Last week many around the world began participating in the Lenten season. This is a time when individuals give up something to reflect on Christ before the Easter holiday. In a recent article in Christianity Today, the magazine tracked what people gave up for Lent according to their tweets.
The survey ranked things by actual items people were giving up and then top categories. Food won the top category with 79,977 tweets. Ironically, Twitter tied for the top spot alongside chocolate as the highest ranked items.
I found it fascinating to see all the different items and activities individuals are choosing not to participate in during this season. Whether you participate in the formal tradition of Lent or not, it is important to take time during this season to reflect on the true meaning of Easter.
The miracle of our incarnate God willingly to take on human pain and suffering, as well as shouldering all the sins of humanity is something that I will never understand. It is something that He did to save us from an eternity without Him. This is HUGE.
I think it is important for us to remember this and to dwell on this, not just during the Lenten season, but all year long. We should never forget the cross and what Jesus did for us.
Often we let this holiday slide right by us without taking time to truly be thankful for what God did for us. I encourage you to seek Him this week. Below is a poem that really shows what we have to be thankful for – not only on Easter but all year.
Easter Means Eternal Life
A perfect God demands a perfect justice; He cannot let us get away with sin. We used God’s gift of our free will to trespass, So heaven’s gates were closed; we couldn’t get in.
Our sin required our blood, a sacrifice, To atone for all the wrongs that we had done. "But I love them!" cried our Father, filled with sorrow; "I’ll send my only Son to be the one."
Good Friday marks the slaying of our Jesus, The unblemished lamb, the perfect sacrifice. He took our guilt and blame upon Himself, So we could be with Him in paradise.
On Easter morning, he came back from death; He vanished from the tomb, the empty grave. His resurrection means eternal life For us, the ones he came to earth to save.
This summarizes all the Easter story And because of it, we’ll be with Him in glory.
By Joanna Fuchs
Love You Guys-
Jay