Devotional: Risen with Purpose
"He is not here; he has risen!" — Luke 24:6a (NIV)
There’s something about Easter that stirs our hearts. Something about standing in awe at the empty tomb, realizing that the resurrection wasn’t a metaphor or a hopeful story—it was a real, living event that changed everything. Jesus really did walk out of that grave, and because He lives, we’re invited into something far greater than we could ever imagine. We’re invited into a new way of living.
The resurrection isn’t just about what happens after we die—it’s about how we live right now. Because Jesus is alive, we can live lives filled with joy, hope, courage, and peace. His victory over death means that the everyday moments—the car rides, the work meetings, the conversations over coffee—all matter. Because we’re connected to Him, everything we do carries eternal weight. We don't just survive our days; we walk through them with settled hope, knowing we belong to the One who conquered the grave.
But if we’re honest, many of us wrestle with doubts along the way. We’re not so different from Thomas, the disciple who loved Jesus deeply but struggled to believe the news of the resurrection. Thomas wasn’t arrogant; he was heartbroken. He had placed all his hope in Jesus, and when the cross came, it crushed him. When others told him Jesus was alive, he wanted more than secondhand hope—he needed to see for himself. And the beauty of the story is that Jesus didn’t scold Thomas or push him away. He met him in his questions. He invited him closer.
Jesus still meets us there too. In the places where the questions outnumber the answers. In the places where the prayers feel like they hit the ceiling. In the heartbreaks we can't explain. The resurrection doesn’t erase our doubts—it reframes them. It reminds us that even when we can’t see it all clearly, we can trust the One who holds it all together. We may not have seen the risen Christ with our own eyes, but we are still blessed because we have believed.
The resurrection also gives us a mission. If Jesus really rose from the dead, then everything He said matters. Every promise, every invitation, every calling—it’s all validated by the empty tomb. And because He lives, your life is not random or wasted. It's caught up in God's story, part of His Kingdom work in the world. When we show up in the ordinary spaces—our families, our neighborhoods, our workplaces—with the love and hope of Christ, it matters. Every quiet act of faithfulness, every hidden sacrifice, every prayer whispered in the dark is part of something eternal.
Living with resurrection purpose doesn’t mean you have to quit your job and become a missionary. It means believing that right where you are, God wants to work through you. It means trusting that even when you feel unseen, your labor for the Lord is never in vain. It means waking up each day and asking, “God, where can I bring your hope today?”
And the invitation doesn’t stop there. The resurrection invites us to a whole new life. Paul wrote in Romans 6:4 that we were buried with Christ through baptism so that we could be raised to live a new life. New life isn't just about someday in heaven—it's right here, right now. It’s freedom from the weight of shame. It’s peace instead of fear. It's strength when we feel like giving up. It’s the Spirit of God breathing fresh life into our tired hearts and calling us forward.
So today, wherever you find yourself—whether you’re full of faith or carrying a heart full of questions—the risen Jesus is inviting you closer. He's calling you to walk in joy, to live with hope, and to step forward with courage. You have been raised with purpose. Let’s live like it.
Questions for Reflection
Where am I living on autopilot instead of stepping into resurrection purpose?
What doubts or fears do I need to bring to Jesus today?
Where is God calling me to show up with hope, love, or faithfulness?
How can I be part of God's Kingdom work in the ordinary spaces of my life?
Closing Prayer
Jesus,
Thank You for the resurrection—the greatest victory the world has ever known.
Raise us to new life today. Where we are stuck, revive us.
Where we have drifted, draw us back.
Where fear grips us, bring courage.
Where doubt clouds us, bring faith.
Where we are weary, restore our strength.
Fill us with Your Spirit. Send us out with joy and purpose.
Help us live every day in the power of Your resurrection.
Amen.
