Filled with the Spirit

Beloved People of God,

Lent always takes us lower than we could ever fathom. On the journey to the cross we are confronted with our own spiritual deformation—how we’ve exchanged the image of God in our lives for “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life” (1 John 2.16). The Lenten season is like a pumice stone against the cold and calloused death enveloping our hearts. As we follow Jesus to the cross, our sin and death are laid bare before the Lord, and there on the hill where Jesus died, all our guilt and shame is placed on His shoulders (1 Peter 2.24; Isaiah 53.6). Every year, on Good Friday, as I extinguish the candles on the high altar, I cannot help but cry. There on the cross, Jesus dies my death (1 Peter 3.18; Isaiah 53.5).

Yes, Lent takes us lower than we could ever fathom but as we follow Jesus to the cross and through the tomb, Lent also lifts us higher than we could ever imagine! Every year, I am swept up in the marvelous resurrection of our Lord! The One who proclaims to us, “I AM the resurrection and the life” is forever risen and dwells in His absolute glory (John 11.25-26, Hebrews 1.3)! Everything Jesus taught us now takes on newer, fuller, richer vibrancy in His resurrection. Every sign, every wonder, everything Jesus said and did is now seen anew through His resurrection. 

This year, as we make our way to Jesus’ ascension (May 14) and the outpouring of His Holy Spirit (May 24), let’s devote ourselves to being re-formed by His resurrection. Let’s dedicate time to prayer and fellowship, seeking to be conformed more into His image and transformed more by His Spirit’s indwelling work (Romans 8.29; 2 Corinthians 3.18). Let’s seek, like His disciples on the way to Pentecost, to see the revelation of God’s Word (in Joel and the Psalms) through the lens of our Lord’s glorious resurrection (Acts 2.14-41).

Beloved, God the Father has promised more for us in the light of Christ’s resurrection, but too often we live disempowered lives—lacking real spiritual transformation—because we fail to be reshaped in His resurrection. Today is not too late. Let’s make our way together to Pentecost.

For Christ the King, 

Brett