A GEORGIA HERITAGE EASTER DEVOTIONAL – Commentary by Dr. Paul E. Bellino

As we enter this Easter Season we are constrained to remember that our Lord Jesus Christ "Humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8), for our personal sins, as well the sins of countless others over the eons of time.

If we humbly confess our sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of those sins, we will be forgiven by His grace. Then under His lordship and by the blessed Holy Spirit's power we shall be able to be obedient in our personal walk with the Lord Jesus all the days of our lives. In it all we will be enable to glorify God; and to stand true to the Southern Heritage of our Christian forebears.

We may reverently contemplate another Easter Sunday, this April 11, 2004 as the Resurrection Day of our Lord, who died and rose again for our eternal redemption from sin and self. Remember it is always darkest before the dawn! But Praise be to God who giveth us the victory through Christ Jesus our Lord!

It was on June 25th, 1862, that General Lee experienced the hostile probe of General McClellan's forces as he defended the Confederate capitol at Richmond. Lee expressed his concern to President Davis with these words: "I fear from the operations of the enemy yesterday that our plan of operations has been discovered to them. It seemed to be his purpose, by his advance on our right yesterday, to discover whether our force on that front has been diminished."

Lee in moving the greater portion of his forces to attack McClellan's right flank had made vulnerable his own right flank by leaving it lightly defended. It was not without anxious concern that Lee decided in the middle of the night that he was "determined to make no change in the plan." Lee simply ordered the General commanding his right "to hold his lines against all hazards, and to...(make) every preparation to meet any attack of the enemy in the morning."

General Lee was a true soldier of the "cross of Christ", and displayed great courage in upholding the standard, of the "cross of St. Andrew" against all odds in his defense of Richmond. We likewise are to take instruction, inspiration, and increased courage to stand firm in this critical hour, in this day of our Lord, for the cause of Christ, and for the cause of our beloved Southern forebears.

We are not to be frightened by shadows in the night seasons of fiery trials from Satan, and from those who would tempt us to faint in the righteous cause of our Southern Heritage. Praise God for His great gift of salvation at this Easter Season; and for our continuing freedom to serve Him, for the ability to stand firm in the hour of trial, come what may! "This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 119:24). Amen!

By His grace,
Dr. Paul E. Bellino

Dr. Bellino is the Chaplain for the Activism Seminars held by the Georgia Heritage Coalition.