Things changed that first Easter not quite 2000 years ago. A new day dawned in the hearts and minds of Jesus’ disciples. All the teaching, the parables and the miracles would have a new light shown on them. While darkness seemed to envelop all Friday and Saturday, Jesus’ light blasted through on Sunday.
Easter, the most important date on the Christian calendar, is a reminder of Who Jesus was and is – the Son of God, the resurrected Christ! There were no bones, no remains in the tomb! He was dead and buried. Then He rose from the dead, met with His disciples and was seen by the many! A new day indeed!
… Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when Jesus said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” - John 20:19-22. Jesus appeared before His disciples in a glorified body. This was a new perspective that required a new way of thinking. Years later, Paul provided clarity for the early churches on what this new way of thinking would look like: “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8; We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – 2Corinthians 10:5; Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. – Romans 12:2. Paul’s charge to the early churches called for discipline and determination to live into this new day and embrace this new way of thinking – not an easy task with the type of persecution they witnessed every day. The charge to dads today is to lead by example with the discipline and determination needed to keep the focus on the right stuff. As you reflect on Easter and the empty tomb, accept the Pentecost challenge - Focus on renewing your mind and embracing the new day the Lord has given us.
In his Truth for Life devotional, Alistair Begg writes, “In many ways, we are what we think. Our minds are the root of our actions, and it is through our minds that our affections are stirred. … as you think about your thoughts, here are three questions to ask as you seek to apply Phil.4:8 to your life.”
- Is there anything I should think about more?
- Is there anything I should think about less, or not at all?
- Is there anything I should think about differently?
Prayer guide: Father, thank You for Your word and Your light in this world. I confess I have allowed darkness of happenings and moods to inhibit Your light in my life. Forgive me. There are things in my life that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and worthy of praise. Grant me the discipline and determination needed to live into the new day, every day, to think about Your capacity to obey, suffer and die for me. Give me strength to rebuke the arguments and pretensions that exist in my life. I commit to walk in the light of the new day, with boldness and confidence that honors You. That is the dad You call me to be and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father embraces and lives into the new day the Lord has made.
