“May the God of peace…who…brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus…equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him.”
Hebrews 13:20-21
A few days ago, we celebrated the most important event in the history of the world- the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was a day of rejoicing in the empty grave and cherishing the hope we have through our risen King.
And then…Monday morning hit like a ton of bricks.
Life got stressful. Work got demanding. And Easter…well, Easter left just as quickly as it came.
But here’s the truth: We were made to experience the risen Christ every day of our lives, not just on Easter.
After all, the Resurrection is the central cornerstone of our faith. Relegating its importance to only a single day undermines its transformative power for our daily existence.
Still, we wonder- How is it possible to experience the power of the resurrection in the hustle and bustle of everyday life?
That’s a valid question, and the author of Hebrews has a valid answer.
Actually, his answer comes in the form of a prayer.
At the very end of his letter, he prays for the “God of peace who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus” to accomplish two things:
1. EQUIP.
2. TRANSFORM.
Let’s unpack how these two concepts impact our lives.
EQUIP.
We think of ‘equipping’ like packing supplies for a long trip. But in this passage, ‘equip’ means to “set right” or “to mend,” like a doctor resets a broken bone or a fisherman mends his tattered nets.
In order to prepare us to do His will, Jesus has to set some things right in us, namely our broken, self-serving wills. Corrupted by sin, our wills are naturally focused on what we want to do instead of what He wants us to do.
In His grace, Jesus repairs our wills and mends our tattered souls. Like a doctor setting a bone, His ‘equipping’ can be painful at first but ultimately leads to our healing and restoration. Gradually, we begin to yearn to echo Jesus’ prayer, “Not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).
Question: In this season of life, how is the Lord equipping you to do His will? Are you resisting the process or yielding to it?
TRANSFORM.
Not only does Jesus equip us so He can work through us, but He also wants to work in us. He transforms us from the inside out, shaping our character, our thoughts, our attitudes, etc., to make us “pleasing in His sight” (Hebrews 13:21). As this transformation takes place in our hearts and minds, we start to think and behave more like Jesus and less like the world.
Question: What area(s) of your inner life are in need of the Lord’s transforming touch?
(Be careful not to confine the power of Easter to a holiday on the calendar.)
Right now…whatever is happening today, stop and pray this prayer over your life. And pray it for someone you care about.
“May the God of peace…who…brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus…equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him.”
Hebrews 13:20-21
Ask the Lord to equip and transform you in such a way that others will wonder why you are the way you are. And when they ask, tell them, “Because He is risen.“
He is risen indeed.
Written by Jonathan Munson, Executive Director, RFTH
DIG DEEPER
Read “The After Easter Weeks” by Bryant Wright
