Daily Devotions – Grieving not as others do who have no Hope

Daily Devotions – Grieving not as others do who have no Hope

Photo by Arto Marttinen on Unsplash

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  (NIV)
Believers Who Have Died
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord, himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

 

Choose one or two key verses from the Scripture reading in 1 Thessalonians today and do at least one of the following for your chosen verse(s).
A –  Ask questions of the text (Who, what, why, where, when)
– Emphasize certain words as you read the text over & over
I  –  In your own words (paraphrase one or more verses)
O  – Other verses in the Bible that say the same or opposite
U  – Use it; apply the truth from the text in your life

 

Lord, there are days that I am discouraged by things going on in this world. I am broken hearted by poverty and the abused. I am feeling like evil is celebrated and good is persecuted. But I look forward to the day when You return for us. When the trumpet blasts and You come down in the eastern sky. The dead will rise first and those left alive to see that sight will follow. What a day that will be! I can hardly wait. To be with You face to face. To praise You and hear You say my name! To live with You for eternity. The evil of this world will not even be a memory in comparison to the Glory of Your Kingdom. Thank You for your grace and for the promise of salvation. Help me share that promise to others so that they can join in Your Glorious Majesty forever. Amen.