Living Out of the Heart Jesus Won for Us

The guests are gone, the good dishes are stored, the decorations are removed, and the Easter story is put away. Wait a minute! The Easter story is not meant to be put away but to be lived year-round! It is so easy to celebrate Easter according to the calendar but neglect to live by the transformational truths every day of our lives. We each have a debt of death to pay to God for our sins, but Christ’s death on the cross cancelled our debt (Rom 6:23; Col 2:13-14). Christ intensely suffered physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually in His excruciating death on the cross (in our place). He became sin so that we (those that believe and trust Him as their personal Savior) might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). Christ’s sacrifice was painful but perfect (Heb 9:11-14) satisfying the wrath of God (Rom 5:8-9; Heb 9:26).

The great exchange of God’s righteousness for our sin remains forever sealed. However, we are still in the day-in-day-out process of sanctification. As I reflected on what Jesus accomplished for me, I contemplated whether I was living out of the heart (Ezek 36:26) that Jesus won for me. The Holy Spirit has brought to my attention and convicted me of some specific sins lately in my study through the book of John.

Evidence of a transformed life can be detected in the outworking of the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus’ love for people astounds me. In John chapter 13, Jesus knowing all things, treated Judas the same as the other disciples who were clueless as to who would betray Jesus. To the very end, Jesus was kind to Judas and even humbly washed his feet. Then in John chapters 18 and 19, Jesus compassionately asked arrogant Pilate questions to reveal the true condition of his heart. To top it all off, in some of Jesus’ final words, He asked God to forgive those who had unjustly treated Him. Other final words of Jesus demonstrated His love for His mother as He instructed John to care for her as his own mother (John 19:26-27). My love for those who hurt me and treat me unjustly fall way short of Jesus’ love. Also, His view of believers as family (as with His mother and John) challenges me to have a more familial view of other believers. It is easier for me to be more gracious with my own family than church family.  

Furthermore, I’ve noticed that I let a person with a critical or negative attitude rob me of my joy. If I live out of the heart that Jesus won for me, no person or circumstance can rob me of my joy (John 16). As a people-pleaser, I have a sinful tendency to let others dictate my joy.

Additionally, in John chapter 14, Jesus warned us that we will have troubled hearts. In this world, many relationships and circumstances can truly trouble us. Yet, Jesus gives us His peace (John 14:27). I need to be quicker to exchange any bad news of trouble to my soul for the good news Jesus supplies!

Finally, the contrast between Jesus and Peter standing for truth in the midst of pressure challenges my depth of faithfulness to the truth. Jesus repeatedly stood for truth as He was tired, unjustly questioned, and persecuted. On the other hand, Peter cowered. Peter truly felt cold, tired, overwhelmed, fearful, and pressured. In Peter’s denial of Christ, Peter revealed that he let his circumstances dictate his degree of faithfulness.

I desire to live out of the heart Jesus won for me (which I celebrated on Easter) day-in and day-out in these previously mentioned areas of love, joy, peace, and faithfulness. How about you? In what ways, would God have you live out specific transformational truths throughout the year that Jesus won for you? As the days move past Easter, refuse to move past the transformational truths Jesus won for you!            

Image from “The Power of His Resurrection,” Focus On The Family, January 1, 2009, accessed March 23, 2024, https://www.focusonthefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/empty-tomb.jpg.