Do you rejoice in the death & resurrection of Jesus?

 Acts 2:22-24

Peter said, “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.  This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

Some weeks after Jesus’ death a great crowd is listening to one of Jesus’ followers, Peter. Only weeks before, Peter had run away from Jesus’ abusers, he’d denied knowing Jesus, and then hid in fear for his own life. And here in Acts 2 he’s standing boldly in the open speaking about Jesus. What had changed? An amazing event, way out of the ordinary, had completely turned him around. Peter announces that God has confirmed he was at work in the events culminating in Jesus’ crucifixion. God had confirmed it by raising Jesus from the dead. In the Esther story, Mordecai and Esther weren’t confident they themselves would survive the dangerous days they lived in. But they were confident God knew what he was doing and that they could trust the God who had rescued his people all those years before from evil Pharaoh (king of Egypt). This confidence in God empowered them towards God-honouring action as they faced the plans of evil Haman in their time and place. May Peter’s confidence in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead empower you and me toward God-honouring action as we face the challenges of our time and place.

Head: Can you see that the resurrection of Jesus gives your trust in God a firm basis? It confirms that all God has promised in Jesus is real.

Heart: Let your heart rejoice in the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. Whatever happens to us in our time and place, Jesus has secured our relationship with God – we have life with God now and forever.

Hands: What specific God-honouring action can you take today as you face the challenges of your time and place?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I rejoice in the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, which confirms that all you have promised in Jesus is real. I am thankful that whatever happens to me today, Jesus has secured my relationship with you, now and forever. Please guide me as I aim to honour you in my actions today, as I face the challenges of this time and place. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.  

A Song to Listen to: Resurrecting

Phil Strong

This Grow Daily was originally posted as part of the Must See Passages series in 2016. During the School Holidays we take the opportunity to look back at the best of Grow Dailys over the years.