We’re right in the midst of the Lenten season, and Easter is just around the corner. Whether you’ve chosen to fast from sugary treats, social media, TV, or even caffeine, or maybe you’ve dedicated more time to prayer or other spiritual practices. Lent is often a season of intentional reflection. It’s a time when we can set aside the distractions and noise of daily life to focus on Christ and His ultimate gift to us—salvation.

Sometimes, it’s easy to get used to the story of Easter. After all, we hear it every year, and many of us can recite the details by heart. But that familiarity can lead to us glossing over the depth of what happened. It’s important to pause and ask God to refresh our hearts and minds so that we never become numb to His Word. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit gives us fresh eyes and helps us rediscover the wonder of Christ’s sacrifice each time we reflect on it.

One passage that’s not traditionally tied to Easter but that beautifully reflects the heart of what Christ did for us is Romans 5:6-11. While this might not be the go-to Easter scripture, it emphasizes the weight of our sin and the depth of Christ’s love and sacrifice.

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

— Romans 5:6–11 (ESV)

This is a powerful reminder: We were weak. We were hopeless, completely unable to save ourselves. Yet, in that moment of deepest need, Christ chose to die for us. He didn’t wait for us to clean up our act, and He didn’t wait for us to be deserving. He didn’t wait for us to become “good enough.” While we were still sinners, He took on the punishment that should have been ours. That’s incredible love.

Through Jesus, we’ve been justified—declared right with God—by His blood. We’ve been saved from God’s wrath, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of what Christ did for us. And now, because of His death and resurrection, we can live in a restored relationship with God. The gift of salvation isn’t just about avoiding punishment; it’s about being reconciled with the Creator of the universe and having the opportunity to walk with Him every day.

It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, but have you really sat with the gravity of this gift recently? Have you stopped to thank God for His outpouring of grace upon you today? It’s not something we should take lightly or let slip by unnoticed.

So, as we enter the final stretch of this Lenten season, let’s use this time to slow down, reflect, and truly appreciate the depth of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. His death and resurrection are not just stories to be recited—they are the foundation of our faith, the reason for our hope, and the source of our joy!

In the end, Easter isn’t just a celebration of an event; it’s a celebration of the incredible love and grace that’s been poured out on us. And that’s something worth rejoicing in every day.