Still Risen…Still Grateful?

The planning and preparations are over.  The effort and energy has been expended.  The songs have been sung and the sermons have been preached.    The meals have been cooked and consumed.  The Easter eggs have been decorated and found.  The suits and spring dresses have been put away.  The Facebook status’ and Twitter tweets have been posted.  And I wonder……

Now that a few days have passed since our Resurrection Sunday celebrations, are we still grateful?  Jesus is still risen…are we still grateful?

We tend to be creatures that are constantly working toward the next event, the next milestone, the next date on the calendar.  But the resurrection of Jesus is more than just an activity on the calendar.  I would argue that it is an eternal reality that guides and defines our daily lives.

Resurrection sets our focus on an eternal future hope.  It gives us daily strength to overcome daily obstacles.  It encourages us in the midst of our failures and weaknesses.  It brings health to our sicknesses.  It produces faith when we lay our loved ones in a grave.  It provides fresh insight into God’s love for us.  It supplies light in the midst of a dark world.  It reminds us of the truth of our justification when the dirtiness of our sin pollutes our lives. (see The Importance of Resurrection)

Jesus Christ’s resurrection is not just a date on the calendar, it is an event that has changed the course of my life.  And if you are walking with Christ, then it has changed yours as well.  For that reason, our celebration extends far beyond Easter Sunday.  It is a daily appreciation to our Lord for all of eternity.  Christ is still risen……Are you still thankful?

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night…”  Psalm 92:1-2 (NASB95)