This is a picture of the sun rising in the outback this morning. But is Christ risen in the outback?
There are many things in the outback that would cause you to doubt. Whether it was the challenging landscape that surrounds you or the towns that are now a shadow of what they once were. Then any people that you do find, seem more interested in 4WD’s and camel rides, than the news that Christ is risen.
But many signs of life appear, none more so, than the way David and Gae are greeted by those they meet, that share such an affection for these two. Their commitment to drop everything if an invitation heads their way, to strike up an conversation, to lend a hand, shift some furniture, whatever!!!
Or a team of 11 huddled around a kitchen table, to remind one another of the news of Easter.
Or Bronwyn declaring the way to find freedom from being ‘good’, so she could admit her sin and rejoice in her saviour.
Or Daniel sitting in a hired van on a Saturday night making sure the music and powerpoint slides would all match on sunday morning.
Or Greg and Isabelle serving in so many ways, as they always do.
Or Scott leading the community that gathered in the Smith Dunesk Church building this morning, to pray for the concerns of those together.
Or as we were encouraged from John 11 this morning, that Jesus has the power to overcome death itself, first for Lazarus then himself in John 20.
So let us join in prayer for those from the outback that heard that news this morning, that they might know the power of the resurrection:
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
No matter what our circumstances the only real HOPE we have is “IN CHRIST”,
In reply to Lyn’s comment, I totally agree and I want to share a small quote from Charles Swindoll’s book Hope Again and the chapter is called Hope Beyond Suffering. “We have a living hope”.
I Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.