• Reflections On Easter

    By: Kristen L. McNulty

    Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.

    As I was reflecting on Easter, the cross, what Jesus' sacrifice truly means for all of us and what I wanted to share with all of you about it, I looked up a verse in Ephesians 1. But this time I did it in the Message version of the Bible, which captures the words differently from my standard choice of New Living Translation.

    The words I read stopped me in my tracks as they perfectly capture just what Jesus Christ has done in my life since I accepted the gift of the forgiveness of my sins, through His sacrifice on the cross and what they can do in your life too. So instead of me sharing with it you using my mere words, allow me to read these verses to you straight from God's Word. And as you listen, know these words aren't written for just me or someone else, but you too.

    Ephesians chapter 1, starting at verse 3 in the Message:

    "How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

    Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

    It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

    It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life."


    Amen. And if you've never accepted this gift and received this kind of life and grace and forgiveness for yourself, now is the time. God loves you, He died on the cross to cover your mistakes and wants to be In a relationship with you. Not just once you breathe your last breath on this earth, but here and now too. So as this next song starts to play stop with me right here and right now. Pray this prayer and invite him in.

    Jesus, I know that I've sinned, made mistakes and fallen short. I know you died on the cross to pay the price for those sins and I want to accept your gift of forgiveness. I believe three days after your death you were raised from the dead and I invite you to come into my life and make it new. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to walk through this life with you. Amen

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