Because Jesus Rose, We Can Rise
I understand how easy it is to unintentionally wait for circumstances to change before taking action, to wait for people, workplaces, or the government to change.
by Bermie Dizon
I have a digital watch that reminds me to stand up after sitting for 30 minutes.
I set it up this way because I’ve read that sitting for too long, especially at my age, isn’t healthy.
The reminder often goes off when I’m slouching, either while reading a book or watching a TV program.
However, getting up, especially repeatedly, isn’t always easy—especially when tired, winded, or hurting.
Comfort is, well, comfortable, and standing up is not. The same applies to our spiritual lives. Perhaps we have been sitting so long and just slouching spiritually?
I understand how easy it is to unintentionally wait for circumstances to change before taking action, to wait for people, workplaces, or the government to change.
But God has given us more than that.
He has placed the same power that raised Jesus from the dead inside us: “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.”Because Jesus rose, we can rise.
Thanks to Jesus, we can be the most hopeful, faith-filled, joy-filled people on the planet.
We can have more clarity, purpose, determination, strength, and endurance than anyone else. We can be full of wisdom, creativity, vision and ideas.
I know our world has changed, but Jesus has not changed. His promises, plans, and purpose for us remain constant.
That’s why, now more than ever, it’s time for us to rise.
It’s time for us to move forward with bold faith, but that doesn’t happen automatically.
The good news is that our ability to rise is not based on our strength but on the one who never grows faint or weary (Isaiah 40:28).
He renews our strength as we wait on him (Isaiah 40:31).
He is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
He is strong when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:10).
He is all strength (Psalm 147:5). He makes us strong in the strength of his might (Ephesians 6:10).
And has promised us that he will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
BERMIE DIZON is a retired pastor of Grace Communion International at Glendora, California and a former writer for USA Tribune for 9 years.
