Happy Resurrection Day!

I must admit that Easter has snuck up on me this year.  We enjoyed some time away last week since the kids were on Spring Break so I didn’t have Easter and Resurrection Sunday on my radar.

As I thought about the spiritual and eternal significance of this week and weekend one of the verses at the end of the book of Joshua that was part of our reading this week stood out to me.  I’ve heard and seen this verse many times (usually on a plaque on the wall in someone’s home).  But this time it was a little different. 

Joshua is encouraging the Israelites to renew their covenant with God…to be His chosen people… to prosper in the Promised Land that He had provided to them…to choose to obey His commands.  And Joshua commits to lead by example by saying at the end of verse 15 in chapter 24: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

What resonated with me this week was the challenge and opportunity to follow/serve the Lord by being an example to others.

This idea was reinforced during a discipleship discussion Brad Houchin and I had over lunch on Wednesday.  We talked about the call on your life and my life is to have such an intimate relationship with God that others would want to imitate it…not because we are perfect or got it all figured out…but rather because we have each committed to the Lord to serve Him as He leads us. 

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Follow my example, as I follow Christ.”  Brad and I agreed that this was both a huge responsibility as Christians, husbands, fathers, and leaders, as well as an awesome opportunity to partner with all that God wants to do in and through us. 

This weekend we celebrate the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection.  The story of Easter illustrates the depth of Christ’s love for us and the intimacy of His relationship with God, the Father.  You and I are invited to share in that intimacy with Him so that our lives can reflect God’s Glory in a way that others are drawn to follow our example.

May it be said of all of us…we will serve the Lord!

Mike Wiese on behalf of the Leadership Council