When is the last time you thought about . . .?

Easter is past, summer is upon us, the excitement of warm weather, ballgames, time at the lake all vie for our attention. Unfortunately, too often the tyranny of the urgent takes our thoughts from the most important thing. When is the last time you thought about the events of Passion Week? I mean really thought about them other than on Easter morning? When is the last time you meditated on the events that took place that week, their significance, and what they mean to you personally? Is your attention drawn to the amazing sacrifice of Jesus Christ only at Easter? Do you only think about His suffering when you read the Gospel accounts in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Is His death, burial, and resurrection something that has become so familiar to you that you take it for granted?

If we truly believe that Jesus Christ's sacrifice is the most significant event in history for the world, the church, and each of us individually, it ought to be something that occupies our thoughts and prayers on a daily basis, not just at Easter time. Here are just a few of the Scripture passages that ought to bring us to our knees in awesome wonder, reverent thanksgiving, and unending praise.

ü "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53 :5-6 (NIV) When is the last time you thought about the fact that Jesus suffered physical humiliation and pain (more than any other human ever has) because of your sins? When is the last time you thought about the fact that He chose to take that physical abuse for you because of His unbelievable love for you?

ü "From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?" Matthew 27:45-46 (NIV) When is the last time you thought about the reality of the three hour separation that happened between God the Father and God the Son because of your sin? When is the last time that you bowed down in wonder at the fact that the only time in eternity that God the Father ever turned His back on God the Son was on Calvary when your sin was laid on the Son and the Father could not look at it?

ü "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Luke 24:5-7 (NIV) When is the last time you thought about the amazing miracle of Christ's resurrection? A resurrection that not only defeated Satan, but it also defeated death! When is the last time you thanked Jesus because His resurrection guarantees your resurrection and the resurrection of every believer?

ü "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17 (NIV) When is the last time you thought about the truth that God sent Jesus to die for YOU as YOUR sacrifice? Do you really believe that Jesus would have gone to the cross if you were the only one alive? When is the last time you thought about the fact that He would and He did because He loves you that much?

In the book of Colossians 3:1-2 Paul admonished all believers to: "set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."(NIV) "Literally Paul means that we are "to constantly think about (to dwell on) things above". As believers in Christ, members of His body, we are to make deliberate choices to think about Him and the things for which He cares rather than allow ourselves to be influenced and swayed by a world system that is controlled by Satan. When is the last time you really thought about (set your mind and heart on) the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Beloved, Easter is a wonderful time of the year, but don't limit your time of prayerful reflection on the events of Christ's Passion Week to that day alone. Allow the wonder of His free gift and sacrifice to permeate your thought and prayer life on a daily basis as you thank Him and praise Him for His mercy, His love, and His grace that were poured out on that Cross for you!