The music built to a crescendo, “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again… Celebrate His death and rising… Lift your eyes!” [Mystery, Charlie Hall] We sang the mystery of our faith and it became the high point of the Easter service. Standing on the front row I could hear the voices lifted in song and praise behind me. I could feel the emotional response. I sensed the Presence of the Spirit moving on us. For those moments, the stresses of life were eclipsed by the joy of the Lord. No wonder we call that part of the church building a ‘sanctuary.’ It was a refuge! This morning, as I prayed, I wanted to hold onto the sweetness of joyful peace which I felt in His Presence yesterday.
Is it possible to do that as we go back to work, back to the daily trials, back to dealing with traffic, computers, deadlines, bosses and budgets? Perhaps, the emotional excitement that the a day of celebration provided cannot be maintained. In that one sense, we cannot stay on the mountain top. But, God is the same on Monday as He was on Easter Sunday morning. God met us in such a sweet way, in part at least, because of our holy expectation! We came together on Resurrection Sunday with our hearts open to Him, our minds prepared to rejoice at the great news that "everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life." (1 Corinthians 15:22, NLT)
There is the key! What do we expect of this day? Are we open to the Spirit’s serendipitous arrival? Are we creating, by our prayers and faith, a holy faith that will receive His grace for this day? As much as we might appreciate the prompts of music, candles, and calls to worship; we know that God does not only speak on Sunday or live in the church. The Holy Spirit is not defined by place or holy day! He is with us everywhere. Jesus illustrates the holy connection that allows us to hold onto the joy with the vine and the branch picture. He says, “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing." (John 15:4-5, The Message) Ah, there it is!
We cannot hold onto a feeling, but we can stay connected by expectation and obedience! That connection to Him allows the Spirit to work in us, to keep us, to fill us with holy joy! This day after Easter, don’t leave Jesus at home. Don’t just slide back into the same pattern of complaining, eyes to the ground drudgery, joyless existence. Create a new pattern, focused on faith, expectant, inviting Him to go with you.
Here’s a word from the Word that is the key to holding onto the joy. "So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life." (Colossians 3:1-4, The Message)
__________________
Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity.
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity.
Bread of heaven, broken for me,
Cup of salvation held up to drink.
Jesus – Mystery.
Christ has died, and
Christ is risen,
and Christ will come again!
Celebrate his death and rising!
Lift your eyes! Proclaim his coming!
Jesus – Mystery!
Mystery
Charlie Hall
SixSteps Music, Worship Together
CCLI License No. 810055
No comments:
Post a Comment