O perfect redemption the purchase of blood
To every believer the promise of God
The vilest offender who truly believes
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives

To God Be the Glory 1875
By: Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this hymn of praise which serves as an encouragement and call to worship prepare to respond and give Him glory. Let’s tune our hearts.

Blood Shed

He showered us with grace. How?

By forgiving our trespasses. How?

By shedding His blood. Without the shedding of blood there is not remission of sin.  When Jesus willing shed His bold for us it changed everything.

O perfect redemption the purchase of blood

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Ephesians 1:7 ESV

Simply put, our redemption has been purchased with the blood of Jesus. Our sins had separated us from God and we had no way back. That is until Christ offered His life to pay from our trepasses, all the ways we had violated the law of God. Give Him glory!

This stanza continues the rationale for giving God glory which began in the first. Here we consider a bit more explicitly the impact that the atonement has. It purchased a redemption for us that is perfect, like the One who offered His blood for it. Thank Jesus for offering His blood.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider the price Jesus paid for your redemption. Though perfect He willingly shed His blood to purchase your redemption. Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, thank You for offering Your blood.” 

Promise Kept

The only way God could keep His promise was to make a way for redemption to occur for every one who would believe. The only way to offer redemption was the shedding of blood. The only way to access that is to believe.

To every believer the promise of God

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV

Every believer. What a powerful, all-inclusive statement! Redemption is available to everyone who believes. And look at this short list of things that come with it: courage, strength, help, and support from none other than God Himself. Put your trust in Him today and believe.

Believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone to make us right with the Father gives us access to this incredible promise. We tend to complicate this simple transaction, adding rules and regulations. We need only to believe. That faith allows us to begin to walk in the promise.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and consider the promise of God. You access it by believing. Will you believe today? Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Spirit, help me to believe God’s promise.”  

Jesus, thank You for granting me access to your promises and then giving me the faith to believe. I had no hope of getting back to You until you made the way through Your blood.  So I give You praise. In Jesus’ name. 

Faith-filled Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 41.2 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

O perfect redemption the purchase of blood
To every believer the promise of God
The vilest offender who truly believes
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives

This stanza continues the rationale for giving God glory which began in the first. Here we consider a bit more explicitly the impact that the atonement has. It purchased a redemption for us that is perfect, like the One who offered His blood for it. Thank Jesus for offering His blood.

Jesus, thank You for offering Your blood.

Believing in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone to make us right with the Father gives us access to this incredible promise. We tend to complicate this simple transaction, adding rules and regulations. We need only to believe. That faith allows us to begin to walk in the promise.

Spirit, help me to believe God’s promise.

The great apostle Paul saw himself as the chief of sinners. We must be willing to humble ourselves and admit that in comparison to God, there are only gradients of difference between us and the vilest offender. Even still, we all have access to pardon if we will simply believe.

Lord, forgive my many offenses.

When we believe we do not have to wait for pardon. It comes immediately for it has already been promised and purchased. Our belief allows God to apply it to our lives, and to do so liberally. Have you confessed your faith in Jesus? Do it today, for the first time or again.

Jesus, my faith is in You alone.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Praise the Lord praise the Lord Let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord praise the Lord Let the people rejoice
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son
And give Him the glory great things He has done

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Promise Kept Through Shed Blood appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
O perfect redemption the purchase of blood – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/blood-a-drop-of-red-droplet-297828/
To every believer the promise of God – https://pixabay.com/photos/people-man-sitting-alone-reading-2596890/

To God be the glory great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life gate that all may go in

To God Be the Glory 1875
By: Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we begin our journey through this hymn of praise which serves as an encouragement and call to worship prepare to respond and give Him glory. Let’s tune our hearts.

Creation

One does not have to look very far to see evidence of the great work God has done. Especially this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere when life is springing up everywhere. Stop and consider the handiwork of God in His creation, then give Him praise for it.

To God be the glory great things He has done

..our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations,  “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Psalm 126:2-3 ESV

We echo the words of the Psalmist. The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad! When was the last time those words left your lips, when you were somewhere other than church and not signing a song? Today? Last week? Last month? We should be quick to give Him glory.

