Easter, Here We Go Again

Today is Saturday, it's actually the day squeezed between Good Friday and Easter. And tomorrow, Christians will gather all around the world and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus after his death and burial. Christians will celebrate in a number of ways tomorrow. Some might have pageants, some might take communion, and some might decorate crosses with freshly cut flowers. But to be completely honest, the last few years have been a bit hard for me to celebrate.

 So with me saying that, let me explain myself. First off, the reason I've had a hard time celebrating has nothing to do with the resurrection itself. I one-hundred percent believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I also fully believe that Jesus died to appease the wrath of God for all those who believe and put their faith in Him.

 Now that we have that clear, let's move on. The problem that I have been working through the last few years is how we as Christians celebrate Easter. I feel like it has become more of a show than anything thing else. We have to have finely manicured church lawns. We have to have big elaborate music productions. Sermons have to be spot on with the right illustrations because it might be "our one chance". We have to dress ourselves and our kids to the nines. There also always seem to be a bit more energy in worship as well. A lot more than "just another Sunday". You may now see where I am heading.

 As Christians, this is the day we celebrate what is at the heart of Christianity, Jesus and his resurrection. Without the resurrection, Jesus would have just been another man that walked the earth that came and died, just like everyone else. But instead, he led a life we can not lead and died a death we could not fulfill. He bore the wrath of God upon a cross. That is what we as Christians celebrate on Easter.

 But, Easter happens every Sunday. Yep, you read that correctly. Easter happens every Sunday. Matter of fact, Easter happens every single day. Every single day there are people around the world that recognize for the first time that though Jesus they have eternal life. They recognize what the love of God actually means. It is their Easter. It is the day they believe in the resurrection. The day they are welcomed in to the Kingdom.

 So what I'm saying is this. When we worship, let's worship, fully worship. Let's not half ass it. Whether you're on a kayak in the middle of some river admiring God's glory in the middle of the week. Whether you're in your car on a long or short drive. Whether you're in the middle of horrible circumstances. Whether you are gathered among a group of friends in community with one another. Or whether you are in worship as a body of believers, fully worship Christ and remember the resurrection and celebrate what He has done, every single day.