Friday, March 30, 2018

No Easter Discount

Do you have some thoughts about Easter?  Let me ask you a question:  When Jesus was on the cross, where were you? 

If we think of Jesus as going to the cross by Himself, we have a discounted Easter, as the retail sign implies.  That’s no bargain.  We don’t have everything, and we need to.

While enduring the awful human torment of carrying a shameful cross through the streets of Jerusalem and out to Calvary on the edge of the city, Jesus—God Himself—knew what was before Him.  Through the pain, He was overjoyed!

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  (Hebrews 12:2, italics mine)

Seemingly all alone in His tortured trek through town and the many people lining the streets, Jesus held a fantastic secret:  He was taking them with Him.  They thought they were onlookers to a tragedy; He knew they were participants, not just in the cause but also in the act.

An incredible, miraculous, retroactive and future fact of Easter is that Jesus’ faithfulness to the cross was the initial act of bringing to an end one creation—darkened, stumbling, sin frustrated mankind—and of making another—a glory-sharing, innocent and holy new race (See Ephesians 2:14-22).  That was His joy, and now it’s ours!

On the cross and knowing what was coming in three days, Jesus reached for you in the crowd—the crowd in the past, the crowd right in front of Him, and the crowd in the future—and accomplished God’s timeless desire; union with His people.  He didn’t simply hold you close, He brought you in.  Jesus removed what hindered us and brought us into Himself, where there can be no distance, no transgression and no fault, making us new, safe and secure with Him, who loves us perfectly.  And He did it in three days through two acts:  the cross and the resurrection.

Romans 6:6  For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

Ephesians 2:6  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Easter is all about life to the full—Christ’s and yours.  When Jesus rose and fairly strutted out of the tomb (as I picture it), He was full and full of joy!  We were in Him, and He was joyously satisfied, just as He planned. Do you believe the good news of His cross and resurrection?

He is risen!  And so are we. Happy Easter!
(See Romans 6:1-7; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:6-7)

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

See the Miracle

To the fleshly mind, looking away from sin is counterintuitive, even irresponsible. It wants to do something about it, and that’s the problem—it can’t! But the mind set on the Spirit IS life and peace. The mind “looking” at Jesus reaps His very life. And that’s when you’ll see the miracle of “Christ in you.”

Friday, March 16, 2018

Have Fun!

You can catch the flesh and the devil at his game by growing wise to their tactic of remembering for you what God has already forgotten; your sins. (See Hebrews 8:12.) It’s not that you’ll never remember anything regretfully from the past, but their strategy is that you should accept and bear a heavy load of remorse as a way of navigating the future. It isn’t so. Jesus took responsibility for your sins (2 Corinthians 5:21) and got rid of them. After all, He is The Great Sin Bearer, so why should you try to bear what He already has? It is finished. Faith in Him is the way forward now. That might mean some fun—a little shouting and dancing—don’t you think?

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Great New, Part 1

Today is Part 1 of, “Here-comes-a-bunch-of-great-new-stuff-from-Ralph.” Ten years ago I built my web site (lifecourse.org), and today it sure looks like it. So, I did not build my new web site. With over 150 free videos, all gathered together and categorized, as well as lots of ways for you to be regularly encouraged by the truth of the gospel, I hope you will take advantage of everything you want at ralphharris.org. Have a look and subscribe to my newsletter, “Knowing God More.” Thank you!

Giving Life


Monday, March 05, 2018

His Ride

Many of us make tremendous efforts to smooth out any and all bumps we suspect might be ahead, thinking proper smoothing techniques measure our Christian maturity. It isn’t so. Christ in us is our treasure, which means we’re already doing rather well, no matter the bumps. Think of the apostle Paul’s bumpy-life ride, and ours in comparison seems fairly tame. First things first: enjoy Jesus today. He will provide through the bumps. After all, you’re his ride.