Holidays are weird.
We say to ourselves, “Here’s a wondrous, momentous person or fact that has improved the lives of everyone around us, but…let’s only celebrate it once a year.”
Easter is a little different. We actually kinda celebrate it weekly, when we go to church. At least, that’s the hope. We hope our hearts are filled with reverence and joy as we sing all those songs acknowledging what God accomplished through the cross and the empty tomb.
But we all know once a week isn’t enough.
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. His grace does.
And when we obey him, we don’t do it to earn his grace, anymore than our setting off fireworks is what turns the Fourth of July into a holiday. It’s a holiday because of what already happened; we’re simply commemorating.
Instead, we obey in order to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1).
Every time we obey, we celebrate the cross and the empty tomb. Easter is the one holiday we can and are commanded to celebrate 365 days a year, by surrendering our lives in obedience to God.
I pray Psalm 51:12 for us this week – “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
I’ve had to pray that for a long time just to get my apathetic heart to care. But the prayer worked. More each year, I find that much more joy in knowing that I have an entry in the Book of Life, that the gates are opened to me, far down the road it might be. Don’t just let life sap that joy. Fight for it in prayer. Ask God to restore it.
Have a great Easter.
Brandon J. Adams 
“Don’t just let life sap that joy. Fight for it in prayer. ” Man, that’s good encouragement! Proactive, intentional. Thanks.
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Thanks for stopping by, Dawn.
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Yes, going to worship doesn’t save us. We often roll our eyes at the incessant forgetfulness of the ancient Israelites. God would do great things for them and they would forget to remember. God put feasts in place and commanded them to teach their children, but they didn’t. When we go to worship and observe the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week it’s not a meaningless ritual, it’s a reminder of the grace we are given through His blood and the hope we have through His resurrection. Great post!
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Thanks. We really aren’t much better than the Israelites in the memory department!
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Love this line: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. His grace does.” That being said, Christians SHOULD be engaged in a fellowship of believers if for no other reason than mutual support and edification. Have a blessed Easter! -Mark
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Oh, certainly. I’ve got a post entitled “Deserting Church” coming up, so I certainly agree in the necessity of fellowship.
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Great thought on the eternal God we serve. Never Ending, and no beginning. His Gifts to mankind are made of the same kind of stuff. We only have a short time here to make a difference for God’s Kingdom but the ripple is for ever. I thank all who made the ripple of LOVE that connected with me and all whom I fellowship with, To God be the Glory.
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Amen.
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