A Response

Each night, we read to Kate from the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is an incredible bible and the best part is that it reveals in the simplest and most profound of ways how every story, from the OT and NT, points to Christ. I must say, I am pretty sure that I have learned more than Kate during our time of reading. It is so humbling. There are many stories that I can hardly get through without tears. (There are also some stories I didn’t even know existed. Convicting.) It is so moving to read each one see how it ends with a picture pointing to a new, risen and victorious King. When you read the bible through the lens of a risen Christ, it changes things.

Last week, we got to the crucifixion story. As David and I sat together – him reading – I looked at him like, are you sure she is ready to hear this? He nodded and continued. It did not spare details. It talked about His nail-pierced hands. It talked about the blood. It talked about the one time that our Heavenly Father looked away as His one and only son was sacrificed so that we – who deserved death – would have life. It showed the pictures. It talked about the colors of the sky that night and how they were black and purple – like a bruise.

Kate was very concerned that Jesus had died and was very intrigued by the color of the sky. She loves the pictures and from time to time will turn back to past stories to see various pictures of Jesus or Daniel and the lions. She kept looking at the picture of Jesus on the cross.

David thought Kate should not go to bed with only that story on her mind, because it is not, after all, the end of the story. So, he continued. David finished the next story and shared the good news with her that Jesus was not dead anymore, but had defeated death and rose from the dead. After, saying so confidently, “He is alive!” Kate’s face lightened up. Her mouth opened and her jaw dropped. A huge smile covered her sweet little face and she asked once more for reassurance, “Jesus is alive?”

Her daddy answered affirmatively and joyfully, “Yes!” How sweet that moment is as a parent. To see the gospel presented for such a young child to comprehend and yet how powerful and life changing it is at any age. As a parent – you always want to give the GOOD news to your children and this is the ultimate.

Kate quickly wanted to flip pages back to see the crucified Jesus. Then she would quickly flip forward to see the “alive” Jesus. She would say, “Jesus sad” and then say “Jesus alive”! She got it. She did this over and over again. She was hungry to see the transformation and to really see the new Jesus. The risen Jesus. I saw it. It moved me.

I think we are no different. I live my life and go through joys and celebrations and trials alike and try to keep a Christ-centered perspective. If I am being honest, this year was full of more trials than celebrations for our family. Even still – more praises. We are still in the middle of battle – every day (as we all are) and there have been days that I am honestly ready to throw in the towel. IF this is what it means to follow Christ, if this is that ‘cost’ that He refers to in the gospels, I am not sure I am up for this whole thing. I mean, where does the rest come in and where does the happiness and the easy part come in to play here? Aren’t we entitled to a certain amount of ease in the Christian life? This whole daily surrendering is almost too much to take.

Last Sunday, JR preached one of the best sermons I have heard and it was such a timely message for my heart. It is a must listen in my book. I have listened to it multiple times because I really felt God speak so clearly to me through it. In one part, he talks about the fact that if we believe that this man, who is God’s son and God in flesh, was killed and buried and rose again, then it changes everything and nothing else matters. If that is true – then our heart has to respond to it. If it is true – then nothing else matters. If the greatest enemy, death, was defeated, then the smaller enemies should not and cannot overwhelm us because Christ is already victorious. Then, sickness, umemployment, distance, financial distress – you fill in the blank for you- pales in comparison to the fact that Christ has defeated them all.

If I am in Christ, I serve a risen King. What is my heart’s response to that? Surely it changes the way that I live. Either way, it demands a response.

Kate has encouraged me to remember this new lens through which I see my life and His will for it. Through which I serve those around me. Through which I parent and love my husband.

I realize that I am desperate to believe in this risen Christ if I am making daily sacrifices for His namesake. I am encouraged to keep reading and pressing on and praying my way through this journey, because if it IS true that He rose from the dead – then that changes EVERYTHING and NOTHING else matters.

I think my heart finally got it this week – thanks to my baby girl. Thanks to the Holy Spirit using His Word to open a place in my heart that hasn’t been opened in this way before. I want to be as eager as she is to see the new Christ and to look at everything in life through that lens. The alive Christ. The victorious Christ. Oh – what a beautiful picture to follow after and to sacrifice for … today and always.