James 4:8a

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." ~ James 4:8a

Reflections on Jesus Christ our Lord

Thoughts from the Heart: Reflections on Jesus Christ our Lord

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory

Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Alleluia!

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Jesus Christ, God in flesh, came to earth to fulfill the promises that were written in the Scriptures. From the very beginning, in Genesis 3, God promised that a Savior would be born and He would crush the head of Satan. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people awaited the coming Messiah. Prophets told them that He would come and fulfill God’s promises.

One day in Bethlehem, a baby was born. But this was not an ordinary baby. This baby was God and He was destined for the cross. Jesus lived a perfect life and honored God. Then, “the hour” had come (Matthew 26:45) and the cross awaited Him. Jesus Christ would be the final sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.” Our precious, perfect Lord and Savior bore the sins of His people on the cross, to glorify God, heal His people, and allow us to have a relationship with Him. It was a dark and sad day when Christ died. He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The price for sin had been paid. He died on that old, rugged cross.

Three days later, a miracle occurred. The ground shook and the stone guarding Jesus’ tomb rolled away. Jesus rose again. The grave could not hold Him and death had no claim over His life. Hallelujah! Our Lord conquered sin and death. He is alive. He lives! “‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:54b-55). Our Lord is a living God. “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). Praise Him! As we sing the resurrection hymns about how “He Lives”, that “Christ Arose”, and that “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”, let’s remember how incredible it is that our God lives!

As Christ died and lives, He calls us to die to self and live to Christ. “If anyone would come after me, let Him deny Himself and take up His cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Paul followed Christ’s call and in Galatians 2:20, he writes (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit), “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Let us live for Christ! He is so good and there is so much purpose and life that comes through following in His footsteps. By grace, we can live for Him!

Our God is incredible, awesome, amazing, and glorious! May we always live in Him and for His glory and remember the great things He has done! Blessings to you all this Resurrection day!

Love in Christ,

Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone Be the Glory 

Psalm 62:5-7

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God." ~ Psalm 62:5-7

As I was reading these verses this morning, I was struck by the incredible beauty and goodness of God. He alone is the one we wait for and look to because our hope and faith come from Him. We can depend on Him because He is our Rock, Savior, and Fortress. We will not be shaken from this solid Foundation. Our salvation rests in our God and our glory is in Him. He is our Rock and our Refuge: a Shelter in the joys and sorrows of life. Let's trust Him. He is so worthy. Blessings, Christina

Soli Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone be the Glory