Spring and Renewal
As of this writing, Spring is not officially here. That’s a few days away yet. But it is close and East Texas, where I live, is already acting like it is Spring. Spring rains are upon us and trees are blooming.
Spring is by far my favorite season because of the blooming of flowers and trees.
Spring is a time of renewal. It represents to we who believe that God gives us a new start daily. The dark, dreary and cold winter kills almost all plant life and drives animals to hibernate. But Spring brings new birth to the earth and the animals. Birds that have been driven to find warmth go back to their home nesting grounds. Bears venture forth from winter dens with new cubs.
Spring is a time for Christian renewal as well. If that were not so, why would the Father have instituted the traditions of the Passover in the Old Testament so that Jesus’ death and resurrection would also occur in the Spring season?
It was not a coincidence. God could have freed Israel from captivity and sent the death angel and required a perfect lamb as sacrifice in any other season. But our perfect God scheduled it all at the perfect time so that even nature itself is a testimony and remembrance of the renewal available to us through the death of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17 [ESV] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation
And all of Christianity, and all Jews, and many other faiths as well (including those we might call “pagan”) celebrate this time of renewal.
There is a reason that not a single Gospel account ends with the death of Jesus. While His death made the way for forgiveness of sin by paying the penalty for all sin, it is His resurrection that gives us new life.
Colossians 2:12-13 [ESV] 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
Coming out of the watery grave of baptism, we are resurrected to new life.
And each Spring as we see the earth budding into new life, we ought to be reminded that this is what He does for us as well. Not just annually as we commemorate His death and resurrection, but each time we sin and then are renewed to obedience.
Romans 12:2 [ESV] 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Spring has sprung here in East Texas. So, sweet sisters, let’s view Spring and the new life it offers remind us that we are resurrected to a new and beautiful life.
Let it remind us that while we were dead, and hope was dormant, like daffodils in winter, we are now blossoming into the beauty that God has in store for us.
2 Corinthians 5:17 [ESV] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
I encourage you to bloom with renewed hope and commitment to living a beautiful life that blesses and brings joy around you.
Stops and smell the roses. But remember that you too are God’s roses.
You are God’s beautiful creation, meant to bless others with the fragrant flowers of peace, hope, and love that a child of God puts out into the world around her.
I welcome your comments and questions. Maybe you are a daffodil or a rose, but you might be a sunflower or or a cherry blossom or a bluebonnet. Tell me what you think.
You can write me in the comments section, or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org