Easter Essentials?
The commercial adds try to tell us what is essential for Easter. But only one thing is essential for Easter: a ready heart. Has your lenten journey readied your heart for Jesus? There’s still time to do it.
We are not to rush ahead to Easter. Rather, we need to work on readying our heart. Have we surrendered our selfish hopes and false expectations? Have we confessed our sins and repented them? Are we ready to die with Jesus?
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
(Psalm 139: 23-24, CEB)
Edwin Peterman states “The only way you can be delivered from that sin is to have your false expectations destroyed, once and for all. And that is precisely what happened between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. Jesus drew the false, sinful expectations of the world unto himself, absorbed them, and bore them on the cross. His death was the death of all of our false expectations, and therefore his death was the death of sin itself. The false piety of Palm Sunday is crucified on Good Friday and buried that night, in order that true faith in God might be created on Easter through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
It is essential to walk with Jesus through the suffering and death, if we want to enjoy the resurrection of Jesus on Easter.
Please, don’t rush ahead to Easter.
Please, don’t forget the suffering of our Lord.
Please, take your time to ready your heart.
Therefore, once you have your minds ready for action and you are thinking clearly, place your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:13, CEB)
When your heart is ready to embrace grace, you are ready for Jesus.
When you heart is ready to die with Jesus, you are ready for Easter.
Gracious God,
We bring our hearts to you.
Cleanse us, mold us, ready us for Jesus.
We want to die with Jesus,
Resurrect us with Christ.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: how do you prepare your heart for Easter?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you walk with Jesus all the days of your life!
Giving thanks today for
#241 we are not alone in preparing ourselves for Easter
#242 there’s time for everything
#243 enabling grace
#244 it’s not about us but about God
#245 blessings that follow sacrifices
#246 living faith in us
#247 God does not want religiousness but authenticity
#248 God’s supernatural guidance
#249 the Spirit readying our hearts for Easter
#250 our worth is found in God Almighty
Image courtesy of Daniel R.Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty &
Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday &
5 thoughts on “Easter Essentials?”
Indeed it is sad that commercialism has made Easter about chocolate bunnies & Christmas about who can give the best present. It all is about Jesus Christ. Amen
Amen, sister. Thank you, Susan. May God continue to bless you and keep you.
To prepare for Easter, I focus on Christ’s journey to the cross. I’m reading in Matthew each day beginning with Christ’s triumphant entry on Palm Sunday. I am reflecting on the scriptures and seeing the relevance to my own life. This morning the passage that I focused on was Matthew 25:14-30 – the Parable of the Servants. I found it extremely meaningful to me as I just began (today) serving in a new area of ministry.
Blessings Mari-Anna!
Thanks for sharing, Joan! Yes, reading the Bible is so important. It grounds us and keeps us focused on Jesus. Blessings on your new ministry! How exciting!
Thank you, Barbara! Hope you had a wonderful Easter celebration and continue to celebrate resurrection every day! Abundant blessings on your faith journey!