Luke 24:46-48
Have you ever heard of the yo-yo effect? A professor from Yale university coined this term which means you lose and gain weight cyclically. Your weight goes up and down like a yo-yo.
There is also a spiritual yo-yo effect. You revive your spiritual life, but after a period of time you go back to your previous spiritual state. Matthew 12:43-45 says ‘the last state of the person is worse than the first.’ We may experience that in our spiritual life, where we are even worse off than when we started. We need to be careful to not fall into this trap.
After resurrection, life must change. What is the point of the resurrection of Jesus if we don’t see change? Ask yourself the question: are you seeing a change after the resurrection of Jesus Christ? If nothing has changed, what is the benefit of his resurrection? It just becomes a moment in history. Romans 8:11 resurrection isn’t just a historical event that happened, but a way of God giving us new power. Are you living a resurrected life? Or are you living the life you led before?
In the four gospels, they all recount the story of Jesus going back to his disciples. In Matthew, Jesus appears to a woman and tells her to tell the disciples to meet them at Galilee. He gave them a specific commandment which is the great commission. He told them to go and make disciples of all nations. He gave them a job to do, an indication of what kind of life we should lead.
Mark 16:15 – Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. They were given a mission
Luke 24:46-48. You are the witness of Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus gave the disciples a mission. A task to accomplish.
John 21:16 – Jesus told Peter ‘take care of my sheep’. He told him 3 times. When Jesus told Peter to take care of his sheep. He isn’t talking about the members of his church, but non-believers. Jesis is telling Peter to be a witness.
The 4 gospels all talk about the same thing. After Jesus rose from the dead and gave the disciples a job to do.
A resurrected life looks like a life with a calling, a mission, or a task. If you want to know whether you are living a resurrected life or not, you need to ask yourself if you have a job to do. Do you have a calling you need to fulfill? Your purpose is not about having peace and hope in your life. Jesus had a clear message when talking to his disciples and giving them a purpose in their life.
Your life has a calling. Your life has a mission. That is to be a witness of Jesus’ resurrection. At church, find a job to do. Not because this ministry needs you, but because you need ministry. You can show others the evidence of Jesus by being an example of what a life following Jesus looks like. Are you still seeking ways to serve non-believers?
Take time to ask God what is your purpose and task.
Jessica’s Reflection: Sometimes when I am feeling very dramatic, I ask myself what’s the point? I forget what my purpose in life is… not to have perfect happiness and satisfaction all of the time, but to be a witness to others, and live my life as a reflection of Jesus so others who don’t know him can see him through me. I often need to remind myself it’s not about me, and need to put others first.
Reflection Questions:
- What do you feel is your purpose in life?
- Are you living your life to be a witness? Have you received a mission or tasks from God to accomplish?
All Nations Fellowship 