If Life is Changed by Jesus' Easter Victory, How Do We Live That New Life?

It is absolutely true that Jesus’ Easter resurrection changes the world, and changes our lives, forever! Jesus has taken the sin of the world, the judgement and the punishment, and He paid the debt of sin through His suffering and death on the cross. Yet, even more, Jesus’ resurrection has changed everything. Yes, sin brings death, but Jesus has risen. He offers eternal life through faith in His death and resurrection. Yes, sin brings pain, suffering, guilt and broken relationships. But Jesus’ resurrection also brings us new life in this world. Yes, we still have an enemy who desires to destroy God’s creation and His people. But that enemy has been judged, defeated, and destined to spend eternity in the lake of fire.

So, if life is changed by Jesus’ Easter victory, how do we live that new life? We rejoiced in Jesus’ victory on Easter Sunday. We have heard the accounts of Jesus restoration for His disciples, Thomas and Peter. Those exciting accounts assure us that Jesus gives new life even to His doubting and failed children, so that they might continue to serve the one who died for them and rose again. But now we are in the 50+ weeks after Easter. If life is changed by Jesus’ Easter victory, how do we live that new life?

In my daily devotions from the Today’s Light Bible on Tuesday, May 6, I read from Micah 4. In verse 2, as God calls His wandering sheep back to His grace, we read these words, “’Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” As I read this verse it struck me that our Lord’s path is a road map teaching God’s people how we can live throughout our days in the wilderness.

We seek the ‘teaching,’ the lessons of our Lord. Our God created this world. Therefore, He knows best what benefits our relationships, especially our relationship with our Heavenly Father. As Creator, the Lord knows best what makes us healthy physically. Who does not need help and direction? What does not need the teaching which our Heavenly Father gives?

Micah delineates even more how God gives this help. He gives His law, God’s path for healthy living. The Heavenly Father gives His Word. Perhaps you remember Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Through His law and His Word, our Lord guides us.

However, when Christians read that God gives His ‘word,’ we also think ‘Word.’ “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. . . 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3,14) Scripture names Jesus “The Word of God,” Jesus, is our Lord’s best communication of who He is, how He loves us, and His relationship with us. Jesus is our source for grace and truth.

Where do we find this teaching of the Lord. Where do we find His law and His Word. The beginning of Micah 4:2 calls us, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob” God is calling people to His Church. Have you thought about how important God’s church is, how important worship is, to the health of God’s people? Have you considered how important worship is to living in Jesus’ Easter victory? Do you ever struggle with persevering in the new life we have as people who follow a risen Savior? How is your worship life? There is an old saying. “If God seems far away, guess who moved!”

When the excitement of ‘near Easter’ is in the past, God has a plan for how we live in Jesus’ Easter victory. We seek the teaching of God, we seek His guidance in the law. We seek His Word. We seek Jesus, in His Church, in regular worship! So, ARE you regular in worship? Are you giving your Lord a chance to teach you, to guide you with His law, to fill you with His Word?

Imagine finding a plan for Christian Easter living in the Old Testament book of Micah! "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”