May your day see resurrection power.

I know, Easter is more than a week away. And if you’re reading this, you aren’t dead, so resurrection is not necessary just yet … Or is it?

Oh, yes. Resurrection power will be necessary for every one of us today.

Jesus talked about a new life for believers, a new birth that comes by the Holy Spirit. Exactly how does that new birth work?

Nicodemus wanted to know, too, but the Spirit is much like the wind, Jesus told him. You can see the effects, but “you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

So I’m not going to try to explain that! But God’s word to us describes many things that the Spirit does (the effects) in our lives. And one of the wonderful things the power of God can do is give us a new life.

I am saying that, literally, the power of the Spirit can change the life you live today.

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

The Scriptures are clear: Satan is constantly trying to control and enslave us through the wants, impulses, and cravings of our sinful nature. If we want to walk in peace and freedom and life, our only hope is to choose to live by the power of the Spirit.

In the above Scripture, the “death” may very well refer to eternal death; but for me, here, today, I hear God saying that the difference between life and death is now. In my job, in my relationships, in my pilgrimage through everything that is life here on earth—living by my sinful nature is the equivalent of dying, even while I’m still breathing.

Many Scriptures describe lives controlled by the sinful nature. Here’s the description from Galatians 5:

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.

I know, you aren’t involved in orgies and witchcraft. But let’s be honest; how many of those dark things listed have you experienced in your life? What is lurking in your day today? Envy? Hostility? Quarreling? Outbursts of anger? Jealousy? Selfishness?

Oh, yeah, I know all about those things. And they bring only darkness and unhappiness and death to my earthly life.

Then compare this description of a life controlled by the power of the Spirit of God:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Which of those words bring a longing to your heart because you know the painful absence of it in your life? Is it peace that your heart cries for? Does self-control seem an impossibility for you? Would you like to be more gentle and kind? Do you wish you could be more loving and patient?

Tell me which list you’d rather live? Isn’t this second description life, as opposed to the death in the first list?

Jesus was emphatic about what He wants to give us:

These life-giving things are produced by one person: the Spirit of God within us.

There is one thing we must do, though. We must choose to live by the Spirit. Making that decision brings a power into your life that cannot be explained, but you will see what it does!

And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

The power that brought Jesus back from the grave will also break death’s hold on you, child of God. Your resurrection happens every day, as the Spirit snatches you from those things that bring death and gives you a new, rich and satisfying life.

I cannot explain how. But the Father promises that His power can do that for His children.

May the power that resurrected Christ give you new life today.

*

Scripture: Romans 8:6; Galatians 5:19-21, 22-23; John 10:10; Romans 8:2; (all NLT).

When you celebrate Easter, do you celebrate your own resurrection?

Your resurrection is not something you are waiting to experience on some distant day. The resurrection power of Christ is all of your story, child of God–your story past, present, and future.

Each child of God is given a new life.

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn–not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
John 1:12-13

Jesus told Nicodemus (and us) that “no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.” John 3:5-6

This new birth, Jesus says, is the only way to be part of the Kingdom of God. The new life comes from the Holy Spirit. God gives us the Spirit and new life when we believe.

Jesus rescued us from death. Every one of us was dead to God before we believed. Nothing we could do would put us in good standing with the Almighty. We were doomed.

But the Almighty’s mercy provided a way for us to come to Him. Christ’s sacrifice paid what we could not. We were given new life. I’d say that’s resurrection.

Romans 5:18
Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.

2 Cor 3:6
The old written covenant ends in death, but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

Romans 6:13
… for you were dead, but now you have life. 

This passage is longer, but tells our whole story. Take the time to read it and savor its richness.

Titus 3:3-7
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. 

But–“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace, he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

Celebrate your resurrection, child of God.

I wonder if we have any idea what we’re saying …

To the religious leaders who were criticizing him, Jesus said something that makes me shiver today. These were religious leaders, mind you, who knew it all. He told them, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.”

He is talking to them about the resurrection, but I think we all need to sit up and take notice. Friend, what do you know about the Scriptures and the power of God?

We rattle off verses about God’s power within us. Scripture rolls off our tongues smoothly at just the right times. Verses we’ve known for decades float by us without piercing our souls. We patch hurts and problems with Band-Aids of church-y phrases. But do we know the power?

Paul, in a letter to his protégé Timothy, writes about difficult times in the last days, talking about people who act religious, but reject the power that could make them godly.

I suspect we are only skimming the surface of something so deep and so powerful that … How can we describe it? How can we possibly know the power of God?

Of course we can’t grasp something so far beyond us. But the Spirit can open our eyes, can begin to teach us. Are we paying attention?

When you read Peter’s statement that God’s power gives us everything we need to live godly lives, do you believe it? Or is your unconscious retort “yes, except for …” ?

When you quote Ephesians 3:20, do you hear only the promise that God can do fantastic things, or do you notice that the Scripture says God’s power is at work in us?

When you read Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil, do you believe that the power of the Spirit will equip you so that after the battle you will still be standing firm? Or have you just given up, conceded defeat in some battles, with the excuse, That’s just the way I am, or That’s the way things are…

In the midst of my study about the power of God within us, I had a bad day. I don’t remember what did or didn’t happen, I just remember that the next morning I berated myself in my journal, lamenting my foolishness and failure. In my self-scolding, I used the word “pathetic.”

