How can we emulate the women's response to the resurrection in our lives? The Verse in Focus “So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.” — Matthew 28:8 Two Emotions, One Heartbeat • Holy fear: an awed awareness of God’s power and holiness. • Great joy: the bursting gladness that the Savior lives. • The women did not let either emotion cancel the other; both fueled obedient action. Emulating Holy Fear • Stand in wonder before the empty tomb by reading the resurrection narratives (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20–21). • Allow Scripture’s eyewitness detail to deepen respect for God’s supernatural work. • Remember Hebrews 12:28: “Let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe.” • Let this reverence guard against casual or lukewarm faith. Cultivating Great Joy • Rehearse the promises secured by the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20–22; 1 Peter 1:3). • Sing resurrection hymns and Psalms that celebrate victory (Psalm 118:24; Isaiah 25:8). • Share testimonies of how the living Christ has transformed personal circumstances. • Joy thrives when gratitude is vocal and deliberate. Immediate Obedience in Witness • The women “ran to tell.” Obedience was swift, not delayed. • Acts 1:8 shows the same pattern: receive the truth, then become “witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” • Build a habit of quick obedience by responding to promptings of the Holy Spirit without procrastination. Holding Fear and Joy Together • Psalm 2:11 captures the balance: “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” • Healthy fear prevents joy from becoming frivolous; vibrant joy prevents fear from becoming paralyzing. • Meeting God in His Word each morning sets this tone for the entire day. Practical Steps for Today 1. Read Matthew 28 aloud, imagining the stone rolled away. 2. Spend a moment in silent awe, acknowledging Christ’s divinity and power. 3. List three resurrection blessings you enjoy right now. 4. Tell at least one person—today—how Jesus is alive and what that means for you. 5. Close the day by thanking God for both the trembling and the triumph. Living the Resurrection Daily • Every sunrise echoes the empty tomb; greet it with fear and joy intertwined. • Keep short accounts with God, confessing sin quickly, rejoicing in forgiveness purchased by the risen Lord (1 John 1:9). • Serve others energetically, knowing your labor “is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). • Await Christ’s return with the same mix of wonder and delight the women felt, confident that the One who conquered death will keep every promise. |
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