Easter week is here! Celebrations! Joyful traditions, activities, and food! Subsequently, the simple reality of this wonderful holiday is – We have hope! We have Jesus!
Before we explore hope in today’s content, I want to mention a FREE Easter week devotional course – Prepare For Easter. It’s already open, and I’ll tell you more at the end of this content.
Easter Celebrations
Now, for our content on hope. Yes – we have hope. Incidentally, that’s one good reason to pause each year to celebrate. Of course, we celebrate what Jesus accomplished through His cross and empty tomb. Equally, we celebrate signs of new life:
- Daffodils, crocuses, and lily displays.
- Coloring and decorating eggs.
- Bright, cheerful, (sometimes new) clothing to wear.
- Perhaps a bonnet or bow tie.
- Easter baskets of candy / goodies hidden for children to hunt.
- Sunrise service.
- Family gatherings.
- A special meal.
- Perhaps communion.
- Joyful songs like “He Is Risen!”
These events and traditions remind of God’s redeeming love. Remarkably and thankfully – we have hope through Jesus! God’s love through Christ’s cross seals His grace gift to every person who simply believes on Christ. What an unthinkable gift – to be forgiven and live forever. This is why – we have hope. Plus hope means:
- Intimate, daily fellowship with God, Himself.
- Purposeful partnership with Jesus in all we do.
We Have Hope
Do you remember when you first became aware you can do wrong things? Perhaps you were a child. Maybe a moment as a teen or young adult when your conscience said “no,” but instead, you chose to say, “yes.” As years add up, there’s increasing awareness that no matter how hard you try, you just can’t be perfect.
Do you know what that means? It means we all need help! Equally, we need hope! Thankfully, we have hope through Jesus. He’ll help you live your life well. Remarkably, He invites you to be His friend!
Hope Is Jesus
Scripture refers to Jesus from Genesis through Revelation. Jesus is the central figure of the entire Bible. Every Old and New Testament book points to Jesus in some way.
Before Jesus came to earth as a baby (the God-man), He was called Logos – “The Word.” John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made . . .”
The Word has two presentations: the living Word (Jesus) and the written Word (Scripture). So, when you get into Scripture (written Word), you literally take Jesus (living Word) off the pages into your life. Incredible!
Because Jesus is faithful and perfect, “God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name . . .” (Phil. 2:9) Essentially, every person must make a response to Jesus.
Scripture also says,
- God – “has put everything under His feet.” (1 Cor. 15:27)
- “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10-11)
Jesus Provides Hope For You:
You and I need hope. We also need practical help in our challenging daily lives. Sometimes, you may wonder where to turn for critical resources for your heart and soul.
Interestingly, Jesus – without anything other than Himself, can meet and overflow the deepest demands of your total nature. (paraphrase of A.W.Tozer. The Pursuit of God, p. 40)
Yes, Jesus meets your needs through His person and His various roles.
Subsequently, here is a list of some roles Jesus has. And we focus on each of these roles in our FREE Easter week devotional course – Prepare For Easter. (see below). Join us to explore how these roles provide practical life changes:
- Sacrifice
- High Priest
- Lover of Your Soul
- Intervener
- Intercessor
- Interconnector
- Resurrection
We Have Hope Through Jesus
1 Thess. 5:8 says, ” . . . putting on . . . the hope of salvation as a helmet.”
Strategically, a helmet is to protect your head. Of course, your head is where you think, problem-solve, plan, process each moment, and make critical daily decisions. Your mind, combined with your spirit, is also where your conscience resides. Logically, you can see why it’s important to provide protection for what goes on in your head.
With all the lies and deceptions in today’s world, your mind needs a helmet. And God already provides one for you. The “hope of salvation” is what Easter is all about. Trusting Jesus for salvation starts at the cross. Nevertheless, it continues into each day you live.
Jesus saves you increasingly, every single day! Any broken pieces, unhealthy patterns, unhelpful habits, strained relationships, lack of peace and joy, loneliness, depression, discouragement, loss, and on goes the list – Jesus saves you in the moment every day.
