resurrection life

God has a sense of humor. I preached on Mark 5 yesterday and the resurrection life that Jesus provides for the Gerasene Demoniac, woman with a discharge of blood, and Jairus’ daughter who died, but was brought back to life.

And then I opened up Valley of Vision this morning to read a prayer and I came to page 173, called “Crucifixion and Resurrection.” It’s about resurrection life (ironically!):

O LORD, I marvel that though shouldst become incarnate, be crucified, dead, and buried. The sepulcher calls forth my adoring wonder, for it is empty and thou art risen; the four-fold gospel attests it, the living witnesses prove it, my heart’s experience knows it. Give me to die with thee that I may rise to new life, for I wish to be dead and buried to sin, to selfishness, to the world; that I might not hear the voice of the charmer, and might the delivered from his lusts. O Lord, there is much ill about me–crucify it, much flesh within me–mortify it. Purge me from selfishness, the fear of man, the love of approbation, the shame of being thought old-fashioned, the desire to be cultivated or modern. Let me reckon my old life dead because of crucifixion, and never feed it as a living thing. Grand me to stand with my dying Saviour, to be content to be rejected, to be willing to take up unpopular truths, and to hold fast despised teachings until death. Help me to be resolute and Christ-contained. Never let me wander from the path of obedience to thy will. Strengthen me for the battles ahead. Give me courage for all the trials, and grace for all the joys. Help me to be a holy, happy person, free from every wrong desire, from everything contrary to thy m ind. Grant me more and more of the resurrection life: may it rule me, may I walk in its power, and be strengthened through its influence.