Suddenly, Jesus is there.
After his death, after his resurrection, Jesus shows up again for his followers. And each time it is a stunning experience for them.
Things haven't changed. When Jesus appears in our lives it still takes us by surprise. It could happen any moment, however ready we are – or not.
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning....You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Psalm 30:1-5, 11-12
The Bible vividly depicts God’s anger towards sin. Our bad choices, our stubborn rejection of God’s will, and our laziness to live a Christ-like life are going to put a flare in God’s nostrils. But compared to God’s everlasting love, the anger lasts less than a minute. We accept that our wrongdoing might have consequences that cannot be undone. That does not mean God has stopped loving us. We can release our guilt and regrets into the sea of God’s forgetfulness and allow God’s extravagant grace to greet us each and every morning for the rest of our lives.
Take a moment to do an instant replay of your past few days. What stands out? Were there any actions you regret, or things left undone still hanging over your head? Is there something you can do to set things right? Now, receive the Holy Spirit, so that you can experience God’s forgiveness, joy, and peace. Live with confidence that nothing can ever separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:37-39).
Tammy Wiens-Sorge
Forgiving God, I am sorry for things I cannot undo, but I want to receive your promise of love and begin anew. Help me, through the strength of the Holy Spirit, to grow more and more into the likeness of Christ. Amen.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love....
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:8, 10-12