This EASTER—Let Us Be Proclaimers!
This morning, I received a photo of a snow-covered street. Yes, snow. Yes, look again at the calendar; it is April 1st and no, this is no joke. Snow covers a street and the vehicles that align the street, and if we walk down this street, turn a few corners, walking toward the train station, then we would walk past a children’s playground (yes, right there in the street & yes, a place where cars are not allowed but only bikes and pedestrians). The point: Just last week, when the temperatures were hovering around 70+ degrees, people were sunbathing on rooftops, children were playing, and NO ONE was walking through streets of snow.
- Some would say, “Welcome to climate change.”
- Some would say, “Welcome to crazy weather patterns.”
- Some would say, “We just can’t control the weather; we only must endure the wild weather.”
- Some would even say, “Mother Nature: What more can be said.”
Yet, with Easter Sunday still three weeks away, the weather reminds us that we have time to prepare ourselves, yes, really prepare our hearts—for Resurrection Sunday.
Oftentimes, like the weather, our hearts run through the extremes of change, one moment focused and passionate, while then the next moment, distracted and lukewarm.
Our heart is restless
Until it rests in You, God
For You have made us for Yourself.
—Augustine of Hippo
What are we seeking for this Easter to be?
What hope, what personal change do we desire?
We have been given a “late” Easter—Time—precious days to prepare our hearts and minds for God, for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Let us not take lightly this gift we have been given. Even when we see the heat in one week and the snowfall in the next, let us recall God’s gift of preparation He has given to us during this season of Lent.
Thank You God for time to get ready.
This EASTER—Let Us NOT Be Window-Dressers But Let Us Be Proclaimers!
Rather, Let Us Seek the ONE TRUE GOD Who Really Matters!
The Bible helps us see the scene of that beautiful morning. SEE WITH ME.
“Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.’”
(Matthew 28: 1-7)
- The best response when life beats us down, is to trust God.
- The best response when life grinds to a stop, is to trust God.
- The best response when life brings more despair than elation—IS TO TOTALLY TRUST GOD!
My life, your life—Why are we living here when our home resides in heaven?
Why does God allow us to live out the duration of our allotted days once we have accepted His gift of Salvation?
Why not just carry us on home, to heaven?
We know it is because we are to live in obedience.
We know it is so we can be witnesses in our Jerusalem, our Judea, our Samaria, and our uttermost parts of the world.
We know it is because God has orchestrated events for His glory and for our ultimate good.
The celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from death to life is coming—in like sixteen days. Are we Window-Dressing OR Are we Seeking the ONE who Really Matters?
What shapes our view of God?
What is really true about the person of God?
What never fails? Never?
It is God’s love for mankind that never fails! Never!
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee , and there they will see Me.’”
(Matthew 28: 10)
What are we seeking for this Easter to be?
What hope, what personal change do we desire?
We have been given a “late” Easter date on the calendar.
We have been given TIME—precious days—to prepare our hearts and minds for God.
We have been gifted with an opportunity to really prepare for our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.
Let us not take lightly this gift we have been given.
Let us recall God’s gift, our Salvation, and our preparation He has offered to us during this season of Lent.
Thank You God for time to get ready.
This EASTER—Let Us NOT Be Window-Dressers But Let Us Be Proclaimers!
Rather, Let Us Seek the ONE TRUE GOD Who Really Matters!
Let us “Go” & Let us “Tell the World” About This Jesus Who Lives Within Us!
Let us “Go” & Let us “Run to the Corners of the earth to “Tell the Story of Jesus”!
Why are we here—on earth—if not to shout it from the mountaintops: “JESUS LIVES!” & “I KNOW BECAUSE JESUS LIVES WITHIN ME!”
Praise the Lord, as we do “Go & Tell the World, ” God will do what ONLY GOD CAN DO!
- GOD WILL SAVE THOSE LOST ONES WHO NOW BELIEVE IN HIM!
- GOD WILL SAVE THOSE WHO NOW REPENT! &
- GOD WILL SAVE THOSE WHO NOW CONFESS HIM AS LORD!
EASTER SUNDAY IS COMING!
RESURRECTION SUNDAY IS COMING!
LET US GET EXCITED!
TODAY & TOMORROW & THE TOMORROW AFTER TOMORROW—LET US NOT BE WINDOW-DRESSING, BUT LET US BE SHARING THE GOSPEL WITH THE WORLD.
LET US “GO & TELL” THE WORLD ABOUT THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, ABOUT JESUS!
LET US “GO & TELL” THE WORLD JESUS LIVES!!!!