Sunday’s Blessing – 4th Sunday of Lent – Living or Dead?
As Spring approaches, lots of folks are doing all kinds of things to get ready. I’m no different. Last Saturday I spent a good deal of time mowing the lawn. The grass was left a little long in the fall to help protect is from the freezing weather of winter. All of the dead grass has to be cut off so the new grass underneath can flourish. It took three passes, and five huge garbage cans full of clippings, but it looks great.
Then there shrubs to trim, patio furniture to clean up and restain, a pond with a spillway to clean out and refurbish, and the list just keeps on going. In the middle of all of this, my wife said, “This sure is a lot of work.” And before I even had a chance to think about it, these words came out of my mouth: “Living things take a lot of effort. Dead things don’t.”
I’m sure I’ve heard those words before, but I don’t recall when or from whom. Or maybe they just came out of my heart, knowing what I know about God and His word. Regardless, it is the truth. Dead things are just cut down and burned or discarded. Living things require maintenance, nourishment, knowledge, and care. But the rewards are so worth it. The beautiful flowers from trees and plants give a whole spring and summer’s worth of enjoyment. The bees and humming birds, butterflies and chipmunks, squirrels and racoons all get to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Just as all of this comes about in the natural, the same things are happening in the spiritual. When you pursue the Giver of Life, you grow, you flourish, and you produce fruit.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5 (ESV)Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6 (ESV)Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Isaiah 55:1-3 (ESV)
God stands ready to help you come out of the “winter” of your life, whether it is to trust Him as Savior or simply regain the “spring” in your life. If you will come, then He will satisfy. He will fill to the uttermost that seemingly unquenchable hunger and thirst which keeps you unsatisfied.
Today’s blessing:
And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? Luke 24:5 (ESV)Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 8:47-51 (ESV)