Instantly, the Spirit checked my vocabulary. Is the word “pathetic” one that can ever describe us, children of God? If God’s power is at work in us, His Spirit living within, how dare we ever call ourselves pathetic?

And take that one step further, one step beyond myself. If the Spirit’s power is working in my brothers and sisters in Christ, how dare I look on them with critical and judgmental eyes? They are in the Spirit’s hands. He is doing His work in them.

I’m wandering, just a little, so back to my question:

Does talk of the power of God roll glibly off our tongues, while our lives deny that we believe? Did you notice that the Ephesians passage says this incomparably great power is for those of us who believe?

Do we believe?

Just askin’.

Scripture: Matthew 22:29; 2 Timothy 3:5, Ephesians 6:10,11,13b (all NLT), Ephesians 1:19 (NIV)

Simon Peter could tell you all about regrets and failure. He betrayed his friend and teacher.

Peter had walked away from his fisherman’s life to follow this man. And he had vowed that he would never turn his back on Jesus. “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will. Even if I have to die with you, I’m with you,” says Peter.

But now Jesus has been arrested. The plots against him are beginning to play out, and things aren’t looking good. Most of the disciples slip away into the night. We can understand that; they fear for their own safety. But Peter follows the crowd, wanting to know what is happening, wanting to stay close to his friend.

Then he is accused of being “one of them.” Someone notices Peter and asks if he was a friend of Jesus. Peter lies. He denies even knowing Jesus; he backs down and deserts the one he had so recently recognized as the Son of God.

And not only once, but three times! Three times he repeats the lie, the betrayal. Three times he fails the one to whom he’d pledged his life.

Then the rooster crows. Jesus turns, and looks at Peter. Their eyes meet.

And Peter remembers. Jesus had told him this would happen. And he probably remembers, too, how vehemently he promised that he would never betray his friend. Can you imagine his shame, his distress, knowing how he had failed?

The account in Luke is particularly sad: And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

So I think Peter could tell you all about failed intentions, regret, and shame.

But something happened to that man.

Once Jesus has left this earth, we hear Peter boldly saying to the Jews, in the synagogue, and to religious leaders, “You killed the Messiah! You killed the one who could give you life!” And even when religious leaders threatened to kill him if he didn’t stop preaching, he said, “Sorry, I obey God, not men.”

Something happened to that man.

Rewind to Jesus’ last days on earth. The disciples are finally convinced he has indeed come back to life. He’s been with them, eaten with them, talked with them. He is truly alive.

But now he’s talking about leaving again. What a roller coaster those disciples must have been on during those weeks. First, they watch as the one they hoped would set up a new kingdom is executed in a most horrible way. All their hopes die on Golgotha. Then, as they grieve and wonder, What do we do now?, the rumor starts that Jesus is not dead, but alive. Eventually, they see him with their own eyes. They finally believe. Then he talks of leaving them.

But just before he disappears again, Jesus has some curious last instructions for them. “Stay in the city,” he says, “until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Can you imagine? Can you put yourself among the circle of Jesus’ close disciples on that day? He says He’s leaving us, but tells us to wait … wait … and we will be filled with a new power. The NLT translation says, “But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Imagine you were standing there that day, listening to Jesus telling you that power from heaven will settle in you, will clothe you … Wow!

Listen to what God tells you today. He says He has put His Spirit within you, His power clothes you. Wow!

Listen to what God tells you through Peter: By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.

Yes. Something happened to that man.

*

Scriptures: Luke 22:62 (NLT), Luke 24:49 (NIV, NLT), 2 Peter 1:3

I walked in the fog this morning. Most of the time, I could see no more than fifty yards in front of me. The water collected on my glasses and dripped from my hair. Through our little village, down the hill, around the retirement community. Not the bright, clear morning I expected. I enjoyed none of the usual views of hills and valleys, creeks and woods.

But I heard the world. The traffic on the highway down in the valley. Voices through an open door. The clip-clop and rattle of a horse and buggy on a gravel road. Music. Above all, the bird song. I tried counting the different calls, but there was such a chorus that it was difficult to sort out individual songs.

I smelled bacon, freshly mown grass, and horses. Admired the rich green silhouettes of pine trees in the mist. Saw things close to my path that I have missed before, like the even work of the mason who laid a stone wall, the droplets of water hanging on every twig of the still-bare redbud, the tiny blue stars of spring flowers on one grassy bank.

And, yes, because I wasn’t always looking at the long views, this morning I was more aware of the trash along the highway.

I saw only one other person in the early morning fog. She greeted me by name.

Sometimes, it is good for us to walk in the fog.

Maybe…when we cannot see what is ahead, we listen more closely for the Spirit’s voice.

Maybe…when we aren’t so preoccupied with the view far beyond today, we hear the songs of this moment.

Maybe…when we know nothing but pain, we learn to seek refuge in the only One who can truly comfort.

Maybe…when we walk with limited sight we grow in our trust of the Way we have chosen.

Maybe…when we ease our pursuit of far-off goals, we make better connections to fellow travelers.

Maybe…when we are forced to pay more attention to where we are right now, we are more aware of the trash in our lives, litter that mars the beauty.

Maybe…when we walk in the fog, God will extinguish our foolish notions that we can know or plan the future, will remind us that we know nothing about the path ahead.

We walk only by faith.