What a Glorious Day
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, I praise you for the great and glorious day you gave us yesterday. Amen
READ:
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Then they remembered his words.” Luke 24:1-8 (NIV)
REFLECT:
As a child, Christmas was always an exciting, special day that we all looked forward to, but Easter soon became my favorite holiday of the year. I believe this turnabout came the spring of my fifth-grade class at Eugene Field Elementary when the school put on an Easter program (believe it or not) and we sang “Up from the Grave He Arose”. My heart just thumped with joy and excitement and I think I must have glowed. My feelings toward Easter were enhanced by the way our community celebrated the holiday. On Friday, all the stores in town closed from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. so that local Christians could attend “Good Friday” services in the churches. Easter Sunday was filled with sunrise services, cantatas at church, and special family dinners.
Sadly, our communities have lost much of this fervor for the special day that celebrates Christ’s sacrificial act for us. Good Friday has just become another day to market the Easter Bunny, candy, spring clothing, etc. Instead of singing about Christ rising from the grave we hear songs about the Easter parade and Peter Cotton Tail. As Christians, we need to reflect on what brought about this change in our society and do what we can to help family, friends and neighbors realize how important yesterday was. We need to communicate the true meaning of Easter to them by sharing the message of the two angels, ““Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” He is alive and mediating with God for those of us who believe in him.
APPLY:
Take a few minutes to reflect on the fact that yesterday you celebrated the risen Savior in church services. Write down what made this day important for you and how you can share with those around you how glorious and special Easter is.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, I pray that our world can learn the true meaning of Easter and the risen Savior. Amen
WORSHIP: