Living the Faith Between Easter and Christmas
Easter is in the rearview mirror, and the rest of the year stretches ahead. Sometimes, it's easy to think of the church calendar by its big events: Easter, Ascension, Christmas, Epiphany. These holidays serve as good reminders to focus on different aspects of our faith. But the challenge lies in those "normal" weeks.
When we don't have Good Friday services or Easter celebrations, how do we keep the resurrection fresh in our minds? Even without Christmas lights and festivities, how do we remember the significance of Jesus being born in the flesh, God with us?
Goals and the Game of Faith
As a goal-oriented person, I find motivation in challenges. Fitness competitions on my Apple Watch or treadmill push me to new levels. It's tempting to approach faith in the same way, using holidays like Easter and Christmas to "game the system." We strive towards these goals as if they are the ultimate purpose.
The Deeper Goal: Transformation
The problem is, the true goal isn't celebrating Christmas or Easter. It's not even just deeply remembering Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. The goal is far deeper. These events equip us for something much greater: to become fully transformed people. We are meant to be "little Christs," filled with the Spirit, doing the works Jesus did.
The Gospel of John ends telling us: "These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" John 20:31
Life in Jesus’ name! That’s more than getting out of Hell or going to a worship service. It is a new reality. A new life.d
Living the Easter Reality
The goal of Easter isn't just celebrating the holiday. It's about transforming ourselves to live with the reality and power of the resurrection in our daily lives. Similarly, the goal of Christmas isn't just the celebration itself. It's about Christ being born in us anew each day, shaping us as we transform the world around us.
C.S. Lewis said it best:
It is easy to think that the Church has a lot of different objects—education, building, missions, holding services. …the Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose.
How to Keep the Faith Alive
So, how are we doing on this journey? Here are a few practices that have helped me:
Daily Bible Reading: Spending time in scripture allows us to encounter God's word directly.
Weekly Worship: Attending worship services and actively participating nourishes our faith.
Prayer Throughout the Day: Weaving moments of prayer throughout our day keeps us connected to God.
Christ-Centered Reflection: Reflecting on how we can bring Christ's love and power into our daily conflicts fosters growth.
What practices work for you?
Remember, the goal isn't just doing things. The goal is to become more like Christ in his love and his power.
With You;
Pastor TIm
