Easter is a day of acceptance, a day of completion, for on Easter God validated Christ’s atoning sacrifice by raising him from the dead. Yet despite the sufficiency of Christ’s work, we can so easily slip back into an old mindset in which we become convinced there is still something left for us to do. F.B. Meyer addresses this temptation in a wonderful bit of prose:
We must accept the finished work of Christ. He has ceased from the work of our redemption, because there was no more to do. Our sins and the sins of the world were put away. The power of the adversary was annulled. The gate of heaven was opened to all that believe. All was finished, and was very good.
We need have no anxiety as to the completeness or sufficiency of a divinely finished thing.
Let us, then, cease from our works. Let us no longer feel as if we have to do aught, by our tears or prayers or works, to make ourselves acceptable to God. Why should we try to add one stitch to a finished garment, or append one stroke to the signed and sealed warrant of pardon placed within our hands? We need have no anxiety as to the completeness or sufficiency of a divinely finished thing.
Let us quiet our fears by considering that what satisfies Christ, our Savior and Head, may well satisfy us. Let us dare to stand without a qualm in God’s presence, by virtue of the glorious and completed sacrifice of Calvary. Let us silence every tremor of unrest by recalling the dying cry on the cross, and the witness of the empty grave.
This week, the giveaway is sponsored by Missionary.com. They are giving away three pairs of tickets to the Missionary Conference. Enter your information below for a chance to win. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). After His death and resurrection, Christ gave this command to His people. There is still a great multitude waiting…
It is always difficult to understand the ways of God. Impossible, even. This is never more obviously true than when we witness the suffering of a child. Many people would attest that few things pose a deeper challenge to their faith than to see a child suffering, especially if the affliction is terminal.
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There are some travelers who like to board an airplane at the earliest possible moment. There are others who prefer to board at the last. Some rush the gate the very second the gate agents announce that boarding has commenced, while some linger until they have sounded the final call.
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