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All hail King Jesus
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Easter Sunday
Colossians 3:2-4
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice, and be glad in it.
On Easter afternoon we ran around my grandma’s yard, looking for eggs. They were real, I think, hard-boiled, painted all kinds of colors. And there were candy eggs too, smaller but sweeter. The grass was green, and the sun was always shining. Grandpa’s yellow collie Shep barked and ran around with us. And his nose was wet, and we wrapped our arms around him, and we were not afraid. And over time I grew to love my life on earth.
There are dark days. The sun sets and the light fades. The warm darkness of the womb gives way to night terrors, and evil acts. We must live not only in the light but also the shadow. For we have died, Paul says. Even now, in our earth life, we have died, and our life is hidden with Christ in God.
That sounds more like the darkness of the womb, a warm place custom made especially for me by God within himself. In God’s womb transformation … once a caterpillar, then I emerge a butterfly. What better earthly metaphor for glory?
Welcome Jesus Christ at this Easter sunrise. His appearing brings me straight to glory. I don’t know what that means, except that, like the man healed by Peter and John, I find myself leaping and laughing and praising God. I can live the life I’m given, and put my arms around the dog, and not be afraid.
There is tomorrow. No guarantees. But tomorrow comes and becomes today, and then passes into yesterday, and there is never any reason to think God is further away. No, he is always near. And I am learning to put my arms around him, no matter what.
Lord we wait with you, for you, within you, all in one. We abide in you, and you abide in us. In your Father’s house are many mansions, and you have gone there to prepare a place for us. And no – here and now – you prepare a table in the presence of our enemies. You are faithful and true, and we want to learn to love you the way you love us. Teach us, Lord.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1381
