Risen with Christ
Christ meets us in the morning light—not to be found through striving, but to greet us where we already live: risen with Him.
Devotional Credit: Days of Heaven Upon Earth by A.B. Simpson
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Today’s devotional by A. B. Simpson beckons us into the sunrise of resurrection living. Simpson reminds us that the risen Christ does not wait for us to climb toward Him—He’s already present before the dawn, joyfully greeting us with His triumphant “All hail!” Just as He met Mary on that first Easter morning, He longs to meet us in the freshness of every new day.
But there is a condition: if we would truly walk in the power of His resurrection, we must first embrace the fellowship of His death. This isn’t a mere improvement of our old life. Resurrection isn’t self-reformation—it’s the emergence of a brand-new life, hidden with Christ in God. Only to the extent that we’ve died to the self-life will we live in the delight of the Spirit-led life.
Colossians 3:1 is not a poetic aspiration—it is the present reality of every believer who has died with Christ and risen with Him. We are invited not merely to reach upward, but to live from above—where Christ is, where we are with Him, in glory now.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
You have died, and your life is now hidden with Me in Christ. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. I have raised you up and seated you with Christ in the heavenly places. Set your mind, then, not on what is fleeting and earthly, but on what is above—where Christ is, where your true life abides.
Walk in the reality of this resurrection. Do not return to the graveclothes of the flesh. Consider yourself dead to sin and alive to Me. Let not sin reign in your mortal body—present yourself to Me as one who has been brought from death to life. I have given you all that you need for life and godliness, and My Spirit in you delights to bring this resurrection life into view.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, you also will appear with Him in glory. But even now, your life is not bound to this world. Live, then, from heaven downward, for you are already a citizen above, clothed in Christ, and upheld by My power.
(Colossians 3:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:6; Romans 6:11-14; 2 Peter 1:3)
Real-Life Analogy
Think about how you wake up in the morning—especially on a day you're looking forward to. Even before you open your eyes, there's a quiet sense of expectancy. You stretch, breathe in the morning air, and prepare to engage with what lies ahead. That transition from sleep to wakefulness is subtle, but significant. You're not just lying there thinking about the day—you’re stepping into it.
In the same way, living in resurrection life isn’t about admiring spiritual ideas from a distance. It’s about rising from the bed of your old ways and walking into your true day—with Christ already there, smiling, calling you into the sunlight of newness. You don’t have to chase Him. He’s already ahead of you, arms open.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, I thank You that I no longer live bound to the dimness of self, but awake in the brightness of resurrection life with Christ. I rest in the truth that I have died with Him and risen into Your presence, where my life is safe, full, and free. I choose to live today from that place of union, not climbing toward You but walking with You. You’ve already brought me into newness; I rejoice in what is already mine and trust You to express Your life through me as I yield in love.