Are you one of those people who appear happy and seem to have life figured out, and yet inside you feel uneasy and empty? We all have felt that way one time or another...From the appearance of many people, we judge them to be happy. They smile, they have stylish clothes and nice makeup, and they create an impression of inner peace. Internally though many are hurting, they are in 'bondage'.
In the Gospel of Luke (4:18-19) Jesus clarifies his purpose: He has come to set us free from 'bondage'.
His spirit within each believer provides the power to overcome wrong choices and sins that seem to own us.
At the time when Jesus was born, the Israelites were experiencing great oppression. They looked forward to the promised Messiah who would bring freedom and victory, and would overthrow the Roman nation. However, instead of overthrowing the government, Jesus spoke about respecting authority (Caesar), and showing kindness and love to 'enemies'. He voluntarily allowed the Romans to crucify Him. The Jews rejected Him because they failed to understand that He was not concerned about freedom from the oppressive government, but instead freedom of the heart.
2000 years later, we also need to understand that He came and died not to free us from difficult circumstances, BUT to release us from bondage of sin in our lives. What exactly does that mean? For most people this statement is difficult to understand. I have attended church all my life, since I was a little girl, and yet it took many of my adult years of studying the Bible, listening to countless sermons and asking questions, to finally understand what it really means. At some point, we stop questioning and start believing. We trust by faith. The same way we go on our everyday life. For example, we trust that the chair we sit on will support us. We don't question who made it, how is it made, what is it made of, when was it made, how many pounds will it hold etc etc..We just sit on it. We drive our car, having faith that it will take us to our destination and will not break down. We don't have doubts every time we get in, and we don't question all the specs and details of the car. When we read a book we don't start researching the information to make sure the author is right, we take him for his word and expertise in the subject. Our faith in God is and should be the same. We don't need to know or understand every little detail---we just believe, by faith.
In a few days we will be celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He endured the shame and agony of the cross for the joy that He would have afterwards. What is that joy? The joy was that he would re-unite with His father in heaven and if we believed in Him, we would have eternal life. That is what Easter is all about. It is NOT about bunnies, candy and colored eggs, where families get together to eat, drink and celebrate yet another 'holiday'. As we gather with family and friends, let Easter be a reminder to us of the victory we have in Christ, who overcame death and promised to be with us always. He didn't promise our lives will always be easy and carefree, but that the path will be bearable, because we are not walking alone. And, because of His voluntary sacrifice, our eternal home, once closed, is now open for us again. Our home and our life on earth is temporary, we are not fully at home, but one day we will stand before Him in our eternal home.
This promise should give us happiness and joy; the fact that someone (God's son) gave His life, so that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. He died so that I can live, not in my worldly home but someday in my heavenly home.
John 3:16 is quoted often: "God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life". Also one of Jesus 's last words to one of the criminals who was crucified next to him, and had acknowledged Him as God, was: "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" Luke 23:43. What a wonderful promise to look forward too as we wait here on earth.
I pray that we all experience a true inner peace as we celebrate this Holy Day.
Happy Easter
In the Gospel of Luke (4:18-19) Jesus clarifies his purpose: He has come to set us free from 'bondage'.
His spirit within each believer provides the power to overcome wrong choices and sins that seem to own us.
At the time when Jesus was born, the Israelites were experiencing great oppression. They looked forward to the promised Messiah who would bring freedom and victory, and would overthrow the Roman nation. However, instead of overthrowing the government, Jesus spoke about respecting authority (Caesar), and showing kindness and love to 'enemies'. He voluntarily allowed the Romans to crucify Him. The Jews rejected Him because they failed to understand that He was not concerned about freedom from the oppressive government, but instead freedom of the heart.
2000 years later, we also need to understand that He came and died not to free us from difficult circumstances, BUT to release us from bondage of sin in our lives. What exactly does that mean? For most people this statement is difficult to understand. I have attended church all my life, since I was a little girl, and yet it took many of my adult years of studying the Bible, listening to countless sermons and asking questions, to finally understand what it really means. At some point, we stop questioning and start believing. We trust by faith. The same way we go on our everyday life. For example, we trust that the chair we sit on will support us. We don't question who made it, how is it made, what is it made of, when was it made, how many pounds will it hold etc etc..We just sit on it. We drive our car, having faith that it will take us to our destination and will not break down. We don't have doubts every time we get in, and we don't question all the specs and details of the car. When we read a book we don't start researching the information to make sure the author is right, we take him for his word and expertise in the subject. Our faith in God is and should be the same. We don't need to know or understand every little detail---we just believe, by faith.
In a few days we will be celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He endured the shame and agony of the cross for the joy that He would have afterwards. What is that joy? The joy was that he would re-unite with His father in heaven and if we believed in Him, we would have eternal life. That is what Easter is all about. It is NOT about bunnies, candy and colored eggs, where families get together to eat, drink and celebrate yet another 'holiday'. As we gather with family and friends, let Easter be a reminder to us of the victory we have in Christ, who overcame death and promised to be with us always. He didn't promise our lives will always be easy and carefree, but that the path will be bearable, because we are not walking alone. And, because of His voluntary sacrifice, our eternal home, once closed, is now open for us again. Our home and our life on earth is temporary, we are not fully at home, but one day we will stand before Him in our eternal home.
This promise should give us happiness and joy; the fact that someone (God's son) gave His life, so that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. He died so that I can live, not in my worldly home but someday in my heavenly home.
John 3:16 is quoted often: "God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life". Also one of Jesus 's last words to one of the criminals who was crucified next to him, and had acknowledged Him as God, was: "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" Luke 23:43. What a wonderful promise to look forward too as we wait here on earth.
I pray that we all experience a true inner peace as we celebrate this Holy Day.
Happy Easter
