​Christ risen. A useful faith - Pastor esther tress

I did several Easter devotionals during Lent this year. I reflected upon Jesus’ resurrection, the reason Easter is such a big deal. And why a heavy spiritual weight seemed to wage mightily even as Jesus followers sensed the joy of Christ’s victory over death. 

It seems like the idea of the resurrection causes great offense in some, although we as humans are wired to long for the eternal. Perhaps that is why it can be triggering. Because of the dream seemingly deferred. Hearts afraid to believe in something for which they dare not hope— yet that is putting hope in their own understanding. 

That is where we fail at faith. 

Faith is not about my ability to believe. It is not about leaning upon my own understanding. It is faith in Jesus- what he did and who he still is… forevermore. 

Therein lies my hope... not solely for this life, but for eternity. My faith is not useless by any means, because solely upon that Rock (Jesus), my hope is built.

May the resurrection hope of Easter continue in your heart all year long, through faith in the living Christ, our Lord. 

Pastor Esther

But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. 20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. 24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.
-1 Corinthians 15:12-24