Sharing God's Love

…these things are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.’ John 20:31

During Lent a number of years ago, at Wednesday evening worship, my pastor illustrated his sermons with images from Renaissance art, paintings which graphically depict Jesus’ suffering, humiliation and horrifying death.
During those Lenten services, I was deeply moved and came to appreciate the enormity of the sacrifice Jesus made for us—for the whole world—and for ME. I was overwhelmed thinking that anyone, let alone the Son of God, would make such a huge sacrifice for ME. I hadn’t done anything to deserve such a sacrifice. But God did it anyway. Jesus died for ME/us, so that I/we could be forgiven of my/our sins and given a fresh start in a new relationship with God.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16

Having had this experience, I really think it helps one gain perspective to take time to observe Lent and Holy Week. But not that many people seem to do so. Maybe it’s because Lent and Holy Week are seen as the time when we put away our ‘alleluias’ and get all serious and somber. I have to admit that it seems much more appealing to rush to Easter and bask in the joy of the resurrection, rather than paying so much attention to the cross.

But in order to get to Easter, Jesus had to first go to the cross. And in order to follow him, so do we. Because without the cross—as horrible as it is—there is no resurrection. Without the cross, there is no forgiveness of our sins. Without forgiveness of our sins, we cannot receive the gift of new life, eternal life, in the kingdom of God. Without the cross, there is no ‘saved by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ.’ Without the cross there is no Easter.

The Good News is that because of what Jesus did for us, because he, the Son of God, willingly gave up his life on the cross, everyone who believes in him is forgiven and receives the gift of eternal life in the kingdom of God! WHAT A BLESSING it is to be loved by God! And what a blessing it is to share God's love by being be a blessing to others! For that is our purpose as followers of Jesus Christ—that’s why we are here—that is our mission—to be a blessing to others by sharing God’s love, everywhere, everyday.

As you are filled with thanksgiving and joy this Easter, I ask you to please consider the amazing and abundant ways in which God has blessed you, and pray about how you can be a blessing to others by sharing God’s love.

… As the Father has sent me, so I send you. John 20:21

Blessings,
Pastor Roy+