Winter glory

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:1-8

Every soul since Eden has been conceived and born and enslaved in sin. Into this bleak cold the Lord Jesus broke through by grace, and with grace. The glory of His beautiful perfection in the boldness of His blood shone against the colorless backdrop of life without hope, bringing fulness of life with eternal hope. (Genesis 3:19; Psalm 51:5; Ecclesiastes 3:20; John 1:16; Romans 5:12,15-19)

In the winter, air is cold, days are bleak, growth is dormant. In what we see and feel much seems dead, immobile, without hope. Inertia wanes still, hearts chill, inspiration sleeps. But there is a glory. Into the deepest and darkest the Lord Jesus came, and the darkness could not overcome His light. In the greatest of paradoxes, the crimson red of His lifeblood washed away the darkest sin to become white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18; John 1:4-5,14)

What circumstances or outlook presently broods bleak? In what situations do we prefer to hibernate and not deal with the conflict, the need, the pain? Where do we feel spent and dry, dormant in love, motivation, gratitude, a servant spirit? Too much inner focus will result in a midwinter of soul, for without Christ we are helpless flesh.

Do we desire revival? What if we turned from spiritual sloth and slumber to our Savior Friend and sought it? His love warms the most frigid heart, His grace transforms bitterness and disdain, His mercy spreads peace over shame and regret, His power ignites passion for compassion, service, creative and constructive industry. He designs our very circumstances, however bleak, to showcase His glory. Will we invite Him in to have His way?

“In the bleak midwinter
frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone:
snow had fallen,
snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter,
long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter
a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.” ~Christina Rosetti (1872)

Lord Jesus, thank You for entering the bleakness of man to revive and redeem us. Please intrude in every area of my life that I can show forth the wonders and glories of Your love to a hurting, needy world.