The Sunday After Easter

At my old church, the first Sunday after Easter each year the pastor would say the same thing. "Last week everyone who Jesus loves came to church. This week, everyone who loves Jesus is here." In other words, Jesus loves everybody, but those who love him come to church Sundays other than Christmas and Easter.

Not surprisingly, yesterday my current church was packed. We usually have about 450 people any given Sunday, but yesterday we had approximately 700. People stood lining the back of the Sanctuary. Not enough chairs. It was wonderful to see so many people come to celebrate our risen Lord.

But why don't they come back next week? My Pastor shared "good news" with our guests yesterday: "We celebrate the risen Lord here EVERY Sunday." Hebrews 10:25 says "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Some people give up meeting together on Sunday. Don't! You need the encouragement. This devotional gives a good example. (Author Unknown)

The story is told of a man named John who had once been faithful to attend his church regularly, but had grown lackadaisical recently. The Pastor knew that he hadn't seen the gentleman in a while, so he went for a visit. John greeted the Pastor and welcomed him in, directing him to the chair beside the fireplace. He asked the Pastor what brought him to visit, but the Pastor didn't say a word... .he simply grabbed the fireplace tongs, picked up a hot coal from the fire, and set it away from the fire, out on the hearth. Both men then watched the coal. While the fire roared on, the coal which had been red hot began to lose it's heat. It gradually lost it's red color, and then cooled off so that it became cool to the touch. The Pastor picked up the coal, and handed it to John for a moment... neither man said a word. Then the Pastor reached out and took the coal back from John, and returned it to the roaring fire... and in just a few short moments, the coal once again glowed red hot, as the pile of flaming coals caused it to heat up again. The Pastor then got to his feet, put his hat on, and shook John's hand. At that point, John looked at the Pastor with tears in his eyes, and told him "Thank you for coming, Pastor, and I'll be back in church this coming Sunday!"

Don't get burnt out. Come back to church and get on fire for Christ!

Matthew 3:11 -- {John the Baptist said} "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Acts 2:2-4 -- Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.