What has Easter truly become. With the coming of each season I tend to believe that professing Christians view it more as traditions and mythology. Don't get upset by me saying this, but stop, think and look around at just what professing Christians that were so into the season are doing today. Is the season merely a passing by, or is it something that drives us today to be the people Christ died and rose for.
1 Peter 2:24 reads "He Himself bore our sins on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds we have been healed." Today many people quote Isaiah (this is who Peter is also quoting) and they tend to think that it has to do with 'physical' healing when in truth, Isaiah and Peter are saying that we are healed from our sins. Would it not be a shame if this 'Being Healed' was merely when we felt ill, or had a physical problem? No, the cross was where Jesus laid down to a hideous death so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.
He rose from the dead over 2000 years ago and many will say that they believe as they pursue their lives, secularism, wealth, and immorality of all sorts. He did not die so that His Rising would be a once a year, joyful event, but hat it would be a daily remembrance of what He has done for us, and that we too can have a risen life 'In' Him. He died and rose that we can be overcomers and not failures. Today many pacify people with "Don't beat yourself up, or Try not do continue in that sin anymore." This is nowhere even close to what the death and resurrection can bring to us daily. Paul says in Philippians 3:10 "I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death." amazing isn't it. This was not a lenten message, a crucifixion meassage or a Easter Risen message, it was Paul's heart while chained up in prison. Paul (and none of the others) ever preached "You can live as you do and still inherit the kingdom of God." None of them said "Accept Jesus in your heart and you will inherit the kingdom of God, or that you will Jesus wants you to prosper adn succeed in worldly things. If so, then the New Testament would not have had to be written, Bible Studies would not need exist, repentance and prayer would not be needed, only confessions of believing in Jesus. Is it not sad for us to think that Jesus would not have even needed to die that gruesome death on that cross if we were to continue to live for us and not Him and others? Common sense lets us know that there is alot more to the cross and resurrection than a yearly event and awakening.
What will we do now? Will we begin our day believing that the cross lies before us to pick up and carry (Jesus tolds us this, not me) and that the real pathway to happiness and joy in this life will be experienced through suffering and persecution on a daily basis? Yes, it is suffering to lay down any idol that we cling to while attempting to cling to Jesus. It is hard when your family, and others persecute you because of your life in Christ and take the stand you take for our risen King. Not yearly, not monthly, but daily. Today, think about the cross and the resurrection. Think about the times you said "Jesus I am yours at whatever the cost" and then chose the world over Him. Allow the cross and the resurrection to be your passion, desire and lifestyle. Jesus said "Anyone that does not take up this cross daily and follows me, is not worthy of me." Live the resurrection each and everyday so that people can turly see Christ in us~
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