Alive

Mary was from a small town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee—a town called Magdala. Jesus met her while he was preaching and teaching in that region. I cannot imagine exactly how she looked, but in my mind, I see a woman with matted hair, a tormented face, and clothes little more than rags. She was possessed—not by one, but by seven demons! (Luke 8:2)

Eleven men sat in a darkened room. The doors were bolted shut. Certainly, those who had killed Jesus would be coming for them. The deafening silence was broken by every cough and creaking chair echoing throughout the room. The shuffling feet and the heavy sighs served as reminders of the tension. Along with the darkness was a mixture of hopelessness and confusion. All their dreams and hopes were bound in grave cloths, lying cold in a guarded tomb.

Many people are confused about Jesus. Many people speak of him in different ways. In today’s passage, we are invited to a fresh start. We are asked to come and see for ourselves who Jesus really is.

Jesus paid sin’s penalty in full and offers a free pardon. He breathes life into our spiritually dead souls and makes us fit for heaven. In Christ, we are made alive.

Ask God to give you a new Spirit-empowered desire to follow hard after Jesus.

The fact is that we are not going to get out of this life alive. One day, all too soon, we will be gone. When our children leave our grave and walk to their cars, will they do so in the power of the Spirit or with meaningless religious remnants?

This spiritual wholeness is how God wants me to impress who he is on my children. They shouldn’t see God as someone who lives in a church building. Spiritual wholeness teaches our children that God is alive and active in every area of life.

Are your emotions bouncing off the wall? Are all the sounds distracting you? Is the hurried pace isolating you from others? Are you visually exhausted? Close your eyes. Jesus is alive. The resurrected Lord is here. Listen to His voice.