It's all about Spring

By Bethany Lashbrook

This week's verse: Isaiah 58:11, "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose water will never fail." (NIV)

Devotion:
As I sat to write this devotion, I thought "spring" (even though this monstrous weather we are having is anything but). As I typed "spring" at biblegateway.com to find some verses to go with my devotion, I was amazed with more what I saw spring as.

Spring - a sense of renewal; a season of growth
Spring - a natural flow of ground water
to Spring - moving forward by leaps and bounds
Sprang - produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectadly

Then I thought of the cross.

We celebrate Easter during Spring because Spring gives everyone a sense of renewal. Everything is fresh and new - the world becomes alive again.

The waters begin to move - and the springs are flowing over with water.

To Spring forward with leaps and bounds - to move past winter's blaws and bounce towards something fresh, something new, something warm.

Jesus Sprang the news on his disciples that He was the Chosen One. He would be crucified by those who once cheered for him to come to Jerusalem. Then, he would shock the world for generations to come by rising from the ground. The temple's curtain was torn from top to bottom, yet the Temple (Jesus himself) would rise just as Jesus had promised.

Little did the disciples know that Jesus' references to spring water meant eternal life. John 4:14 states, "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (NIV)

Jesus is Spring. Spring is Jesus.

I love this time of year!

Dear Lord, thank you for the different seasons you give us here on Earth, as well as the different seasons in our lives. You amaze us in all of your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Application: Make a list of your five most favorite things of Spring - and then promise yourself to enjoy them each day from now until Easter.

Power Verses:
Revelation 7:17, "For the lamb on the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." (NLT)

Isaiah 61:11, "As surely as seeds sprout and grow, the Sovereign Lord will save his people, And all the nations will praise him." (Good News Translation)

Romans 15:12, "And in another place Isaiah said, 'The heir to David's throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope in him."' (NLT)