April 2024 Revealing Light Newsletter

“We desperately needed the cross and have received hope with Jesus’ Resurrection.” That was a note I made after reading John Stott’s book called The Cross of Christ. It’s so true. I know with confidence that I am guilty of going against our creator several times throughout my life. I am confident that I would not be in heaven if it was based solely on what I have done or haven’t done. You and I both desperately needed the cross, where God humbled Himself by putting on flesh and bone, to then die a shameful criminals death in my place, all while being the perfect reconciling “lamb” sacrifice between us and God. We desperately needed the cross. Yet, that’s not the end of the story. It didn’t end in death but in hope, resurrected new life by God’s power. We’re thankful that we have life today and into eternity with God by both the blood on that cross and resurrection. We are now in this age (the church age) where we see the power of resurrected life at hand.

In a recent sermon from Philippians 3, I shared this heart shift that I had from the Ephesians class I was in. We were talking about living life now as the brothers and sisters in Christ, saints, holy, set apart, treating each other now as we would be treating each other in heaven. To practice living the resurrected life that we will be living in God’s Kingdom as brothers and sisters in Christ.

In my reflection notes, I wrote, “whether we are friends now or not, these people will be our companions, brothers and sisters in Christ for eternity, so we might as well start living like it now. We should practice the resurrected life together as the saints we are called because of what God has done through Christ -- not what we’ve done.” [MAML820: Unit 1 - Eph 1, Peterson “Practice Resurrection”]

Because of Jesus’ Resurrection that He is living in now, we have the hope of resurrection when Jesus returns, joining Him in His resurrected life.

The Apostle Paul points this out by saying...
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [Romans 6:4–5 (ESV)]

We are given this hope with Jesus’ resurrection!
But, this hope doesn’t stop with us, God is sharing it with people around us! Don’t forget the people around us that don’t have this hope yet.

[Before Christ] ...remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
[Ephesians 2:12–22 (ESV)]

The Apostle Paul reminds us of what our lives look like now in Christ:
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. [Ephesians 4:1–7 (ESV)]

Practice what is to come! If that is how we are going to be living together in heaven, why not start living like that now, treating each other with that care, love, unity, etc…
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Practice living our lives as Kingdom citizens and disciples on this side of the cross, the victorious life giving resurrection of Jesus Christ.

- Daryl Struemph

You won't find this parable in any of God's Holy Scriptures, although there are some similar parallels to Luke 13:7-9. A few years ago I planted a raised strawberry bed. It produced wonderfully for several years and I had all the freezer jam I needed each year. Last spring I cleaned and tended the plants hoping for an abundant crop again. Then the drought happened. I had some berries early but didn't remember to water the bed as much as I should have. And our weatherman predicted many rains that never made it our way. (See how easy I can blame others, for my own neglect!) Since these were only June bearing plants I wasn't as interested in taking care of them when they weren't producing anything for me. It's the old "You help me and I'Il help you syndrome."
So yesterday I surveyed my strawberry patch to find only five plants had survived the harsh summer without proper watering. So I set out 40 new plants. Twenty were June bearing, and twenty are ever bearing (Maybe that will motivate me to keep tending them all summer long.) Well parables always have a Morel (wait a minute -that's a mushroom!), to the story. The moral to this story is "take care of the needs of people - just like plants; even if it seems you aren't getting anything in return." God ultimately is the one who gives the return anyway. So keep watering, keep cultivating those relationships with people and you will fulfill the law of Christ --Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39) And it's okay if you invite them over for a piece of strawberry shortcake and ice cream.

 - Alan McNeely