The Day After The Resurrection, What Now?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope this article finds you well and filled with the joy and hope of the resurrection! Most of us have spent the weekend gazing at the sacrifice, beauty, and power of Christ on the cross and His resurrection. Every year when Monday comes around, my first thought is, "What now"? How does the resurrection of our Lord affect how we live on Monday morning? As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of our Christ, I want to challenge each of you to take a closer look at how we live out the Resurrected life in our daily lives.

The apostle Paul was eager to know nothing else but Christ "and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10). We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." We celebrated this reality with the ordinance of baptism at our service yesterday. But this is not just a one-time event that happened on Resurrection Sunday. It is a daily reality that we are called to live out as followers of Jesus Christ. Like the apostle Paul and every other follower of Christ in history, we are to be eager to know Christ and experience the power of his resurrection.

How do we live and experience the power of the resurrection on Monday morning?

Living a resurrected life means living a life that is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11 reminds us that the same Spirit that raised our Lord indwells in us who have been united with Christ.

How do we live a powerful, resurrected life in the Spirit?

It means dying to our old ways of sin and selfishness and living in the newness of life that Christ has given us. It means living a life that is marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

So, I want to challenge you to take a moment and examine your life. Are you living in the power of the resurrection? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to transform you from the inside out? Are you living a life that is marked by the fruit of the Spirit?

If not, I encourage you to take grace-filled and grace-fueled steps toward living a resurrected life. Spend time in prayer and study of God's Word. Surround yourself with a local Church that will encourage, strengthen, and exhort you. Seek out opportunities to serve and love your local Church and those in your spheres of influence. And most importantly, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

As we continue to celebrate the resurrection, let us not forget that we are called to live as Resurrected people. Let us embrace the challenge of living a life that is transformed by the power of the resurrection, and let us do so with joy and gratitude in our hearts. Soli Deo Gloria.

In Christ,

Arthur