Peyton Garland highlights how culture’s attraction to Easter reflects a deeper longing for hope, renewal, and life. While seasonal symbols like flowers and celebrations point to new beginnings, they ultimately fall short without the true source—Jesus. This devotion challenges believers to live out their faith authentically year-round, not just during holidays, so others can clearly see the hope of the gospel through their lives.

Highlights
Faith Is Not Seasonal: Following Christ isn’t limited to holidays like Easter—it’s a daily calling.
Culture Reflects a Deeper Longing: Easter traditions point to a universal desire for renewal and hope.
Authenticity Matters: People can recognize genuine faith lived out in everyday life.
Evangelism Is for Everyone: Sharing the gospel happens through how we live, not just what we say.
Hope Has a Source: True and lasting hope is found in Christ, not in temporary cultural symbols.

Intersecting Faith & Life

The world is searching for something real, and Easter often amplifies that search. When believers consistently live with joy, peace, and authenticity, others notice. Instead of waiting for the “right season,” we are called to embody the hope of Christ daily—allowing our lives to reflect the truth we believe.

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today.  Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org

TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org

Full Transcript Below:

Why It's Important to Recognize Culture's Draw to Easter
By: Peyton Garland

Bible Reading:

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” - Luke 6:45 (ESV)

Believers were never called to be ostriches. We don’t get to stick our heads in the sand and wash our hands of the world’s problems. It’s hard to love nonbelievers if we are never around them. It’s hard to reach a world we’ve pushed away in the name of fear or a false sense of religious superiority. 

We were also never called to be seasonal participants, waiting to share our faith when Easter or Christmas rolls around. Truth be told, friends, if no one knows anything of our faith outside the holiday obligations we push, what does that say of our hearts? 

Scripture is clear that who we are, who we choose to be, will be evident by the life we live. We can preserve our comfort, keep our favorite sins close, and play the church game all day long, but the world is desperate for hope, and in this desperation, they will see straight through you.

This desperation for fulfillment is culture’s draw to Easter, even the secular aspects. The fresh flowers, baby chicks, and Easter eggs are marketable depictions of newness, life, and hope. They are images that beg people to wake up, look around, and rest in light.

But without the Light of the world, holiday simplicities can’t sustain us. Easter egg dye wears off, chocolate bunnies are consumed, and life moves on. Deep down, the world knows this. It groans because of it, creating a ravenous need for authenticity. 

Don’t starve the world of the God who fills your soul with good things daily. You know the secret to eternal hope, to the Light that isn’t dimmed by circumstances or seasons, to the hope that makes death a gateway to eternal fresh air for our healed bones. 

Evangelism isn’t reserved for religious seasons or church staff. It’s not limited to international missionaries or non-profit directors. It’s a mandate, an honor, bestowed on each of us as we love people in word and deed with the Love who saved our souls. 

Interesting Faith & Life:

My husband and I celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary on a cruise, where we were paired with another young couple for dinner each evening. A few nights in, the husband looked at us and said, “I’m assuming you’re church people, right?”

He didn’t mean it disrespectfully, not in the slightest. He was genuinely curious and wanted to confirm his thoughts. My husband and I laughed and nodded our heads, knowing this was, in a simple form, a compliment to how we carried ourselves. We weren’t drilling them with theology or even trying any subtle evangelism. We were just living with the hearts God had curated in us. 

This isn’t to brag on us. Trust me, apart from God’s grace, the two of us are a dynamic disaster, but we live what we believe as best we can. Our personalities simply can’t handle inauthenticity; most of that comes from all the deceit both of us experienced from our unhealthy church upbringings. But by believing in God as our source of goodness, freedom, and rest, we can live life with a sense of peace and joy. And apparently, nonbelievers see it. And they sense its importance.

After all, it’s created beings feeling that natural pull to their Creator, that soulful invitation from the Holy Spirit alone to come home to light and love.  

Prayerfully consider the life you live, in and out of Christian holidays, and take personal inventory of whether others truly believe that you live what you claim, that Christ’s resurrection has given you joy to live life filled with boldness and peace, come what may. 