Yes He is worthy of glory for the great things He has done. The writer is issuing a call to worship. The question then becomes how will you respond to that call. Will you join it and echo it for all you have ears to hear or will you say a quiet “Amen” and keep it to yourself?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and give God glory for the great things He has done, particularly in creation. Tell Him you want to be faithful to give Him the glory He deserves. Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, help me join and echo the call to worship.” 

Re-creation

Not to be mistaken for “recreation”, re-creation is the work God does in restoring creation back to the status before the Fall. The only way He can do this is by dealing with sin. He chose to do that by sending His Son.

While we will look deeper into exactly how He accomplished that work in the second part of the hymn text on Thursday, let’s simply focus on the act of sending His Son. So often, we see the baby in the manger and we fail to connect that gift at Christmas with the finished work of Easter. He loved us so much that He was not willing to leave us in the state our sin had created. Instead, He chose to re-create us by dealing with our sin.

Enter Jesus…

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

Nothing should prompt our praise more than the recollection of this simple fact: God loved us so much that He gave us His Son. He loves His Son, and yet He gave Him to us to demonstrate HIs love for us. Think about that for a moment and then give Him praise for many.

We issue the call to worship because we want everyone to know that He gave us His Son as the most extravagant expression of His love for us. Many have heard the words of John 3:16 but only the Holy Spirit can bring glory from the one who accepts the truth of it.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and consider how God work or re-creating in you should prompt your praise. If it were not for the sending of His Son that would not even be possible. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Spirit, thank You for revealing Jesus to me.”  

Jesus, thank You for making a way for me to be re-created. It prompts my praise like nothing else could. Help me give You glory every day. In Jesus’ name. 

Re-created Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 41.1 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

To God be the glory great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life gate that all may go in

Yes He is worthy of glory for the great things He has done. The writer is issuing a call to worship. The question then becomes how will you respond to that call. Will you join it and echo it for all you have ears to hear or will you say a quiet “Amen” and keep it to yourself?

Jesus, help me join and echo the call to worship.

We issue the call to worship because we want everyone to know that He gave us His Son as the most extravagant expression of His love for us. Many have heard the words of John 3:16 but only the Holy Spirit can bring glory from the one who accepts the truth of it.

Spirit, thank You for revealing Jesus to me.

Jesus yielded His life so we who were separated from God by our sin could be made one with Him again. That is what Christ’s atoning sacrifice accomplishes: it makes us one with God again. Give praise to Jesus for making the miracle of atonement possible for us.

Jesus, thank You for Your atoning sacrifice.

The life gate has been opened through His atoning sacrifice. The gate to destruction is wide and the road is easy, but Christ has made a better way so that none would perish. Unfortunately, many never find the gate and the way Jesus has made. Help as many as you can. 

Lord, help me help others find Your gate.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time,Be Resonant.

The post Great Reasons to Give Him Glory, Part 1 appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
To God be the glory great things He has done – https://www.godtube.com/popular-hymns/to-god-be-the-glory/
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son – https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=879173065484137&substory_index=0&id=537360552998725&_rdr

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
 Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
 Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1778

Listen as you read.  This is a nice instrumental ambient version.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

The  first and last lines give us the opportunity to consider an interesting tension between the standing and experience of every believer.  It is this simultaneous nature of the now and not yet that exist in our relationship with God, at least from our perspective.  Take a few minutes and enter into the reality of this tension today.

Soar

First, let’s deal with this whole idea of soaring…

And when (Jesus)  had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. Acts 1:9 ESV

It is very difficult for me to imagine what that moment must have been like for those disciples as they stood on that hill and witnesses Christ’s Ascension into heaven.  I try to place myself in that moment.  Those final words of instruction and inspiration.  The goodbyes.  The emotions.  The tears.

But another moment is like it, both in the wonder of it and my inability to imagine it. One day we will soar with Christ!  And not just in a poetic sense, but at the very least in an other-worldly, hard to imagine what it will really be like, enjoying the Kingdom of God in all it’s fulness kind of way.  It will be so unlike our current existence that I am certain I do not have the capacity to conceive of it, yet I fully believe it will be true.

Why?  Because I believe the chronology of the last line is equally true.

