Out of the Ashes
I think we are all familiar with the Phoenix, the legendary bird from Greek mythology. As you may remember, it was consumed by fire, but miraculously rose from its ashes to conquer death and deliver the promise of new life.
It sounds strikingly similar to the experience of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He endured brutal scourging and an agonizing death on the cross before rising above it all to overcome sin and death and provide a pathway to salvation for all who would choose to believe.
Next week, we will relive the Lord’s journey as we usher in another Lenten season with our Ash Wednesday Service. Please consider joining us on March 5 at 7 p.m. as we commemorate the mighty act that brought us from death to life. His sacrifice enabled us to rise from the ashes of hopelessness to the promise of glory in God’s Eternal kingdom.
Lent is a time of preparation as we look forward to celebrating Jesus’ glorious resurrection that transformed the prospect of eternal death into everlasting life. It provides for us an opportunity to reflect, repent, reconcile, and renew our covenant with Him.
The ashes symbolize the utter destruction and devastation of a life of sinfulness, but the lilies of Easter represent purity, rebirth, new beginnings and hope in the glory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
May your Lenten journey be meaningful and even transformational, as we seek to live a life of righteousness, reverence, and respect. In His Holy Name we pray. Amen!