The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end,
For His compassions do not fail.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NASB)
Series: In Remembrance
When you think of springtime, what comes to mind? What do you love most about it? Maybe it’s the warmer days, longer hours of daylight, birds singing, or nature blooming all around you. Spring is the season often depicted as a time for rejuvenation, new goals, and a fresh start. Last week Maryann shared that preparation time is never wasted time. I love that! All the hard work we put into planting our gardens, freshening up our homes, or even soaking in those extra hours of sunshine, makes a difference to our souls and well being. It is also a perfect time to reflect on our faith and find new ways of growing closer to Jesus. Nothing is wasted when we seek our Savior!
Easter is the ultimate season of hope, inviting us to remember how Jesus paved the way for our redemption. His sacrifice on the cross wasn’t just a historical event—it was a gift of love that we still enjoy today. Because He gave everything, we have the promise of eternal life. Jesus asks only that we believe and welcomes us to accept the salvation that He has already made possible. Because of Him, we have hope. But part of believing in Him as our Savior is understanding that we need one. One of Jesus’ messages regarding this is in Luke 5:30-32 (NASB):
The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling to His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.”
From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He welcomed all to come to Him. He spent time with those who needed Him most and didn’t shy away from correcting the religious leaders who questioned Him. Our Easter preparation is more than just waiting; it is ‘walking out’ our faith by first cultivating a repentant heart and turning away from sin.
Apologies are essential to human relationships. They mend broken bonds and can restore trust. Yet, despite their significance, saying “sorry” can be incredibly difficult. Coming to the Lord with our apologies for our sins can be just as challenging. But Jesus never asks us to take out an ad or proclaim our mistakes/sins on a billboard for all to see. He looks for our repentant hearts and forgives us when we are truly remorseful. King David, a man after God’s own heart, prays in Psalm 51:10 (NKJV):
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
God is faithful to give us a pure heart—a heart bent toward Him—as we make this our prayer. Praying is also part of our preparation. We have a way to God because of Jesus, and for this gift we rejoice. Through prayer, we find courage, boldness, and security in Christ to overcome the sin that separates us from God.
Jesus taught us to pray so we could know the nearness of God:
“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13 NASB)
Here Jesus encourages us to ask God to deliver us from evil/sin. As we pray and repent, we find forgiveness of our sins and strength to stand firm in our faith. God draws near to us as we pray, and in Psalm 145:18 (NASB) King David praises God for that:
The Lord is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth.
As we remember what Jesus has done for us, let us not lose sight of how crucial our repentance is in our walk with the Lord. May we seek God and always remember to lift our voices and hearts to Him in prayer. He is faithful to hear the cries of His children!
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV)
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Lamentations 3:22-23; Luke 5:30-32; Psalm 51:10, 145:18; Matthew 6:9-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
