LIFTED UP

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words." Luke 24:1-8

Well, Easter is finally here. We have made it through the Lenten season, persevered through the last week of Jesus to include His trial, wrongful conviction, beatings, crucifixion and death. Today, God’s almighty resurrection power takes Jesus from death to eternal life…lifting up Jesus from the tomb and sitting Him in the place of honor at the right hand of His throne.

But God didn’t stop at lifting Jesus up. He also opened the way for all of us to follow. John 3:16 assures us that "…God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Without the resurrection of Jesus, the resurrection of those who believe in Him would not have happened. In other words, John 3:16 would have been rendered powerless.

But God did resurrect His one and only Son…lifting Him up to the heavenly realm to be with Him until that time when He is sent to return to earth and call everyone who is in Christ, both dead and alive to Him forever. So in this truth, we have our hope as those who believe and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. He is the Author of our salvation and it is only through Him that we can find our way to the Father. (John 14:6)

So today, Easter Sunday, my prayer is that you are lifted up…just as Jesus was lifted up.

I pray you feel lifted up in love…a love that would allow Himself to be nailed to the cross for you…a love that would shed His blood so you might live. Truly, "greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) Jesus died for us…His friends…then rose from the grave so we might be lifted up in love…both now and forever.

I pray you are lifted up in peace. What an assurance we have through the resurrection. Death has no rule over those who believe and trust in Jesus! Is this not good news that should set us free? We need not fear the end of this life for it isn’t the end but just the beginning of an eternal life with the Father and His Son Jesus. This not only brings us peace but hope eternal.

Finally, I pray that you will be lifted up in Spirit. The resurrection should bring us to the place of rejoicing. The same awesome power that resurrected Jesus from the tomb is available to help us in whatever we might be going through. Do you think there is anything that is out of the possibility of God’s doing after He showed He could raise Jesus from the dead? The only right answer is that there is nothing He can’t do. If it is His will, He can and will make things happen. So feel the excitement and energy in the resurrection of our Savior. Allow your Spirit to be lifted up to the highest heights…just as Jesus was.

Yes…Jesus is risen. He has left the tomb to be with His Father. One day, we will join Him. Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Happy Easter everyone.

In Christ,

Mark

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