Do you want more?
There is a part of the Passover Seder ritual called “Dayenu” – meaning it would have been enough (as in, “Had He brought us out of Egypt but not judged them, it would have been enough for us”).
I am writing this on Easter evening, thinking dayenu:
Had Christ died for our sins to save us from hell, it would have been enough.
But he also gave us eternal life with Him in heaven—more than enough.
Sometimes I hesitate to be public about my faith.
May I live every day in memory of Good Friday,
in memory of Easter morning.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
“Fear imprisons, faith liberates;
fear paralyzes, faith empowers;
fear disheartens, faith encourages;
fear sickens, faith heals;
fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable.“
From Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969)
Today we recall how Jesus was arrested and his disciples were fearful. The resurrection transformed their fear into faith.
Fear not; have faith!
I hate it when people make fun of others.
I hate it when others to make fun of me. I admit it. I’m afraid of ridicule.
Christ loved those who made fun of him. He wasn’t afraid to intercede for those who ridiculed him.
Luke 23:34 (NIV)
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Father, forgive me for caving into my fear of ridicule instead of standing up for my faith. And forgive my prayerlessness. I know better.
Hebrews 4:15 (NASB)
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.
You’ve heard the joke about how many [fill in the blank]s it takes to change a light bulb. “Change!” says a voice of panic. “Did somebody say change?”
Consider the change our Lord accepted–from heaven’s glories to manger, cross and tomb.
I’m thinking Christ can sympathize with whatever change is in my future.
What worries you most?
Yesterday was Palm Sunday. This is Holy Week, a time set apart to ponder and celebrate the last week of Christ’s earthly life. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he rode into our biggest fears.
“Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.”
Henry H. Milman, 1827
Luke 1:17 (NIV)
. . . turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
How to prepare is the question. Spurgeon offered this answer back in 1887:
“. . . to get men to come to Jesus just as they are, is not an easy thing. To get them to give up the idea of preparing, to get them prepared to come without preparing, to get them ready to come just as they are, this is the hardest part of our work.“
Prepare to come just as you are.
I lay awake. I tried the usual back-to-sleep techniques, without success.
Prayer time, I thought. Prepare-my-heart time.
It’s not all about you.
I’m kinda slow in the middle of the night. Minutes passed, I finally understood.
I’m called to pray for the preparation of other’s hearts.
Get ready: food, house, wardrobe.
Study the word:
Jeremiah 15:16 (NIV)
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight.
Clear out the sin:
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Get properly dressed:
Romans 13:14
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Prepare for Easter; prepare for eternity.
