One Week Later || Life After the Resurrection
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been one week since we celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After the celebratory activities of the momentous season, it’s easy to fall back into a pattern of "business as usual."
But over the past week, I’ve pondered the following thoughts and questions in my heart and mind:
How am I living a resurrected life?
Do areas of my life truly represent the power of Christ’s resurrection?
Am I living free from "dead" things that are formed to keep me bound or to steal my peace?
Do I remain in the posture of surrender, where I am daily laying down my will for the will of God?
Am I living a life that displays Christ’s resurrection power?
And, if I believe that Christ conquered sin and death, then do my actions, thoughts, and lifestyle align with that?
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul spends the entire chapter declaring the nature and power of the resurrection. In verse 10, he declares, "But God’s grace has made me what I am. And his grace to me was not wasted."
The grace that Paul is talking about is a result of Christ’s resurrection power which enables us become the productive, fruitful, and contributing people God created us to be.
Like Paul, can we say the same about ourselves? Can we proclaim, with our lives, that the Lord’s grace is not wasted to us?
This is not about living a superficial spiritual life or pretending that life doesn’t happen and hit us hard at times. But when life ebbs and flows, what is our heart's posture and mindset? Do we trust in the resurrection power to give us the strength to overcome, endure, and/or conquer our circumstances?
Paul continues the chapter with 40+ more verses. (Paul is kind of long-winded, so when you are reading through the chapter bear with him, LoL.) He does conclude the chapter with a staple verse of encouragement:
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.”
Our entire life will not be lived on the mountaintop, nor will it always be in the valley. But we can trust in and serve the one and true living God who is always with us no matter the season or position of life we find ourselves in. And anything we work through in life is never a waste but can always be used for the glory of God. This is how we live a resurrected life!
So I ask you to prayerfully ponder my same thoughts and questions:
How are you living a resurrected life?
Do areas of your life truly represent the power of Christ’s resurrection?
Are you living free from "dead" things that are formed to keep you bound or to steal your peace?
Do you remain in the posture of surrender, where you daily lay down your will for the will of God?
Are you living a life that displays Christ’s resurrection power?
And, if you believe that Christ conquered sin and death, then do your actions, thoughts, and lifestyle align with that?
Like Paul, I encourage you to get committed (if you're not) and remain committed to living a resurrected life. Stay in the fight. Stand in faith. And trust our risen King to take care of the rest because He never fails. Do not lose sight of the power of Christ’s resurrection.