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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 29, 2005 Happy Endings |
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Frontline Devotion for Tuesday, March 29, 2005 By Anne B.
Crawford
Matthew
28:16-20
…and they all lived happily ever after. Don’t you just love a story
with a happy ending? The hero (heroine) overcomes tremendous odds,
circumstances, adversity and wins the girl (guy), the game, the prize, the
personal objective. Justice prevails; everything is as it should be.
We read the words “The End,” satisfied that we have indeed reached a fit and
proper ending.
Sometimes I think we approach Easter that way. We reflect, we repent, we
painfully re-visit the events of Holy Week with betrayals and arrest and
beatings and death on a cross, and then we get to that glorious Easter morning
and shout “Alleluia!” “Amen!” – The End. A compelling
story, fabulous drama, and a great ending. Jesus wins and now I can put
the book (Bible) down and move on.
But wait – Jesus’ resurrection is not the end of the story. Rather, it
is more like a chapter in a serialized cliffhanger. It is not ‘Jesus
rose from the dead – the end.’ Rather it is ‘Jesus rose from the
dead – and then…’ What is the “and then?” In today’s
reading of the great commission Jesus tells his disciples and us that we are to
be the “and then” of the story, taking his message of love and salvation to
the ends of the earth. Everyone we meet and teach about Jesus has the
potential and responsibility for adding another “and then” chapter to the
Easter story. We are the living “and then” of Jesus’ call to
discipleship and grace. Alleluia! Amen! And then…
Dear God, Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Help us to realize
that this proclamation is not the end of the story but the beginning of our
witness and discipleship. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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