PAID IN FULL

 


In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1: 7-8a

HE LIVES

I serve a risen Savior
  He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
  Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
  I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
  He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
    He lives within my heart.

This hymn played immediately in my mind as I read the scripture for today.  The lyrics to this song were written in 1933 by Alfred H. Ackley and holds a special place in my heart.

I grew up going to a Presbyterian church in the next town over from where I lived. We attended church and Sunday School regularly from the time I was six weeks old.  I can remember the building like the back of my hand, each nook and cranny.  Behind the pulpit, hanging on the wall was a 6-foot wooden cross.  It was sturdily built and impressive to say the least.  I was fascinated by that cross and would oftentimes focus more on it than what our pastor was saying.

One Sunday, after church as we headed home, I said to my mother that I when I grew up I wanted to buy a golden figure of Jesus to hang on that cross so that we could always remember Easter.  She caringly turned to me and said, “that is a beautiful idea, but we believe in a risen Jesus who is no longer on the cross  He died, rose from the dead and lives in our hear just like we sang about this morning!”  That really stuck with me.

As God’s creatures we are born into a sinful world.  In the scripture for today, Paul is telling the people at Ephesus that we as Christians are redeemed. That means the price for our sin has been paid.  It can be overwhelming to think about the fact that God loved us that much that he would give his only Son to die on the cross for our redemption.

My mother’s sharing of the fact that Jesus is a living savior, no longer dead on the cross was a great example of what Easter is all about.  Redemption.  The debt for the sins has PAID IN FULL.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find
None other is so loving, so good and kind

He lives! He lives! He lives within my heart!

Father God, you gave the ultimate sacrifice to pay for our sins.  We thank you and offer you praise and thanksgiving.  Let us never take our redemption for granted.  AMEN

Pastor Bryan Holmes

Comments

  1. Beth ChristianMarch 14, 2021 at 4:25 AM

    I didn’t realize we had such similar childhood church experiences! I too worshipped in the next town and attended each Sunday. I had many questions about our church cross and how it differed from my Catholic friends’ crucifix. My mother shared a similar explanation that we remember and focus on a resurrected Jesus. thanks Bryan.

    ReplyDelete
  2. EmMarch 14, 2021 at 6:07 AM

    My favorite song of Easter!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Love One Another

Image
  "Love one another as I have loved you." John 13:34 Today is Maundy Thursday. Maundy is derived from the Latin word "mandatum" meaning "command." Towards the end of the Last Supper, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment, to "love one another as I have loved you."   When I reflect on how I have loved others, I feel convicted to admit that I gravitate toward what comes naturally and is convenient. For me it is sending cards of encouragement and support. For others, their go-to gesture of love might be making a meal or sending flowers. It is wonderful when we can share our time and talents to love others, but I would challenge us to contemplate how we can do a better job loving others.  Our agenda, responsibilities, and needs often interfere or take precedence. We often show acts of kindness when it is convenient and fits our schedule. It is easier to extend gestures of love to a friend, but not as easy when the person in need isn't someo...
Read more

Good Trouble

Image
  J eremiah 23: 16-32 16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17They keep saying to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to all who stubbornly follow their own stubborn hearts, they say, ‘No calamity shall come upon you.’ 18 For who has stood in the council of the Lord   so as to see and to hear his word?   Who has given heed to his word so as to proclaim it? 19 Look, the storm of the Lord!   Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest;   it will burst upon the head of the wicked. 20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back   until he has executed and accomplished   the intents of his mind. In the latter days you will understand it clearly. 21 I did not send the prophets,   yet they ran; I did not speak to them,   yet they ...
Read more

Dinner Conversations

Image
Every night at the dinner table, our family takes turns telling each other what we’re thankful for from the day. It never fails that one of our kids shares that they’re thankful for a good dinner, even if they struggled to get all of it down. While the practice can seem mundane and routine, our hope is that one day, the practice of gratitude that we’ve engrained in them (and ourselves) will help us on the days where it seems the world has nothing in it for which to be grateful. Maybe we can consider it practice for those coming moments of despair-that there is still some blessing that deserves our gratitude. Isn’t that what Jesus calls us to do? We are called in so many ways to reflect on the abundant blessings of God. Consider this passage from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:     Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,  for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.   This directive is strong-no matter what is happening-be joyful, pray, give ...
Read more