Life lately has been a bit crazy.
We were blessed with a visit from Josh’s brother on Easter
weekend. We also had the joy of visiting with some of our good friends for
Easter lunch.
And of course there is the inexpressible joy of celebrating
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sometimes though, it is so easy to
get wrapped up in the logistics of holidays. Where will we go? What will we eat? What
should I bring? What will I wear? The list goes on and on and on.
In the craziness of this world and the different seasons of
our lives we forget to be still, focus on God, and worship him.
Here is a link to a song that has become a complete favorite
of mine. It is called Desert Song by Hillsong United. Listen to/Read the words
on the video and I pray that you will remember to worship and rejoice always.
“All of my life, in EVERY season, YOU ARE STILL GOD. I have
a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeN8YVR-j8o
Easter is the greatest of all reasons to worship. It is a
reminder that we have a God who LOVES us unconditionally. What greater way to
show His love than to send His only Son to die a painful, excruciating,
humiliating death for our sin.
We hear this all the time “Jesus died for our sins.” After a
while, I feel as though I become numb to this reality. But how can I allow
myself to become numb to this?
YES JESUS DIED FOR ME. But it was more than just death that
He faced. He bore the wrath of God that I deserved, because He knew that there
was NO OTHER WAY for me be to reconciled to him. This gives me chills as I write
it and it should always give me chills of gratitude and love for my Savior. This
is why Good Friday is Good. This is why we rejoice in the death of our God…because
He is our redeemer.
A wise mentor once reminded me that this is the meaning of
redemption: To purchase at a price in order to set free. Because Jesus redeemed
us, we are Free to love God, to worship him, to draw near to him and sit at his
feet, we are free from being enslaved to sin, we can be alive in Christ.
And it’s even better than just that, because our redeemer did not
just bear God’s wrath and die. He conquered death! He rose again! He triumphed
over our sin. He triumphed over our death. Why? To justify us in the eyes of
God. This is Easter.
Here is the dictionary’s meaning of justify: To judge,
regard, or treat as righteous and worth of salvation. Because of the
resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ, God regards us as worthy of salvation as
long as our trust and faith and hope are in His Son. This is because He has
paid the price for us.
For fear of rambling and straying away from what I
desperately what you to rejoice in, I will end on one last note: Easter is a
great reminder of all these things. But it is not the only time we should be
celebrating. This is something we are to celebrate daily.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance
that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by God’s
power are being guarded, through faith, for a salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time. In this you rejoice…”
1 Peter 1: 3-5; and the beginning of verse 6. Emphasis added
is mine.
Rejoice in Christ my friends.
Love,
Carly
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