How can belief in the resurrection impact your daily faith practice? Standing on Jesus’ Resurrection Word “Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?” (Matthew 22:31–32) God of the Living—A Present-Tense Promise • Jesus points to God’s self-revelation in the present tense—“I am”—to prove that the patriarchs still live. • If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive to God, every believer shares the same unbroken fellowship. • The resurrection is therefore not just a distant doctrine; it is the heartbeat of our ongoing relationship with the Lord right now. Resurrection Confidence Reshapes Today • Hope that cannot die: 1 Peter 1:3—“He has given us new birth… through the resurrection of Jesus.” Daily outlook shifts from anxiety to expectancy. • Courage in obedience: Romans 8:11—“He… will also give life to your mortal bodies.” Even ordinary acts of faith are energized by the same Spirit who raised Christ. • Freedom from paralyzing fear: Hebrews 2:14–15—death’s power broken, we walk into tough assignments unchained. • Purposeful suffering: 2 Corinthians 4:14—knowing we will be raised with Jesus, present troubles become “light and momentary.” Daily Practices Infused with Resurrection Power • Begin the day declaring, “My Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25); outlook resets around living hope. • Fight temptation by reckoning the old self crucified and the new self alive with Christ (Romans 6:4–11). • Serve sacrificially: labor “knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). • Offer comfort: grieve, yet “not like the rest, who are without hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14). • Celebrate weekly: gather on the first day, the resurrection day, to anchor rhythm and worship (Acts 20:7). • Witness boldly: proclaim a living Savior, as Peter did—“God raised Him up” (Acts 2:32), turning testimony into invitation. Setting Our Minds Above • Colossians 3:1–2 urges us, “Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.” • Practical translation: – Prioritize eternal values when planning time and finances. – Measure success by faithfulness rather than accolades. – Cultivate habits (Scripture, fellowship, generosity) that align with the world to come. Living Today in Light of Forever Because God is “not the God of the dead, but of the living,” every sunrise becomes a resurrection rehearsal. Belief in the empty tomb empowers fearless obedience, joyful endurance, and a hope that brightens every ordinary moment with the promise of everlasting life. |
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