He is risen. What now? We celebrate with decorations and festivity.
According to the Gallup Poll, three out of four Americans identify themselves as Christians, and 50.8% of Americans plan on Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, even if they don’t regularly attend church the rest of the year.
In 2014 alone, according to the National Retail Federation, total spending in America for the celebration of Easter Sunday was expected to reach $15.9 billion.
$2.9 billion on bright colored apparel for themselves and their families.
$5.3 billion on festive Easter food.
$2.2 billion on Jelly beans, chocolate bunnies and flavorful chick shaped peeps.
Statistics show that the average American spends $137.46 celebrating each year. 75% of those claiming the title Christian.
But what does the resurrection truly mean? Did Jesus die so we could be comfortable in our festive Easter clothing, fed with a decked out Easter meal, and satisfied with hunting for brightly colored eggs stuffed with $20 worth of Easter candy?
Celebration is a beautiful thing. Feasting and abundance are beautiful things.
But the Son of Man did not come and die so that we could seek and savor easter eggs each year. “The son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” If our spending and our giving stops at flowers and bunny shaped delicacies, we have completely missed the point of Christ’s resurrection.
Out of the entire population of Iran, statistics show that only 0.157% are Christians. And those Christians experience extreme persecution for their faith every year.
In Nairobi Kenya, it is estimated that there are between 250,000 and 300,000 children are living on the streets.
22.4% of the population in Romania are living under the poverty line- at an average income of less than $2 a day.
What does this mean for us? What does Christ’s sacrifice of death and eternal life affect our spending this Easter, and every other day of the year? What can we as Christians do to change those statistics and make a difference in the life of the church around the world?
Even in dark circumstances, Christ is working in miraculous ways. Native missionaries have set out and dedicated their lives to changing those statistics. Often putting their lives at risk every day for the sake of the gospel. Sacrificing their own comfort to come alongside their afflicted brothers and sisters and shine the light of the glory and truth of Jesus Christ.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with money bags that do not grow old, with a treasure in heaven that does not fail, where no their approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
This Easter, may you come before the Lord with a humble and grateful heart for all he has done and is doing. May his sacrifice on the cross for you transform your perspective on what true treasure is. May you step out with what you have, even if it is just a dollar or ten, to support the work of seeking and saving souls instead of chocolate. A feast of joy that never runs dry. May you see it as a worthy sacrifice to give to those in need around the world.
For Christ, our King has risen. What now? We celebrate by following in his steps.
Visit www.aim4theworld.org/donate to support an indigenous missionary and help us spread the hope of theresurrection.
According to the Gallup Poll, three out of four Americans identify themselves as Christians, and 50.8% of Americans plan on Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, even if they don’t regularly attend church the rest of the year.
In 2014 alone, according to the National Retail Federation, total spending in America for the celebration of Easter Sunday was expected to reach $15.9 billion.
$2.9 billion on bright colored apparel for themselves and their families.
$5.3 billion on festive Easter food.
$2.2 billion on Jelly beans, chocolate bunnies and flavorful chick shaped peeps.
Statistics show that the average American spends $137.46 celebrating each year. 75% of those claiming the title Christian.
But what does the resurrection truly mean? Did Jesus die so we could be comfortable in our festive Easter clothing, fed with a decked out Easter meal, and satisfied with hunting for brightly colored eggs stuffed with $20 worth of Easter candy?
Celebration is a beautiful thing. Feasting and abundance are beautiful things.
But the Son of Man did not come and die so that we could seek and savor easter eggs each year. “The son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” If our spending and our giving stops at flowers and bunny shaped delicacies, we have completely missed the point of Christ’s resurrection.
Out of the entire population of Iran, statistics show that only 0.157% are Christians. And those Christians experience extreme persecution for their faith every year.
In Nairobi Kenya, it is estimated that there are between 250,000 and 300,000 children are living on the streets.
22.4% of the population in Romania are living under the poverty line- at an average income of less than $2 a day.
What does this mean for us? What does Christ’s sacrifice of death and eternal life affect our spending this Easter, and every other day of the year? What can we as Christians do to change those statistics and make a difference in the life of the church around the world?
Even in dark circumstances, Christ is working in miraculous ways. Native missionaries have set out and dedicated their lives to changing those statistics. Often putting their lives at risk every day for the sake of the gospel. Sacrificing their own comfort to come alongside their afflicted brothers and sisters and shine the light of the glory and truth of Jesus Christ.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with money bags that do not grow old, with a treasure in heaven that does not fail, where no their approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
This Easter, may you come before the Lord with a humble and grateful heart for all he has done and is doing. May his sacrifice on the cross for you transform your perspective on what true treasure is. May you step out with what you have, even if it is just a dollar or ten, to support the work of seeking and saving souls instead of chocolate. A feast of joy that never runs dry. May you see it as a worthy sacrifice to give to those in need around the world.
For Christ, our King has risen. What now? We celebrate by following in his steps.
Visit www.aim4theworld.org/donate to support an indigenous missionary and help us spread the hope of theresurrection.
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