BROOKS MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
EASTER 2013
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 (NRSV)
We say “God Is Good” and respond “All the Time” and when we say, “All the Time”, we respond “God Is Good”. This is an affirmation of the exhortation of Paul in Philippians to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say Rejoice.” This is our statement of faith that no matter the circumstances, God is at work for our good within them. It does not mean that we as Christians, court bad situations or want bad things to happen; it is though an affirmation that when we see situations of injustice, or inequality we will become involved to bring the light of God’s reign/kingdom to bear even when it is against popular sentiment and/or the power structures because God is with us. Even in personal situations of illness, broken relationships, unemployment, etc., we know that the One who is the Good Shepherd walks with us even “through the valley of the shadow of death”, and our God works for our good in all circumstances.
This is no where more clearly shown than in the life of Jesus and especially in the week of his life we call Holy Week. Jesus is betrayed for money by one of his disciples; falsely and secretly arrested; his disciples abandon him; the religious and political powers try and convict him on false charges with false witnesses; the mass of people, preferring Barabbas as their type of leader/king turn against him shouting, “Crucify him.” of the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Jesus was crucified, dead and buried.
The story does not end here thanks be to God because even here God was working for our good. God raised Jesus from the dead and “9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
God Is Good
All the Time
A Blessed Easter
Pastor John
