As we approach Easter and what that means to us.....?

As we approach Easter and what that means to us…..?

…..individuals, is there any sense of moral living that confronts us and our children?  Is there a premise that determines my ability to hold true to my keeping a  promise to do what I proposed on Ash Wednesday?

Habits that all of us find difficult to walk away from often create an attitude of “what’s the difference” if I break this attempt to give something up?  To whom or what did I make a resolution to do something for Lent that might just bring me closer to the God who created me and now proves that via the Cross on Calvary?

How does God view our weak approach to give something up that reminds us of what this season is all about?  Perhaps he says to himself, “I will wait for your decision to turn back to me.”  Jesus said “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  (Mt 26: 41).  God will not hold us accountable when we, through a weak nature, fail to adhere completely to a promise that is a sacrifice to myself.  He is watching our heart and therein finds what our real intent is by sacrificing our nature of obedience to a premise made out of respect for he who created us.  

There is always the temptation to forget my promise to avoid the occasion of sin that awaits my thought of “who will see me and point a finger of warning to change?”  The story of a young child walking through a candy store looked around and seeing no one of authority grabs a candy bar and walks out of the store.  A week later, never being accused of the first theft, walks by the candy counter and sees no one looking and takes two candy bars.  Suddenly the temptation to please himself by the hidden activity might just grow into a habit of stealing and running.  All sin begins like this when there is none that confronts me and it's not like I robbed a bank.

Perhaps the decision to sacrifice for Lent isn’t the practice of taking what doesn’t belong to me but, avoiding anything that can corrupt our sense of right and wrong certainly will determine our knowledge of righteousness.  That is what Lent can do for our moral decisions even outside of the Easter season.  

Jesus never made a choice of who were the people he died for.  There is one classification that the Passion was performed for;  Sinners and that is inclusive for all human beings.  One candy bar, or a sexual sin with an adultress lifestyle, are sinful in God’s eyes.  It is here that God looks at our hearts and decides to give himself up for our redemption.

Easter becomes the ultimate glory of God’s Son ending Satan’s attack to outdo God is now destroyed for you and me.  His sin of pride will become the prize if we forget what and why Christ became the Lamb that humbled himself that we would find forgiveness handed us  on a golden platter.  This is Easter and the Resurrection of Christ’s Love for you and me.  

Ralph B.Hathaway