Straight to the point. Right?
I attended a bible study tonight (today being Thursday) at the church I have been attending for the last couple of weeks, and the topic of discussion was Jesus' crucifixion, and resurrection. I think they are both equally important - without Jesus' crucifixion and death, I would not belong to the family of God. It's because of his sacrifice that I am able to approach the very throne of God - we spent a lot of time tonight talking about what his death looked like & felt like. It was a good discussion, I think I too quickly forget just how much pain Jesus endured physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
I think though when I find myself reflecting on Jesus' death, I just can't help but get excited when I think about his resurrection. Sometimes in the church, I think we stop too quickly at just Jesus' death; the momentum that is found in his life, and the fact that he is still alive is sometimes slowed because I'm still stuck thinking about my shame. There is such hope found in Jesus, because he takes every sin away, because of the model he was for our lives, and because he is still alive! Do you realize that? And what a big deal that is? It's a HUGE claim to be making & believing, but the Bible makes it clear that Jesus is alive. One of my professors always used to say this: get excited!
David Crowder wrote this amazing book called, "Praise Habit" - I absolutely love it. Crowder is a worship pastor & musician that has been such an encouragement to me in my life. I love his unadulterated, completely honest, embarrassingly open love for Jesus. I read a Psalm in his book today that is traditionally read at Easter by the Greek church. We're bustin' in out tonight.
The Psalms were written by David, a man that God chose to lead a nation of people. He started off in feeble means, a shepherd who killed a huge man with a rock - not by magic or power, but because of God. He became king of all Israel, God's chosen people. He was called "a man after God's own heart", and yet he made a great many mistakes in his lifetime. The Psalms are like David's blog; poems, songs, laments, and celebrations that David feels throughout his journey. Honest, real, up & down emotions. Even when he's narrowly escaping death, hiding in caves, and has hit rock bottom, he praises God. Here's Pslam 66:
"All together now - applause for God!
Sing songs to the tune of his glory, set glory to the rhythms of his praise.
Say of God, "We've never seen anything like him!"
When your enemies see you in action, they slink off like scolded dogs.
The whole earth falls to its knees -
it worships you, sings to you, can't stop enjoying your name and fame.
Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps his eye on the godless nations.
Rebels don't dare raise a finger against him.
Bless our God, O peoples!
Give him a thunderous welcome!
Didn't he set us on the road to life?
Didn't he keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first, passed us like silver through refining fires.
Brought us into hardscrabble country, pushed us to our very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out, took us to hell and back;
Finally he brought us to this well-watered place.
I'm bringing my prizes and presents to your house.
I'm doing what I said I'd do,
what I solemnly swore I'd do
that day when I was in so much trouble:
The choicest cuts of meat for the sacrificed meal;
Even the fragrance of roasted lamb is like a meal!
Or make in an ox garnished with goat meat!
All believers, come here and listen;
let me tell you what God did for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,
my tongue shaped the sounds of music.
If I had been cozy with evil,
the Lord would never have listened.
But he most surely did listen,
he came on the double when he heard my prayer.
Blessed be God: he didn't turn a deaf ear,
he stayed with me, loyal is his love."
It's crazy beautiful. It's crazy true. It's crazy personal. Even the snow plows agree with me, their deep dark voices echoing from the streets. Their song is long and slow, but they sing faithfully through the night, as if a backdrop in agreement to what David has said of our God. David, the man after God's own heart.
For your defining pleasure, I've listed some definitions of words I don't really understand. I challenge you to read these, and then go back and look at the words in context. Thanks, Dictionary.com.
Worship: to feel an adoring reverence or regard.
Sovereign: having supreme rank, power, or authority, character, and importance.
Bless: To bestow good of any kind upon; to extol as holy; glorify.
Refine: to become pure.
Listen: to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; to pay attention; heed.
Loyal: faithful.
(Faithful: reliable, trusted, or believed.
Reliable: dependable in achievement, accuracy, honesty.)
P.S. Definitions, for me, are like LambChop's "This is the Song That Never Ends" - I could go on forever. Really. God's character is literally never-ending. If you feel so led, you should keep defining the things that you don't understand, not just in your mind, but in your heart.
