I wanted to add a sequel to my post on Easter Sunday. At church on Sunday, our pastor concluded with a very simple but I believe massive statement. He said no matter where you stand on Jesus, you have to do something with Him.
The basis behind this comment was that whether you are a strong, mature, long-time believer or whether you are 100% against the idea that there is even the existence of a God; we have to make a statement on who we believe Jesus is and as a result that has to impact how we live our lives.
Personally, that conclusion set firmly on my heart as a good reminder to not be stagnant. Far too often believers will find some security and safety in knowing Christ and trusting him with our future but that mentality will often prevent an active faith. James 1 and 2 does not give us this allowance. I was challenged by the message on Sunday to do something with Jesus now. It’s tempting, knowing that my security and hope is firmly in Christ, to post that fact as a trophy on my mantle instead of allowing it to be fuel for a life devoted to Him. The Gospel isn’t a trophy. It’s an enabler. It enables believers to live life on mission for the glory of God and our own joy in Him.
If Easter was, for you, just a simple pat on the back and not a challenge then you missed the substance behind Easter message. The Gospel saves us from our sin and yes the story of Easter is about Christ’s life, death, and resurrection to do this. However, it also saves us to a life on mission for the glory of God. If all we heard on Sunday is that we are saved and to be stagnant and inactive in our faith then we missed the message. The Bible does not allow believers to be stagnant. The Bible calls believers to act on the presence of the Gospel in our lives and live differently as new creations bent on glorifying God in all that we do.
The Easter message, the message of Jesus Christ, is not a safe message for unbelievers or believers. We have to do something with Jesus.
Check out our Easter sermon below:
“Implications of the Resurrection” http://subspla.sh/1eZTGDB