Should the resurrection make today different?

There is no doubt about the truth that lay at the heart of the early church. Acts 4:2 clearly states that the apostles were “proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead” (Acts 4:2). As a result of this claim, Peter was thrown into jail. That alone would silence many “preachers,” but the following morning he was brought before the religious authorities to give account of himself. “Filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 8), Peter looks them straight in the eye and reminds them that they were the very ones who had crucified the one “whom God raised from the dead” (v. 10). The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of the Christian faith. Apart from that miraculous event, Christianity would be but one of many religious faiths — helpful, but unable to bring about any change.
       As believers, we celebrate this great event on Easter morning. On that one special day we greet one another in our local sanctuary with a somewhat embarrassing, “He lives!” Returning home we dismantle our paper mache nativity scene for next year. The question is, Why isn’t the resurrection more central in the actual life of members of the evangelical church? It is believed, but does it make any real difference in how we carry out our day? Is it theology or ideology? If this seems logical to you, help me think of ways to apply this truth to life.
       I believe that it’s possible to consciously bring the resurrection into the way we live each day. When you see yourself in the bathroom mirror for the first time each morning, how about saying something like, “Good morning, you child of God! Aren’t we delighted that Jesus was resurrected from the grave!” Then you can start naming the blessings that come as a result. As for me, the endless list starts like this: forgiven, loved, adopted, promised eternal life, strengthened by the Spirit, directed in every decision, warned against sin, forgiven . . . . . Oh yes, I’ve already listed that, but it is such an incredible gift.
      Then its off to wherever we go in the morning, but we go with the assurance that the basis of our spiritual life is the well-established truth that one day in history, some 2000 years ago, Jesus broke the seal of death, stepped forward triumphant over sin and death, and offered heaven itself to all who would believe. The reality of the resurrection should create within us a conscious awareness that we serve a living God. What then would our Sunday gathering be like? Imagine; a congregation of those who throughout the week had been enjoying an authentic existential relationship with the resurrected Son of God!