For many, this past Sunday, Easter Sunday, was spent in our home churches, worshipping with our families, celebrating the risen Lord, and enjoying food and fellowship in some capacity. Maybe we had invited friends or family, and they chose to attend, maybe we saw people in the pews that we had not seen in a while, met new friends, reacquainted with old and, of course, were dressed in our Sunday best. And yes, if we are honest, we likely had a bit of cultural norms mixed in to our Easter Sunday too. We acquired new clothing items specific for the day, participated in Easter egg hunts, decorated eggs, or participated in other crafts or activities, and maybe indulged in foods and desserts that we otherwise would avoid if not for the holiday. Personally, if you are like me, I cannot wait until the Monday after Easter to go get most of these candies, clothes, and activities at discounted rates!
While none of these activities that surround Easter within our culture are inherently bad, as Christians, Easter Sunday carries so much more significance. Easter, for a Christian, is a sweet time of remembrance. It is a time to remember the sacrifice of our Lord (Good Friday) and yet celebrate the conquering of death through His resurrection (Easter) so that we might have forgiveness of sins and walk in newness with Him. It is a time to reflect on our own lives, confess sin, remember to whom we belong, that we have been set free, and to recall that we no longer have to live in accordance with the flesh but in accordance with the Spirit (Romans 8). These are wonderful truths found in our Lord Jesus Christ!
But, as I reflect on the celebration of Easter, my prayer for myself and my prayer for all Christians is that we will be refreshed and renewed in our calling to be ambassadors for Christ and ministers of reconciliation within our communities, around our state, across our nation and around the world (2 Corinthians 5; Act 1). While yes, Easter is a specific celebration and remembrance of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, as Christians we should be remembering, and revering, Christ every moment of every day for his grace and mercy in our lives. I pray our personal testimonies, and those of our brothers and sisters in Christ, of God’s grace in saving and sanctifying us might spur us on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10). I hope that we will be encouraged to be bold in our proclamation of the gospel to an unbelieving world, that we will take seriously our call to be His witnesses, that we will trust that His Spirit is with us and be empowered by the fact that we are planters and waterers, but it is He who will bring forth growth (1 Corinthians 3)!
In the end, I pray that our celebration of Easter is not isolated to one single Sunday, once a year, but that we celebrate our risen Lord continuously and that celebration serves as fuel for the flame of missions that I pray burns inside each of us. To God be the glory!
Leave a Reply