Easter changed the world. Jesus conquered death and made a way for you and me to have eternal life. When we sinned, we were separated from Holy God. Yet, Jesus took our place on the cross. Jesus paid the price for our sins, and by His sacrifice, we can be redeemed. When we repent our sins and commit to follow Jesus, God sees us as righteous and we come alive. Our best life is lived in Christ Jesus. We are redeemed, forgiven, and blessed. Come alive this Easter. Commit to live your life for Jesus, and experience the amazing life only Jesus can give!

Jesus takes the initiative with us. Jesus left heaven and came down to earth in order to “seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10. Because of our sin, we were lost - separated from Holy God. Yet, Jesus takes the initiative to come to us. Regardless of our race, our past sin, our religious background, or our socioeconomic status, Jesus comes to redeem and restore each one of us. Let’s receive God’s grace in His Son, Jesus, and then share His love with others.

We all want to know that we are valued and important. We spend the majority of our lives searching for it. In this passage, Jesus speaks about our need for importance and counsels us to stop and trust (like a child) that we are valued and important. We are important enough to die for. As we become more like a trusting child, we can truly begin to teach the next generation to find their value in Christ alone.

Saying yes to Jesus means saying yes to living on mission or living “sent”! Far too often we seem to think that being sent is for someone else. But according to Jesus, “living sent” is a part of the normal life of the believer. Not only that sent lives are joyful lives, and as followers of Christ we look most like Christ when we live sent! So hold tightly to the truth that “Where you are is where God has sent you!” and this week, look for opportunities in the normal rhythms of your life to be people that usher in the peace of God and invest deeply in the people God has put around you.

There is a God-shaped hole in every one of us. We try to fill this hole in our lives with money, success, power, or possessions. The world tells us that these things will satisfy, but they never do. As soon as we buy something or reach a new position in a job, we are already looking for what’s next. True fulfillment comes only in Jesus. He is everything we need and desire. Is there anything in your life that is more important to you than Jesus? If so, confess it today, and put Jesus first. When He is truly first in your life, then you experience the deep joy of knowing Him!

As Christ-followers, we are in a battle. Our enemy wants to render us ineffective for the Kingdom of God. The devil longs to deceive us and get a foothold in our minds, home, workplace, and church. But, our God is greater. God gives us spiritual armor for the battle, and the last piece of armor is prayer. Prayer invites God into our situations and struggles. Our God is greater! Prayer changes things and prayer changes us. Let’s be people who pray because we know that God will ultimately win the battle! We are on the winning team. So let’s put on the full armor of God and pray in all situations. Our God is with us and He is for us! Let’s pray!

It’s easy to think of the Armor of God as a metaphor that’s distant from our everyday realities. But each piece is meant to be utilized in “every situation” as Paul writes in Ephesians 6:16.

Reflect this week on the following questions:

1. What dart of the enemy has come your way? What promises in Scripture can you claim by faith that will extinguish his arrows?

2. Our salvation is a present reality. In what area are you not living in light of that reality? How can you align your thoughts and actions with what is true about your salvation?

3. When you speak truths from God’s Word, is the timing right? Is your heart right before the Lord? Are you dependent on the Holy Spirit?

We are in a spiritual battle. Our enemy, the devil, longs to get a foothold in our mind, home, workplace, and church. As Christ-followers, we must resist the devil and put on the full armor of God. This week, will you put on the Belt of Truth as you evaluate the information you hear? Listen to what God says about you and the truth of Jesus Christ. Also, cover your heart in His Righteousness and put on the Sandals of Peace as you walk into every situation. We are soldiers of God, and we must take our stand. As His Church, let’s stand together for the glory of our God!

We are in a spiritual battle. Most of the time we only focus on what we can see, but there is a battle that rages between Good vs. Evil, that we cannot see, and impacts all of us. We have an enemy who does not want us to succeed in life. The devil endeavors to keep people from God and schemes against those who seek to follow Jesus. Yet, God is more powerful than our enemy and gives us the armor to succeed in the battle. Put on the full armor of God and live for the glory of God. The devil will be defeated, so let’s not let him get a foothold in our minds, homes, and lives. Let’s stand for Jesus and know that the battle belongs to the Lord!

Jesus calls us to follow Him. When we respond to His invitation, it is the beginning of an amazing spiritual journey. There is a difference between Cultural Christianity and Committed Christianity. Jesus doesn’t simply want us to be a fan, but a follower of His. In order to do this, we must give our all. Investing our lives in God’s agenda changes our life and impacts the world. The greatest joy in the world is knowing and following Jesus. He gave His all for us, so let’s give our all for Him.