This Weekend...

A couple things on my heart this weekend:

The resurrection - If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Cor 15:19-22, NIV)

This weekend we remember the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection. Through this we receive forgiveness of our sins and justification.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (Rom 4:25, NIV).

Personally I believe it is so easy for us to let this truth be crowded out of our hearts through the things of this world. Or we may get too caught up with getting our lives in shape that we forget that we are working out of a position of victory and success, that in God's eyes the matter is settled through the death and resurrection of Christ, and we are now to walk the land and claim the victory.

Without the cross and resurrection, Christianity would be only a self-development program amongst many, such as NLP, the Sedona Method and even Ho' oponopono. We cannot reasonably expect to have more results in our lives than practitioners of those methods if we forget the cross, the very source of our power!

Servanthood - For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. (Luke 22:27, NIV)

Even before the crucifixion, Jesus was still pouring out his heart to his disciples and serving them. If we get so caught up with preparations for our church Easter service that it all becomes a burden, then we'd have missed out on the meaning of Resurrection Sunday. It's not about putting on the most impressive show or the most elaborate song and dance routines. It's about remembering the reason for our hope, celebrating it with our siblings-in-Christ and maybe seeing yet another person born into the Kingdom of God as we commemorate this occasion.

So if you are getting frazzled by a demanding choir director or worship team leader, or if you are the one doing all the frazzling, stop! Take a deep breath, drink some water and focus your heart and mind on Jesus, who stooped down to wash our feet even before his crucifixion. How do you think he would feel if we forgot his gentle and humble heart and let ourselves get caught up with complex chord progressions, weird vocal harmonies or we end up losing our joy and peace because of trying to organize a slick show?

Anyway, that's what I’d like to share for now. Be blessed and may you have a joyful weekend remembering the reason for our hope and faith!