Life experiences teach me the most valuable lessons about myself and who I am as a follower of Christ. Don't you agree? We experience life, both positive and negative, and learn how to replicate the process, or learn from a bad decision and promise yourself that you will never make that mistake again! We all have this in common.
One life lesson which has helped me over the years is the value of reflecting. So many times I become anxious to continue moving forward to the next thing without taking the time to PAUSE and reflect, or look back, at a life experience, and try to apply a life lesson before I move forward. So, today, on this Monday after Passion Week, I am going to practice the art of reflection and look back at my week before I go forward with the rest of my life.
What did I learn as I walked through Passion Week?
On Monday, I saw Jesus become outraged at the sight of people selling goods and sacrifices for their own personal gain in the House of God. I was reminded that I should never use God for my own selfish gain in life. There is no room for this in the House of God. I asked God to turn over the tables in my life so there was nothing left on it but a broken relationship that needed to be mended.
On Thursday, I saw Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane praying with all of His might to His Father, asking for deliverance from what He knew was going to come. He prayed with such might that He literally was bleeding sweat drops of blood. Later that night he met with His followers to break bread and share with them what was to come, even though many of them had no understanding of the impact of that last time together. As I reflect, I become overwhelmed with conviction with my personal prayer life and the lack of passionate prayer I have with the Father. No matter what Jesus was facing, his first response was to go to the Father, rely on the Father and TRUST in the Father, even when it meant His life would end on earth. Prayer is foundational to the Christ follower.
On Friday, I saw Jesus broken, beaten and crucified. Jesus was on display with His hands stretched open wide for the world to see...how vulnerable He was before the world. Here was the most powerful man in history hanging helpless on the cross - enduring the scorn, pain, brutality and agony - to stay there and do nothing. Why would he do such a thing? As I reflect, I can do nothing more than bow my head to Him in reverence and humbleness. The King came to die like this, for me? Why? I grew up knowing John 3:16 and knowing He gave His only son to die for my sins. I know that, but this Friday, I really went to the Cross of Jesus. "What a sacrifice, that saved my life. O the blood, it is my victory."
On Sunday, I saw Jesus glorified and lifted up and celebrated. What a day it must have been to realize the Temple - Christ BODY - was truly rebuilt in three days! The Christ literally was raised from the dead. The Savior did exactly what the prophets foretold he would do. Jesus was alive. As I reflect, I lift my hands to Him in praise. I am moved to emotion that is difficult to contain. I am even speechless. The Savior has stared death in the face - Satan himself, and overcame it all and is alive. He is alive. By trusting in Him as my Lord and Savior, He has given me a hope and a future, a true understanding in Him and through Him I have purpose for living and a place in eternity through Him.
So, as I reflect, I thank you, Jesus, for a week of remembrance - a difficult week to walk through, but a week that has brought me closer to my walk with you as my Lord and Savior. It is good to look back and remember. Father, may I move forward from this week learning the valuable lessons from Passion Week. Might my prayer life be stronger, my life be seen as an open book before you, and might I raise my hands to you in celebration for the sacrifice you made for me on the cross. I love you Lord.
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