Further Reading:

5 Thoughts on Being a Witness for Christ

2 Timothy 1:8

Peyton Garland highlights how culture&rsquo;s attraction to Easter reflects a deeper longing for hope, renewal, and life. While seasonal symbols like flowers and celebrations point to new beginnings, they ultimately fall short without the true source&mdash;Jesus. This devotion challenges believers to live out their faith authentically year-round, not just during holidays, so others can clearly see the hope of the gospel through their lives.
Highlights
<ul data-start="758" data-end="1279">
<li data-section-id="c0jzde" data-start="758" data-end="865">Faith Is Not Seasonal: Following Christ isn&rsquo;t limited to holidays like Easter&mdash;it&rsquo;s a daily calling.</li>
<li data-section-id="1x37ism" data-start="866" data-end="976">Culture Reflects a Deeper Longing: Easter traditions point to a universal desire for renewal and hope.</li>
<li data-section-id="15i72oj" data-start="977" data-end="1069">Authenticity Matters: People can recognize genuine faith lived out in everyday life.</li>
<li data-section-id="19wf6xq" data-start="1070" data-end="1175">Evangelism Is for Everyone: Sharing the gospel happens through how we live, not just what we say.</li>
<li data-section-id="tk4i05" data-start="1176" data-end="1279">Hope Has a Source: True and lasting hope is found in Christ, not in temporary cultural symbols.</li>
</ul>
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life
The world is searching for something real, and Easter often amplifies that search. When believers consistently live with joy, peace, and authenticity, others notice. Instead of waiting for the &ldquo;right season,&rdquo; we are called to embody the hope of Christ daily&mdash;allowing our lives to reflect the truth we believe.
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. &nbsp;Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
TrinityCredit &ndash; Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Why It's Important to Recognize Culture's Draw to Easter By: Peyton Garland
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.&rdquo; - Luke 6:45 (ESV)
Believers were never called to be ostriches. We don&rsquo;t get to stick our heads in the sand and wash our hands of the world&rsquo;s problems. It&rsquo;s hard to love nonbelievers if we are never around them. It&rsquo;s hard to reach a world we&rsquo;ve pushed away in the name of fear or a false sense of religious superiority.&nbsp;
We were also never called to be seasonal participants, waiting to share our faith when Easter or Christmas rolls around. Truth be told, friends, if no one knows anything of our faith outside the holiday obligations we push, what does that say of our hearts?&nbsp;
Scripture is clear that who we are, who we choose to be, will be evident by the life we live. We can preserve our comfort, keep our favorite sins close, and play the church game all day long, but the world is desperate for hope, and in this desperation, they will see straight through you.
This desperation for fulfillment is culture&rsquo;s draw to Easter, even the secular aspects. The fresh flowers, baby chicks, and Easter eggs are marketable depictions of newness, life, and hope. They are images that beg people to wake up, look around, and rest in light.
But without the Light of the world, holiday simplicities can&rsquo;t sustain us. Easter egg dye wears off, chocolate bunnies are consumed, and life moves on. Deep down, the world knows this. It groans because of it, creating a ravenous need for authenticity.&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t starve the world of the God who fills your soul with good things daily. You know the secret to eternal hope, to the Light that isn&rsquo;t dimmed by circumstances or seasons, to the hope that makes death a gateway to eternal fresh air for our healed bones.&nbsp;
Evangelism isn&rsquo;t reserved for religious seasons or church staff. It&rsquo;s not limited to international missionaries or non-profit directors. It&rsquo;s a mandate, an honor, bestowed on each of us as we love people in word and deed with the Love who saved our souls.&nbsp;
Interesting Faith &amp; Life:
My husband and I celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary on a cruise, where we were paired with another young couple for dinner each evening. A few nights in, the husband looked at us and said, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m assuming you&rsquo;re church people, right?&rdquo;
He didn&rsquo;t mean it disrespectfully, not in the slightest. He was genuinely curious and wanted to confirm his thoughts. My husband and I laughed and nodded our heads, knowing this was, in a simple form, a compliment to how we carried ourselves. We weren&rsquo;t drilling them with theology or even trying any subtle evangelism. We were just living with the hearts God had curated in us.&nbsp;
This isn&rsquo;t to brag on us. Trust me, apart from God&rsquo;s grace, the two of us are a dynamic disaster, but we live what we believe as best we can. Our personalities simply can&rsquo;t handle inauthenticity; most of that comes from all the deceit both of us experienced from our unhealthy church upbringings. But by believing in God as our source of goodness, freedom, and rest, we can live life with a sense of peace and joy. And apparently, nonbelievers see it. And they sense its importance.
After all, it&rsquo;s created beings feeling that natural pull to their Creator, that soulful invitation from the Holy Spirit alone to come home to light and love.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Prayerfully consider the life you live, in and out of Christian holidays, and take personal inventory of whether others truly believe that you live what you claim, that Christ&rsquo;s resurrection has given you joy to live life filled with boldness and peace, come what may.&nbsp;
Further Reading:
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/thoughts-on-being-a-witness-for-christ.html">5 Thoughts on Being a Witness for Christ</a>
<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/2-timothy-1-8.html">2 Timothy 1:8</a>

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

Why It's Important to Recognize Culture's Draw to Easter

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/61aaecf9-b48e-4f6f-85fb-b417011e63f5/transcript