This morning I went to my local gym to do some exercise. While going through my workout regimen, I listened to some great Gospel-centered songs and sermons on my iPod. Truly the spiritual workout met or exceeded my physical workout!
I left the gym physically exhausted yet spiritually enriched. But as I made my way through the main doors out into the parking lot, I saw a sign that said:
Easter Hours:
7:00 a.m. - Noon
Instantly I felt a deep agitation within my soul. The only hours they would be open on Easter Day would be the very hours that corporate worship would be taking place. To them this was not a "holy day" but a mere "holiday" in the secular sense. It was not a time to worship; it was a time to work out. Once noon rolled around, the staff and whoever got in their a.m. workout would be free the rest of the day to do their thing.
Yet in my anger I remembered that Jesus died to save sinners like these. Sinners like me. The Holy Spirit brought to mind the words of Titus 3, which instructs us as believers
"to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures.... But when the kindness of God our Savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."- Titus 3:2-7, italics mine
The Spirit that moves me to anger at man's disregard of the Savior and the greatest demonstration of sacrificial love which shaped the course of history and eternity, is the same Spirit who reminds me that my redemption is not owing to my own righteousness. It is a gift of God's grace. And the grace God extended to me He can and does extend to those who are still enemies of the cross of Christ.
God help me to hate the sin but to love the sinner, and walk in humility with my Savior before a watching world.