Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.
John 14:19 NLT
Raising the dead is no easy feat. In fact, with man, after a short window of time this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.
The fact that Jesus was raised from the dead physically allows us to be raised from the dead spiritually.
You see, we are all dead in our sin before we repent and turn to follow Jesus. We know that the wages of sin, what we earn from our disobedience, is death. That’s God’s justice.
The penalty we deserve has been paid, once and for all, by the blood of Jesus, who made the atoning sacrifice to liberate us from the penalty and power of sin.
No longer are we under condemnation from the Law. The Law was fulfilled in Christ and now mercy, grace and unfailing love are freely available to all who believe that Jesus is Lord.
Since Jesus lives, we also will live. We live in the Kingdom of God. We enter by faith. It’s a free gift. You can’t work to achieve it. We abide by grace. Again, it’s a free gift. You can’t earn it. You don’t deserve it.
God’s grace liberates us from the grip of the enemy. You no longer have any obligation to live according to the flesh. You don’t have to sin anymore. Temptations will come, but you don’t have to give in to them. Trials and tribulations will come, but you don’t need to lose hope over them. God is with you in all things. God is for you in all things.
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.
1 Corinthians 10:13-14 NLT
We’re being sanctified. We’re going from glory to glory. We’re becoming more and more pure, holy, righteous and true by the sovereign will of God. You can cooperate with this process or you can resist it. For best results, I recommend cooperating with God.
How do we do that? First, we humble ourselves. Then, we pray. Then, we obey. We ask God what His agenda is for our day, and then we go about our Father’s business. He is with us in everything we do and say. We yield to the Spirit’s leading and God does miraculous things in us, through us, and all around us.
Through obedience we experience the fullness of who Jesus is and who we are.
The devil wants to ruin your life. Jesus wants to use your life. You choose, as an act of your free will, to either yield to God or to succumb to lesser urges.
Remembering who you are, who God created you to be, is the best defense against being manipulated into doing things that aren’t God honoring.
Jesus came to give you life, and life to the full. Abundance of spiritual blessings are your inheritance in Christ Jesus. Rejoice in the Lord. Again I say, rejoice!
Father in Heaven, thank You for revealing Jesus Christ as Lord to our hearts. Empower us by the Holy Spirit to live lives of love, joy, peace, mercy and grace. Let Your Presence in us flow through us, unhindered by sin, bitterness or unforgiveness. Let us be mature children of the Lord Our God. Amen.
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
John 10:10 AMP
For reflection: read Acts of the Apostles, chapters 1 & 2.
Igniter Ministries 