Easter marks beginning of our Father’s love

It seems like just yesterday that we began preparing for the Easter season. Many people prepared for Lent and decided what they would sacrifice for that time. Others that did not practice Lent, began to think about services and plans to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Egg Hunts, Easter Bunnies, and family gatherings topped the to-do lists and some that had not been to church in some time, dawned their best outfits and walked into the slightly familiar place and took their seats and heard the message of the resurrection.

This year as I prepared for Easter, my mind went in a different place. Jesus Christ was crucified and resurrected and that in itself is absolutely amazing, but after the last amen of the Easter service, what are we to do next? Just commemorating a momentous occasion by my participation isn’t enough when compared to what that crucifixion and resurrection accomplished.

You see Jesus came so that we could be reconciled to God. Many people believe God to be a vengeful and wrathful deity. While wrath is possible, if you actually study the Scripture, you see that God is merciful and loving. When we read passages like John 3:16 that says God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life, it is difficult for us to understand just how far reaching his love is.

The love that we hear about on Easter is more than a one-time event. It is a daily event. The loving kindness of the Lord is new every morning. That means that God wants to show us his love daily.

Easter marks the beginning of the love the father has for us. Our lives matter because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Had Jesus not have died on the cross and were raised from the dead, we would have no purpose. We would have no hope. Our lives would be devoid of meaning. But, because of his death and resurrection, we now have purpose. Psalms says that while we were still in our mother’s womb, he knew us and gave us purpose.

That purpose does not change because of screwups that we make. That purpose doesn’t become annulled because of our unwillingness to recognize it. The promises of God remain because the eternal one, Jesus Christ has guaranteed them by his very life.

This reason is why we need to celebrate Him every day. Our salvation is not connected to church attendance, baptism, or Communion. These are awesome things to do and serve as landmark reminders of what Jesus Christ has done. Our salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Jesus instituted the church, not just for the disciples and people of the Bible times, but for us. It serves as his platform and his avenue to share this message of hope, healing, and help to everyone in need. Our dedication to Jesus Christ should extend far past Christmas and Easter church attendance, but rather be a way of life.

It should be a devout dedication to him and what God has commanded us to do. Never allow yourself to assume that you are all you need. Christ instituted the church to help us help one another and make a difference in the world around us. We are called to be the light of the world and lead others to him.

Yes, Easter is wonderful. But, every day with the Lord is wonderful. Develop the habit and the spiritual discipline of joining together with the body of Christ and making the difference in the world around you. Honor the Lord with your life. Do it daily. Join together with the body of Christ and worship Him in spirit and in truth.