True Hope

At the close of Easter Sunday I want to share with you a few thoughts to inspire hope.

For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’

Hebrews 12:2

You’ve got to admire this backyard harakeke cross photographed by Sarah Ferguson! I think it captures the glory of the risen Jesus on that first Easter Sunday. The Cross was transformed into something glorious because Jesus overcame everything it stood for. Jesus at the Cross was sin cleansing, shame scorning, and death defeating.

This Good Friday I was again in awe of Jesus’s love and suffering for us. Many times come Easter Saturday I’ve identified with the disappointment felt by the disciples who thought Christ’s death was the end of all things hoped for. We all experience important unanswered prayers. Such disappointments and griefs can threaten what we have built our faith on. I know what this can be like. If this resonates, I would encourage you to ask a wise and compassionate person to support you in prayer. You may also like praying along to the short daily ‘Lectio 365’ app messages that have been on this topic.

Raised and Healed

‘When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; He is not here.” ‘ Mark 16:4-6 NRSV

Finally today we have celebrated Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. It seems too good to be true – but it isn’t! Death has been defeated. Our hearts can dare to trust God raised our Saviour to new resurrection life, and He will do the same for us. When Jesus returns, we will be like Him. No more tears and emotional pain. These things are not yet our reality. But we have real hope for the present. As believer’s we are experiencing God’s resurrection power at work in us today. God is in the business of resurrecting lives, and healing hearts. If this all seems beyond your belief, don’t feel like a failure. I spent many an Easter feeling a fraud struggling with unbelief! No one has perfect faith – God is the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Ask Him to give you the faith you desire.

Come Holy Spirit

At the end of Easter (when my blood sugar levels drop!), I find myself thinking “what comes next?”. For some time I have had this quote on my wall,

“The resurrection is not the end. It is the beginning of all things being restored”

– Timothy Keller

After Jesus ascended back to His Father, He sent the Spirit to comfort, strengthen and give power to the believers. With the Spirit enabling them, they transformed the world sharing the message of Jesus with power. We all need this work of God’s Spirit in our hearts overflowing to those around us. An ancient prayer that Christians like to pray is, ‘Come Holy Spirit’. Below is a new song by Hillsong that invites us to pray for God’s Spirit to breathe on us afresh. It features Kiwi born Brooke Ligertwood (nee Fraser). Enjoy this prayer of hope. I look forward to what God has in store for His Church this new season we are coming into.

Bless you : )

Bronnie