A to Z Blogging Challenge
A friend of mine has done the April A to Z Blogging Challenge for a couple of years, and I decided I’d give it a try this year. I clearly haven’t been very consistent in posting, and I’m hoping this will get me more in the habit of writing or posting artwork. I’m not planning to stick with a particular theme, other than letting the letter of the day be my starting point, so my posts might be all over the place with content or subject matter.
Atonement
Since tomorrow is Good Friday, I figured “Atonement” would be timely for my “A” entry.
Here’s the definition of atonement that I found online:
- reparation for a wrong or injury
- (in religious contexts) reparation or expiation for sin
- the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ
Easter is one of my favorite days of the year. I remember getting up early, while it was still dark, and going out to meet some other college students for a sunrise service at our church in Ithaca. There was a shared sense of wonder and joy as we stood by a wide creek for some moments in silence and then sang joyful hymns of praise—Easter hymns have always been my favorite hymns.
But Easter wouldn’t be, if there hadn’t been Good Friday. I always used to wonder why it was called “good,” when it is a day for remembering the brutal killing of an innocent person. That was before I understood the depth and urgency of my need for atonement—reconciliation with God. When I began to really understand how my sin separates me from God, I developed a greater appreciation (that’s another good “A” word) for what Christ did in taking the punishment I owed for my own sin so that I could be reconciled to God. The more I get to truly know myself, the more I am in awe (another excellent “A”) of Jesus’ willingness to suffer pain and even death for me.
I don’t anticipate (yet another good “A” word) meeting anyone by a creek this Easter, but I am looking forward to meditating with humble gratitude tomorrow on the death of Christ and then, with great joy, celebrating his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. Romans 3:25
For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17
A to Z April Blogging A
