He’s risen, they waited and God came through on His promise of sending The Spirit, not just for them but for us also, and we have the advantage of looking back on the things Jesus said before and applying them in light of this amazing gift. One of my favorites is: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
Wow! Please Lord.
What a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, I’ve got a beautiful feeling Jesus is with us to stay.
This from E. Stanley Jones today, “The resurrection of Jesus is not something in history to be looked at and admired and rejoiced in ; it is something to be appropriated and lived by—something that works in us. The same power, which turned the most abject defeat in history – the defeat of the cross – into the most glorious victory in history – the victory of the Resurrection – is available in Christ now.”
Imagine the implications of realizing this in our lives.
This year’s wonderful Easter celebration is behind us but we get to take its good news with us today and each day hereafter. Christ’s restoration to the Father is our invitation to an intimate relationship that does not need to wait until we get to heaven. Because of what took place on the day He rose we can experience God in every area of our lives. He wants nothing more than to share in each moment of our day and every day.
“The state of being restored to life.”
Jesus’ death on the cross began a separation between He and the Father that lasted until He was restored to life. But His Resurrection not only returned Himself to the presence of the Father it also once and for all conquered death for us as well. We no longer need ever be separated from Him. The arms spread open on the cross are now always eager for a welcome embrace.
We commemorate the two greatest events in human History this weekend and it’s wonderful that we make a big deal out the death and resurrection of our Lord each year. But what if we took the celebration to a whole new level? What if throughout each day we took to heart the perfect love that Christ’s sacrifice demonstrated and were perpetually thankful? What if we walked through each day with the confidence that Jesus’ resurrection truly did finish it, that the battle is won and that our place with the Father is just as secure as His? Now that would be a Holyday.
God becoming one of us is no less an act of His perfect love than His death and resurrection. Today we rejoice that he came but let’s also celebrate that He is here, that He loves each of us uniquely and that His greatest desire is to be included in all that we are and all that we do. Merry Christmas, you are so loved.
The Better Thing 