Lent 2014
Resurrection of Our Lord
April 20, 2014
Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ —Acts 10:34-43
The Good News in a nut shell is: God shows no partiality—Christ is the ultimate judge of the living and the dead—all who faith in him receives forgiveness of sin. Now go and tell the whole world that message. Yes, I know that faith is not a verb in the English language but the word translated as believes is apparently better expressed in a verb form of the word “faith” or perhaps the word “trust.” I saw a church marque a few years ago that probably explains this better than I can: “If you don’t live it, you don’t believe it.”
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia! Let us praise God for the gift of God’s son—for his life, death, and resurrection. Let us sing with great joy and try to comprehend the significance of his sojourn on earth and his continuing presence with us through the Advocate. But more importantly let us live it. We are called to be the Body of Christ in the world today. We are called to love God and love the way Jesus loved. We are called to share this message of love with everyone until that day when God pitches God’s tent among us and God’s love rules the world.
Today we close our season of prayer for Putnam Heights Elementary School but let us continue to listen with open hearts and minds as God guides us in our future partnership with it. Let’s set a goal of celebrating next Easter a markedly improved score on that pesky test, but that is just a measure. Let us strive to raise the success of Putnam Heights Elementary school one child or one family at a time. We can do this, God willing.
Prayer: Alleluia, Alleluia! We serve a risen Savior. Help us do so boldly. Amen.
The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.