“Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!”
1 Peter 1:3-4 (The Message) Fear is nothing new. It’s been with us from the very beginning! In the Garden of Eden, Adam hid from God and said, “I was afraid.” Humans have been living in fear of God and each other ever since. Fear is based on ignorance. That means truth is the only cure—and truth can only be found in God’s Word. The Bible is full of commands. But do you know which one is the most common? Don’t be afraid. You’ll find it 365 times in Scripture—including several times at the time of Jesus' resurrection. “Don’t be afraid” were the first words the angel told those who showed up at the tomb on Easter morning. They were also the first words Jesus spoke after the resurrection. It’s no wonder why it’s a common theme in the Bible: Fear is humanity’s most common problem. You might not think you’re a fearful person. But you rarely realize how many of your decisions are based on fear, such as the fear of what people think of you and the fear of failure. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you can now live without fear. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “[Jesus] included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own” (The Message). When you live according to the resurrection of Christ, the Bible says you’re living a better life, a life free from fear. In fact, there are five truths about the resurrection that will set you free from fear if you understand them. First, you know Jesus tells you the truth. Throughout history many people have claimed to be God or the Messiah—but only one proved it. The Bible says, “[Jesus] was declared to be God’s Son with great power by rising from the dead” (Romans 1:4 NCV). Without the resurrection, you couldn’t trust anything Jesus said. But you can trust what Jesus says about God, heaven, and everything else he taught because he rose from the dead like he said he would. When you understand Jesus tells the truth and that you can trust what he says, it becomes easier to let go of your fears. Second, you know death isn’t the end. Until Jesus rose from the dead, you didn’t know if there was life after death, because there was no proof. Jesus changed that. The Bible tells us, “God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and we know that God will also raise us with Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:14 NCV). You don’t need to fear death, because Jesus’ resurrection shows us that death isn’t the end of the story. It’s really the beginning of your eternal life in God’s presence. Third, you know God loves you extravagantly. God didn’t just send you a postcard with a note saying how much he loves you. He cared enough to send the very best—himself! When Jesus was dying on the cross with his arms outstretched, he was saying: “I love you this much.” Fear and love cannot exist in the same place. The Bible tells us, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18 NIV). When you invite Christ into the front door of your heart, fear goes out the back door. Fourth, you know God has a good plan for your life. When you open yourself up to God’s love, he takes care of your past, present, and future. Because of the resurrection, your sins are forgiven, you get a purpose for living, and you get a home in heaven. The Bible describes it like this: “Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!” (1 Peter 1:3-4 The Message) You won’t get that kind of life anywhere else. You only get it through the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Finally, you know God will take care of your needs. One of the reasons you struggle with fear is that you worry about tomorrow—and worry can’t change anything! It won’t add a single moment to your life, and it won’t solve a single problem. But the resurrection guarantees that God will meet all of your needs—starting with your salvation—by providing you with the power of his resurrection. Paul writes, “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT). You might remind yourself that because Jesus was raised from the dead, you are no longer a prisoner to fear. That’s news so good that you will want to share it!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorTaken from Daily Hope by Rick Warren. Categories
All
Archives
July 2024
|