"Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)
Probably the most meaningful Easter service I ever attended was held in a mausoleum. It was a sunrise service and I and a couple of other ladies were asked to sing. I wish I could convey the feeling of standing amidst those entombed there while singing praises to Jesus and recognizing that He had defeated death's power. I could just imagine other voices, some long gone, joining in.
This past weekend we observed the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. There are dates each year set aside to do so. We dress up in our finest, gather together to worship, then feast on a well prepared meal. Children hunt for eggs and love awakening to find that the "Easter Bunny" has left a basket full of goodies. Night comes and we close our eyes while saying another "thank you" to our Savior.
Then what? Monday comes. The alarm clock goes off, we reluctantly get up and dress ourselves for another day. The "holiday" is over and we return to our daily routines. School, jobs, activities, chores and relationships claim our lives physically, mentally and emotionally. Any decorations we have had up come down and are stored back in their boxes until the next Easter season rolls around next year.
My point is simply that when Jesus sacrificed Himself for us, it was for eternity. His birth, life, arrest, torture, crucifixion, death and resurrection were all for you and for me. It was the focus of His entire being. There wasn't a time when He put it all behind Him and "returned to normal." Even now He intercedes for us before the Father. How do we honor that?
Social media was full of beautiful poems, pictures and messages of praise over the weekend. It was a joy to see that avenue used to exalt the name of the Lord. However, once Sunday was over, the posts changed. Why? What changed from Sunday to Monday except the date on the calendar? If it wasn't acceptable to use foul language publicly on April 21st, then why was it on the 22nd? Do we have a firm grasp on what all the Son of Almighty God did for us? Do we understand the eternal significance? Why don't we live our lives for Him every day?
My prayer is that each of us will spend some time reflecting on how we worship Him. Do we daily walk in joy and praise or do we compartmentalize our faith and blend in with the world around us? Are we living lives that please Him? I ask His blessings on each of us as we examine our hearts.
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