Now What?

Lent, Holy Week and Easter have come and gone. So how do we live in a post-Easter world? The end of Luke’s story of Jesus gives us a clue:

50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Did you catch it? There’s our answer. We worship with great joy! After receiving the blessing of Jesus, the disciples worshiped with great joy. Years ago pastor Rick Warren said, “Worship is a lifestyle.” While corporate worship (“...continually in the temple blessing God.”) is necessary and wonderful, it is only one aspect of living the Christ-centered life. Our corporate or “temple” worship should be the culmination of our life worship. In corporate worship we bring an offering of praise to God. How are we bringing our offering of praise to God in every day life? How are we taking the Easter blessing (the redemption of our souls) of God through Christ to our normal routine?

The only way the world is going to know, or experience the eternal blessing of God is if those of us who follow Him live out that blessing in the world. And the best way to do that is it to worship with great joy. Live your life with great joy (that doesn’t mean the absence of pain) and people will be drawn to it. They will want to know the source of your joy. The Westminster Confession asks: What is man’s chief aim? To glorify God and enjoy him forever.

What a great place to start. Live your life with joy-filled worship. God gives us permission to enjoy life as we bring Him glory. That’s how we live in a post-Easter world!