He Is Risen!

[Jesus said] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV). I’m writing today’s devotional, which falls on Easter Sunday, on Monday. First, Happy Easter, y’all! I pray that you are getting ready to virtually participate in your church’s service and looking forward to conversations with all of your family and loved ones. I have already taken care of all the early morning assignments, cooking breakfast for Mary, getting her medications to her, emptying the trash for tomorrow’s pick-up, making the bed, and putting a load into the washer… whew! I’m tired after writing that, but it is what it is.

I also had a phone call consultation with a former client. Which I took outside since it is relatively pleasant outside. He and his wife were very concerned for his aged father who is now on hospice and heavily sedated to ease the pain of his bone cancer. He was concerned that his Dad may not be saved. He was a moderately practicing Jew, though later he and his wife were exposed to the Lutheran faith with occasional participation. After sharing some different Scriptures and some of my own experiences with my parents, I sat on the deck and looked across to some of the trees and birdhouses I have built and placed there. The house on the left is built for Eastern Bluebirds. We have two of those on the property that are annually occupied by a pair who raise their brood and depart later in the fall. The house on the right is reserved for sparrows or wrens and is always occupied as well. Right now the birds are very busy getting their nests ready. I also keep feed out for them in another area of the property. I’ve seen dozens of different species through the years. “What does that have to do with Easter, you ask?” Well, as I sat watching them go to and fro, I was reminded of our reading today. It is especially applicable this year. None of these birds has done anything to earn their provisions for shelter or food that I have provided. But they have it, in abundance. Isn’t this really the message of Easter? We could not pay the debt we owed. Jesus did that. In fact, he even died the death we deserved to insure we would never die. He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed!