The Practice of Easter... is it not, first, the surrendering of ourselves? As a Man once could have saved Himself, yet hung on a tree, how could Easter not be simply about surrendering ourselves? Let me digress... Good Friday = Surrender, Easter Sunday = New Life.
Tonight I ponder "The Practice of Easter" through the scope of Good Friday and the Ultimate Sacrifice. I believe my inspiration in thought is, in part, the finishing of another journal coinciding with the book of 2 Timothy. Seeing Paul write while knowing his time on earth was nearing it's end. Viewing this great teacher still humbled enough to confess all was for his Savior and none for himself. His greatest concern was that the teaching of Truth should continue and his greatest pleasure was to die for the One who died for him.
My study Bible introduces 2 Timothy this way:
From cross to the life giving power of the Holy Spirit. We can encounter any task God has called us to with the assurance of His Spirit to strengthen us and lead the way. What if Jesus had set the cross down and said, "Nah, I'm not up to the pain and anguish today." Better yet, what if He said "Never mind, I'm stopping here, you are all going to keep on sinning anyway, why continue?"
But He didn't.
He had faith in us to choose Him so we could have Faith in Him for choosing us.
A faith walk in Christ in honoring the Easter celebration is best seen in Isaiah 40:31
Try running for 3 hours straight. Are you going to need to stop, catch your breath, grab your side? Now, try walking for 3 hours. While God can give us strength for any mode of our journey, I believe this passage to be especially encouraging when we consider the walk.
Our faith should be a faith walk. A steady pace in the center of the path. A walk to the hill, bearing a cross, with no other thought but "for His Name's sake".
I saw a quote once that said, "Christ laid down His life for you, will you lay yours down for Him?"
Will you?
I challenge you to lay yourself down and walk the path Jesus walked. Teach your children what it is to walk and not grow weary. As a family, look upon the Journey to the Cross with its due awe and respect and ask Jesus what you can do to help HIM carry that cross today.
Tonight I ponder "The Practice of Easter" through the scope of Good Friday and the Ultimate Sacrifice. I believe my inspiration in thought is, in part, the finishing of another journal coinciding with the book of 2 Timothy. Seeing Paul write while knowing his time on earth was nearing it's end. Viewing this great teacher still humbled enough to confess all was for his Savior and none for himself. His greatest concern was that the teaching of Truth should continue and his greatest pleasure was to die for the One who died for him.
My study Bible introduces 2 Timothy this way:
"In this letter, all who take up the cross and follow Jesus are charged to complete the ministry that God has given them, through the life giving power of Christ's resurrection" (Tyndale NLT Study Bible p. 2062)
From cross to the life giving power of the Holy Spirit. We can encounter any task God has called us to with the assurance of His Spirit to strengthen us and lead the way. What if Jesus had set the cross down and said, "Nah, I'm not up to the pain and anguish today." Better yet, what if He said "Never mind, I'm stopping here, you are all going to keep on sinning anyway, why continue?"
But He didn't.
He had faith in us to choose Him so we could have Faith in Him for choosing us.
A faith walk in Christ in honoring the Easter celebration is best seen in Isaiah 40:31
"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."
Try running for 3 hours straight. Are you going to need to stop, catch your breath, grab your side? Now, try walking for 3 hours. While God can give us strength for any mode of our journey, I believe this passage to be especially encouraging when we consider the walk.
Our faith should be a faith walk. A steady pace in the center of the path. A walk to the hill, bearing a cross, with no other thought but "for His Name's sake".
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I saw a quote once that said, "Christ laid down His life for you, will you lay yours down for Him?"
Will you?
I challenge you to lay yourself down and walk the path Jesus walked. Teach your children what it is to walk and not grow weary. As a family, look upon the Journey to the Cross with its due awe and respect and ask Jesus what you can do to help HIM carry that cross today.
I humbly thank Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience for inspiring today's blog
I really like "Our faith should be a faith walk. A steady pace in the center of the path. A walk to the hill, bearing a cross, with no other thought but "for His Name's sake".
ReplyDeleteSo true. Thanks for the encouragement!
Thank you and your welcome! God Bless!
ReplyDelete