It breaks my heart to consider how many people I have hurt. Only in the past few years have I committed my heart to follow Christ, and the walk has been tenuous. Before that, my life consisted of decades worth of good intentions and failed attempts, with little resolve to do more than get by. Because of the life I lived, many people hate me. They have reason. 

Christ, though, was hated without cause. He discusses this with His apostles in John 15. He tells them that they will be hated. It applies to us, also. If we follow Him, we will be hated, as well. After all, the world hated  – hates – Him.

If they hate Him and we follow Him, then they will naturally hate us, too. 

Our job… My job… For  I am speaking to myself… My job is to be sure they hate me because I am living like Christ, and not because I wronged them. In fact, my job is much greater. I must love them who hate me. 

That’s hard to do, yet I must. 

Fear not, for if the world hates you because you are following Jesus, it is okay; they hated Him first. Reach out to those who hate you and demonstrate His love. 

Yesterday was Good Friday. Tomorrow, we celebrate the joy of the resurrection. Today, we reflect on what His crucifixion and resurrection mean to believers. 

First, when Christ rose from the dead, it was a victory for all who believe in Him. It means that we, too, will be resurrected. We, too, shall live again. We, too, shall have eternal life. 

Second, Christ’s death and resurrection is a victory over sin. As believers, we are united  with Christ. We died with Him. We were buried with Him. We were resurrected with Him. Our lives are new. Old things have past away and all things have become new. We are no longer bound by the chains of sin. We are bound by the love of Christ.

Last, because of His death and resurrection, we are healed; 

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities; 

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

Praise God. He does heal.  

I see many Christians approaching Christ in the same way they approach shopping for a major purchase. We go to a church based on “What’s in it for me?”. This church offers a coffee bar. That one has an awesome worship band. Over here they have a gym. Over there they have better chairs. We attend the church the same way we pick a health club or a new car. We choose the one with the most accessories. We have become a Church of Christian Consumers. 

Many of our worship services turn our backs on God, and instead we worship ourselves. We sing about Jesus, we talk about Jesus, but because we pick and choose only the attributes of God that appeal to our egos, we create a God whose name is shared with the real God but which is of human construct. 

We create our own version of the Jefferson Bible. We don’t call it the Fred Bible or the Ethel Bible, but we may as well. It contains far fewer than 66 books, and only those that feel good. It contains all the beattitudes but only no commandments. As for its authority, well we admit it is inspiring but many of us are not sure it is inspired. Seldom do we admit it is the true Word of God. We may carry the entire book, if we carry anything at all, but we have committed to memory only a few verses that makes us feel good. 

Because so few of us still worship the True God in Spirit and in Truth, the world is growing dark and scary. Lasciviousness and hatred rule. Selfishness trumps lovingkindness. Injustice has become law. Lies parade as truth. 

Yet, there is hope. It takes one. Only one. One person who will fall to her knees and weep and pray, and worship God. One person who will set his heart to God. One in each church. One in every town. One in every state. Just one who will pray and burn for Christ. Then, we will have revival. 

Fear Not, for God will bring revival. 

What is true worship?

I will declare Your name to My brethren;

In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

You who fear the Lord, praise Him!

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!

For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;

Nor has He hidden His face from Him;

But when He cried to Him, He heard.

My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;

I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.

The poor shall eat and be satisfied;

Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.

Psalm 22:22-26a

This Easter, let’s worship the True God. Center our worship on Him, not ourselves.