Who Needs Jesus
People need hope in Jesus –
- Around the world.
- Down your street.
- In your career place.
- Right in your own home.
- In fact, the person in your mirror needs Jesus. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way . . . “ (Is. 53:6)
Incidentally, this Easter, remember Jesus stepped-in to –
- Take the punishment for sin (death).
- Forgive all transgressions.
- Give you eternal life.
- Walk with you every day.
- Provide a helmet for your mind.
- Guard your heart in this challenging world.
Since He always enjoyed intimate closeness with God, it must have been excruciating for Jesus to bear God’s justified anger as our stand-in. However, through this extreme sacrifice, we have hope!
Remarkably, Scripture says, “Behold, I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:5) This is fabulous news! Plus – this is hope!
Because We Have Hope In Jesus
Since “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever,” you can depend on Him for every detail in your life. (Heb. 13:8) Yes, you have – hope and you have a Friend at all times.
So, we celebrate Easter with hope every year! Additionally, we live with hope even while the world runs on a separate, destructive path. Because many are on this path, we must share this hope with them.
Easter Week Devotional Focus/Activity!
So, I promised to tell you about an opportunity to participate in Easter hope. To help prepare your heart for a meaningful celebration, we’re offering a FREE encouraging devotional course – Prepare For Easter. You can jump in any time best for you.
Additionally, the content is –
Meaningful . . . Brief . . . Fun . . . Refreshing.
Read or Listen. All FREE! It’s already open, so NOW!
Busy people with full schedules can easily participate. Simply click your way through the course to the next brief session.
May your heart be prepared, encouraged, and inspired to connect with Jesus Christ in a very special way this Easter!
You Can Also Listen
If you prefer to listen, just click on the player above each day’s content.
It will look like this image.
(This picture is not an active player.)
Prepare For Easter Is On Podcast!
If you subscribe to our podcast, Prepare For Easter episodes are already in your feed. The publish date is Mar. 3, 2024.
Quick overview:
- Daily Focus – Using a short reflective thought to focus your heart for Easter, each day explores a special role Jesus has in your life. It’s very encouraging!
- Fun Activity – Additionally, engage a fun activity each day – by yourself, as a family, with a friend, or with a group.
- Teaching Point – By combining the Daily Focus and Fun Activity, each day’s content becomes deeply meaningful through a Teaching Point.
The reason this Easter resource is so meaningful is . . .
Because each session explores how Jesus provides for you!
As mentioned previously in this content, we’ll cover each role Jesus carries out for you:
- Sacrifice
- High Priest
- Lover of Your Soul
- Intervener
- Intercessor
- Interconnector
- Resurrection
As you explore these special roles, you can know without a doubt God’s love for you is sincere! Essentially, you can live with hope!
You’ll also receive a BONUS POST –
“When You Run Out of Ideas of Where to Hide An Easter Basket.”
So, take the opportunity to prepare your heart! Additionally, tell others about this wonderful opportunity. You can jump in any time best for you. It’s already open, so SIGN UP NOW by going to www.aliveandactivelife.org/courses. Click on the sign up button.
IMPORTANT and TIMELY Heads-Up! . . .
Session #3 Fun Activity uses Resurrection Eggs to tell the Easter story. There’s a little reminder token in each egg. Subsequently, to participate:
- Order NOW (amazon – or another online vendor) OR
- Visit/call your local Christian Bookstores to inquire about a set OR
- Make your own.
To make your own:
Incidentally, it’s really fun to make your own set! But it’s also simple. By filling empty, colorful plastic eggs with little items, each part of the Easter story can be told. Since the online set shows detailed pictures of items needed, use that example. Interestingly, not only kids love this set. Every age does!
Even if you decide not to make or order this tool, our content provides additional options for activities.
Alive and Active Life wants your Easter week to be special by connecting with Jesus. “Prepare for Easter” devotional course helps you do that.
So – to participate!
www.aliveandactivelife.org/courses.
You’ll be glad you did!
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Visit our website for resources to get into God’s Word and live an Alive and Active Life.
