Journey to the Cross After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10) Saturday, 5th week in Lent Almighty, ever-living God, you have given the human race Jesus Christ to be our Savior and a model of humility. He fulfilled your will by becoming man and gave his life on the cross to redeem the world from sin and death. Help us to bear witness of Him by following his example of compassion and being willing to serve others. Thank you for making us worthy to share in his resurrection and life by his cross and empty tomb. In the name of Jesus. Amen Dear friends, Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. It’s hard to believe that we are about to celebrate Holy Week without being together physically. Yet we are together spiritually! We are One Body in Jesus Christ. We are One in the Spirit. Though we are separated one from another out of compassion for those who are high risk among us, we do so from a common solidarity. The world has become united through this crisis in a way that it has never been before. We all are experiencing a moment that we all share in together; whether we are from Ethiopia, Italy, China, Europe or America, we all have common experience. God is also uniting people in this world through his Son, Jesus Christ. In Revelation 7, God gives us a glimpse of what is yet to come at the end of time: “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Jesus).” What were they doing? They were praising God and giving a strong witness of what God has been up to from the foundations of the earth–“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Only God saves. Not us. Not our leaders. God. He saves us through His Son, Jesus. In that Revelation picture, did you notice what each person had in their hands while they were singing praises to God? Palm branches!! No matter how subdued our celebration of Palm Sunday is tomorrow, we have a spectacular one waiting for us when God brings all things to fulfillment at the end of time. Be encouraged! Take heart! And wait upon the Lord. He will deliver us just as he said. Walking with you in the journey to the cross, Pastor Langdon Reinke P.S. Hope you and your family are faring well. If you want to talk, call me or respond to this email. I will get your message and we can chat. We are in this together. We have help available if there are needs. Please let us know. |