Dear friends,
What does it look like to triumph at life?
I walked past a three storey house on Sydney Harbour last Friday with a view to the harbour bridge and a Lamborghini in the garage. Are they triumphing at life?
I walked past a family a four swimming at the beach, enjoying the sun, laughing together and munching on some healthy sandwiches. Are they triumphing at life?
I walked past an old man, smiling as the sun rose over Bondi, enjoying his coffee, sitting alone. Is he triumphing at life?
What would triumphing in life look like for you?
Paul explains in Colossians 2 that Jesus triumphed at the cross!
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
For Jesus, triumph in life came through his submission to the will of God, his subsequent suffering on the cross for us and work of defeating the enemy of his friends through that same death.
Triumph came not through gaining what life has to offer but by providing life to the full to those who would trust in him. True triumph comes by knowing Jesus in this life and receiving from him life to the full.
Easter is a celebration of this triumph. That at the cross, Jesus bore our sins in his body that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; that we might give away the pursuit of earthly things in this life and look ahead to the things of the next life.
There is so much that can disappoint in this life. There is nothing that will disappoint about the next if you trust in Jesus. Moreover, triumphing without Jesus in this life excludes you from triumphing with Jesus in the next.
Easter is the best time of the year to invite friends to hear this message. Who are you praying might come to know Jesus and join our church? Would that person be ready for an invite?
There are three opportunities for you over the next two weeks.
1. “Jesus is not who you think he is…” – Tuesday 9th, 7.30pm at St Peter’s Church Hall
2. Mark Drama – Saturday 13th (7.30pm) and Sunday 14th (6.30pm) at St Peter’s Anglican Primary School
3. Easter Church Services – See Flyer on the back!
I will be praying for you to have courage to invite. Please pray for me.
Prayerfully,
Nigel