Easter: The Resurrection Changes Today

This devotional is based on this past Sunday's sermon with the help of sermonshots.com. You can view the sermon here.

Day 1
From Hostility to Love

Devotional: 
Have you ever met someone who completely changed after a life-altering experience? That's exactly what happens when we encounter Jesus. Before knowing Him, we were actually hostile toward God - as strange as that might sound. But here's the beautiful truth: Jesus loved us even in our hostility. He didn't wait for us to clean up our act or become 'good enough.' He chose to love us right where we were, knowing exactly who we were. This radical love transforms us from being God's enemies to becoming His beloved children. When we accept Christ, our old self - the one that wanted nothing to do with God - dies, and a new creation emerges that deeply desires to know and love God. This isn't just a slight improvement or a minor adjustment - it's a complete transformation of our very nature.

Bible Verse: 
"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot." - Romans 8:7

Quote of the Day: 
Jesus knows that you are hostile to God and He still loves you. In fact, he loves you enough to die for you.

Reflection Question: 
Think about your relationship with God before knowing Christ and now. What specific changes do you see in how you view and relate to Him?

Day 2
Breaking Free from Sin's Chains

Devotional: 
Freedom is a powerful word, but sometimes we don't truly understand what it means until we experience its opposite. Many of us lived so long under sin's control that we began to think it was normal - even natural. But God offers us something revolutionary: true freedom in Christ. When we accept Jesus, we're not just getting a ticket to heaven - we're being liberated from sin's power right now, today. This isn't just positive thinking or wishful dreaming. It's a spiritual reality purchased with Christ's blood. You are no longer a slave to sin. You don't have to be a servant of your sinful desires. God has given you a new identity and with it, the power to live differently.

Bible Verse: 
"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." - Romans 6:5

Quote of the Day: 
Your Creator calls what you think is freedom slavery. And the only reason you think it's freedom is because it's the only thing you've ever known.

Reflection Question: 
What areas of your life do you still treat as if sin has control over you? How might your choices change if you truly believed you were free?

Day 3
The Power of Choice

Devotional: 
One of the most empowering truths of the Christian life is that we always have a choice. Before Christ, sin had us in chains, but now we've been set free. This means that every time we face temptation, we have the ability to say no. We're no longer victims of our circumstances or slaves to our impulses. God has given us the ability to choose righteousness. This isn't about perfection - it's about possibility. When we stumble, it's not because we had to sin; it's because we chose to. This might sound harsh, but it's actually incredibly encouraging. Why? Because it means we're not helpless. We have been given real power through Christ to choose what honors God.

Bible Verse: 
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." - Romans 8:5

Quote of the Day: 
If I'm dead to sin, if I'm no longer a slave to sin, if sin is no longer my master, if I'm alive to God and now God is my master, that means there is never a time in the Christian life where I have to sin.

Reflection Question: 
When was the last time you faced temptation and chose to resist it? What made that victory possible?

Day 4
Living Your New Identity

Devotional: 
Imagine someone who's been released from prison but still lives as if they're behind bars. That's often how we approach our Christian life - we've been set free, but we haven't learned to live like free people yet. Our identity in Christ isn't just a nice theological concept - it's meant to be lived out in real, practical ways. When God made you alive in Christ, He gave you new desires, new abilities, and a new purpose. You're no longer defined by your past failures or controlled by your old nature. You're now God's beloved child, equipped and empowered to live for Him. This new identity should shape how you think, how you speak, and how you act.

Bible Verse: 
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

Quote of the Day: 
Your identity has to match your reality. Sin is not your master. God is your master.

Reflection Question: 
In what specific ways are you still living according to your old identity rather than your new identity in Christ?

Day 5
Joining the Fight

Devotional: 
Being alive in Christ doesn't mean we won't face battles - it means we're now equipped to fight them. God hasn't called us to passive Christianity but to active engagement in the fight against sin. This isn't a fight we wage alone; God fights alongside us and through us. Our sinful desires will try to reclaim the throne of our lives, but we now have the power and authority to resist them. This is what makes the Christian life both challenging and exciting - we're part of a real battle with real victories. Every time we choose God's way over our old way, we're participating in the triumph of Christ's resurrection power in our lives.

Bible Verse: 
"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." - James 1:13-14

Quote of the Day: 
When God made you alive in Christ, he called you to join the fight against sin.

Reflection Question: 
What specific strategies can you implement to actively fight against sin rather than passively accepting its influence in your life?