Parenting: HAPPY EASTER—When the Resurrection Hits Home

“HAPPY EASTER.”  We hear it all the time leading up to this season but to the average person on the street, what does it really mean? What is Easter really about? In short, Easter is about remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated worldwide for the life-transforming power of God’s victorious power over death through the resurrection of His Son. This significant and historic event is central to the Good News of the salvation story. Those who understand and have embraced it understand the depth of the “happy” part. But let’s go deeper.

The power of the resurrection brought change—great change. God’s unmatched power miraculously raised Christ from the dead—it brought Him back to life! In so doing, Christ’s resurrection defeated man’s sin, the grave, hell and Satan himself. Powerful. The resurrection of Christ gives us hope. It’s the backbone of our salvation.

A person can’t experience a more profound transformation than once being dead and then coming to life again. When we come alive in Christ through faith after being dead in our sinful lives, the rebuilding begins. It’s called conversion for a reason. The power of the resurrected Christ in a person brings change—massive change. It’s an undeniable metamorphosis. All things become new! In time, the sinful caterpillar that we were, experiences an amazing transformation through Christ into a Spirit-filled butterfly! Unimaginable and unbelievable!

We are challenged to give up everything to know Christ and the power of this resurrection in our lives (Phil. 3:7-10). Not an easy thing on our part. We are made alive through Christ though we were once dead in our sin and selfish lives (Eph. 2:1-5). Not an easy thing on His part. But know for sure that God’s resurrection power is still completely able to change lives today. Sounds good. Sounds reassuring.

Up to this point though, the discussion though inspirational, has been rather theological and theoretical. We might be left feeling too comfortable for my liking. The truth is that the good news of the resurrected Christ isn’t meant to be feel safe. It is intended to be fully invasive and deeply challenging. The gospel packs a full punch and is meant to really hit home—literally. The repercussions of my new faith in Christ are clear. The Lord is to affect the central corridor of my life—in my most important relationships! Here’s how:

The resurrected life changes me.

By coming alive in Christ, I begin to reflect Him more and more in what I do. The more I surrender and trust Him with my life; the more changes will begin to take place. His power is able to bring growth in my character and alteration in my actions. This is the evidence that God is at work in me. Change. Our attitudes and thoughts are to be constantly changing for the better. I am becoming a new and different person in all I do and say. I am to clothe myself with this new nature (Eph. 4:23,24). By Christ’s power, I am gradually conforming to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29). That’s the process of sanctification.

That’s the sign of our conversion—a changed life.

When a person is made alive in Christ, he becomes a new creation from the inside out—the old man is gone and a new man appears (2 Cor. 5:17). The fruit of the Spirit start taking root in us—His love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, goodness faithfulness and self-control (Gal. 5:23,24). The beauty of God’s resurrection power in me is that I am never the same again because of both what Christ has done for me and now what He is doing in me. But that’s not all.

The resurrected life changes my most important relationships.

Christ’s power must hit home. Through my conversion, the new me is an altered me and will begin to create a new home. It can’t not. With Christ, the tone of the house changes. All my most important relationships really come alive. This doesn’t happen without reoccurring battles over my self-centeredness and the relentless struggles against the enemy who doesn’t want us to bring the Jesus-difference home. So, this may not be an overnight occurrence but has to be a recognizable one. Face it; you bring Jesus home with you. That changes everything.

You can’t somehow be sensitive to God and insensitive to people.

That just doesn’t fly. Jesus calls us to love our enemies. Shoot, even at stress points, your family members should still fall in that range! Loving others is His way, period. As one is transformed by the resurrection power of Christ, they become a new person, a new partner and a new parent. Full family transformation begins. Care and support for the family displays one’s faith. “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). God’s plan is that your kids get a new Daddy and your spouse gets the beginnings of a 1st Corinthians 13 lover—and those 15 traits of real love are a huge growth curve for most of us.  And remember, the greater the surrender, the greater the changes. The resurrection power of Jesus Christ is the power to change lives, marriages and families.

If the power of the resurrection hasn’t hit your home yet then the truth of the resurrection hasn’t hit your heart yet.

Enjoy a Blessed Easter as you renew your gratitude for Jesus Christ and let His resurrection power hit home. We’d love to hear from you—your comments, questions or examples of His power working in your home. Continue to enjoy more resources on the website or get our phone app to take our God-honoring family encouragement with you. Doing Family Right will always help you maximize your most important relationships—spouse—family—God.

© Dr. Dave Currie – January 2015