Spring meditations

It's Spring!  This is my favorite time of year.  This morning I stepped out of the house to a crisp, cool, sunny morning.  The air smells good and there are wildflowers in all the green spaces along the side of the road.  Then in the afternoons it warms up to mid 70s and 80s. It makes me want to take a sick day just so I can spend the day outside and soak up the beautiful weather before the heat and humidity swoop in all too soon. 

Spring also brings Easter.  This year I have been anticipating it more than usual. I have found that observing Lent really brings about an awareness in my heart of the beauty of the gospel by forcing me to meditate on what Christ did for me. That is really what it is all about.  I am convinced that God is not interested in posturing or observing something religious just to do it.  This is evident over and over in the Bible, from the Old Testament and the New.  He wants my heart, and actions will follow.

He wants my heart.

The closer I am to Jesus, the more I realize just how sinful I am.  The more I see His perfection, the more I can identify with Isaiah.

All of us have become like one who is unclean,
   and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
   and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

There is a song by Sidewalk Prophets that I heard on the radio this morning.  Here are the lyrics that really caught my attention, and the video is below.

I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas’ kiss
But You love me anyway

See now, I am the man that called out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground
Yes then, I turned away with this smile on my face
With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace
And then alone in the night, I still called out for You
So ashamed of my life, my life, my life

But You love me anyway
Oh, God… how you love me

God's love, the sacrifice that He made on that cross, doesn't mean much until I know the depth of my sin.  Once I realize that I am the reason He had to die, I am one of those who spit on Him and beat Him, I am Judas' kiss - then, I understand.  And His love, the beautiful grace of the gospel, astounds me.

Only when I recognize my wretchedness can I truly celebrate my salvation.

And I will definitely be celebrating on Easter morning.  I can't wait!