“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3
Easter can be the most overwhelming Sunday of the year for a pastor. The weeks before Easter are full of planning, budgeting, and creating the perfect day for those who will fill the pews. The truth is, Easter is the one day a year that, even those who are not religious, will venture into the local church. Some come to church out of tradition, others to enjoy the festivities of Easter egg hunts, special prizes, or (at our church) the free family photos. Whatever the case, there is no doubt that the Sunday dedicated to sharing the good news of the resurrection can become clouded in meaningless programs and city-wide competition to fill the seats. Deep down in my soul, I wonder each year, “Have we forgotten the power of the resurrection?”
The good news of Easter Sunday is not in the perfect matching outfits or church celebrations but in the remembrance of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Jesus did not die on the cross for a yearly holiday but for an eternal celebration of each of us having the opportunity to go from death to life! What an honor to celebrate this daily! Jesus died so that if we repent and believe, we could accept the full benefits of the cross. Instead of paying the penalty of our sinful nature, the true joy of Easter is in recognition of the greatest gift ever bestowed to mankind, the gift of salvation.
My prayer today is that we celebrate the resurrection every day. I pray we share the joy of what Christ has done as often as possible, not just as a part of a one-day celebration. May we take to heart the severity of what God has done rather than get lost in commercialism. Go and share the gospel with anyone willing to listen! The message of the gospel will outlive our momentary celebrations. The knowledge and acceptance of Christ’s resurrection truly have the ability to change lives forever!
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the finished work of the cross. I praise you for the resurrection that brings hope I will have everlasting life. Teach me to acknowledge what you have done for the world through salvation on a daily basis. Forgive me if I have neglected to share the gospel due to feeling incapable or uncomfortable. I pray for opportunities to share my faith. I ask for boldness to tell others about the resurrection. In Your son Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen
