Today, we celebrate our risen Lord. The biggest, most visible, most public celebration of our faith plays out today all over the world. In some parts of the world, today is the culmination of a week of elaborate displays, religious traditions, and pomp. In other parts of the world, the celebrations are happening less elaborately or in secret. These Christ followers are celebrating away from the eyes and knowledge of those who will not tolerate the glorification of the The One whose followers left all to be a disciple. There is both great celebration and great sacrifice for the One who brought the message and example of love. I’m not talking about “sweet love” like Anita Baker sings about. I’m referring to the kind of love that if filled with sacrifice, pain and power. The kind of love that is built on repentance and forgiveness.
As we celebrate the Resurrection of Lord, I pray that Christ followers, especially here in the United States, would not only remember how we are forgiven and given new life in Him, but that we would also remember that we are to do likewise to others. In this day and time, we have come to believe that our individual rights, happiness, desires and preferences should override everything and everyone. We have begun to be believe that we can never be judged, challenged, held accountable, or corrected, though we have no problems at all doing serving these to others. We live in a society where true repentance is rare. However, for those of us in Christ, the situation should be the opposite; for without repentance, how can we receive the grace of our Lord? With that understanding, as we wrestle with our political convictions, our social ideals, our personal preferences and those of others, let us be reminded of these words:
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Luke 17:3 – 4
5 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. Matthew 18: 15
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”22Jesus said to him,“I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18: 21-22
As you are celebrating today, please remember all you have encountered since this time last year. If you have allowed hate, bitterness, and unforgiveness to take root in your heart, for ANY reason, please do not carry it into your celebration of Christ forgiveness of your sin. We have all heard and witnessed lots of hateful words and behaviors since this time last year. Some of us have even behaved hatefully ourselves. How is that even possible? I will explain it this way:
Self-righteousness is the fastest route to hate. This is because self-righteousness is just pride. Pride is fear. And fear is the opposite of love. Pride will always take, it does not give. Love gives.
So today, as we are remember John 3:16,
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
let us also remember what love truly means. let us live love. let us give as He gave.
My love and prayers for us all today.
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN, INDEED!
blackandwhiteandshadesofgreen 