NOVEMBER 10, 2023

 Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.” 

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

LAMENTATIONS 1-2

19Arise, cry out in the night,

as the watches of the night begin;

pour out your heart like water

in the presence of the Lord.(2:19) 

HEBREWS 7

23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely^c those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

JOURNAL 

The image of Christ interceding for me is really overwhelming. To see Christ standing in my place...accounting for my deeds, taking on my failures is really hard both intellectually and emotionally. This is how and why we are "born again" for instead of our mother protecting us and standing for us while we were in the womb...we transfer that hope and protection to Christ who now stands for us and protects us. It is after this that we are born again into the world. Born with power, love and a discipline to seek, follow and obey God. 

This new life though doesn't rid me of struggle, yet the struggle changes, I am able to see it with new eyes. I begin to trust that wherever God leads I will follow because nothing can ultimately defeat me. I am a new creature, filled up with a power and love that is not of this world. This is the gospel and its not a fairy tale...it's the ultimate truth. 

So how does this actually play out in life? If the end is secured then the earthly outcome is not nearly as important as the daily, everyday moments. Living those out with the spirit and power of God living within becomes what is most important. Therefore how I die pales in comparison to how I live. Whether I am rich or poor matters very little in comparison to how I treat other people. Whether I win a championship or not is inconsequential to whether I lived each moment seeking to be the best that I was capable of becoming.

3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^a ”

4“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^bgives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^c must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^d

JOHN 3:3-8