The Work Never Ends

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

We have celebrated Pascha and our bodies are worn out. We are tired from the late hours of services and celebrations. You might be on a spiritual ‘high’ right now and are wondering what to do next. Suddenly you feel like you ‘miss’ going to Church every day. While most services have come to an end in the Church, with very few exceptions, the work of our salvation never ends.

In those days, the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaios and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry. “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us — one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justos, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:12-17, 21-26

The Apostles had just witnessed the most life-changing events of history. They were certainly exhausted physically and spiritually. They were afraid and some were doubtful about what they had just witnessed. They saw the risen Lord, and knew things would be different, but how different they had no clue. They also knew the work had to ‘go on’ rather than stop.

Taking time to celebrate Pascha is good. Taking time off from your faith ‘just because’ you attended more services in the past week than the rest of the year, is not so good. The Apostles didn’t stop their work, and neither should we. If you have been changed by Pascha this year, I encourage you to do everything in your power NOT to return to life ‘as usual’ from before.

You can still pray every day, even if your church is closed during the week. Although this week is FAST FREE to celebrate the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord, once the Church returns to fasting, I encourage you to fast. Fasting is NOT just for Great Lent. You can still read the scriptures every day. In other words, you can still Live A New Life In Christ EVERY DAY.

The Apostles didn’t stop their work, and neither should we. The ‘work’ isn’t just about prayer and fasting. Look again at today’s reading. The ‘work’ is to be a “witness to His resurrection.” If we really believe what Pascha celebrates, then our life should show it. Share the resurrection with your friends. Talk about how Great Lent and Holy Week changed your life. Invite your friends to “Come and See” for themselves.

Here is a link to a Bible Study I did on these verses in 2014. There is no study guide currently available since we changed platforms, but the video is still valuable.