We are of more value than all the tropical beauties on display at the botanical gardens. He will feed us. Clothe us. And quench our thirsts with Living Water. Unending life is obtainable . . . now and into eternity!
Linking with Soli Deo Gloria Party!
Intuition Diaries 