Springtime! Life!
Standing by the window, I soaked up the glowing warmth of the sun. Spring had come! Trees across the alley stretched and yawned after a long winter’s sleep. New energy flowed through them and they responded by reaching out with thousands of green little hands to catch the goodness of the sun.
Seeing the world come to life after the deadness of winter reminds me of our human plight.
As mankind, we have run away from God. We shake a defiant, angry fist at God, who is our very source of life. We turn from the Son who gives us light and life – and we have winter.
But take heart! God has not given up on us! He loved us so much that He sent His Son – Jesus Christ, to die for us, so that we might be freed from death. He continues to shine His love on us so that we might wake up and receive new life through Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8 teaches us that “God demonstrates His own love for us in this – While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Our part is not to work like crazy to create new life in ourselves because “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
What we must do is respond to God’s love through faith in Jesus Christ. We must believe.
The tree does not give life to itself, but responds to the warmth of the sun.
Let us respond to the love that God’s son is shining on us. May we lift up our hands and hearts and take in the life that God desires to give to us. This Spring, allow God to create Spring in your heart.