Cross, Grave, Skies

Second, let’s consider our path…

Jesus commands us to take up our cross daily in Luke 9:23.  While this invitation certainly is declaring His path of self-denial, we vicariously experience each of this things through Christ’s obedience to the Father.  In the next few verses Jesus talks about losing our lives for His sake, and goes on to allude to the opportunity to share in the glory of the Father if we embrace His teaching and way of life.  Cross, death, glory looks a lot like cross, grave, skies.

And while our path will not be exactly like that of Jesus because we do not have to actually be crucified for the sins of the world because He already did that, our journey will have similar elements to it.  Embracing the Father’s will and dying to ourselves that we might enjoy the benefits of those decisions.

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2 ESV

Time and Eternity

If we are going to follow Jesus, we are inspired to go all the way so we may share in all that Paul alludes to when he says this in Ephesians 2:6-7.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

What Christ accomplished in His crucifixion, death and resurrection is so certain that though it happened in the past, it is as if it has already happened in the future as far as God is concerned.  Not only is this true because God’s will is such a definite thing, but there is another way that I like to think about it.

We are bound by time so what has not yet happened is impossible for us to experience.  The same can not be said of God.  Because He is eternal there is a sense in which everything is happening all at once for Him: creation, redemption and the re-creation, everything.  It other words, for God everything is now.  I like to refer to Him as the “Great Eternal NOW”!

For Him there is no such thing as not yet, because it is all now.  For us there is a sense of not yet, because we are not soaring and neither the skies, or the grave for that matter, are ours yet. So, there is a sense in which our soaring is both now and not yet because for God it is now, and for us it is not yet.

What I hope is the result of imagining this is a deeper longing for the eternal perspective of things because I believe that shapes how we choose to live today, since eternity for us has already begun, even though we wrestle to grasp it.

Happy Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for accomplishing something in time that has changed eternity for me.  Thank You that not only are the cross and the grave mine, but so shall the skies be.  I believe I will soar.  Help me live today like that is true, since it is.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Video 40.4, 5.4 Reframed

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
  Foll’wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
  Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

After appearing many times to His disciples after His resurrection, Jesus’ final appearance culminated with a grand exit.  He ascended into the clouds, and in so doing led the way for us.  Thank Him that one day you will follow Him, and soar to realms on high.  

Jesus, thank You for allowing me to soar.

We are the Church, and Christ is our Leader, or Head.  Where He goes, we will follow.  That will never be more true than when He calls us home, either from our final resting place or our daily living.  Are you ready to hear your name called?  If so, praise Him! If not, why not?

Jesus, help me follow You.

Jesus rose in Resurrection glory.  Whether we rise from a grave like Him or simply leave earth behind, we will be made like Him.  Though our flesh is destined to decay, we will be raised incorruptible.  Let that overwhelm your heart even now.

Jesus, overwhelm my heart.

He taught us to take up our cross, and we struggle to learn to deny ourselves daily.  If He does not come back first, some of us may face the reality of the grave.  Even still, all of us will follow Him into the clouds, the culmination of following His example. Ask Him to help you be ready.

Jesus, help me be ready.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

Image Attribution
Soar We Now – https://gfycat.com/speedyweakchrysalis
Beautiful Clouds – https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-1014231293-beautiful-clouds-soar-across-sky
Cross Grave Skies – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/457256168391714578/?lp=true
Time Versus Infinity – https://www.pinkcatshop.com/decor343-infinite-spiral-wall-clock.html

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
 Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
 Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1778

Listen as you read.  This is a neat orchestral karaoke version.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

The  first and last lines of this weeks stanza allude to a couple of Jesus’ last words from the cross.  He speaks a promise to a thief, and then quietly declares His work is done before taking his last breath.  Both of these “words” or phrases evoke a response in our hearts if we will let them.  Will you let them?

Finished

Jesus…said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  John 19:30

Finished means complete or perfect in all details, as in a product.  The work the Father had for Jesus to do, “Love’s redeeming work”, was done.  Several times earlier in the book of John Jesus had referred to finishing the work the Father had for Him, using this same word translated finished.  He completed that cycle when He declared “It is finished”.

