Pastor’s Note: Do You Love Me?

            Growing up, I had this feeling that I still experience today in church, even as a grown woman and as a pastor. Maybe you can relate. Every year, right after both Christmas and Easter, I feel a little let down. Before you judge me, hear me out. We spend four weeks in Advent preparing ourselves for the birth of Jesus. Then Christmas comes and goes, and we ask, “Now what?” Then we spend 40 days in Lent preparing for the greatest miracle of all time, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and then Easter comes, we celebrate the empty tomb, and once again we ask, “Now what?” The sad truth is that many people won't think too much about the resurrection again until next Easter. But it shouldn't be that way, should it? The reality today is that the resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything about everything about everything in our lives. When we encounter the Risen Christ, everything changes.

Perhaps, at one point or another in your life, you have heard that God is the “God of second chances.” I am going to have to strongly disagree with this title. Let me explain why. The resurrection of Jesus Christ does not give us a second chance at life. You see, you and I do not need a second chance. What we need is a new life; we need Jesus’s life! That is different than just having another chance to try again and hope for a better outcome. It is not about us trying to do better or trying harder but rather, it is about God Almighty doing in us and for us what we could never do on our own and that is free us from our sin and condemnation forever. However, post-Resurrection Christians realize that for anybody that encounters the Risen Christ, God does not just forgive us, but He also gives us His righteousness. He gives us a new, transformed life full of meaning, purpose, and mission. Jesus Christ has not only saved us “from” something, but He has also saved us “for” something. He has commissioned us to carry His ministry forward so that others will know God through our words and actions. The question we all must answer in this life is this: “What is Jesus telling me to do?” Whatever it is, may you step out in faith and courageously follow Him.