The Good News

This Easter, as I considered what I'd wear (we all know I spent way too much time on that!), where we'd have lunch, what I'd take for breakfast to our ABF, I really desired to spend time in the Word understanding exactly the reason all of this takes place. 

I know the Good News. The Gospel. I have been given a blessed ministry of reconciliation wherein I get to share this life-giving news with others in hopes that they will understand the depth of God's love for us. 

I think the Church sometimes makes this complicated or convoluted...we have to get past the egg hunts, Easter dresses, and special performances to remember why this day is holy. I'm part of that. Lately, Chase and I have been asking ourselves often how we can get past those "churchy" norms...the "Stuff Christians Like." Most of the time, we're stumped. Those traditions, "the way we've always done it," are hard to shake. One thing I know: God is everything. Without Him, there is no purpose, no hope, no joy. All is meaningless...a chasing after the wind. 

The Good News is a journey to discover joy in a relationship with God that isn't based on what we do for God or how we can use God to fit our agendas. It's based on everlasting, earth-shattering, rule-breaking love.

Hope. 


John 3:16
-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

God of the universe became man.

Philippians 2:6-8

Who [Jesus], being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Knew no sin, but became sin. For us.

Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Romans 5:6-8

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Death conquered.

Matthew 28:6

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

I Corinthians 15:54

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ

Know Him. Be known.

Romans 8:35, 38-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:14, 27-28

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me […] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Returning. Soon.

John 14:1-3

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.


Jesus paid it all. 


All to Him I owe.


Sin had left a crimson stain;


He washed it white as snow.