"I want to
know Christ and the power of his resurrection " - Philippians
3:10
Jesus Christ was the only
man to have ever accurately predicted his own death and resurrection
and live to tell about it! The very essence of our faith is wrapped
up in this single event. But for the resurrection, Christianity
would be just one more religion to help us live in peace and
harmony. But if He really was raised from the dead, then He really
was who He said He was -God in the flesh! Everything He said
and taught would have to be true, including what he said about love
and marriage. The apostle, Paul told us to have the mind of Christ,
who did not count equality with God something to be grasped, but
rather emptied himself, surrendering all his rights, becoming a
servant even to death on a cross, and then God gave Him the
Name above every name. (Philippians 2). This is the key to knowing
Christ and the power of His resurrection. It is surrendering our
rights and "crucifying" the self-life. By its very definition there
can be no resurrection unless there is first a death, the
death of the self-life.
This Resurrection season
is a time to renew our identification with His crucifixion as we die
to self, and any sense of entitlement. Then we can experience the
power of the resurrection in our lives and in our marriages, and we
can do it today!
Question For The Both
of Us: Do you think I have truly
surrendered my rights so that I could know the power of His
resurrection? Where do you think I might still be hanging on to "my
rights?"
Prayer for the Both
of Us: Lord help us to know you and the power of your
resurrection by first surrendering our own rights and desires, and
crucifying the self-will so that the new man (or woman) will rise up
to enjoy a new marriage that reflects the presence and power of God
in our
lives.
