Many followers of Christ observe Lent and give up something they enjoy for days prior to Easter Sunday with the idea of focusing on God. How about we practice Lent daily as we deny ourselves, take up our cross (not a burden but death to self) and follow Jesus as we live in His power and for His glory. Lent year round will help us live in the power of the resurrection. You cannot have the power of the resurrection without the death of the crucifixion.
Holy Week is a tradition in Christendom that is recognized from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. It is a time to reflect on the last week of Christ and seek to draw near to God. Holy Week really needs to be Holy Day everyday. As we realize just how much God loves us and His desire to live in and through us we will begin to live as God's people, a holy people, a people set apart to be in the world and yet not of the world. A people to be a light to the world - living witnesses of Gods redemption.
Easter Sunday is filled with anticipation as worship services are planned, sunrise services are planned, Easter egg hunts are planned and good crowds are anticipated for worship. In the resurrection of Jesus Christ we can live in anticipation regularly and live in an Easter heartset and mindset on a daily basis. God is victorious, Christ is risen, upon accepting Christ He live in you. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. The power, compassion, mercy, truth and justice of God resides in His temple - Followers of Christ. We can approach every worship service with the anticipation that we bring to Easter Sunday. Wow - that will be incredible. We can approach everyday with the anticipation that we bring to Easter Sunday. Wow - what a way to live.
Easter is about NEW. New clothes, fresh flowers, Springtime, new shoes, new life. Jesus rising up from the dead is about NEW. He is making all things new, all things are new and all things will be new. We like NEW. Life in the resurrection is about NEW. New thoughts, creativity, forgiveness - which leads to new realms in relationships, new opportunities, a new future in Christ, new beginnings... NEW.
On Monday the 1st of April may we live in the resurrection and begin to grasp that Easter is much more than a Sunday or a season. Easter is life every day as we live in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment