Devotional: Resurrection Means Change Romans 6

Americans celebrate diversity. Americans believe that there is strength in diversity. It is the job of government leaders to develop policies and laws that bring all of the diverse groups together to work for the good of all people. However, trying to mesh together all of the peoples with diverse backgrounds and beliefs sound good, but seems to create more work and solutions are harder to be found and achieved. The truth is this. The more different groups try to get together as one the more divided we become as a nation. It is impossible for all the diverse groups to agree on much of anything because people have different perspectives on the various issues that exist in our society. Who will change? Who will put the welfare of others above their own needs and desires? So far we have seen that those who are in power may bring about a degree of change as long as they remain in power. When the next person comes to power they are likely to have different ideas about what needs to be change and what needs to be done to bring about the changes as they see it. Change is possible, and God has a plan to change the narrative that we live by. Jesus Christ died on the cross to bring about change.

When Jesus dies on the cross He makes it possible for us to change our life. This change is brought about when we change our perspective on our own life. The gospel is preached and people hear about Jesus and His kingdom. The promise of the gospel convinces people that a change is needed and possible if we believe in Jesus. The gospel does not suggest to us that we are to believe in a dead man that had a good program to live by. Rather, the gospel tells us that we are to believe in a resurrected Jesus. If we believe the gospel, we too are buried with Jesus. Just as Jesus is resurrected to live again, those who believe in Him are resurrected to new life. We become new creatures. Our mind is changed. We no longer desire to live according to our old ways. Instead, we receive His Spirit and we desire to change from living according to the world, our flesh, and the devil. We surrender all, and our new Lord is Jesus Christ, and we are forever changed.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank you for Jesus who died on the cross so that we might be changed from death to life. Amen.