Daily Word of Grace # 20 (April 13, 2020)
Christianity is a resurrection faith. Christians are resurrection people. We worship Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25) who, yes, was crucified, died and was buried—but who was also raised from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection means death is not the end of the story for you or anyone else—“If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:19-22). In other words, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead gives us hope for today and hope for tomorrow—as Bill Gaither sings in the classic gospel song he wrote, “Because he lives I can face tomorrow, because he lives all fear is gone. Because I know he holds the future, life is worth the living just because he lives.” And after you die, the same God the Father who through the power of the Holy Spirit raised God the Son from the dead will do the same with you—“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). Alleluia, Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Love and Prayers,
Dave