Let's celebrate with thanksgiving...

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

                           John 3:16 (AMPC)



We have just returned home from a cruise down the Rhine to celebrate by husband’s birthday. I have just realised my contribution this month falls on Easter Sunday, so the above seems appropriate!

German traditional is to put painted eggs around a fountain in the middle of a town square.  A central and eastern European tradition, as eggs were seem as a symbol of fertility and rebirth. Google said, “An egg is an ancient symbol of new life and has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring.”  Christians have adopted the egg to represent Jesus’ bringing resurrection life. It seems both Christmas and Easter have been entwined with pagan rituals!  The German Lindt chocolate factory was full of eggs and bunnies for sale.  Google says a staggering 80 million chocolate eggs are sold annually in the UK and 5 million Cadbury Cream Eggs are sold worldwide..  The first chocolate Easter egg of solid chocolate was produced by Fry’s in 1873 and the market is now worth £220,000,000

How many of those buying eggs will also celebrate with thanksgiving that Jesus bought their salvation with His life?  People in this land hear the story, but rarely the full Gospel message.  I was 25 before I understood the need to know Jesus as my Saviour.
   
As part of our cruise we visited The Residenz Palace in Wurzburgbuilt built in the style of Versailles with 366 rooms for one Bishop and his servants.  When Prince Bishops were appointed to rule over an area, the decor was lavish with pictures painted on walls and ceilings.  One, desiring to impress visiting dignitaries, covered a large, high ceiled room with gold frames and mirrors.  I felt so sickened by the sight I walked straight through it.  Where did he, or the church, get the money to do such things and provide for their upkeep? 

That evening Notre Dame was on fire. People gathered to sing hymns in the streets, the treasures within were saved, but when a few days later 600 million pounds was pledged to rebuild the structure, it caused me to wonder again at man’s priorities.  Daily we see on our TV screens people, through no fault of their own, turned out from their countries, have no place to live, opportunity to work, and no money to feed their starving families. 

How would Jesus respond to that?  Peter wrote to Christians explaining God’s house was to be spiritual and built with living stones (people) who would form a royal priesthood and holy nation, Yet man’s generosity runs to replacing a monument to the Christian faith, but has an amount of that magnitude ever been given to show God’s love to millions of people by relieving their suffering?

As we celebrate with thanksgiving the salvation provided by Jesus’ sacrifice, let’s ask for  His Word and truth to penetrate hearts and minds so His church is rebuilt, not in man’s way, but as He desires. 

                                                                                                                    Ruth Johnson

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