Clay in the Hands

Another Easter celebration has come and gone – or at least that is often how we see it.  We spent much effort and time planning and organizing worship experiences at our church to help each of us reflect with intention on the sacrifice of the cross and the power of the empty tomb.

I believe our time together as a church family was meaningful and it would seem that the effort did, in fact, create opportunities for people to experience God in fresh ways.  I pray that each of you had opportunities in your church to do the same.

But here we are, two days after the celebration of the empty tomb, and I have to ask myself – and you – does today look differently because of our renewed focus on what Jesus did for us?

I must admit, it is easy to now set our sights on what comes next – the next thing on the calendar.  The world, with its challenges, did not change directions while we were focusing on spiritual things last week.  Today could look very much like the Tuesday of three weeks ago.

But it doesn’t have to!

Jesus went to the cross to pay the price you and I could not pay for our sins.  Then he rose on the third day after his death, defeating the one thing the writer of Hebrews says holds us as slaves to fear (Hebrews 2:14-15).  We no longer have any reason to fear death because Jesus has shown us – he is stronger and greater!

So today, we should live differently with this renewed understanding of what Jesus has done for us.  We should live without fear.  We should make decisions based on the desire to honor Jesus and his sacrifice, not wanting to do anything that would bring shame to his wonderful name.

Jesus rose in order to give us the ability to live resurrected lives ourselves.

All things are new!

Live into that truth today!