The temptations are everywhere this Easter...to be sad; missing family, friends, church, and traditions. To be defiant and do those things anyway. To be lazy and not celebrate Easter this year. To feel lonely. To feel angry.
This morning I talked to Jesus about the temptations that keep coming up in me. I lamented that nothing is normal. That Easter should be...what? My way? My rights? My idea of how we should get to celebrate our Savior’s victory over death?
As I stopped whining and was still, I heard the still small voice remind me of HIS way. His way is to take care of the sick, the vulnerable, the poor, the broken in spirit. To look after orphans and widows. To be a servant. To serve the Lord with gladness—even when situations aren’t happy and carefree.
Not one thing shocks the Lord. He is fully aware that we need to gather together with other believers. How generous of Him to allow us to create technology that can meet that need temporarily. He is also aware of how desperate the American church is to remember our purpose. We have a new and strange way to take care of the vulnerable right now. Bless our hearts, we even get to do it from the comfort of the American dream we have built. Baby steps.
I wonder what He is trying to teach us right now?? I keep asking. Keep searching. It’s there. I can feel it. He is teaching us to serve others by putting our desires and what we can justify as our rights on the alter of sacrifice. We can serve. We can see the yard that needs to be cut and do it. We can pray for the virus to STOP and be silenced. We can pray for the brilliant minds who are figuring this out. We can check on our neighbors. We can leave flowers on porches. We can pray for our leadership, and we can stay home for Easter. What is more Jesus-like than denying our rights, to do our part to help others live?
I will keep asking Him to show me the treasures He has buried in this quarantine season. I do hope y’all join me in this prayer!! I have a few ideas that I’m still praying through. I’ll share them as soon as I feel like it is time.
But today, I celebrate the one who sacrificed His entitlement for my soul. I wonder if one of the treasures that comes from this is that non believers will have so many ways to watch church from the shadows and light will break through for them. Wouldn’t that make it all worth it?
I raise a hallelujah! I will watch the darkness flee! I raise a hallelujah in the middle of the mystery. I’m gonna sing in the middle of the storm. Louder and louder you’re gonna hear my praises roar. Up from the ashes hope will arise. Death is defeated. The King is alive!