His sacrificial death satisfied the wrath of God.  As we considered a few entries ago, sin has a consequence.  Death.  Jesus paid in full the debt we owed to a Holy God.  Sin had to be atoned, and Jesus did just that.  He redeemed us, purchasing our forgiveness at a great price when He said, “It is finished.”

I wonder if the devil might have been confused thinking Jesus had misspoke.  Notice He did not say, “I am finished”.

I wonder how often we find ourselves confused thinking there is still something we need to do to finish our salvation.  There is nothing more we need to do.

Let me be clear.  Jesus still had to leave the tomb empty to demonstrate His victory over sin, death and the grave.  The unleashing of His resurrection power for all who believe had not yet occurred, but Love’s redeeming work was done.  He opened paradise, but before we consider the effect of His sacrifice, allow you heart to revel in the juxtaposition of these two extremes: death and life, suffering and paradise.

His going to Golgatha, while it purchased our access to paradise, was the antithesis of it.  This is the connection between these two.  So, once again, Jesus brings together two very disparate things.  Take a few moments and let the wonder of that sink deeply into your heart.   He took what we deserved to give us what we could not earn.

Paradise

(Jesus) said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Luke 23:43

What do think the thief on the cross felt when Jesus spoke those words to him?  I wonder what paradise would have meant to him?  Anything would be better than the anguish he was experiencing on the cross, but paradise?  I have a feeling he took Jesus at His word.  Was is that sometimes so hard for us to do?

How does the word paradise make you feel?  What words would describe those feelings?

• Joy
• Peace
• Hope
• Light
• Relief
• Security
• Safety
• Beauty

Our answers would probably be about as different as you could imagine because we would likely each define paradise very differently.  When you try to imagine paradise what comes to mind? Does it have some of the elements of this beautiful image?

This is actually a Thomas Kinkade work titled “Stairway to Paradise”.  I like some of the elements here.

• the light
• nature
• the warmth
• the mist

The most obvious thing it is missing is people.  I suppose you can imagine they are just out of view, but the idea of paradise without others to enjoy it makes it something less, even for introverts like me.  This is especially true for the Christian, which I suppose would describe the thief as well, since the very presence of Christ is the essential figure that makes any place a paradise.  After all, Jesus told the thief he would be with Him in paradise.

We should find great comfort in that we can not only face death knowing it has no dominion over Jesus, but that when we die we will be with Him, like the thief.  We can say with Paul,

“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”  2 Corinthians 5:8

Alleluia!

Happy Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for completing the work the Father gave you to do.  Thank You for opening paradise for all who believe in You.  Help my hear to believe that Your work is finished and paradise is mine, today.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

 

Video 40.3, 5.3 Reframed

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
  Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
  Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Before He breathed His last Jesus said, “It is finished.”  He came to seek and save the lost, and with His death He completed that work.  You are redeemed because you are loved.  Marvel at His gift of love today. 

Spirit, help me marvel at Love’s redeeming work.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, as in anguish He sweat drops of blood, Jesus asked His Father “Let this cup pass from me. Yet not my will but Yours be done.”  In His surrender, He was victorious.  How can you follow His lead today?

Jesus, show me how to surrender like You.

What a shock Death must have had on that Resurrection morning when Jesus rose to life.  Death tried, but could not hold Him down.  Accordingly, Death will be equally unsuccessful with you.  Give Jesus praise for completing His Father’s assignment so powerfully. 

Jesus, I praise You for defeating Death. 

One of the those who hung with Him on Calvary acknowledged who Jesus was and asked to be remembered when Christ would come into His kingdom.  Jesus rewarded his belief by responding, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”  That promise echoes in every heart of faith.  Listen, can you hear it?

Jesus, help me hear Your promise.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Resonant.

Image Attribution
1 Love’s Redeeming Work – https://www.josephprince.org/blog/articles/the-passion-of-the-christwhy
2 It is Finished – https://thisissalvation.com/the-story
3 Christ and the Thief on the Cross – https://thereforegodexists.com/5-truths-we-can-learn-from-the-thief-on-the-cross/
4 Stairway to Paradise – https://thomaskinkade.com/shop/limited-edition-art/stairway-to-paradise-limited-edition-art/

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
 Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
 Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1778

Listen as you read.  This is a short but beautiful cello version.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

 

What incredible hope we have!  Because Jesus left His tomb empty, one day we will leave our grave the same, even if we taste death as He did.  He lives again and in so doing has taken away the sting of death.  It is difficult to wrap our hearts around this truth, but we must try for the hope it gives us as we face our own death, and deal with the loss of those we love.

