Happy Palm Sunday! "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Gal 5:1

Greetings!  Can you just picture Christ, the Savior of the world coming into Jerusalem on a donkey?  The leaders of the Jewish world were not happy with him and were already plotting for his ruin, yet he enters the city as King..... on a donkey. Although the crowd today was shouting "Hosana!," and praising Christ as King, a week later, those same people were shouting "Crucify Him!"  And Jesus Christ who came here, as a man, to die for us, was dead.  Praise and glory that he rose again so that we may have life!

So why did he come?  Paul, who was some kind of a sinner (aren't we all), was one of the Jews chanting "Crucify Him!"  And he went further, he believed that those who followed Jesus were blasphemers (one who mocks religion or claims to be God). And he was on a mission, hunting down Christians, and well, stoning them.  Until Christ appeared to him during his hunt and showed him that he was the Messiah (Savior) that the Jews believed was coming.  Paul, repented of his sins, Christ forgave him, wiping all of his sins clean and Paul became a follower of  Jesus Christ.  Paul set up churches throughout the middle east and traveled tirelessly to share what Christ had done for him.  So why does this matter?  How does all of this connect?

After Christ was resurrected, Jews and Gentiles (non-Jew) alike believed in Christ.  But because, prior to Christianity, the Jew had to follow many rules, Jews in the church of Galatia, false teachers, would try to put these rules onto the Gentiles.  Paul said, "NO!"  The law (or rules the Jews used to live by) is no more!  Christ came and fulfilled the law (Mt 5:17).  While the evil one wants us to think that we are condemned or that we are bound by rules and law, "NO!," Christ came and paid the ultimate sacrifice for us.  He died (and lived again) to set us free.

Let's understand more what that means to us today.  Let's look at believers.  As a believer, do you struggle with believing that you are not enough?  Are not worthy?  That you have to watch every step that you take?  That there are a set of rules that you have to abide by or you will be sentenced to Hell or earthly punishment?  We must stay in truth here. This is not what God's word says.  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Gal 5:1  You are no longer a slave to the law or to a set of rules.  That is just not what Christ wants us to feel.  This is a trap that the evil one wants us to feel, but Christ died for our freedom, not for us to feel like slaves.

For unbelievers, I pray that you look at believers and see the hope we feel, the joy in our lives, the ability we have through Christ to go through trials and tribulation with joy in our hearts because He is there, by our side, healing our hearts, holding our hands, showing us that all will be ok...the battle has already been won.

But, that may not be what you see.  You may see us struggle with "sticking to the rules" as I said before.  You may see judgement, others looking at you and deciding that what you do/did is "wrong" or "not Christian-like."  Put simply, you may feel that you are not worthy because what you have done is "too much." Well I am here to tell you, nothing is too much for the blood of the Cross! NOTHING!  We all will live for eternity.  You don't have to believe in Heaven and Hell, but what if???  Only Christ belongs on the Judgment seat. He came to set you free from all of your sin.  There is no condemnation for those who believe in Jesus Christ. (Rom 8:1)  It saddens me so that people miss out on the greatest love that they will ever experience because of humans.  Because Jesus Christ came to save, to give you hope, to help you prosper.....not to condemn.  To set you free.

Does the life of a Christian look different than a unbeliever?  I hope so.  It should.  But not because of a set of rules that God places on us, or that others humans decide to place on each other.  A relationship with Christ is a love story. All Christ, your Savior, the Savior of all mankind, is asking for, is for you to believe in him.  That is it.  For he who believes shall not parish. (Jn 3:16)  When you find a new love, your heart is captivated and your behavior changes.  Out of your love for the person, not out of requirement.  Christ is your Redeemer. When you hit bottom, and you are hurting, and your life is out of control.  Or maybe, your are just seeking joy.  There is a God who died for you.  Doesn't that intrigue you that he would do that?

Whether you are already a believer or you are deciding to believe in Jesus Christ for the first time, I pray this blog makes clear that Christ is not a God that came to restrict you, bind you or condemn you, by setting rules that if you don't follow them exactly, you fail the test.  NO!  There is no test. Simply, BELIEVE. And I pray that out of that wholehearted belief and focus on him, a love story will ensue and your life will change out of love.  Loving him will help you love yourself and love others.  May Christ be full in your heart on this Palm Sunday and may he rest on you letting you fill the full joy that only He can provide.  May God bless you and keep you until we meet again.