I had the honor of speaking to many of the Denver area Children’s pastors at a luncheon one Wednesday. If I am honest with you, there are times when I am speaking (even on Sunday mornings) when something gets a hold of me and I can’t help but preach all the louder and more passionately. I experienced that right in the middle of my talk last week. I found my self-caught up and preaching about something that was not entirely in my notes. I “Ran off script” but there was nothing I could do to stop it.
The thing that got me so fired up was when I read Acts 4:2 where it talks about Peter and John getting arrested while preaching about the “Resurrection from the dead.” These disciples were preaching about the power given to us through Christ, and specifically that Christ is not just another dead god – but is the God because of His resurrection, which offers life to us.
You see, Jesus is not just a story that someone dreamed up. He is not just a vision of those that have gone before. He is not a good story, or a past hero. He is the story (1 John 5:9). And most important of all, He is not a story once told, but a story living. Jesus is alive.
So many times Believers do not live like He is alive. We follow all that He said or did as if it is a great thing of the past. Jesus is not a thing of the past. Not a fad, come and gone. Jesus is more alive than you and me. And not only is He alive, but He relates to us (Hebrews 4:15). He knows the pain that we feel and the joy that brings a smile to our face.
We must live like Jesus is alive (because He is!). When we realize He is alive and interacting with us in our lives, then He will be relevant to the needs of those we tell about Him. Don’t forget He is alive – though not visible to us (yet) – He is very present and involved in our lives if we will invite Him to be.
Here’s a phrase worth memorizing: At the cross we live, by the resurrection, He lives with us. His resurrection brings life to us daily. Don’t live without inviting and accepting that power and presence in your life. Even stop and pray now to acknowledge to God your need for this very real power in you now.
