HE IS RISEN

“He is risen!”

“He is risen indeed.”

This is a common Easter greeting for Christians around the world. Easter is my favorate  time of the year. So, I share with you appropriately some exerts from one of my favorate passages of Scripture – 2nd Corinthians 5:15-21

 He (Jesus) died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Doesn’t that blow your mind. The pre-Christian hears the Gospel. Receives Christ as Savior and Lord. He/she is a new person. A fresh influence within, called the Holy Spirit,  empowers the new believer to live for God and for others. We don’t have to be controlled by fear, resentment, self-centeredness and other unhealthy attitudes. As we yield our lives to Christ and His ways,  the Holy Spirit empowers us to become more Christ-like … more peace of mind, more joy and contentment - a new person.

However, some of the most miserable people I’ve met are Christians, torn between their self-centeredness  and the new life Christ has given them. Sometimes the problem lies in a rebellious spirit. But most  of the time, the cause for their misery is not being honest with themselves. They blame others for their angry spirit, their negative critical attitude. Or they make excuses like, “I’m just kind of on edge today.”  Rather than face their tendency  to be negative, angry and critical, followed by confession to God and the other person involved.

He is risen!

He is risen indeed and is showing me unhealthy attitudes (like spiritual pride) and empowering me  to change and  mature in Him.

I trust He is risen in your life also.