“For you ignore God’s specific laws and substitute your own traditions” (Mark 7:8 ).
Only one day away from the church’s biggest day of the year. The one most planned for. The day most anticipated. The day when the church brings out all the chairs, bells and whistles. The Sunday when the choir has practiced and intends to sound their best. The Sunday more bulletins will be printed. The day of the year Madonna lilies are placed across the altar and their scents reach even the back pew. The Sunday most attended.
Easter Sunday. Unchurched family members will be attending. Unbelieving souls will be sitting in our pews. Uncommitted members will show up to be counted. Visitors will be asked to fill out the cards placed on the back of each pew.
And you?
Purchased your new dress, white shoes and Easter bonnet? Planned to attend the Sonrise service your church is offering? Have your ham scheduled to percolate in the oven while you’re at worship service? Planning to get to church early enough that one of the visitors won’t get your pew? Given the speech to your children about how to behave in adult worship, how to sit with a dress on? Got Cheerios in your bag to keep them quiet and coloring books to keep them entertained?
What have we turned Easter Sunday into?
How do you think God intended us to honor His sacrifice? What celebrations do you think He expected us to have? Do you really think He wants us to turn Resurrection Day into a grand-sized public display of godliness—when our thoughts are too busy with the externals to really ponder the wonder of the day?
What have we turned the grandest day of the church into? Are we worrying more over the Easter baskets and bunnies than we are the empty tomb? Are our minds focused more on the family dinners and large crowds than the promise fulfilled and the hope it holds?
We’ve ignored a lot of Christ’s sacrifice in order to instill some traditions filled with chocolate and fluff. Take a minute or two to think, really think, about all Christ has done for us—and the power it took to raise Him from the dead.
Malinda Edgell
Illinois
PRAY TOGETHER: Read John 14:1. Be not troubled; trust. Pray for grace to trust more.
