The great snowstorm of 2018 has now come and gone, and today feels like spring when compared to the sub-zero temperatures of January.
Yesterday afternoon, Hudson squinted up into the sky and proclaimed to our little daughter, “Hey Everlynn! Winter is over! It’s warm and I can see the sun!”
“Not quite,” I remarked, much to Hudson’s chagrin. But winter is definitely receding. Within several weeks we may see crocuses begin to emerge from the frosty ground with their cheerful blossoms. A warm breeze will melt away the icy wind. Cool April showers will bring forth life hidden dormant within.
The shifting of the seasons reminds me of God’s enduring faithfulness. The shadows of the night turn to the bright rays of dawn. The barrenness of winter is broken by the efflorescence of spring. The grief and angst of Good Friday rolled away on Resurrection Sunday. Therefore, we know the sorrows of this life will be eclipsed by resurrection life in the age to come.
In the middle of a dark season, Jeremiah recalled God’s immovable, irrevocable love:
“Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down with me. This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in Him.’ ” (Lamentations 3:19-24)
God is faithful in His love toward us through every season of life. God does not forget about spring in the middle of winter. God continues His good plan of grace when discouraging storms cause us to twist in the wind.
What type of season are you in right now?
Does it feel like winter in your soul? Are you enjoying a spring-like mountaintop moment with God? In every season, lean into the steadfast love of God in Christ.
Trust that the One who carefully arranges fall, winter, spring, and summer also watches over us and guides us with His good plan. In winter-like storms, Charles Spurgeon said, “I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages.” Lean into His faithful arms. He is never letting go.
In Christ Alone,
Our New Sermon Series Launch @ Mayfair Bible Church
Q: What’s the most dangerous and destructive element invading the collective worship of God’s people? A particular music style? The absence of organ offertories? Casual apparel? Weak lyrics? Overuse of technology?
A: Believing it’s all about me, myself, and I. My preferences. My likes. My dislikes. My feeding. This erroneous theology plays out in all kinds of heteropraxy – bad behavior, bad believing, and bad “worship.”
Yet we’re all prone to this destructive, anti-gospel perspective. So what does God provide as a guide for authentic, Christ-exalting worship? Join us this Sunday at 9:30am as we launch a new series in First Corinthians called “Worship… through the Lens of Love” where we’ll discover the compass that redirects the focus of our worship as God’s people. We’ll also be kicking-off our 5-week New Connections class at 11:10 with “Pizza with the Pastors.” I can’t wait!
