All About Easter Featured
- Written By Guest
Christianity’s main differentiator from other religions is a living god. This is incredibly important differentiation is celebrated on Easter Sunday, when we set aside a day to remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As with everything that resides in the world, Easter has turned into another day for marketing gurus to sell you something. Although there is nothing wrong with having a scavenger hunt for your kids, or getting someone a bouquet of spring flower, there must be more to it.
Today we will be examining ways that you can help prepare your heart and mind for the day celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When we consider traditions, the natural instinct is to think of something which is solid and does not shift, but due to human nature and the fluidness of society, traditions evolve over time as well. Although Lent was originally only observed by Catholic Christians, it has become a part of the lives of many Protestant Christians as well. This year, Lent began on February 14th, 2018 and will end on Thursday, March 29th. This is a great time to put aside something that may be a worldly comfort, but a hindrance to your relationship with God.
Individuals participating in Lent, give up something that is a comfort or distraction in their lives. Many people choose to do this with things one physically consumes, by giving up things such as sugar, carbs, soda, and alcohol, while others choose to give up things they consume mentally including: social media, TV, and other activities. This sacrificial act, is a great way to put aside something and devote more time to God, but also it is a great way to get into a sacrificial mindset.
When we consider what occurred leading up to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is a lot of darkness surrounding the days leading up to Easter. As Christians, we should not be drowning in the darkness of the crucifixion, but we do need to remember the sacrifice made on behalf of our sins. Our world keeps pushing on (although interestingly enough, Wall Street is closed in observance of Good Friday), laughter keeps echoing, business doesn’t stop, and everyone goes about their business. Understand this: we are not suggesting that you should stop work for the day, or don all black to be in mourning (for we know how the story ends), but we are suggesting taking a moment to reflect on the price that was paid.
Dr. C. Truman Davis wrote a wonderful piece exploring what happens to a body when it is crucified. For those who do not respond to poetry and abstract thought as they do to facts and logic, reading a medical account of crucifixion may be a way to understand what exactly took place. Take this time to reflect on Christ’s incredible sacrifice for you, for me, for us, for humanity.
As mentioned before, we know how the story ends. We know that not only did Christ die for our sins, He was raised from the dead on the third day. Making Easter Sunday, not only a day to spend with family and eat good food, but a day to praise the living God. Take time to reflect on what that means to you personally and how that changes your life.
With all of that being said, it’s all great if you know these things in your head and heart, but something more has to occur. How can this knowledge transform the way you engage with your business partner, your coworker, the new vendor, and anyone you may be meeting on a daily basis. Have you made the resurrection of Christ your business?