Tag Archives: forgiveness

Charcoal Fire

fire

Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire that they had made, because it was cold, and were warming themselves. Peter was also standing there keeping warm. John 18:18

When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” John 21:9-10

There are only two places where a charcoal fire is mentioned in Scripture. Think about when these charcoal fires occur: Once in a courtyard outside of Jesus’ trial, where Peter denies Jesus three times. And then once on a beach where the risen Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him.

This detail linking the two scenes is no accident. We are meant to draw a clear connection: We may sin (like Peter did by the first fire), but we are still forgiven (as Peter was by the second fire). How is that possible? Because of what happened between those two fires, which is the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Think of these two fires the next time you light a charcoal fire in your fire pit or start up your grill to cook dinner or smell a neighbor’s charcoal fire burning. We are blessed by Jesus to be warmed by his love and nourished by his Word, no matter how cold or harsh we have been to him in the past. Jesus always gives us a second chance (as he did with Peter).

A Life Changer

wheels on suitcase

Travel got a lot easier for me on a recent trip when I took my new suitcase with wheels instead of lugging my old 1984 Samsonite around the airport. Walking to the gate was a breeze, going up elevators, escalators and stairs was no problem. The “wheels” of my suitcase got me to my rental car and my hotel with much less pain and effort on my part. Dare I say, my new suitcase was a life changer.

On this eve of Easter, I say to you now that we are on the verge of a life-changing moment like no other. The resurrection of Jesus takes away the burden of sin we have been lugging around with us. The resurrection of Jesus makes our journey through this life (even with its ups ad downs) a joy and a thrill because we know that Jesus has opened the way for us to heaven, where we will one day arrive to experience no pain, no problems, no sorrows. Those have all been whisked away by Christ through the heavy lifting he endured on the cross for our salvation.

Easter, more than any other day, is a life changer for us. Enjoy and savor the change.

Unsearchable Riches

treasures

This grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. Ephesians 3:8-9

Some blessings are beyond our knowing or understanding, and that is what jumps out for me in these verses from Ephesians 3. Only by God’s grace are we able to comprehend at all the richness of forgiveness, faith and everlasting life which Christ lavishes upon us mere humans with our finite minds.

That’s why witnessing can be so daunting for us sometimes. We are expressing to others what is naturally and initially inexpressible: unconditional love and salvation from a God who has known us forever and will know us forever. What comes forth from our mouths is by our own admission not from us, but from God. Yet we are the vessels that carry this treasure of Good News to the people around us.

Don’t be afraid of what you don’t fully understand. Don’t let the riches of Christ go unseen, unheard, unsearched for or explored. That is how we continue to expand the kingdom and grow within ourselves as his faithful people.

Freedom

Dream

Today we honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we remember these stirring words from his “I Have a Dream” speech, spoken on August 28, 1963: “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” Dr. King is envisioning a time when freedom will ring out for all people. It is a vision we continue to strive for as a nation, as a people and as individuals.

But as Christians we know that we are already free, spiritually speaking. As Jesus tells us, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Because of the truth of God’s love for us in Jesus, we are free to love, free to forgive, free to live by Christ’s example every day of our lives. Let our freedom in Christ bring harmony to all.