Our congregation did some spring cleaning around the church last weekend. It is nice when the members can come together to help spruce the place up. We had crews working inside and outside to help make our church home inviting. Naturally, I was working outside since I like to plant things. It makes me feel good to pull up to our church and see all the beautiful things growing and blooming around our property.
We stopped short of planting some annuals around the church. I thought we might have several cold nights this week and I was afraid we might lose them to a frost. After taking care of God’s house I came home to get some work done around here. We always have a long list of things to do around our house and never enough time to get it all done.
It looks like spring outside and I am hoping for a warm Easter weekend. All the trees are budding out. The dogwoods are in their glory. I have even seen some azaleas starting to bloom. I am looking forward to a family gathering at my brother’s house on Easter. If the weather cooperates we’ll have an outdoor Easter egg hunt. There are always so many eggs filled with candy and money that even the adults are tempted to pick up an occasional egg to enjoy a treat.
The week before Easter is considered holy week as we celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He spent time that week teaching and healing in the synagogue and facing his ultimate purpose for coming to earth. Jesus came to earth so he could die for our sins and give us access to God the Father. None of us is worthy of entering into God’s presence because we are stained with sin. Jesus had to shed his blood to make us clean so we could be reunited with God.
Jesus came to save us from a life dominated by sin. If we know that we are sinners and are willing to acknowledge our sin, then with Jesus’ help we can repent and turn away from those things that separate us from God. Many people think that the purpose of grace is solely for forgiveness so we can live any way we desire. But grace is powerful and comes to help us live a different life, a holy life for God. We have to connect our faith with God’s grace to live the life He calls us to experience.
Sadly, many people never connect with God’s grace because they feel unworthy. They think that their sin is greater than God’s ability to forgive them. Worse than that, some people believe that they are not worth God allowing His son to die for them. But the good news is that God knows each one of us better than we know ourselves and he believes that we are worth it. Each one of us is beautiful in God’s sight and God decided we are worth the sacrifice.
God looks at you and me and sees His sons and daughters. God would go to any length, including allowing Jesus to die on a cross, to have a relationship with us. God wants to connect with His children because He loves us beyond our comprehension. You and I, in spite of all the bad and sinful things we have done, are worthy of God’s love. The Bible tells us that nothing can separate us from God’s love except our choice to walk away from God.
So Easter comes along to remind us of the hope and love that can be found in a relationship with God. God has done everything He can to pour out His love for us. Our job is to open our hearts to receive the most genuine love and acceptance that we can imagine. There is nothing in our past that can separate us from God’s love. The question is; are we going to walk into the future without God’s love?
I want to encourage you to open your heart to a relationship with God. You are worthy of God’s love, forgiveness, mercy, grace…all of it! Jesus died for you and me. There is no way to God except through the sacrifice of His son. Once you accept the free gift of God you can live in the resurrection power of Easter. There is power through faith to live a different life and that is the hope that Easter brings each one of us.

Doug Creamer teaches Marketing at East Davidson High School. His website is located at www.dougcreamer.com Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or email doug@dougcreamer.com