Dave White

It’s been very hard trying to compose this devotional.  I am writing this on the eve of the most significant Christian holiday: Easter (Resurrection Day).  The Resurrection is what sets us apart.  In my previous writings, I have sometimes had difficulty capturing the enormity or great significance of a particular time.  Easter is indeed great, and I shall extol Christ’s magnificence and the resurrection’s significance toward the bottom of this devotional.  However, my difficulty this time is one that I hate to admit: I’m just not feeling Easter this year.

Wait!  Don’t close that browser!  Hear me out.

My spirit sings with all of the Church, because Jesus is alive!  He is risen!  My mind exerts itself in a worthy effort to try to comprehend the glorious truth of the empty tomb and what that means for me, for us.  But my emotions are so very low right now.  It is difficult for my heart to flutter in the ecstasies of abundant and eternal life.  But why?  I want to rejoice like I have done in the past, so why don’t I?

The source of my problem, without a doubt, is sin.  My sin.  Other peoples’ sins against me.  Sin.

Sin is a word that seems to be unacceptable in polite conversation, even among some Christians, but it is truly to blame for my present woes.  Because I have grace and faith in Jesus Christ, sin no longer owns me.  I am free from the wages of sin, and I am an heir of the free gift of eternal life from God.  (Romans 6:23)  Even so, when I sin, I hurt my relationship with God.  God and His love don’t change, but my focus surely does.

Because of Jesus, I’m good with God, but when I sin… well, it’s almost like when you’re speaking with a friend and they get a text message.  They check their text and completely check out of the conversation you were just having.  How rude!  Well, metaphorically speaking, sin texted me.  “Hey, it’s sin.  You wanna hang out?”  And I checked out of my conversation with God in order to stupidly reply, “Sure. What do you want to do?”  Ugh.  Amazingly, God still loves me.  I’m still His servant, son, and saint; but my redirected attention separated me from our friendship.  Because of that, I’ve suffered emotionally.

So, my sin has squelched my feelings toward my Savior’s resurrection, but other people’s sins have also hindered my ability to joyfully love.  Toward the end of last week, some old wounds were opened up.  I was reminded of misplaced trust and broken relationships.  I was hurt.  I was wounded.  Again, following the cell phone analogy, I answered the text and checked out of my communion with God in order to focus on these sins and hurts.

That is the power of sin.  For the unregenerate person, sin is master, lord, and boss.  For the Christian, the power of sin is limited to whatever authority and attention we give it.  In both cases (my sin and others’ sins), I took my focus off of God and put it on the sin… and on myself.  It’s an old story that plays like a broken record, and I fall for the same old tricks again and again.  I know the pain and apathy that will result from these disappointing distractions, but I still stumble.  I’m guessing that you do, too, from time to time.

Thankfully, I am not ruled by my emotions.  Nor am I ruled any more by sin.  In fact, that’s what this season is all about.  Jesus came to free us from sin and all bondage.

Jesus, the Anointed One, foretold from the beginning of Scripture, miraculously born of a virgin, teaching and living in truth and righteousness, showing Himself to be the Messiah, gave Himself up for us.  “And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures… He was buried… He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) “We [Christians] were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

This is truth!  I am free!  C‘mon, my self, rejoice!  “Bless the LORD, O my soul!” (Psalm 103)

I can hold on to the truth that Christ Jesus has come, that He died and rose, that I am reconciled to God through Him.  I can get up and dust myself off and walk in the newness of life that He promises and provides.  Because of this Easter truth, I am justified; I am made right.  I am sanctified; I am made holy.

Wow!  Thank You, Jesus!  You are awesome!  You are amazing!  You are King and Savior!  Thank You, Lord!

So, whether or not my heart happens to be emoting properly or not, I will follow Christ.  He is my hope and my salvation, my deliverer and my ransom.  Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!

Happy Easter, everyone!