July 27 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Do you want to hear a good story? Most of us, adults and children alike, enjoy stories. There are certain stories that we love to hear over and over again. If you ask young children to bring you a book to read, they may bring you one that you have read to them five times already.

As children of the Lord we like to sit and listen to the story of the resurrection. It gives us great joy to hear it. The story of the resurrection starts with many questions. One question is: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5) This question was the first good news Jesus’ followers heard after the horrors they witnessed on Good Friday. The announcement of Christ’s resurrection was so stunning and unexpected that the disciples had difficulty accepting it as true. Nevertheless, within fifty days the conviction that Jesus Christ had really risen from the dead became the centre and foundation of the apostles’ preaching and teaching and propelled them to worldwide mission.

Believing in the resurrection is not a trivial matter but a crucial part of a true and living faith; it is one of the things that are necessary for us to believe. A commitment of heart and mind to the revelation of the Word of God concerning the resurrection is essential to a sound foundation for our faith. That’s why you and I need to ask ourselves, “Would I be able to speak openly and freely to my family, friends and others in the community of what Christ’s resurrection means to me? Does the gospel of the resurrection, which is central to the entire Christian message, move me to thankfulness?”

The significance of Christ’s resurrection is a doctrine that is often taken for granted. We know that Jesus died and rose again, but does it touch our lives? We cannot state it emphatically enough: Christ’s resurrection is crucial to our faith. Paul speaks of the resurrection as a matter of primary importance (1 Cor 15:3–5). Life would be completely impoverished if there was no resurrection. Had Christ not been raised we would still be dead in our sins and there would be no prospect or hope for the future. We may believe and confess Christ, raised from the dead! Hallelujah! Take the time to sit down and listen to the resurrection story. After you have heard it, go out and enjoy the wonderful benefits of this event.