THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER

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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EASTER

The significance of Easter is different for everyone. It may be renewal in some form, spring in all its glory, visiting church, family gatherings, a new outfit, an Easter egg hunt, or some combination of these. For me Easter takes on meaning as it relates to my being a Christian. Easter to me means I am a child of God and part of His family.

The Risen Savior

BECAUSE Jesus rose from the dead I am able to participate in God’s work of transforming me from sinner to saint. Paul put it this way. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Sin’s Price Paid-God’s Approval

WHEN Jesus rose from the dead it said God approved Jesus’ work on the cross. We heard from Jesus on the cross as He said “It is finished” after which He voluntarily gave up His life (“He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost”) (John 19:30). In His resurrection, God the Father’s approval of Jesus’ accomplishment during His crucifixion. God the Father raised Jesus from the dead “I agree” debt has been paid. “It is Finished!” It certainly would not be the same story we know today if Jesus’ death had been the end of His life then.

Indwelling of God’s Spirit

SINCE Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to God His Father in heaven, the Holy Spirit could come and take up residence in my soul (and countless others), picking up where Jesus left off. More than that, God could come to dwell in his children and work in the world through the Holy Spirit. Since before time began the triune God has been active. Now the God we know as three persons in one, works in the world from a different standpoint rather than before Jesus came to earth as a human being.  God  related to people on a personal level and through the prophets before Christ. For Jesus was unique as a human being since He was God also.

Holy Spirit Comes as Comforter

Jesus said “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:7-8).

God Choose to work through His Church

Enter the church. While God can do His work with no human involvement and sometimes does, He has chosen to use people.  Paul prayed for the Ephesians. He asked “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:18-20).

Instrument for God’s Glory

The same God Who raised Jesus from the dead after defeating the enemy of our souls on the cross now makes that same power available to us. He does so  by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what Easter means to me. God uses me for His glory as I yielded to Him as a servant. I then become His instrument to meet others’ needs.  Specifically, His strong and sufficient power gets the job done.

When I think about having God’s power available to me,  it helps me overcome problems.  Also it  generates a fire in me all year round. Furthermore, to be His hand picked tool, is my privilege and reward.  The focal point was Jesus’ resurrection from the dead lifted the burden of sin off my back. Because Jesus rose from the dead I too live in newness of life.

https://youtu.be/VXp6xcY5IqU

Glorious Day  Casting Crowns

Shirley Logsdon

Further reading:

SERVE To Lead

https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2019/01/31/serve-to-lead/

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About Shirley Logsdon

I am the only child of Christian parents who wanted me to know God personally as they did. One night during church we watched a movie depicting a family in their home accepting Jesus as their personal Savior. I was nine and realized then my desire to make Jesus my personal Savior. With the full support of my parents, I met with the pastor and prayed to receive Christ. A few years later, several of us around the same age began classes for our confirmation to become church members. The privilege of taking communion was a special time for me. . During my teenage years I was outwardly complacent, but was inwardly rebellious. I developed the nasty habit of disrupting harmony in the household by nitpicking at anything and everything. A preacher came to hold revival services at my dad’s church and nailed me silently with looks. This helped me tremendously. I turned a corner and began to respect and obey my parents in attitude and actions. I survived these years through prayer (mine, my parents and friends). The love and tenacity of my parents and God’s grace got me through these years of upheaval. I readily identify with David the Psalmist when he said in Psalm 25:7, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.” Because my parents provided a stable home life for me, when I went to college my Christian values remained intact. After completing my education in 1979, I started working. For a while, I worked at temp agencies, then I did odd jobs. I settled down in a secretarial position in 1986 working for a firm specializing in retirement plan administration. In 2007, I started working for a law firm, eventually becoming a knowledge management assistant in their law library, helping to alert attorneys to new business opportunities. I am a productive citizen of my country in large part because my parents prayed for me and made clear by word and example what they expected of me. I am extremely grateful to God for them. John 15:5 is my life verse: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” I am confronted with this realization every day I live, and it helps keep me on the straight and narrow path. I met my future husband at church. After a few years of our two families getting acquainted, he and I started courting. We married at the church where we met, in the presence of many relatives and friends. We have been married for 29 years. My hobbies are reading, cooking, and canning or freezing what my beloved husband grows in the garden. Also, I thoroughly enjoy writing. While my writing has included poems, most of my writing has been letters to family and friends. I like to share my faith when I write and am fond of adding a Bible verse or two to help focus on the source of our life. Since I am now retired after working 38 years, I can concentrate on keeping up with birthdays. Something else I enjoy is studying the Bible, often with others. Blogging is a new form of writing for me. I am getting my feet wet and I’m beginning to enjoy the experience.

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