He is Risen! Wow! Easter 2022 was amazing. Here at Rolling Hills, we had more people than ever. So many lives were impacted for Christ, so many baptisms, so much joy, celebration, and worship. It was truly an incredible day! Easter always is. For Christ-followers, this is the greatest day of the year because Jesus’ Resurrection changes everything. Death is defeated, and Jesus reigns supreme. And, we, by God’s grace and the sacrifice of Jesus, will be with Him forever. This is why we celebrate!
But, what if we could be “Easter” people not just one day of the year, but every day. The fact is – Jesus is alive and He is in heaven interceding for us. The truth of Easter ought to fill us each day with life, joy, peace, and purpose. Being “Easter” people every day means…
Passionate Worship – We come on Easter Sunday ready to worship our Risen Savior. Let’s endeavor every day to worship Him. Worship is our response back to God for who He is and for what He is doing in our lives. Romans calls us to “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God for this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1. What if every Sunday we come ready to worship like it is Easter? What is every day we are grateful for God’s gift of life and salvation through Christ? Wow! What a difference this would make in our daily lives.
No Fear – At Easter, Jesus conquered our greatest fear – death. Death, the big bully on the block for which everyone was always afraid – and Jesus overcame death. Jesus reigns supreme. So, if Jesus can conquer death, then is there anything for which we should be afraid? What if we lived with no fear because we know our God is greater! This means we don’t have to live a life of worry or being anxious about how something with go – job, relationship, money, etc. Our God has it. He has everything in our life in HIs hands. We are “more than conquerors through Him who loves us.” Romans 8. No fear.
Exuberant Joy – At Easter, the women erupted with joy. The disciples were overwhelmed with gratitude. Easter is full of joy! Joy at our Risen Savior, joy with our family and friends, joy in what our God is doing. God wants us to have joy every day. May “the joy of the Lord be your strength.” Nehemiah. Wake up every morning filled with joy at God’s indescribable gift of love and grace in your life. Let every day be a day of joy like Easter.
Unrelenting Boldness – Because of Easter, the disciples who scattered in fear turned around and lived with this incredible boldness. It was the disciples who ran away when Jesus was crucified who returned to preach the Good News of the Gospel in Jerusalem just 40 days after Jesus’ Resurrection. Let us be bold every day. Peter and John were arrested, but it tells us in Acts 4, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John…” May God use us to speak truth, to love radically, to share with others about the Resurrection. Jesus sends us out as His disciples today. Let’s be bold!
Don’t sweat the small things – God’s got it! Easter shows us that God is Sovereign overall. He is in control. There are so many little things in life that consume our time and attention – and many of these things ultimately do not matter. Let’s not get stressed out over little things. Let’s not let little things destroy relationships in our lives. Let’s focus on the big picture of what God is doing at Easter and in the world today. May God’s grace be sufficient for us!
Focus on Jesus – At Easter, it is all about Jesus. We focus on Him, celebrate His Resurrection, and thank God for the Gift of His Son. But, shouldn’t we do this every day? This should be the desire of our hearts every day. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith…” What if we wake up every day and set our eyes on Jesus. What a difference this would make in the way we live, respond to others, and fellowship with God. What if we live every day like it is Easter Sunday Morning? Always stay in awe of God’s love for you.
Let’s live as “Easter” people every day! He is Risen!