This day – the Monday after Resurrection Sunday – is, in my view, the most undercelebrated day of the year. You can just imagine the joy of the disciples yesterday when they saw Jesus raised from the dead. Absolutely! But what comes next?

Imagine that during the French Revolution you’d been sentenced to death by guillotine. You’re marched up onto the platform. The revolutionary crowd’s shouting in anticipation of seeing your head roll. You kneel down, the blade’s about to fall, but at the very last minute … a reprieve. You’re pardoned and set free.

How, pray tell, would that change the way you live the rest of your life? Profoundly, you’d hope. That second chance is everything; it’s life itself.

Romans 6:4 So when we were baptised, we were buried with Christ and took part in his death. And just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father, so we can now live a new life.

When you decide to follow Jesus the old you dies, just like Jesus on the Cross. And just as He was raised from the dead, so are you raised by the power of God so that you can now live … your new life.

How, pray tell, does that change the way you live the rest of your life? Because this second chance is everything; it’s life itself.

When you put your faith in Jesus, you walk in complete newness of life. It begins here, now, today. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, you too are raised into your new life. That’s worth celebrating, don’t you think?

Because that’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.