Let's celebrate with thanksgiving...
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
Comments
Post a Comment