Easter: The Resurrection and our Salvation 5 Day Devotion

This devotional is based on this past Sunday's sermon with the help of sermonshots.com. You can view the sermon here.

Day 1:
A Death Like No Other

Devotion:
Think about all the amazing resurrections in the Bible. Lazarus, the widow's son, Jairus's daughter - each one a powerful demonstration of God's authority over death. But there's something uniquely different about Jesus's resurrection. While these others would eventually face death again, Jesus's victory was permanent and complete. His resurrection wasn't just a temporary reprieve; it was a definitive conquest over death itself. This matters deeply for us. When we share in Christ's resurrection through faith we share in his conquest over death. When we place our faith in Jesus, we're united with living Lord who has permanently defeated death.

Bible Verse: 
"I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades." - Revelation 1:18

Quote of the Day: 
The resurrection of Jesus is different. It is very unique... When it comes to Jesus, he will never die again. Death no longer has dominion over him.

Reflection Question: 
How does knowing that Jesus's victory over death is permanent change the way you view your daily challenges and struggles?

Day 2:
United with Christ

Devotion: 
Have you ever received a gift so incredible that it seemed too good to be true? That's what our union with Christ is like - except it's absolutely real and permanent. When we trust in Jesus, something remarkable happens: we become united with Him in such a profound way that His story becomes our story. His victory becomes our victory. His life becomes our life. This isn't just symbolic; it's a spiritual reality that transforms everything about who we are and how we live. Through this union, we share in both His death to sin and His resurrection to new life. It's like being grafted into a new family tree, with all the privileges and inheritance that comes with it.

Bible Verse: 
"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." - Romans 5:12

Quote of the Day: 
When you trust Jesus, you are united to Him. His life counts as your life. His death counts as your death. And his resurrection life counts as your life. 

Reflection Question: 
In what ways has your union with Christ changed how you see yourself and your relationship with God?

Day 3:
An Inheritance Beyond Compare

Devotion:
Imagine inheriting something so valuable that it makes gold look worthless in comparison. That's exactly what God promises to His children. Our heavenly inheritance is so magnificent that the streets of the New Jerusalem are paved with gold - not because gold will be worthless, but because what we'll receive is infinitely more precious. This inheritance is infinitely more than material wealth; it's about perfect fellowship with God, freedom from sin, and joy beyond measure. And here's the best part: this inheritance is absolutely secure. No economic downturn can touch it, no thief can steal it, and no circumstance can diminish it.

Bible Verse: 
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you." - 1 Peter 1:3-4

Quote of the Day: 
Your inheritance is what the Bible calls glorification. Every follower of Jesus is raised with a perfect body, has a heart that’s free from sin, is seated with Jesus, will reign with Jesus; you have life with God! 

Reflection Question: 
How might your daily decisions change if you lived with a constant awareness of your eternal inheritance?

Day 4:
Victory Over Death

Devotion: 
Before sin entered the world, there was no human death. Death is an intruder that came through human rebellion. But when Jesus stepped into our world, He came with a mission to dethrone death. Through His resurrection, Jesus didn't just escape death - He defeated it completely. This victory means that death no longer has the final word in our story. For believers, death has been transformed from an ending into a doorway to eternal life. We no longer need to fear death because Jesus has stripped it of its power and turned it into a passage to something far better.

Bible Verse: 
"For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God." - Romans 6:9-10

Quote of the Day: 
Jesus defeated sin and he dethroned death.

Reflection Question: 
How does Jesus's victory over death change the way you view both life and death?

Day 5:
More Than This

Devotion: 
Life has a way of consuming our attention with its immediate demands and circumstances. Whether we're riding high on success or trudging through difficulties, it's easy to get caught up in the present moment as if it's all there is. But as believers, we're called to live with an eternal perspective. Our current situation - whether good or bad - isn't the end of the story. There's always more to come, and what's coming is far greater than anything we're experiencing now. This truth doesn't diminish our present joys or sorrows, but it does put them in proper perspective.

Bible Verse: 
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! - Psalm 150:6

Quote of the Day: 
Is everything going great in your life? Take a breath, remember your new birth, look at your inheritance; and tell yourself, “There’s more than this.” Is everything falling apart in your life? Take a breath, remember your new birth, look at your inheritance; and tell yourself, “There’s more than this.” 

Reflection Question: 
What current circumstance in your life needs to be viewed through the lens of eternity?