Easter's Over... Now What?

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:18-21 ESV).

 

I hope you Easter Sunday was filled with family, friends, beautiful flowers, and great food. For many it might have also been filled with a wonderful celebration of worship, a strong, encouraging sermon, and receiving an abundance of blessing. But now it’s Monday, the beginning of the week after and I wonder… what’s next in our lives? It’s so easy to fall back into our daily routine with impossible schedules, obligations, work deadlines, and, for some, broken relationships and guilt over our own failures. We must ask, “What will I do with Easter now?”

 

Is the ultimate message of the cross making a difference in my life this week? Or have I fallen back into excusing a sin, or self-condemnation, or unforgiveness towards someone? We fall into one of the three most common traps of our enemy. We may excuse ourselves with comparisons, after all, are we really that bad? Well, the cross says we are that bad and worse. We are all spiritually broken. We must focus on the good news of the cross. That is all that will keep us from condemning ourselves. God doesn’t… not any more. The cross settled that. Live the resurrection that Jesus paid for with His blood.

 

At least one of the things that must mean for us today and all the days that follow. Jesus knows and understands our pain, and still He says forgive others — no matter what they have done or left undone. But there’s more, He says we are to ask for forgiveness from Him and to ask for forgiveness from others. If there is a sin that you are harboring, a critical spirit, an unforgiving spirit, then confess… Jesus you died for this sin of mine. I ask you to forgive me. Thank you that you have forgiven me.  And then go to the person with whom you have a broken relationship and ask for their forgiveness. For some this may involve writing a letter.  Don’t say: but if you had or hadn’t… This is not primarily about them; it’s about us and our relationship with Jesus. It’s about taking Him up on his promise to forgive us as we forgive others. This takes time. But asking for forgiveness opens the door to the power of God to heal. The real power of the resurrection begins today!