Abiding Presence, along with countless other Christians
around the world, is celebrating Easter.
We made our way to the tomb to find it empty and now we join those first
disciples running from the tomb shouting “He is risen! He is risen indeed!” We are Easter people; those who have been
made new by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are Easter people, attempting to live our
lives in light of the resurrection, daily discerning the will of God. The only issue is that we live in a Good
Friday world.
In his book, Easter
People in a Good Friday World, author James Hofrenning describes a “Good
Friday World” as one that experiences the presence of sin and evil. As Easter people, how are we to live in the
midst of this reality? A better question
is how are we to discern the will of God, living in a world that experiences
sin and evil which we do to each other.
I for one am very good at passing judgment, being convicted
of a position or opinion, and have on a time or two quoted scripture to combat
an argument. These types of moral
judgments and decisions are made daily and for the most part reflect who I am. Selfish, dishonest, and fearful, I so often
seek to please only me. As an Easter
Person I am called to discern the will of God more so than my own will. I am called to have a sacred heart in a
secular world. This is hard stuff to do!
Some people make decisions based on past events and focus on
commandments, rules, and a sense of obligations. Others consider the future, focusing on
goals, values, and consequences. If we
are to be Easter People, those made new in Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy
Spirit, then we need to consider making decisions not solely on commandments or
consequences. We are Children of God,
Easter People! What would this Good
Friday world look like if the decisions we made rested in our identity as children
of God, seeking only to do the will of God?
How do we discern this?
How do we truly reflect and know what God is asking of us in this Good
Friday World? To discern the will of God and make wise decisions in this world
requires us to use not only our minds but to listen to our hearts as well. More so it means that we need to spend time
in prayer and conversation with the one who has claimed us, freed us, and
redeemed us. As you kneel in prayer, be open to the abiding
presence of the Spirit that Jesus promised who will teach us everything and
remind us of all that Jesus has said.
Blessings,
Pastor Steve
