Photo by Artiom Vallat on Unsplash
Did you know that you can grow up in the church and miss the meaning of Easter? I know, because for many years, I did.
I started attending church nine months before I was born and could recite the historical facts of Good Friday and Easter. I’d even memorized John 3:16. But, somehow, I’d missed the personal ramifications of Easter.
That changed when a speaker at middle school camp spoke on the cross and I realized God didn’t just love the world in general; He loved me in particular. God so loved me that He gave His only Son that if I would believe in Him, I would not perish but have everlasting life.
It crushed me to realize Jesus had to die for my sins. Yet, after processing what this meant, incredible joy replaced my grief. I was clean. My sins were forgiven, and heaven was my destiny. I returned home higher than a helium balloon, singing the camp songs I’d learned. But my high was short-lived.
I was still the impatient person I’d always been. But one thing changed. Before I gave my life to Christ, I thought I was a pretty good person. I lost my temper but reasoned I wouldn’t have if someone hadn’t provoked me! After I invited Christ into my life, my outbursts bothered me.
Every night, I promised God, “Tomorrow, I’ll do better.” Yet, every day I failed. Knowing Jesus had paid the penalty for my sins comforted me. But I needed power for daily living.
[bctt tweet=”Every night, I promised God, “Tomorrow, I’ll do better.” Yet, every day I failed. Knowing Jesus had paid the penalty for my sins comforted me. But I needed power for daily living. #Easter #Hope” username=”PatHolbrook”]
Another Reason to Celebrate Easter
In college, I joined a small group Bible study. The women in the group enjoyed a relationship with God I lacked. They lived as if God was involved in their day-to-day lives. Even though I attended church and read my Bible, I didn’t view the Bible as relevant to my daily living.
My view of God grew as I got to know Jesus better, and the obstacles to trusting Him shrank. I realized that my ability to trust the Bible was directly related to how I saw God.
A big God can
- Communicate with His children.
- Preserve the integrity of His Word.
- Provide timeless truths.
I discovered why I hadn’t been able to control my temper. I’d been trying to live the Christian life in my own strength. I learned that only one person has ever successfully lived the Christian life, and He wanted to live through me.
What a relief to discover the power that raised Jesus from the dead on that first Easter is available to every child of God now. God created us to live by faith in His Son.
Notice the hope in these Scriptures:
- “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know…his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephes. 1:18-20 NIV).
. - “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20 NIV).
Jesus became sin for us on the cross so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). Easter is more than a historical fact or holiday; it is the source of hope and power for daily living. We celebrate Easter every day we live by faith in the Son of God.
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[bctt tweet=”LINKUP is open. Join my friend @DebbieWWilson as we remember Easter is more than a historical fact or holiday; it is the source of hope and power for living. Share your blog!” username=”PatHolbrook”]
I love this post. My testimony was similar. I didn’t grow up in a church-going home, but I attended sometimes with my aunt and grandfather. Their church taught that Christ died for the sins of the world, and we needed to have faith, but it was all nebulous. It was some years later that I realized Christ died for my individual sins and I needed to repent and trust Him personally. I do remember that combination of grief and joy–and still feel both! And then I experienced frustration over daily besetting sins and learned the need to rely on His strength and not my own. We don’t often hear the resurrection applied to our daily lives except in hope for life after death and faith that Christ is who He said He is–but it also demonstrates God’s power available every day.
Barbara, your journey sounds very much like mine. How did we miss the power it provides for daily living? Makes me want to teach that more. Have a blessed Easter!
May we celebrate resurrection and live in Easter truth year round
Amen, Michele!
Yes –> “I realized God didn’t just love the world in general; He loved me in particular.” Each person counts. God loves us individually as well as collectively. That matters to me, too!
Me too, Lisa. What a Savior!
I relate to this so well: “Every night, I promised God, “Tomorrow, I’ll do better.” Yet, every day I failed. Knowing Jesus had paid the penalty for my sins comforted me. But I needed power for daily living.”
Even as one who KNOWS this, I still struggle with this pull to DO BETTER. But God loves us and has grace for us right here, in this moment, in this place!
Amen, Rebecca. He gently leads us to wholeness and freedom as we hold His hand.
How relatable your post is! I can certainly agree that without Jesus’ transforming power, our human efforts to “be good” or “do good” inevitably fail… This has been heavy in my heart lately and the it was the idea behind my latest column too.
Love you, sis! Great work!
Thank you, Patricia. We need and were created to need Jesus always!
We celebrate Easter every day we live by faith in God. Yes!
Yes, Lauren. Let’s celebrate!
Praise God. Thanks for sharing this testimony, Debbie. I’m a “do it by own strength,” kind of person and can always use this reminder. Happy Easter!
Bethany, It’s a new way of living that takes a lifetime of practice! Happy Easter to you!
Thank you, Debbie. Easter can not only lose its truest and purest meaning among non-believers, but also among believers.