Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

As we arrive at our redemption destination, let’s seek to live out it’s purpose.

Today’s scripture, Titus 2:12-14 NLT
[12] And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, [13] while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. [14] He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Consider…
This morning I read the perfect resurrection mandate, from the Our Daily Bread devotional, “The best evidence for the resurrection is the changed lives of the eyewitnesses”.

This pressed play on Tramaine Hawkins singing…

A change, a change has come over me
He changed my life and now I’m free
He washed away all my sins and He made me whole
He washed me white as snow (snow)

He changed
My life complete
And now I sit
I sit at His feet

To do
What must be done
I’ll work and work
Until He comes

We must always remember Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT) tells us…
[8] God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [10] For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Notice we’re not saved because of the good we’ve done, BUT to do the good, in Christ, that God pre-planned for us to do.

This tells me that we must live out our salvation as the Apostle Paul exhorts us to do in Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT). He says…
[12] Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. [13] For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Notice, we’re exhorted to show that we’re saved by obeying God with deep reverence and fear! But don’t miss the transformational truth from verse 13, which is…
God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

We must never forget we need God to please God!

• God the Father, who sent His Son to redeem us from sin
• God the Son, who sacrificed His life and freed us from the penalty and power of sin
• God the Holy Spirit, who helps us to live free from the control of sin

Its important that we understand that Sin killed our relationship with God, but He raised us back to life in and for Him. Romans 5:21 (NLT) explains…
[21] So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This brings us to an important understanding of what resurrection must mean to us.

Romans 6:4-7 (NIV) reminds us…
[4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. [5] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin [7] because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

When we accept Christ as our Lord, we accept a completely NEW life! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) explains…
[17] This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Christ’s resurrection ushers in a new beginning. The Holy Spirit is telling us to stop reminiscing about our old life ending.

That was reminds me of the of the Israelites opining for the scraps of slavery, rather than focusing on God’s favor in freedom.

With our new beginning, God says that Christ’s resurrection removes all excuses for sinful living. Thus the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write Romans 6:11-13 (NIV), which says…
[11] In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. [12] Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. [13] Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

As I read verse 13, I notice that control of our lives is a submission choice. We either choose to submit to God or sin.

As I wrote that, the Holy Spirit just reenlightened me that salvation doesn’t remove the desire to sin, it just empowers us not to indulge. That’s why Galatians 5:16 (NLT) encourages us…
[16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

This tells me, we may never lose our craving, but with the Holy Spirit’s help we can change how we’re behaving.

To help me better understand that truth, the Lord led me to Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT), which exhorts…
[21] Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, [22] throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. [23] Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. [24] Put on your new nature, created to be like God truly righteous and holy.

Notice WE have to throw off our old behaviors and LET the Holy Spirit lead us into the new way of living in and through Christ.

As a matter of fact, the very next verse, Ephesians 4:25 (NLT), gives us a practical example. It says…
[25] So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

Do you see it, stop lying and start unifying, with God’s truth.

Speaking of unifying, the Holy Spirit reminded me that we’ve been freed to serve, not indulge. Galatians 5:13 (NIV) explains…
[13] You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Loving and serving others is how our new life in Christ proves that He lives. Don’t take my word for it, Jesus said in John 13:35 (NLT)…
[35] “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Which brings us back to my opening statement, “The best evidence for the resurrection is the changed lives of the eyewitnesses”.

The world knows that Jesus (the Vine) is alive when they see His fruit eminating from us (His branches). John 15:5 (NLT) explains…
[5] “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

This seems like a good opportunity to remind you of how Christ’s fruit should look to others. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that’s..

• loving
• joyful (like Jesus, esteeming Others, above Yourself)
• peace making
• patient
• kind
• good
• faithful
• gentle
• self-controlled

That should sound familiar since it’s how Jesus is to you.

But the Holy Spirit told me to keep reading, and Galatians 5:24-25 (NLT) emphasizes…
[24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. [25] Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

New life in Christ is a permanent shift from our sinful way to God’s righteous and Holy will.

With that emphasis understood, the Holy Spirit is telling me to close with Galatians 2:20 (NLT)…
[20] My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

People need to see Christ living in you in your order to see He is risen indeed!

Don’t just celebrate, live the resurrection!

Today’s song is…
I Want The World To See

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)