31 March 2013

Easter 2013

Easter Sunday is always a crowded day in most protestant churches, and you see folks there who haven't been around since the previous Easter. But going to church is not what Christianity is about. Dressing up & showing off new dresses, hats, eggs, candy, or bunnies ... not those, either.

It's about lives. Our lives. It's about God's unconditional love for us. That love makes everything about our lives as believers new.

It's about forgiveness. God's forgiveness of our evil (yes, the e word!) natures. We are empowered to live our lives free from condemnation and bitterness, if we accept His forgiveness, which gives us the ability to forgive others.

It's about Jesus, and what He did for us. If you're a believer, you already know. If you're not, you can be.
"But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Jesus the Anointed One died for us." 


We don't have to make ourselves acceptable; in point of fact, we cannot. If we could, then Jesus' death was for no reason.

God accepts us the way we are, warts and all, because of what Jesus did. All we have to do is believe that.


Most Christian churches make a HUGE deal of the occasion, and it IS important to remember that we serve a risen Savior.

One difference between most churches and mine was (and is) that we remember His resurrection all the time - not just once a year.

 
His resurrection from death is the point.
 

As that other Paul put it, "just as one sin (disobedience to God) resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act (Jesus' punishment and execution for mankind's sins) resulted in justification and life for all people." (Romans 5:18)  We have hope precisely because Jesus overcame sin and death, took our punishment in our place, and has granted life to us.

HE IS RISEN!


The cross is shown 'empty', because Jesus isn't there any more. That's the GOOD news!

21 comments:

eiaftinfo said...

Nicely said sir . . . wishing you and your family a loving, peaceful and holy Easter!

Bill

Home on the Range said...

Amen. May you and your wife and daughters have a glorious day.

Rev. Paul said...

eiaftinfo, thank you - and may yours be equally so.

Thanks, Brigid. I hope yours is, as well.

Borepatch said...

He is risen indeed, allelujah, allelujah.

Stephen said...

Amen, and thank you.

Rev. Paul said...

BP, yes!

Stephen, you're welcome.

Old NFO said...

Well said sir, and Happy Easter to you and yours!

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,
Beautifully said!
He is risen.

Happy Easter to you and your beautiful family.

Rev. Paul said...

Thank you, NFO.

Sandy, thank you, too. Happy Easter to us all!

drjim said...

Happy Easter, Rev!

What was it the angels told the women who came to His grave and found to stone rolled away?

"He who you seek is not here"?

Rev. Paul said...

Yes, drjim - "...for he has risen, as he said."

Jenny said...

Thank you Reverend.

Rev. Paul said...

You're welcome, Jenny. :)

OldAFSarge said...

He has risen indeed!

Hope you had a wonderful Easter Rev. We went to church (where I had the honor of doing the Call to Worship and the Opening Prayer), had a great service then dinner with some most beloved friends afterwards.

We did not look for the living among the dead!

Rev. Paul said...

Sarge, that's a great statement - proof of church-going, if not more. ;^) I'm glad your Resurrection Day was a good one.

Rev. Paul said...

And I hope you know that's a joke.

DR said...

Happy Easter!

OldAFSarge said...

Rest assured Rev Paul, I get it. Bless you!

Rev. Paul said...

Thanks, DR, and the same to you & your lovely family.

I figured you would, Sarge, but it's tough to get that sly wink & tone of voice into writing. Heh.

TinCan Assassin said...

3 churches had a squirrel problem. One tried traps, but the squirrels just sprang the traps, took the bait, and ran away. Another church tried hunting them, but there were just too many. Only the third church was successful. When the other 2 pastors asked what he did, the third pastor said, "It's simple, I baptized them, registered them, and gave them offering envelopes, and now I only see them for Christmas and Easter."

Rev. Paul said...

TCA ... I think I used to belong to the 3rd church. :^)