How does the hope of resurrection influence our priorities and decisions today? Setting Our Sights on Resurrection Hope Philippians 3:10-11: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Paul’s words are laser-focused. Because bodily resurrection is certain, he shapes every pursuit around reaching it. That same certainty can recalibrate our own agendas today. How Resurrection Hope Reorders Our Priorities • Eternal over temporary – 2 Corinthians 4:18: “For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – Time, money, and talents move from self-advancement to kingdom investment. • Christ-likeness over comfort – Philippians 3:10 links resurrection power with “the fellowship of His sufferings.” – Present trials become training grounds for the glory to come (Romans 8:18). • Faithful service over empty success – 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Be steadfast… always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – Career choices, volunteer hours, even daily chores gain eternal significance. • Purity over indulgence – 1 John 3:2-3 reminds that those who “hope in Him purify themselves.” – Entertainment, relationships, and private habits are filtered through resurrection hope. Everyday Decisions in Light of Resurrection 1. Time management • Schedule includes regular Scripture intake, fellowship, and service—investments that outlast death. 2. Finances • Generous giving is no loss; treasure laid up in heaven cannot be stolen (Matthew 6:19-21). 3. Relationships • Forgiveness and reconciliation take priority, knowing we will stand together in glorified bodies. 4. Suffering and risk • Willingness to endure hardship for gospel witness grows, because death itself is not the end (2 Corinthians 4:14). 5. Moral choices • Sexual purity, honesty, and integrity are guarded, anticipating a body raised in incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:42). Scripture Echoes That Reinforce the Same Perspective • Colossians 3:1-4: “Since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above… When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” • 1 Peter 1:3-5: “In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ… into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.” • Romans 8:11: “He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit.” Living the Resurrection Agenda • View every choice through the lens of eternity. • Pursue knowing Christ more than accumulating accolades. • Treat suffering as temporary and purposeful. • Labor with confidence that nothing done for Jesus is wasted. • Hold possessions, plans, and life itself loosely—firmly holding instead the guaranteed, bodily resurrection to come. |
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