The big idea
Easter is such a celebration, such a high. So where do we go from here?
I’m challenged by this Scripture:
Phil 1:6 There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
It suggests to me that instead of being passive, my faith is supposed to be active, to bring change in my life. God has started something within me and he will bring it to completion.
Easter is about resurrection, new life, renewed life and the beginning of a faith journey, so how do we live in the reality of the resurrection? How do we live the risen life?
There are some things that happen in our lives that create a before and after. They are transformational moments. It’s like putting corn kernals onto heat. They transform into something new. Knowing Jesus transforms us.
Key Scriptures
2 Corinthians 5: 11-21
We Are God’s Ambassadors
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. 12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us,[a] so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. 13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. 14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us.[b] Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.[c] 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[d] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Next Steps
- Can you point to THAT moment of transformation when you came to know Jesus?
This is the most important place to start. Maybe you know about Jesus but haven’t accepted who he says he is, maybe you had faith but walked away for a time and your not sure about it, maybe you say you have faith but when you look at your life you can’t see any change, no transformation.
God wants to have a meaningful relationship with you. When you live for God, when you accept the sacrifice he has made it can and does transform the way you think, the way you love and the way you live.
- Live your new life
v17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Jesus didn’t come so that you could live the same life, knowing Jesus transforms you. It allows you to live not for yourself, not for your selfishness, it helps you to live for others. Living the risen life means embodying Jesus.
You lay hands on the sick, cast out demons, preach the gospel, bind up the broken hearted, love the lost, live in forgiveness for those who have hurt you or are hurting you.
In short, you’ll be just what God intended you to be. You’ll be the Body of Christ on the earth.
- Be an ambassador
Learn how to give your testimony, your story of transformation. We should always have a ready answer for the hope that is within us. Spend time reflecting on your faith journey and articulate the change Jesus makes in your life.
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