Easter Evidences: Sharing Hope
How the Resurrection Changes Our Lives Today
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)
Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! How does the Good News of Easter Sunday effect our lives today?
As the old hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, wonderfully articulates: we have strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Strength for Today — Living Hope
Because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, we have the strength that comes from God to face anything in our lives. This “living hope” is not wishful thinking, but a confident expectation.
The same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead now dwells inside of us—what tremendous power!
What issues are you facing today?
Imagine praying with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Well, that very same presence, that of The Holy Spirit, is at work in your life and helps you to pray!
What life-changing news!
Bright Hope for Tomorrow — Future Hope
The resurrection of Jesus gives us great expectation that we will one day be raised with Him when He returns. Christian hope looks back at the risen Jesus in order to look forward with anticipation.
We’ve been adopted into God’s family, have become citizens of heaven, and we eagerly await not just Christ working in this life, but for Him to make all things new and to raise us forever with Him in the future.
Hallelujah!
Serve God — How We Live Today, a Transformed Life
After the Apostle Paul writes full of faith all about the resurrection of Jesus and how it is the core to everything when it comes to Christianity, he follows it up by saying, “stop sinning and be sober minded,” (1 Corinthians 15:34). He instructs us to live a transformed life, to think clearly and critically, and to serve God with bright enthusiasm (v. 58).
We are to walk in love and in unity (Ephesians 4:1–6; Philippians 2:1–16). We work with divine purpose (1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:23). We devote ourselves to prayer (Colossians 4:2).
The resurrection changes our destiny, and it changes our lives!
What We Share — A Confident Witness to Hope
Jesus commissions His followers with a divine assignment—to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Peter’s admonition to be able to explain our hope is meant for us to share it with others (1 Peter 3:15). Paul says that we are to make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-17), to speak with wisdom and grace (Colossians 4:5-6), so that we would live in a way that would “make the gospel attractive,” (Titus 2:10), whether it be through words or through quiet deeds and countenance (1 Thessalonians 4:11).
The resurrection is something that we believe, and something that we live in every day!
Prayer Spark:
Thank you, Jesus, that your resurrection produces such wonderful fruit in our lives today! We pray that we would live in the full power and reality of our Living Hope.
We pray that you would give us strength in all that we face today. Help us to pray with power as we speak with you, Holy Spirit, the very one who raised Christ Jesus from the dead, who strengthens us with power from on high!
Give us a confident expectation of our bright hope for tomorrow, that we would look ahead to our own future resurrection with joyful hearts and gladness, as we will one day be united with you fully and reunited with those who have fallen asleep in you.
Empower us to live a transformed, holy life of service, prayer, love, and devotion, making the most of every opportunity to explain and share the reality of this incredible hope, and that we would faithfully make disciples in accordance with your will for our lives.
We praise you, thank you, and glorify you, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, who reigns forever and ever!
Amen!
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
—Jesus, John 20:27 (NLT)
Explore Further:
A Living Hope for Today
A Future Hope to Come
Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 21:4
A Transformed Life of Service Now
A Witness to the World
Easter Evidences
A 6-Day Journey Through the Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection
More Than Blind Faith
The Empty Tomb
Seen Alive
From Fear to Faith
Not a Legend
Living the Resurrection