Romans 6:4 ESV – We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Yesterday was the remembrance of the wondrous resurrection of our Lord and Savior and his victory over death. Through this astonishing miracle our great hope is founded. We, who believe in Him, will be with him for all eternity. Around the world Christians commemorated the most important day of the year; and many gathered with family and friends. Sadly, many will not think about the resurrection of Christ for another year as if it is an annual event to be celebrated and then forgotten; like Memorial Day and Labor Day. Many take too casually their own new life given by the power of the Holy Spirit.
A life forever impacted by the events of Easter (a resurrected life) will have unique qualities about it.
It will be a life marked by love. Jesus went to the cross because of his love for us. Love is the defining mark of a resurrected life. Remember Jesus’s words found in John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
It will be a life marked by joy. Joy is another defining mark of a resurrected life. In John 15:11 we read, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” It will be a life marked by service. Serving others is an expression of love and very often the act of serving brings joy to the server. Serving others was exemplified by Christ. In Matthew 20:28, Jesus said, “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” We, as followers of Christ, need to recall the resurrection of Jesus daily and to express the changes in our lives (our resurrected spiritual lives) as Jesus would through love, joy and service.