28 Mar Bunnies, Chicks and Chocolate Eggs

Easter weekend is fast approaching – I know I feel like Christmas was yesterday! I couldn’t help but think of everyone preparing for Easter egg hunts in their gardens with little fluffy bunnies hiding and baby chicks bringing presents in the form of chocolate eggs and sweeties. Now don’t get me wrong I love bunnies and baby chicks just as much as the next person and they are definitely beyond cute! I do realize that my statement does sound harsh but with that being said there is honestly nothing wrong with loving bunnies and having chocolate Easter eggs. The problem unfortunately is that sometimes we have entirely forgotten what this time of year means – the Easter bunny and chocolate eggs represent Easter rather than Christ! Easter time should solely be about remembering the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). As believers we hold tight to the biblical truths found in the Gospel and the fact that Christ rose on the third day is not only incomprehensible to some but also an impossible task for an ordinary human if you ask me– so it SHOULD therefore be remembered don’t you think?

To me this monumental event deserves remembrance every day and not only during the Easter weekend. I mean, our whole biblical foundation lies on this very event! Our Lord Jesus Christ did what He said He would do. He conquered death and rose victorious over sin and Satan!

If His death and resurrection never happened then the whole Bible would be untrustworthy and full of flaws. Still, we know that God breathed out scripture and that His word is living and active (see Hebrews 4:12) but the secular world has shut God out of the picture entirely: Easter is now only about Easter bunnies and how many eggs I can fit into my little felt-lined basket.

He is risen indeed!

Let’s reflect on the passage where the stone was rolled away an empty tomb was found and whoever calls on the Lord is saved!

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.” (Luke 24:1-12 ESV).

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13 ESV)

The Power of The Cross

Let us read this wonderful worship song together in our hearts with thankfulness to the Lord!
The Power of The Cross
Oh to see the dawn of the darkest day
Christ on the road to Calvary
Tried by sinful men torn and beaten then
Nailed to a cross of wood

This the pow’r of the cross
Christ became sin for us
Took the blame bore the wrath
We stand forgiven at the cross

Oh to see the pain written on Your face
Bearing the awesome weight of sin
Ev’ry bitter thought ev’ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow

Now the daylight flees now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head
Curtain torn in two dead are raised to life
Finished the vict’ry cry

Oh to see my name written in the wounds
For through Your suff’ring I am free
Death is crushed to death life is mine to live
Won through Your selfless love
This the pow’r of the cross
Son of God slain for us
What a love what a cost
We stand forgiven at the cross

CCLI Song # 4490766 Keith & Kristyn Getty | Stuart Townend
©2005 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so

What Jesus did for us on the cross was the most selfless act in history … so I thought I’d share some of these Biblical truths about Christ’s love that I recently came across from Bible Love Notes and of course, a few of the verses I’ve read that shows God’s undying love for His children.

• In the Gospel of John chapter 15:13 it says that there is no greater love than someone who laid down His own life for His friends – there is no greater love than Christ’s love for us!
• In God’s love for us He sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him (see 1 John 4:9-10)
• As the Father loved me, so have I loved you… (see John 15:9) our service to God is only possible through our relationship with and in Him.
• He is our Shepherd and our Saviour; He is the good shepherd who lay down His own life for the sheep (see John 10:11)
• He watches over us daily, protects us from evil and His goodness and mercy follow us throughout our lives (see Psalm 23)
• Our hope for life was given before we understood it. ‘’For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God’’. (see Romans 5:6-9 ESV)

My dear fearfully and wonderfully made sister, let us follow God’s example and walk in the way of love. Let our light shine and forgive those who have hurt you, made you feel weak or spoken badly behind your back not because we love Jesus but because He loved us first!

If Jesus as God could love and forgive those who whipped, beat, spat on, humiliated and mocked Him we can too!

Prayer

My prayer for you, my wonderfully and fearfully made sister, is the following:
Dear Lord, I couldn’t possibly put into words the amount of appreciation I have for the fact that you laid down your life for a sinner like me, I give thanks that I get to serve a mighty King like you every single day, I also give thanks that you love me, protect me and guide me all the days of the earthly life I travel until you welcome me home one day.
Lord, I pray for those who have not yet seen the light, who have not yet put their faith and trust in you heavenly Father, may you grant them repentance and bring them to salvation.
Lord, I thank you for your ultimate sacrifice so that I can be free, let me be constantly reminded of the power of the cross and that we stand forgiven!

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Sylvia van Jaarsveld

I’m a volunteer blogger. Welcome to my blog posts! May my writings be an inspiration to you and an aid to get you into a biblical mindset: “It’s never me but God!”
Let us grow together!
~Col 2:6-8