Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
Acts 26:23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Christ has Risen. He has Risen indeed. Death did not have dominion over Him. He rose again so that we would have a bright light of validation of what is to come to those who believe. We will too, rise again and forever be with Jesus Christ. This is no small thing and sometimes I wonder if we live to carefree. We believe in Jesus Christ and life after death but when it comes to lining in such a way that honors, glorifies, reveres, exalts, and gives thanks to Jesus Christ, we live no different than those who have no hope. We are to live in this world and be a light to Jesus Christ. There should be a difference in our lives because of what He did in our lives. There should be a longing to see Him and a desire to live for Him in such a way that this thankfulness and reverence continues to change us. If there is no difference in our lives and the way we think, act, and speak how is that living worthy of our calling and assurance of being raised from the dead to be with Him forevermore.
Live with your heart, mind, and soulfully directed at humbly living to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ.
