Getting Ready for Easter

Anything we do that matters takes preparation.I have friends who are pilots. I’ve been with them when they’ve flown and have witnessed just some of that preparation. Lives are at stake so the preparation matters. I have a couple of friends who are surgeons. I can’t exactly stomach being with them in the OR, but they have described for me the litany of preparations: even the careful scrubbing, beginning each fingernail, working up to each finger, then hand, wrist, forearm, keeping their arms bent so that no water flows back to the fingers. Then there is the anesthesia/drug check and arrangement, instrument cart, and arranging all of the instruments in exact order.I could describe for you the preparation I undergo when scuba diving, or the tremendous amount of preparation behind every worship service here, behind the scenes.When you read about the celebrations in the Old Testament required for God’s people, they made major sacrifices in their lives just to prepare for those big days in their worship calendar.Is celebrating the resurrection of Jesus something you would consider worthwhile? Are you getting ready for it? Here are some ways we can...

1. Get the word out. This is a day that people who will never otherwise darken the door of a church, will attend, if you invite them. Are you making invitations?
2. Read the story every day this week. It’s an amazing story. Read one of the Gospel accounts (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20) each day and then close off the week with Paul’s great treatise on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 (verses 50-58 in particular).
3. Plan your celebration at home. Maybe it’s taking turns as a family saying what Jesus’ resurrection means to you. Maybe it’s reading John 20 out loud together as a family. Enjoy the meal and the conversation, but make the centerpiece what Easter is really about, Jesus conquering death!
4. Come to church and bring as many others as you can. I know, I talked about inviting in the first point, but really, if this is true, it’s the greatest thing in the world. And we need to tell everyone!

You get ready for work and school. You get ready for the day. You get ready for everything worthwhile in life. Let’s get ready for Easter.