3 Ways to Keep Our Eyes on Jesus This Easter
by Mark Wash
During this wonderful Easter season, Christians everywhere celebrate the new life they have with Christ Jesus. This celebration is in honor of our Lord and Savior, who conquered death. He died on the cross for our sins and came back to life three days later. He lives so that we may also live. When we have a personal relationship with Christ, we can live every day with His presence in us, giving us strength and support.
This year, instead of paying attention to things that have no lasting impact, let's focus on the greatest comeback of all time: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As you seek to draw closer to Jesus, I urge you to think about these three things.
1. Jesus Is Our Hope
We can't discover true hope in ourselves or in other people, whether it's through self-help books, new-age thinking, or a positive attitude. It is not in our money, our brains, or a political party. These things are just false hopes—cheap, short-lived, and as solid as a house built on shifting sand. The idea that "we can make our own hope" is very popular, even in churches today. But this teaching is faulty for everyone and should not be followed.
Real hope comes only from Christ. We have hope because He died on the Cross, rose from the dead, and lives in us through the Holy Spirit. We are weak, broken, fickle, and sinful, but Jesus is perfect. However, He loves us and lets us be one with Him. This union is the miracle that Paul writes about in Ephesians 5 when he talks about the holy marriage between Christ and His church. It really is a deep mystery!
Even though life will bring storms that we can't control, we still have faith in Christ. His spirit gives us peace and freedom in the middle of the chaos of life. This faith is true hope in the true God; it is reality, not an illusion meant to make life easier. No, this faith is real hope. It is a hope that never fails, never fades, and never lets you down. It is based on the Cross.
2. Our Freedom is His Atonement
Surrendering to God is the most freeing thing you can do. We are free from fear, our old selves, our bondage to sin, and our fears when we give our lives completely to the Lord. We are no longer defined or haunted by the things that happened in our past. We can now be ourselves, share our stories, and praise God for what Jesus has done for us, all to point others to Him.
We are free to love, free to do what the Bible says without fear, and free to be joyful in everything we do! We are no longer ashamed or stuck in the effects of our own or other people's actions against us because we are free. No, we are free to tell our stories at the Cross. At the cross, we have laid our past hurts to rest, transforming them into something beneficial at the empty tomb.
The beauty that comes from these ashes is only because Jesus died on the cross. The One who had no sin became sin so that we could experience this life-changing freedom that now fills us.
3. Every Day, let Us Rejoice in the Resurrection
Instead of allowing this message to touch your heart only briefly at Easter, I want you to let it transform every aspect of your life forever. We will never be able to fully thank Jesus for what He has done, but every waking moment is an opportunity to be joyful about the gift of the cross and the empty tomb. We are here to happily and freely tell others about what Jesus has done. We're here to dedicate our lives to Christ and serve others, not to pursue comfort or mere fame and fortune.
Every day, we have the opportunity to pray, devote ourselves to God, talk to Jesus, and read the Bible. This book, the Bible, is the Word of God that lives and breathes. It has the power to change every life on Earth, transforming hearts, guiding decisions, and providing hope and purpose to those who embrace its teachings. It is a miracle in and of itself, set apart and holy, telling the real story of the real Jesus.
Jesus died for us, even though we didn't deserve it. We could have pierced His hands, feet, and sides ourselves, but instead, His love pierces through our hearts. Even though we don't always have strong faith, He is always faithful. The love of Jesus is real. We must allow this truth to transform us from within, ensuring that we never underestimate the significance of the Cross, regardless of the day.
I hope we all take a moment to reflect on what's most important to us this holiday season. In this assessment, consider all Jesus has done for you, how you met Him, and how He freed you. I urge you to offer Him your heart and life completely. Pray that He will change you for good from this Resurrection Day on. Think about this awesome truth:
We have hope, freedom, and cause to rejoice because He lives.
This year, instead of paying attention to things that have no lasting impact, let's focus on the greatest comeback of all time: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As you seek to draw closer to Jesus, I urge you to think about these three things.
1. Jesus Is Our Hope
We can't discover true hope in ourselves or in other people, whether it's through self-help books, new-age thinking, or a positive attitude. It is not in our money, our brains, or a political party. These things are just false hopes—cheap, short-lived, and as solid as a house built on shifting sand. The idea that "we can make our own hope" is very popular, even in churches today. But this teaching is faulty for everyone and should not be followed.
Real hope comes only from Christ. We have hope because He died on the Cross, rose from the dead, and lives in us through the Holy Spirit. We are weak, broken, fickle, and sinful, but Jesus is perfect. However, He loves us and lets us be one with Him. This union is the miracle that Paul writes about in Ephesians 5 when he talks about the holy marriage between Christ and His church. It really is a deep mystery!
Even though life will bring storms that we can't control, we still have faith in Christ. His spirit gives us peace and freedom in the middle of the chaos of life. This faith is true hope in the true God; it is reality, not an illusion meant to make life easier. No, this faith is real hope. It is a hope that never fails, never fades, and never lets you down. It is based on the Cross.
2. Our Freedom is His Atonement
Surrendering to God is the most freeing thing you can do. We are free from fear, our old selves, our bondage to sin, and our fears when we give our lives completely to the Lord. We are no longer defined or haunted by the things that happened in our past. We can now be ourselves, share our stories, and praise God for what Jesus has done for us, all to point others to Him.
We are free to love, free to do what the Bible says without fear, and free to be joyful in everything we do! We are no longer ashamed or stuck in the effects of our own or other people's actions against us because we are free. No, we are free to tell our stories at the Cross. At the cross, we have laid our past hurts to rest, transforming them into something beneficial at the empty tomb.
The beauty that comes from these ashes is only because Jesus died on the cross. The One who had no sin became sin so that we could experience this life-changing freedom that now fills us.
3. Every Day, let Us Rejoice in the Resurrection
Instead of allowing this message to touch your heart only briefly at Easter, I want you to let it transform every aspect of your life forever. We will never be able to fully thank Jesus for what He has done, but every waking moment is an opportunity to be joyful about the gift of the cross and the empty tomb. We are here to happily and freely tell others about what Jesus has done. We're here to dedicate our lives to Christ and serve others, not to pursue comfort or mere fame and fortune.
Every day, we have the opportunity to pray, devote ourselves to God, talk to Jesus, and read the Bible. This book, the Bible, is the Word of God that lives and breathes. It has the power to change every life on Earth, transforming hearts, guiding decisions, and providing hope and purpose to those who embrace its teachings. It is a miracle in and of itself, set apart and holy, telling the real story of the real Jesus.
Jesus died for us, even though we didn't deserve it. We could have pierced His hands, feet, and sides ourselves, but instead, His love pierces through our hearts. Even though we don't always have strong faith, He is always faithful. The love of Jesus is real. We must allow this truth to transform us from within, ensuring that we never underestimate the significance of the Cross, regardless of the day.
I hope we all take a moment to reflect on what's most important to us this holiday season. In this assessment, consider all Jesus has done for you, how you met Him, and how He freed you. I urge you to offer Him your heart and life completely. Pray that He will change you for good from this Resurrection Day on. Think about this awesome truth:
We have hope, freedom, and cause to rejoice because He lives.
