Rising up a risen Savior
April 3, 2010 by Deb Foos
Filed under Encouragement
As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord this Easter season, I am drawn, time and time again, to those three words. I realize that I have held onto this knowledge as something that happened far off….in another land, in another time. While I rejoice in the living Jesus, who continues to sanctify me and astounds me with His Love, the act of His resurrection was somehow detached from my everyday view.
I am only just beginning to realize a different perspective regarding the importance of recognizing that special day in my everyday life. Moreover, God is showing me the importance of actually performing that act, myself; that is, lifting up Christ high above all else.
I’ve found that so many of us say we hold Christ higher than anything else in our lives. But when I ask myself if Christ is more important to me than my children; my comfort; my pride; my desires, I must repent. All too often, I realize that my own desires are elevated at an unhealthy level and THEY are what become risen in my life.
I was praying recently about a situation in which I wanted Jesus to intervene. I asked for all the “right things” – a changed heart; a godly perspective; kind actions; but my motives were not pure They were merely to exalt myself by making a difficult situation easier for me to handle. When His Holy Spirit revealed this to me, I knew that I had erred and needed to exalt Christ! I had to perform the act of rising Him up in this situation and not myself.
I am still dealing with and working through this situation I mentioned. God didn’t take it away, or change it to make it more comfortable for me. But I am now able to see that my eyes were focused on how it could be easier for me if only Christ were there, instead of focusing on lifting Him up and seeing that He already was. By His grace over me, I am able to view evidence of His mercy, His grace, and the gifts He bestows upon His children. His Holy Spirit has allowed me to see that I had raised my own comfort above Christ. And, although the circumstances haven’t changed, Christ is now being glorified. All because He led me back to ponder those three words, “HE HAS RISEN”.