Live Life to the Full

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

It’s Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday, as some prefer to call it!  What a mighty long way we have come.  Think back to last year when we were in the beginning phases of an unprecedented pandemic shutdown with no end in sight.  So many things were unknown it was making us crazy.  Now, millions of people, including myself have been vaccinated against the virus.  The number of positive cases is down and many people, hopefully you, are able to attend church on this glorious Sunday the Lord has so graciously given to us.  

Last year’s post on Easter was about how we must BE the church.  We, people who know the Lord, cannot be shy about sharing the gospel as a year ago churches were not open.  Today, many churches are open, but that does not lessen the need for those who know the Lord to share Him with others.  It also does not decrease our need to demonstrate His presence in our lives. 

Jesus died that the sins of the world could be forgiven.  He died so that we could have everlasting life.  While today is the day that we celebrate why He died and rose again, let’s never forget that He lived so we might have life and have it to the full.  To live life to the full means we don’t have to worry.  It means we shouldn’t live in fear.  It means we should not live with regret.  To live to the full means we can have peace and joy while we remain on earth. 

We are surrounded by things on this planet that can unnerve.  A few minutes watching the news can be stressful.  And when we throw in a few of our personal issues thoughts of tomorrow can be overwhelming. No matter what it is - a child gone astray, job hours being cut, a spouse that seems dissatisfied - Jesus understands and He cares for you.  Jesus asked, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  He was illustrating the fact that worrying is not beneficial.  Rather than worrying, we should pray and ask the Father to intervene.  Remember, when you pray, to yield to His will.   His will is always perfect.  His outcome may not be what we wanted, but it is good and it will bring Him glory.  

Jesus taught us to cast our fears on Him, and He would give us rest.  Fear and worry work alongside one another.  When we worry and don’t see resolution, it leads to fear of the outcome without our intervention.  We must release that.  We must understand that we cannot always intervene.  Some things, many things, are out of our hands.  We must yield to the Lord’s will and trust Him to work it out for His glory. 

Regret may just be a senseless emotion as no one can change the past.  Jesus, however, has paid the price for our sins - past, present and future.  If you regret the sins of your youth, when you give your life over to Him, He wipes the slate clean, it’s as if it never happened.  Of course, if you hurt someone in your past you may need to reach out to that person to apologize and ask forgiveness.  Jesus can save you from your sins, but your guilty conscience may need to be reconciled in human terms.  If you pray and He leads you to ask someone’s forgiveness, He will also lead you to the words to use in so doing.  Continue to pray about your regret and He will lead you out of this darkness. 

To live life to the full means we can live in peace.  We don’t have to live with fear, worry or regret.  To live to the full means He is our daily bread.  We can live for today and allow Him to make the preparations for tomorrow.  Last year there was great anxiety about the future as we felt so uncertain.  Tomorrow is still uncertain - we may feel better because things are “normal” again, but tomorrow can still contain surprises - pleasant or unpleasant.  Through Jesus, we know who holds the future and we can take comfort in that knowledge.  I will close this Easter Sunday message with the words of Jesus, Himself.  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Amen.


Thank you for reading!
Don’t be shy about sharing the Gospel of Jesus.  
Kim

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