Easter season, the time between Easter Sunday and Pentecost feels particularly holy. This year I’ve been especially in awe of Jesus’ resurrection. Somehow it has permeated every inch of my soul and I am left in awe. Friends, Jesus has risen! Truly risen from death. We have the risen Christ in our midst, how amazing is that.

So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. ²² Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, NLT)

We are so undeserving of God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice for us. Yet this happened. It is all finished. This sacred gift is ours if we want it. If we have time to slow down and humble ourselves first to acknowledge our need for it and then to receive it. We will never earn it (and we are not supposed to either) but it is ours just because God loves us so much.

Christ in our midst

So I continue to be in awe and I welcome the risen Christ as he appears to me this season. It feels like God is enlarging my heart for something new. Or maybe God is pointing me back to the basics. Christianity is not a set of beliefs, it is a relationship with the living God.

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. (Romans 8:11, NLT,*)

Christian faith is wild and powerful. Too often we just forget that. We forget the resurrection reality and its power. And with that, we lose the essence of our faith. But watered-down faith is not good enough. We need the risen Christ and God’s grace as our saving, sanctifying, and supporting power. And we have exactly that when we believingly receive it. I plan to do exactly that every day of my life. Why don’t you join me in worshiping and serving the risen Christ?

Gracious God,
You truly are amazing:
you gave your only Son to die for us and
then you raised him up on the third day.
We surrender to you, Lord.
Save, sanctify, and support us with your grace.
Show us how to live in the resurrection joy and power every day of our lives.
In Jesus Christ’s name,
Amen

Q4U: Are you in awe of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Why/why not?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you receive and embrace the resurrection joy and power!