Easter: Uzodimma urges Christians to emulate sacrificial love of Jesus Christ
Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has urged Christians to demonstrate the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ in their relationship with their neighbours, state and nation.
Uzodimma made the call in his Easter message to the people, made available to journalists in Owerri.
He said Easter celebration “is meaningful, only when we rededicate ourselves to the service of God and humanity, through proper reflection on Christ’s uncommon love for mankind.”
Uzodimma also reminded Christians that Easter remained the foundation upon which their faith was built, hence their hope for salvation.
According to him, because Jesus Christ gave his all for the faithful to live, people have no reason not to pursue those qualities that will truly indicate that they appreciate the sacrifice he made for humanity, by recommitting to the service of God and humanity.
He said, “Loving one another selflessly and sacrificially, forgiving one another and being faithful to God are qualities we must adorn proudly as Christians, who really appreciate the price Christ paid on our behalf.
“Today, we are joining fellow Christians all over the world to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
“It should be instructive to us that our Lord, Jesus Christ, paid the supreme sacrifice for our salvation because of His love for us.
“Therefore, as we celebrate Easter, we should reflect on his uncommon love for us which made him to willingly submit himself to shameful death so we can be saved.
“I urge all of us, therefore, to be Christ like and practise true love for our neighbour. This is the only way we can reciprocate Christ’s love for us,” he added.
While congratulating the people of the state for being alive to celebrate the 2023 Easter, the governor noted that the resurrection of Christ signified the hope of salvation for Christians.
“Christ died that we may live. His sacrificial love not only bought our redemption and salvation but ensured that we enjoy eternal life after our earthly journey.
“This spirit of love, sacrifice and selflessness pervading the season should reflect on the lives we live and how we relate with our fellow human beings.
“We should be guided by the universal love exhibited by Christ in the way we conduct ourselves daily.
“Because Christ symbolises peace, we should also uphold this ideal and refrain from acts that inflict misery on other Nigerians,” he stressed.
Uzodimma urged the people to sustain and preserve the hard-won peace.
He also called on them to use the opportunity of the Easter celebration to pray for those who lost their lives in the wake of the security crisis of the past.
“In our struggle for political power, let us remember that those whom we strive to serve need to be alive to appreciate our services.
“No matter what we do, Imo shall still remain our state and that filial bond among us will never be broken.
“We should, therefore, avoid divisive and combative posturing in the name of politics and emulate Jesus Christ in his sacrificial love.
“As we celebrate, we should all be reminded that we will all give an account of our stewardship when the time comes. May we also spare a thought for the sick and the less privileged in our midst,” he stated.
