A Word to Live Into

I like the word "arise." It reminds me of the dawn of a new day, Easter, and the promise of life. It also reminds me of the importance of our posture and the feelings and behaviors associated with it. Our posture or orientation can affect how we live. Have you thought about what it feels like to arise?

Arise  - wake up

I have always loved the story of Jairus and his daughter. Jairus is a man of faith and patience who asks Jesus to heal his daughter. As they are on the way to do just that, they learn that the girl has died. When they arrive at Jairus’ house, Jesus sees things very differently. He announces that the girl is not dead but asleep. Jesus goes to her and says, “Arise, wake up.”, and she does.

One of the goals of the spiritual life is to wake up—to wake up to God's presence, power, and reality. Eugene Peterson helps us understand this: “The resurrection is not just a showcase of the power of God. It is the invasion of the life of God into every person’s life.” (1) It is a present reality.

We need to arise in other aspects of life as well. An injury or diagnosis may clarify the state of your health and wake you up to the need to make some changes. A new season of life - marriage, divorce, the death of a spouse or family member, parenting, empty nesting, job changes, retirement… wakes you up to a new way of living—clarity dawns.

Arise - stand

As any parent knows, it is an amazing achievement when your baby gets to the standing stage. Once they stand, there is a new sense of purpose. They want to hold onto your hand and go as fast as their little feet can take them. Before you know it, they can stand and walk on their own. They are ready to go. It is a beautiful thing! Let us not forget our power to arise, stand, and go.

It may take a little time to gain clarity or to wake up, but once you do, you need to arise, stand up, and claim what you know to be true. Through the practice of arising, we grow in confidence.

I often need to arise - to stand up and walk into the thing I need to do. This is important today. It is so easy to fall into distraction. It is easy to be swept into the next national or world crisis.

Psalm 20 says, “Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. They will collapse and fall, but we shall arise and stand upright.”  It is so easy to start to notice the chariots and horses of our day, but as the psalmist says, they will collapse and fall. We must arise and stand in a great power that can endure.

Arise to your life as it is today. Stand with confidence.

Arise - ascend

Sometimes, you need a vision to help take you from where you are to where you want to be. Paul tells us that we can seek the things above. (Col 3:1-2) One translation puts it this way: “Aspire to the realm above, where Christ is seated…and let your thoughts dwell on that higher realm.”

To set our minds on things above reminds me of the story of Jesus and his disciples out in a boat when a violent storm comes up. The disciples are terrified. Jesus is asleep. Jesus is relaxed. He isn’t worried about the storm. To set your mind on things above is to relax and aspire to see things as Jesus does. With him, we arise to a new, relaxed way of thinking and living,

We understand the resurrection to mean Christ came, is here, and will come again. The resurrection is a past event that actually took place 2000 years ago. We remember it and celebrate it on Easter morning, knowing the tomb was empty. Jesus was not there. He is alive. The resurrection is also a future event. We anticipate the resurrection of the dead when Christ will come again and restore all things.

There is also a resurrection we can know and experience now. This is sometimes called a spiritual resurrection, where we come alive to Christ. We are given a new heart and a new worldview. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ makes his home in us. Eugene Peterson explains it this way: “ John 20 and Revelation 20 are great mountain ranges. Colossians 3 is between them like a valley.” (1) We live in the valley.  Here, we walk, talk, and work with Jesus daily.

The present moment is God’s moment. (1) God's power is at work, bringing healing, provision, redemption, renewal, joy, and peace. It enables us to ascend to new heights and navigate through depths.

Where can we go from your spirit…if I ascend to heaven, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there, your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast…

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! (2)

You can arise.

As you arise and wake up, clarity dawns.

As you arise and stand, confidence is cultivated.

As you arise and ascend to the things above, you find the courage to live beyond yourself.

Arise.

How to live into the word arise:

1. Our posture or orientation can affect how we live. You can be open or closed. You can arise or descend. What would it look like for you to arise? How would you live differently?

   
   

2. I have suggested that we can arise in different ways—we can wake up, stand, or ascend. You may think of other ways. Which way connects with you? How so? 

   
   

3. We understand the resurrection to mean Christ came, Christ is here, Christ will come again. Which do you connect with most - the past, present, or future resurrection? Is there one you would like to know more about?

   
   

4. Easter means that Jesus arose. What does that mean for you in your everyday life?

   
   
   
   

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1. Eugene Peterson, Lights A Lovely Mile: Collected Sermons of the Church Year, “Raised,” “Raised to Life with Christ.”

2. Psalm 139: 7-9,17