As cold and hot battle for dominance this time of year, it is often challenging to discern seasons in Houston, Texas. Yet, we can see signs of new life and growth blossoming around us in the tree, flowers, grass, insects, and, yes, the Texas wildflowers that people drive miles to walk through and sit in to experience their beauty.
For many, spring is a time to declutter and clean spaces, to do some “spring cleaning.” The all too familiar piles labeled “discard,” “keep,” and “donate” appear to make room for other items. Spring is also a time when followers of Jesus Christ worldwide remember and give thanks for what Christ did for us through his crucifixion on the cross and his resurrection.
Jesus Christ didn’t just die. The Spirit of God raised him from the dead, and the same Spirit lives in believers.
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Romans 8:11, NLT
1 Peter 1:3-5 explains the reason for our hope and confidence in Jesus Christ now and in the future. Jesus’s death and resurrection made room for every person who placed their faith in Him.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
When we know the truth about the power of the Cross and Resurrection, can we go through our traditions without making room for Jesus Christ? Is it possible to experience another spring where we gather for church services on Good Friday and Easter, connect with family and friends over a meal, and not make room for Jesus Christ?
Unfortunately, yes.
As followers of Christ, living for Him does not exempt us from pain, suffering, and life’s daily challenges. Last year was another challenging year for me. Yet, I know that I am in the will of God, teaching the Bible, giving, praying, seeking opportunities to share the gospel with others, and assisting my family to work through a personal family matter. I was doing good and right things, but I was so busy doing that my thoughts seemed cluttered every waking hour, my heart was heavy, and there was no space for Jesus Christ to make his presence known through the Holy Spirit.
So how do we make room for Jesus Christ?
I needed an extensive spring cleaning to refocus my attention on Jesus Christ and renew my mind. But unfortunately, I was not doing a good job of decluttering my thoughts and heart into keep and discard categories! Instead, I was hanging onto things that served no real purpose or that I could not control.
Here are five ways to make room for Jesus Christ.
- Put Him first above everything in our lives. (Matthew 6:33)
- Remember who we are in Christ and refocus our thoughts. (Colossians 3:1-3)
- Abide in Christ by intentionally seeking an intimate relationship with him daily through prayer, Bible study, meditation, and obedience. (John 15:4-5)
- Carve out time to be still in the presence of the Lord. (John 16:33)
- Gather with other believers in the church, small groups, and different settings to encourage each other in love. (Hebrews 10:25)
Make room for Jesus on Easter as we celebrate and remember but rejoice in and rely on the power of his resurrection to sustain us daily.