I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms.”
Ephesians 1:18-20
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Another Easter come and gone.
So what?
What difference does Christ’s resurrection make in the life of a believer?
All the difference in the world.
I Corinthians 15 tells us that if Christ hasn’t risen from the dead, our faith is in vain.
Not only that, but we are also still in our sins, and on our way to an eternity apart from our Creator.
And that we are to be pitied above all people.
Yes, belief in the saving power of a dead Savior would be most pitiable.
BUT…
Christ IS raised from the dead. And it makes a difference for eternity.
And that’s so much more than we deserve, isn’t it? So much more than enough. I marvel at such grace.
But guess what?
That’s not all…
Because the passage I opened with above (Ephesians 1:18-20) tells us that Christ’s resurrection power affects more than just eternity.
It affects us today.
It can make a difference in your life and mine on this Monday-after-Easter, and all the moments of all our days after that.
Because that incredibly awesome power that conquered death and raised Jesus from the dead over two thousand years ago is the exact same “incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Yes, dear believer, you and I have access to resurrection power.
Power that is strong enough to defeat your enemies today.
Strong enough to conquer your flesh today.
Strong enough to vanquish your lust for the things of the world today.
Strong enough to overcome your fears, your anxieties, and your insecurities today.
The only question is…
are you plugged into the power Source?
Do you spend periods of time recharging each day? And run back to Him frequently for a top-off?
You can face today with confidence in His resurrection power at your disposal!
Don’t let it go to waste!
Written by Jennifer Clarke
This is an incredible hope. Sometimes I struggle to know how to apply it. Are the implications of Christ’s resurrection merely spiritual, or are they physical too? For Him, they were both. What about for us? My wimpy faith wants to relegate His resurrection power only to the area of eternal salvation, lest I be disappointed by the trials of this life. But I have to believe there is more to it. Thanks for calling me back to faith in the relevance of His resurrection in the here and now.
That’s an interesting question, Tiffany. I’ve never really considered what physical implications Christ’s resurrection power might have for believers. Ephesians 1 seems to be addressing the spiritual inheritance for us. But you’re certainly correct in pointing out that resurrection power bore very real physical effects for Jesus!
Of course resurrection power bore real physical effects:
1. Matthew 27:50-53. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
2. Jn. 11:25 – When resurrection power, who is Jesus the power of God went to Lazarus’s tomb, Lazarus came back to life.
3. When the risen Lord went to the sea after resurrection in John 21, the Apostles barren fishing business boomed!
Thanks for sharing, Francis!