Thursday, March 27, 2025

            As we approach Good Friday and Easter, we begin to think about what these days represent to us.  We cannot overstate their importance.  Just not possible to do that!  On Good Friday, Jesus died for the sins of the world.  The Creator entered into the creation as a man.  God became flesh in Christ.  Christ went to the cross to carry our sins to the condemnation that He suffered on our behalf.  Paul summarized the meaning of the cross quite well when he wrote, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15).  We can say “amen” to that declaration.  The cross shows us the depths to which God went to redeem a fallen, sinful and utterly lost humanity.
            On Easter, we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.  He is alive again and forevermore.  And boy, aren’t we thankful for the incredible victory and hope that we have in Christ and Him alone?  Today, He reigns as Victor.  He has triumphed over death and the grave.  He has broken the chains of sin.  He has broken the power of Satan to take us captive.  Paul wrote about the reign of Christ in his letter to the Christians in Philippi.  His words read like a hymn of praise and worship.  Paul wrote, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
            Christ reigns!  That two-word sentence is a powerful expression of a present reality.  And the day is coming when all creation, time and history will find its con-summation and fulfillment in Christ for eternity.  Christ will reign!  All things are beneath His feet.  As Chris Tomlin wrote, “All thrones and dominions, all powers and positions...
Your name stands above them all.”  Christ reigns in space and time.  The only question today is whether He reigns in your life.  Even today, we can bend and bow our knees before Christ and acknowledge His greatness, triumph and glory.  We do not have to wait until Easter to surrender to Christ.  We can bow before Him now and declare Him to be the only one on the throne of our lives. 
            We can easily do several practical things each day so that we enjoy the Lordship of Christ.  First, we can meet Him in the Bible as we read and study God’s Word.  We can meet the Living Word in the Written Word.  Second, we can pray.  We can talk with Christ as we would speak with a close friend we’ve known for years.  Third, we can worship with other believers and grow alongside them.  Fourth, we can live a thankful life.  Take time to acknowledge what the Lord has given to you.  See the gifts and blessings that He alone has placed in your life.  And finally, serve Him.  Use whatever you have wherever you are to serve Him and make Him known to those around you.  Have a great Thursday!
            Remember this coming Sunday will be a hugely special day for us!  We will have Bible study at 9:45am.  During worship, Todd Unzicker, the executive director of NC Baptists will be preaching.  Todd is a terrific preacher and a great Christian leader in NC Baptists life. You will be blessed by hearing him.  It is a rare and special day when our state leader can worship with us.  And on Sunday evening at 7:00pm, our Main Street Kids will present their musical “Come Messiah, Come.”  They have worked hard and we are thankful for their dedication and the leadership offered by Tim and Ashleigh and their team of volunteers. We’re thankful for the ways our kids will share the gospel in music and drama!