The Stone

There must have been a jarring finality to the stone being rolled into place to seal Jesus’ tomb.  Most had fled, but Jospeh of Arimethea requested Jesus’ body and placed it in his tomb so the disciples knew where to return after the Sabbath on the third day.

It is hard for us to imagine what that morning was like as the women headed to the grave.  They were planning to prepare Jesus body for burial, but must have wondered how they would move the stone, if they had even thought of that.  We know what happened, so it is just tough to think about that approach to the tomb.  But their perspective was about to change.

Can you put yourself in their shoes as they approach the tomb and find the stone rolled away?  As they stood there in a flood of emotions, the angel answers the question they were thinking, “Where is Jesus?”  He answers them with his own question.

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen.”  Luke 24:5b-6a

Your glorious King is alive again!  In that moment, everything changes.  Their understanding of Jesus’ work is changed.  Their thoughts about their lives moving forward changed.  Our ability to face the certainty of death changed.

Another Stone

My father passed away a little over a month ago.  Though I have believed in the resurrection for 27 years, never was it more important to me than in those first few days after my dad died and I began to grieve.  What I have declared for years to be true, found a deeper expression in my soul as I used it to help me find comfort.

There were many things to take care of as we made arrangements for my dad’s funeral, including the opening and closing of his burial plot.  There was a jarring finality to carrying his casket and placing it over his grave with my brother, sons, and nephews.  Many who had come to the funeral were not able to attend this ceremony as we gathered to say our last goodbyes here on earth.

Though I could not have imagined how hard those last moments would be, the sadness and sacredness were intermingled.  Everything was handled perfectly and created a wonderful moment honoring my dad, including a three-fold release of doves which took my breath away. There remains one detail though that we still need to care for, his tombstone.

At some point we will purchase a stone and have it engraved so that it can mark the final resting place of what remains of my father’s physical body.  His remains.  A part of him remains, but the best of him has gone on to his eternal home, because Jesus Christ has removed the sting of death.

For years when I thought of this, I had on my mind the way we think of death as we are looking toward and past it.  What I have thought of in the last few weeks as I prepared to celebrate Easter was how the song of death is removed particularly as we look back on it.  I have also thought of the different perspectives of our own death versus the death of those we love.

I find great comfort in knowing that my dad is better off by far, and the worst part is for those of us who have been left to mourn his loss. There is still a sting of death for us, but not so much for my dad.  The same will be true for all who are in Christ whenever we face death.

Those we leave behind may need to place a stone to mark our grave, but we will not remain there any more than Jesus remained in His.  If you have lost someone in the last year, or longer, find comfort in knowing that for them the sting of death has been removed, even though you can still feel it.   May the Holy Spirit be that comfort, for we do not grieve as those who have no hope.

Happy Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for leaving the tomb empty.  Thank You for removing the sting of death for those who have gone before us into the eternal rest You have promised all who trust in You.  Comfort us who grieve those losses, even as we wait to see our hope fulfilled.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

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Video 40.2 Transcript, 5.2 Reframed

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
  Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
  Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

The angel asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”  Can you imagine what those women at the tomb must have been thinking? Praise Jesus for His victory over the grave.

Jesus, I praise You for Your victory over the grave.

Let there be no mistake, death is a painful experience, but truly only for the ones left behind, or unprepared.  He has removed the sting of death for all who are trusting His to cover their sin.  Glory to His name!

Jesus, thank You for removing the sting of death.

Because His was a perfect sacrifice, He did not need to die over and over again, like the sacrifices at the Temple, to pay the penalty for our sins.  Once for all.  Thank Him.

Jesus, thank You for dying once for all.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ rendered the grave defeated.  Because of His Resurrection, the grave will not be able to hold us either, since He was the firstborn from among the dead, and we will rise victorious like Him.  Praise our Glorious Resurrected King!

Jesus, I praise You my glorious resurrected King!

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.