There's plenty to love about eggs, bunnies and chocolates, but Easter Sunday holds a much deeper meaning. Yes, this highly anticipated holiday offers an opportunity to gather with family, but it can be so much more. On Easter, we remember the love Christ showed mankind when he gave the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. He is risen from the dead, so we truly have reason to celebrate!
While this special day offers a valuable reminder and reason to celebrate, it should by no means be the only day on which we show our gratitude. After all, this holiday regularly changes dates in our modern calendar, reminding us that the essence of Easter is not exclusive to one single day. Below, we explain why the spirit of Easter is worth celebrating year-round — and we offer tips for incorporating the holiday's message into your daily life.
Finding Meaning Beyond Easter Day
The resurrection story can be told throughout the year, for it is always imbued with a deeper meaning. This story forms the essence of our faith; we know that, in Christ, death can be defeated and give way to everlasting life. By remembering this throughout the year, we can find relief from the burden of sin as well as greater joy in the blessings of everyday life. Christ's resurrection gives us a reason to live not only for today, but to sustain hope in our future, no matter how difficult the circumstances we currently face.
How We Can Honor Christ's Sacrifice Every Day
While Easter calls our attention to Christ's remarkable sacrifice, we should never lose sight of His willingness to give His life for our sake. While it is important to honor Him on Easter, our efforts should continue throughout the year. We can do so by regularly reading the Bible, gathering with other Christians for fellowship and showing gratitude for the myriad of blessings in our lives. Top examples of paying homage to — and building a stronger relationship with — Christ include the following:
He loves us even though we continue to sin — and through His love, we are transformed. While it's impossible for any mere human to achieve this level of unconditional love, we can do our best to emulate His example, even when this proves challenging.
Think of Easter as your faith-based New Year's resolution. This is your opportunity to fully embrace the power of prayer. Strive to incorporate prayer into your daily life. Short prayers throughout the day will keep you grounded in your faith as you establish a closer connection with God.
The story of Christ's triumph should play a central role in your biblical study and reflections throughout the year. Not sure where to start? Check out Luke 24:1-8, John 21: 13-17 and Mark 16:1-8. If you feel inspired, take notes in the margins of your Bible or record your reflections in a dedicated journal.
In addition to rereading passages about Christ's resurrection, take time to examine verses about the apostles' ongoing efforts to spread the word about this miracle. Let passages such as Acts 4:33 inspire you: "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all."
How much time do you set aside for fellowship? Unfortunately, some people who think of themselves as Christian only bother to show up at church for Easter Sunday and Christmas. Easter should not serve as a minimum threshold. You will find far greater benefit in gathering with fellow Christians on a regular basis. Traditions such as communion provide a powerful reminder of Easter's message, long after we've forgotten. Participation in an organized Bible study group can also prove beneficial, particularly if you read passages related to Christ's rising.
Spring lends itself to a greater consciousness of the idea of Easter. During this season, we are surrounded by new beginnings and a fresh sense of optimism. As time goes by, however, that begins to give way to a less conscious way of life, and eventually, cynicism. To celebrate Easter year-round is to keep the hope of that special day alive, even as the seasons change.
This Easter, go beyond the eggs and candy to find a deeper, more meaningful experience. You can find great hope and fulfillment in Christ's remarkable feats on Easter Sunday and throughout the year.
If you’d like to learn more about professions that enable you to serve wholeheartedly and faithfully in your life’s work or want to learn more about a biblically based, Christ-centered education at Geneva, we’d love to chat with you. For more information on how Geneva College can help you pursue your education goals, please phone us at 855-979-5563 or email web@geneva.edu.
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Apr 17, 2019
Faithful Doubt: Habakkuk, written by pastor Travis Scott, explores the short prophetic book of Habakkuk, in a practical and meaningful way through the lens of a doubter. Travis approaches the passage of scripture from an honest and humble perspective, recalling difficulties experienced as a husband, father, and pastor.
Our perspective of ourselves can impact the beauty and value we see there. This view can end up being very different from how God and others see us. When we look at ourselves, we tend to see all the qualities that we dislike. But we need to adjust our perspective and make sure we are using the lens of Christ.
Handing our cares and worries over to God gives us peace which keeps us from falling into doubt, as stated in Philippians. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
At Easter, a good question to ask is, "How are people saved?" This should be a question that Christians can easily answer, and indeed most can. However, sometimes Christians are less knowledgeable about the doctrine of justification and its important distinctions than perhaps they should be.
When someone shows us mercy, they are not giving us the punishment that we deserve. Jesus models this action for us in multiple ways. The importance of the exhibition of mercy by Christians is displayed throughout the New Testament, and there are many ways for us to show mercy daily.
In a world that has been impacted by sin, there is always more that can be done to ensure a mindset of good stewardship and redemption. It starts with understanding that God intends to connect man’s physical existence with the environment from which he was brought forth and continues with educating people with sensible information.
"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." Yet sometimes, when the world seems to be in crisis all around you, resting in the Lord seems nearly impossible. With worldwide pandemics, civil unrest, and violence on every news headline today, how can you turn your focus to the Lord and find your hope in Him? In the year of COVID, you may find that your stress and anxiety levels are higher than normal. How should you respond?
Find a semblance of balance by planning when and how you will take advantage of your newfound sense of freedom.
On this National Day of Prayer in the United States, we remember our students in their finals week taking exams, finishing papers and closing out the semester at home. We are thankful that God has provided them and entrusted them into our care during their college years. We pray God will uphold us in this task and them in their challenges.
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