Covenant Church at Creekside | Weekly Inspiration for Christian Living

This text finds God's people conquered, dispersed, and hiding in exile. The temple, their place of connection with God has been destroyed. And yet, God offers hope—that he will restore Israel and surround them with his protection. Furthermore, the boundaries of this restored Jerusalem will be expansive extending God's blessing to the world. The world is to be blessed through God's promise to Abraham. The kingdom will be restored and God will dwell among us. As with God's people lamenting in exile, despair tricks us into believing that we have lost our favored place with God. However, this place we find ourselves—this space of despair and anxiety—is not our true home. God will again dwell with us and surround us with his fierce protection and love. Be still before the Lord and know that he is accomplishing it on our behalf.

"Tal vez sea uno"

Bendecido para bendecir

At the heart of today's text lies the promise of blessing extended to every corner of the world without exception or discrimination. How will this be accomplished? (With a staggering 3.2 billion people lacking access to the Gospel, the work is still very much in progress.) The blessing will perpetuate through humanity despite our constant failures. But how? We must be in the world to bless the world. This requires us to obediently move from the comfort of what's known to the discomfort of the unknown. God is going to call you into places that are uncomfortable so that his blessing is continuing its fulfillment in you. You are blessed, not so you can horde it, but so you can carry that blessing into the world.

El primer sacrificio

We are obsessed with finding shortcuts, "lifehacks" for a better and easier way to reach our goals. Even in the story of creation, Adam and Eve fall prey to this desire for an easier way. Although humanity was already made in God's image, the serpent is able to twist this truth to sow doubt into a distorted deception.

Yet, even in the face of Adam and Eve's betrayal, God showed mercy and love by covering their shame and banishing them from the Garden to prevent them from living with the eternal curse of their sin. Death was brought into the equation as mercy, and eventually, allows us to receive new life in Christ.

While our attempts to cover our shame fall short and our desire to "lifehack" God's plans prove fruitless, God swoops in with His love and grace to remind us that we are, and always will be His favorites.

A nuestra imagen y semejanza

Have you ever noticed how much a child loves their favorite object? If you try to take it away, you may encounter some resistance! But have you ever wondered why that is? It's because that favorite thing has become a part of that child's identity - it brings them joy and comfort. In a similar way, God also has a favorite thing - humankind. Out of all of creation, only humans were made in God's image and likeness. Yet in the fall of Adam and Eve, that relationship was fractured. But God will do anything to have His favorite thing back so much so that Jesus becomes the physical representation of God in the world to begin a journey of transformation and sanctification, the process of restoring our likeness to God once again. We, as humankind, are God's favorite thing—and this changes everything.

"Porque la resurrección me lo dice"

Can we trust Jesus at His word? In today's text, we discover the Pharisees still worried about Jesus even after his death. Why? Because all that he had said in the past had come true, and he promised that he would rise from the dead on the third day. Throughout his time on earth, Jesus made bold claims and promises that seemed impossible to fulfill. And yet, he did exactly what he said he would do. And despite all the Pharisees did—deploying a unit of guards to keep constant watch over the tomb—Jesus fulfilled His promise yet again.

We can trust Jesus and take his word for truth. He has a track record of fulfilling his promises, and he has a future word for each of us that we can bank on. For those of us who are weary, he promises rest. For those of us who seek guidance and strength, he promises that the Holy Spirit lives within us. And for all of us, he promises abundant and eternal life.

Take him at His word. He has a message of hope and salvation that can transform your life and bring you peace. And He will fulfill His promises.