Shively Christian Church

Depending on where you come from in life, Easter may mean different things to you. Some people see it as a holiday al baout candy and rabbits and plastic eggs. Gifts are exchanged, and time is spent with family. And that sounds harmless enough...

 

For others, Easter is one of the time during the year when they feel compelled to show up at church to fulfill some obligation to God or family. And while they may feel good about going, that's about as far as things go.

 

Another group may say that it's just one of the seasons of the year for the Church as a whole. And they'll talk about how it's nice to focus on Jesus' death and resurrection to refocus for a week or two. Plus , getting pictures of the kids in their white shoes and dress clothes is a family tradition.

 

For some it is a time of year, more than just a day. Time spent in relfection of just who we are, how our sins past, present and future have separated us from God. Time spent realizing that no mattter how hard we try, we'll never be able to make up for those mistakes. Time spent thanking God for the great gift of grace and mercy He gave through His Son, Jesus.

 

Easter isn't just another holiday. It's not some marketing ploy to sell marshmellow farm animals, plush rabbits and strange translucent varieties of grass used to stuff baskets to hold those other things in...

 

Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, is all about God's great grace. It's all about His Son, Jesus, who sttod in the gap for us and took on our punishment for sin when He deserved none. It's all about love, and forgiveness appeasing the wrath and judgment that we so deserved. It is a time to reflect, and be thankful and to bend our hearts to God. It should be our "New Year" for the Church.

 

Jesus' death, burial and resurrection (and all the events surrounding them) deserve more than a casual side glance, or acknowledgement by wearing a new tie or dress. Resurrection Sunday is so much more than that, and if we would just take the time to listen, to discipher what God is whispering to us through the ages till today, is that He still loves us and wants that relationship with us that He originally intended. But we have to respond to Him first, and that's what He's proclaiming loudly through the life, death and resurrection on Jesus.

 

Can you hear Him?