THE CANDY AISLE

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade." 1 Peter 1: 3 and 4a (NIV © 2011)

At this holy time of year, what often bombards our senses is the candy aisle at the grocery, not the cross of Calvary. Even Christ’s cross is all done up in fancy, scrolled chocolate. My friends, I love all things cocoa. I am talking about not confusing a love of candy with a love of Christ.

Some have tried to merge new life in the world, with the new life we experience at Easter. The merger is nearly complete. As fewer people see Easter as the day the Son of God rose from the dead, thereby making us inheritors of the promise of a new birth into a new life with God, those who fear and hate all things Christian—win.

This Easter, perhaps we can find new ways to use Easter candy as object lessons. Not contrived stories about the colors of jelly beans representing aspect of Jesus, although that is fine if you enjoy those stories. The whole point of Easter is New Life with God as true children in his family because of what Jesus did for us. Here are two ways of teaching children the meaning of Easter. You can add more by sending a return email or post on the blog below.

Easter eggs can represent the hope we have that new life will be born from the single seed of Jesse’s tree. "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit." (Isaiah 11: 1) That fruit is Jesus. As brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, we have the hope of new life.

Peeps are good little marshmallow treats. We can teach our children that baby chicks and bunnies all remind us that the promise of hope has been fulfilled. The "seed" has been hatched or born, as we have been reborn into a new life when we fill our hearts and souls with God the father. The peep is an object lesson to help tell a story to a young child.

Let us make this Easter a religious holiday! What a novel idea for today’s children! Let us pray:

"God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we praise your holy name. Because your son suffered and died and rose again for us, we have the assurance that we can make our home with you. So great a sacrifice is beyond our mortal understanding. But, we know you are not mortal. You are eternal. We can know that the hope you have instilled in us, is a promise fulfilled at Easter. Forgive us when we have been tempted by the sweets of this world. That is childish thinking. For this Easter, may we grow in maturity, belief and hope. May we walk in the footsteps of the Master, rather than hoping to be carried by him. May we be brave enough to teach our children the truth of Easter. In the name of Jesus Christ, your son, we pray. Amen"

Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine." Copyright 2013 Doris Gaines Rapp

For children and teens, go to: http://inmyprayerchair.blogspot.com And . . .