Sue O'Donnell 20.04.21
Pleasing pale green, acid green and lime,
Buds and shoots in shades of green, so fine,
Spring takes root everywhere about us.
From tangerine to carol pink,
To bronze to peach, plum and apricot.
New life invites us
Into this season of freshness.
Bedazzled by the young bright things,
Which are the annual spring flowers.
Do not discount the foliage on trees,
On shrubs, on hedges and in tubs,
For is it not all too easy to make ready assumptions?
Then we miss something else of significance.
Spring is about fabulous flowers, yes,
But do not forget the freshness,
Life’s brimming, bursting purpose all around us.
Fields carpeted in lush green,
A promise of that which is yet to be seen
Of what can this remind us?
Of the hope we find in holy love’s fullness.
Where, oh where do we discover this?
“…just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him…” (Colossians 2 v 6)
In the Person of Christ Jesus, of course!
God’s only Son is the perfectly holy One.
“He brought His supreme Son into the world.” (Hebrews 2 v 6 NLT)
He is my life in all fullness.
Christ Jesus is our death as a true hope,
The hope of gaining entry to heaven.
As spring takes root everywhere about us,
April being the mid month of the season,
In the outstanding beauty commanding our attention,
Let us learn to focus on faith’s new beginnings.
Faith in Christ Jesus, living, dying,
Only to rise again to be with us forever.
He is God’s promise, our hope and our trust.
“Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that He should make Jesus, through His suffering, a perfect Leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.” (Hebrews 2 v 9 NLT)
“So now Jesus and the ones He makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them His brothers and sisters.” (Hebrews 2 v 11 NLT)
This is the fulfilled promise, a new life in Christ Jesus as full as the life of spring at this mid point in April, and also able to reflect beauty to the world.
All thanks ever be to the God of our glory, Christ Jesus alive in us, by the Holy Spirit, as our Brother “…by dying broke the power of the devil who had the power of death.” (based on Hebrews 2 v 14 NLT)
We are a people of hope, just as spring time is the season of hope, overflowing with all joy and peace as we learn to trust in Christ Jesus, our Brother as Saviour.
“We who have fled to Him for refuge” – so satan can no longer lay claim to us – “can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us,” (Hebrews 6 v 18) an even stronger hope than the belief that spring would follow winter.
We turn to our Father in trusting confidence, once we gain Christ Jesus as Saviour, by means of the Holy Spirit introducing us to the living Word of God.
“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls,” (v 19) all thanks and praise ever be for such mercy.
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen.” (Hebrews 11 v 1 NLT) Our assurance is in the friendship of Christ Jesus. “Let us walk in the light of the Lord.” (Isaiah 2 v 5 NLT)
“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20 v 28 NLT) This is our certain hope in the new life we are offered to become Christ’s good works in progress.
Christ’s glory and excellence in life, in death, in His resurrection, our eternal connection to the Father’s mercy, this is the fulfilled promise that is up to us to claim and abide by.
“Joyful are people of integrity who follow the instructions of the LORD, obey His laws, and search for Him with all their hearts” (Psalm 119 v 42 NLT) finding the answer in Christ Jesus.
In Him is the unfailing love and mercy we are promised by our Father, ever faithful towards us, that we can live in the freedom of redemption.
We have been enabled to share in Christ Jesus’ divined nature, escaping the world’s corrupting influence through faith in our Saviour, by prayer promoted by the Holy Spirit.
It is the entire Trinity who are at work with us as we stand as an Easter people, beyond the †where Christ Jesus died to save us. The Holy Spirit continues the good work of salvation.
This will be carried on until the day of completion. We are a family of spring time joy, of assured hope in salvation. May our love overflow more and more as we keep on growing in knowledge and understanding of the Saviour.
“I pray You, good Jesus, that as You have graciously granted me to take in with delight the words that give knowledge of You, so You will grant me in Your kindness to come at last to You, the source of all wisdom, and to stand for ever before Your face.” (St Bede)
We say ‘Alleluia, God be praised’, and ‘Amen’, let it be so, as we offer all thanks and praise for new life, a new life blessed by Christ Jesus, shaped by the Holy Spirit, all to God’s glory. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
SPRING
Key Themes
HOPE
NATURE
