Ministry of Celebration
This beautiful sunset marked the end of a day lived in the victory of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Each day we are given upon this earth is our opportunity to live in victory and celebrate the love of our Creator.
Yesterday we were challenged by our pastor to celebrate who God is and what he has done. That ambition is at the heart of what Canyon Ministries is all about. Each trip we take – whether at the rim or on the river – is centered on Jesus. We celebrate the victory we have in Jesus. The ground we walk upon is a massive graveyard full of fossilized dead things. The flood of Genesis 6 was an act of judgment and wrath against the sin of the earth. Yet amidst the wrath there is mercy and victory. Noah, his family, and all their descendants (including us) were victorious over the flood because God had mercy. We have been given life. Peter directs our attention to the flood as a foreshadow of our victory over sin through the work of the cross and our obedience in baptism (1 Peter 3). The geology of the Grand Canyon provides us with a reminder that God once flooded the entire earth, yet has given us life. We celebrate victory!
We also celebrate God’s provision. God did more than rework the topography of the earth to the beauty we see today. The geological processes put into action during and after the flood have also become the means for our day to day provision. The catastrophic forces of the Genesis 6 flood formed the natural resources we use. The coal we burn and the oil we consume are here today because of the flood. God is merciful even in judgment. We celebrate God’s provision!
Ultimately, we celebrate God’s love for us. Our pastor referred to the love of God as aggressive love. Who has loved us like God? Has anyone come after you as God has? God’s love searched out Noah and gave Him life. God’s love has searched us out and given us life. God’s love is so great that He became human and surrendered Himself to the darkness of the cross. He did this to defeat sin; to pay our penalty. He then defeated death by rising again. This is our victory! This is our hope! We celebrate God’s love!
Canyon Ministries is not just about a canyon. We are a ministry of celebration. Come celebrate with us! #celebration
PRAISEALLUJIAH!
Jon
