Praise & Shine

What does Easter mean to you? Is it just another Government holiday? A day off work? Or maybe a money grab for candy companies? To Christians, Easter is the most important time. More important than even Christmas! Yes, Christmas is important but it doesn’t save us from our sins.

Jesus’ birth only appears in two of the gospels, his ascension, in another two and Acts. But do you know what is mentioned in every single gospel? Not Jesus’ birth, not even Jesus’ teachings, but Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Easter is so important because our Christianity revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without that resurrection, Christianity would be meaningless because our sins would not be forgiven by the sacrifice of Christ. If it wasn’t for Easter we would have to continue living like the Jews of the old testament, offering up animal sacrifices to the Lord for our sins.

Easter is just as important today as it was nearly 2000 years ago because it represents how Jesus saved us from our sins by dying and rising again after three days. Conquering death so that we may live for eternity with our Heavenly Father. For all of humanity, not just the Jews, but also the Gentiles that their sins may be redeemed if they believe in Him.

So let’s celebrate Easter like it’s the most important time of the year. Because it is. What it represents is life. It is the center of our faith.

Happy Easter

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How do we find joy in our lives?

It can be as simple as remembering the acronym joy is a beautiful reminder of where our priority should be. J stands for Jesus, O for others, and Y for yourself.

1. Put Jesus first
   Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
2. Next, others
   In Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
3. Finally, yourself
   “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh [for your own desires], but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14.

So if your looking for true joy in your life, remember Jesus first, then others and yourself last.

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Our actions should characterize a Christ-centered life and stems from a relationship with Jesus. It bears witness to Christ and carries on His work wherever we are, in all we say and do. It is through these actions that we share God’s grace.

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17

Let’s look at the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man, he passes by on the other side. So too a Levite, when he came up to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him. He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I come back this way.’ Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus tells us, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”

The priests were the religious leaders of the time, while the Levites were the teachers, judges, and caretakers of the temple. The Samaritans, on the other hand, were like you and me. Notice how Jesus says the Samaritan felt compassion. He didn’t only care for the man’s wounds but went above and beyond by giving the man a ride on his animal, likely meaning the Samaritan had to walk. He then puts the man in an inn and pays for his care. Some even say the two silver coins were all the money the Samaritan had. The good Samaritan is the perfect example of what Christian Action looks like, bearing the witness of Christ.

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26

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