Salvation Comes From the Lord

To the church of Blue Sky in Loveland, to those whose salvation comes from the Lord:

Breathe on me Jesus
Breathe the Holy Spirit's truth
Breathe how to forgive

From inside the fish, Jonah raises his voice in radical prayer and cries out ending with the seven-syllable phrase: "Salvation comes from the Lord." The Lord then commands the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land. Many of us, like Jonah, have the fortune to live and see just how deep our bottoms will go. Others are saved prematurely, by the grace of God, from years of torment and suffering. While others still are much less fortunate. Though as for Jonah, it is only in utter and complete defeat that a merciful and gracious God gives us another chance.

The Lenten Pilgrimage invites me to sacrifice myself for the glory of Jesus Christ. Like Christ did for me, I must do for others. I must die to myself, everyday, through the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit realized in Jesus of Nazareth, God's only begotten son, must cover and bury my sinful nature. Only then can I form a new union with God the Father.

Father God created me. He is my Creator. He hurls me into the belly of the whale, only to spit me back out again. He spits me back out once I am willing and ready. When the back of my self-reliance finally snaps, God intervenes.

I've tried and I've tried for years to be something I'm not. I've tried to seek God everywhere, but where He lives. He lives in His kingdom rooted in my heart. Human aid does not allow me to realize myself. Only the person and character of Jesus Christ enables me to embody my True Nature. My own mortal powers and the mortal powers of others cannot save my life, though at times God does work through humans to guide me back to Him. Only God alone can deliver me to Paradise safely.

Jesus has shown me time and time again that if I try and save my life, I will lose it. However, when I lose my life for Him, He saves it! But how, exactly, do I do that? Every time I listen to my brother or sister who needs my ear, I mean really listen and pause asking Jesus for guidance and direction, I'm losing myself to Jesus. Every time I listen and respond with an act of Christ-like love or compassion, I'm losing myself to Jesus. When I surrender my spirit, allowing it to be empowered by Jesus, I'm losing myself to Jesus. When I place you as a priority, I'm losing myself to Jesus. I must forget myself completely. Only then am I becoming like Christ and growing in His image. Jesus, reveal how I can lose myself to You!

I follow the cross back to Eden. I must forget the teachings of this world, leaving them at the door. Knowledge here will do me no good. I can eat from the Eternal Tree, but I must be broken and my blood must be shed for the namesake of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yahweh, shape me once again.

Faithfully,

Adam Mackie