Salvation isn’t merely an escape from judgment; it’s a launchpad into a life of purpose and freedom. Jesus didn’t save us to remain passive. He saved us to actively embrace the abundant life He has for us.

There is a famous parable Jesus tells in Matthew 20:1-16 about the owner of a vineyard, who hires workers early in the morning, again at nine, again at noon, again at three, and again at five. When the work day comes to an end, the owner pays them all the same: one denarius. The workers who worked a full day complain about the unfairness of the situation, but the owner of the vineyard answers them…

When we give into the lie that we can find something better apart from God, we ultimately end up enslaved and unsatisfied. But, when we have a right view of God and the world around us we are actually able to engage with and enjoy the things of this world in the way God intended, with him at the center, instead of trying to make them something they are not. This is the redemptive advantage that allows us to live life to its fullest potential.

If you are still under the power and authority of the kingdom of darkness, I urge you to renounce your citizenship by turning to Jesus Christ and away from sin. He offers citizenship to all who call upon His name and acknowledge Him as King. If you have been rescued into the Kingdom of the Son, I exhort you to remember what Jesus has done for you and reaffirm your commitment and loyalty to Christ as King.

The human heart is prone to wander which is why it is so important to remind ourselves of the truths of Jesus every day, every hour, every moment if need be. The gospel reminds us that Jesus is the only thing worth putting all faith and trust in. His love for us was proven at the cross, and for those who believe, it is not only what we fall back on, but the very thing on which we stand.

As soon as you commit your life to Christ, you are not alone. Immediately, you are mortared onto the strongest, most unbreakable structure that ever was, a building that will only grow taller throughout eternity. It's easy to get bogged down in personal conflicts, the state of the modern church, or pain we've experienced from Christians in the past. But through all of that, do not forget - if we belong to Christ, we belong to the His building, along with all the prophets and apostles of old! We are unbreakable.

The command in James 5:16, "Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed," is an often overlooked part of Christian fellowship, but it gives us a practical way to cut the legs out from under our sin. It allows us to hold each other before the Lord as believers and grow closer to Him and each other, while practicing unified holiness. And the best news is, whatever sin we may confess, God will forgive us instantly, every time.

God wants to be in a relationship with you, so He sent His one and Only Son Jesus to die for you, to remove the barrier of sin between you and Him. Then Jesus rose, giving us eternal hope and opportunity for a relationship with God in Heaven forever. He is waiting and wanting you to turn to Him. God loves you, to the cross and back. Happy Easter! Now let's keep celebrating this truth year round!

All of Christ' sufferings, every part displays part of our salvation. It is all steeped in meaning and purpose. In addition, as we look in Scripture, we also see many different things fulfilled from the Old Testament. My prayer this week as we celebrate and remember Jesus' death and resurrection is that God would bring us all into a deeper understanding of what was accomplished for us by Jesus, not just in His death and resurrection but through His sufferings on our behalf as well - through that, I pray we would be led to worship, praise and thanks to our one and only Savior, Jesus Christ.

Scripture tells us that when we believe and put our faith in the person and work of Jesus and commit all that we are to him, He gives us new spiritual life with Him. It's out of our relationship with God that love takes root and results in spiritual fruit.

I need to be washed by the cleansing blood of Christ, I cannot be clean on my own, just like River cannot! It's as simple as coming to God, admitting you're a sinner, asking for forgiveness and believing Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead. It's not about "doing all the right things," it's about putting your faith in the only one who could, Jesus. Come, and be clean!

WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, God sent His Son. God did not send His Son when we were clean of the puke. He did not send His Son when we got our act together. God meets us in our mess and cleans up our mess by the blood of Christ because just as River can't clean up himself, neither can we. Why does God clean up our mess? Because just as one might say it's a mother's nature to love their child, love actually is God's nature! He is the only one capable of perfect love.