Oh For Christ’s Sake

It’s Easter, and it’s for Christ’s sake.  I’ve attended a service every night of this week, both in town and away.  I even took communion in an 11th century Norman church in Symington with eight others on Maundy Thursday.  It was beautiful.  The week has given me time to reflect on my faith, and the strength of that faith.  As always, I find myself lacking as a “good Christian” knowing there is ever always more I could be doing.  The sense that I am doing too much at other times completely withers away when I think about the sacrifice Jesus made in coming to us and dying for us, by our hands and our sins.  I am a horrible person.  {Join the club!, says my inner smart-alec.}

Tomorrow is Easter, and as I reflect, it is good to know that I am not condemned for my lack of perfection because of the perfect correction by Christ for my sins.  That takes away years of guilt, let me tell you!  On the other hand, I am more committed that I have been in the recent past to fulfilling my commitments to the church I work for, to the school I attend, and to myself and my future, knowing once again that it is my job to represent Christ in my life.  No one else can do it for me. 

Easter is a great reminder that Christians should be doing what they do in the name of Christ for his sake and not their own.  Imagine if Jesus had decided not to go through the pain of crucifixion because he didn’t want to suffer.  But we remember His prayer in Matthew 26:42: “He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”  And we know what has happened as a result of Jesus taking that cup! AMEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS!  That is so cool!