Matthew 28:6,  "He has risen." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 17  "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. ... And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."

Think

"Jesus' exit from the grave is just as important as his entrance into it!" Have you ever had your favorite sports team play in the championship game? If so, you know how much that changes your involvement. Rather than watching as a casual fan, you're glued to every single moment to find out the final outcome of the game. You don't get bored and then turn it off in the third quarter, because the ending is everything! When it comes to Jesus, so many people celebrate the fact that he died for their sins. But if it ends there, it's like turning off the game in the third quarter. Because there was a resurrection after that! Jesus died on the cross and was buried, but he is no longer in the tomb. By his resurrection, Jesus proved that he is who he said he is. He went to the cross being mocked as a "king," but his resurrection showed that he is the real King of heaven and earth. What difference does the resurrection make today? It changes everything! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us. How might this reality change your prayers, your confidence in Jesus, and your daily choices? Rather than putting your trust in things here on earth, which will fade away, begin to put your trust in the one who is above everything. Put your trust in the one who came back from the grave!

Act

Think about areas where you might be relying on your own strength instead of God's. Now take a moment and write them down. Pray boldly for God to work in those situations, knowing the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you. Remain confident in this, and let that confidence transform your interactions, your relationships, and your circumstances.

Pray

Father, I praise you for the power you displayed in the resurrection and thank you that the power is available to me. Help me to live in the reality that Jesus lives and that I can trust him above all else. Amen.