Good Morning Friends,
As we approach Pentecost, we circle back to look that how rebirth fits into the storyline and of course it is the most fundamental doctrine that we hold, for without the resurrection there is no Christianity. It is the power of revitalization that gives us confidence. Yes, Jesus died for our sins, and it was a choice, but he was raised for our justification so we might be transformed! So, How Do We Make The Resurrection Real In Our Lives?
Scripture: Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (NRSV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
John 14:6-14 (NRSV)
Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.
Romans 4:23-25 (NRSV)
Message: The movement of Christianity rises and falls on the belief of the empty tomb. Billy Graham said that “If I were an enemy of Christianity, I would aim right at the resurrection, because that is the heart of Christianity.” To deny the reality of the resurrection, is to deny the reality of Christ in our lives today. That is why during Eastertide we often repeat the affirmation, “He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!” But let us face the truth. There are times when we would like to run away from our problems and be left alone to deal with the problems of life. But it is not so easy to live in isolation. We are called to assemble as witnesses for worship. For if the Spirit is within us, we have a purpose to proclaim the Gospel of the risen Lord, to proclaim that God is more powerful than our struggles and that God will get us through all the challenges of life. Friends, we stand not in our own power, but in the power of the risen Lord and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. And for us in our lives it has the same dynamics as the incarnation itself. Some see it and others do not. Some understand the mystery and embrace it, while others are left in indifference and even hatred. Some catch the meaning, and it changes their lives. Love in community makes a difference. Friends, when we look at anything through the eyes of love, we see correctly and understand. The reverse is also true. When we look at anything through eyes that are jaded, cynical, jealous, or bitter, we will not see correctly, and we will not understand. Nowhere is this truer than what is revealed in the Resurrection. The Gospels assure us that, like his birth, the Resurrection was physical, real — not some alteration inside the minds of believers. After the Resurrection we are assured, Jesus’ tomb was empty, people touched him, he ate food with them, he was not a ghost. Jesus lives and gentle nudges us in the power of rebirth to love.
And So, you see, God never overpowers, twists arms, or pushes our face into our humanness. God respects our freedom and is never a coercive force. Yes, God is in charge but has left us in charge of some things too. In this way God loves us so we might see the Resurrection through the eyes of love in the being we were born into and experience God as we are reborn into in Christ. Indeed, our evolving faith is really a Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him. Friends, the message we share, the Good News we believe has its foundation in this Resurrection of Christ being born in us. It is here that we find the power to have victory in our daily lives. It is here we realize that God so loved the world that He sent His Son to save us and gave us the Holy Spirit to birth us anew. It is here we learn to love. It is here faith becomes alive in us so we might glorify God.
Pray we trade the work of religion for a relationship of love. Pray we set eternal priorities. Pray we die to self and are born again in the Spirit. Pray we expect this miracle. Pray we experience resurrection peace and resurrection hope and resurrection joy and resurrection victory. Pray we pursue God passionately, and our passion sparks the interest of others. Pray for this revival, rebirth, restoration, and renewal in our personal and collective lives. Pray the Holy Spirit is in us as the Father is in Jesus…one in the same dynamics as the incarnation and resurrection spreading as a flame to change the universe. Pray we realize that the source of the power that changed history can be experienced in our own lives, every day and that it is God’s intention that we use it now.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 