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Prepare: Be still before the Lord and reflect on his words: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies’ (John 11:25).
Hope beyond death
Death is a frightening and confusing concept for many of us. The death of someone we love can make us question what, if anything, lies beyond the grave.
The Thessalonians were worried that Christians who had already died were going to miss out on Jesus’ return and eternal life. Paul supports these grieving Thessalonians by reminding them of the hope that God has revealed (v 15; compare with Matthew 24:23–31).
Until we meet again
When Jesus returns, it will be a cosmic event (v 16) and all his people (dead and alive, vs 14,16,17) will be raised to a transformed life, to share his glory (in biblical terms clouds are associated with the presence and glory of God, v 17). Jesus has told us and shown us what lies beyond the grave.
Death, like sleep (v 13), is a temporary state. It is right and natural to mourn the death of someone we love, but grief for the Christian is not a hopeless void as it is for those who don’t believe (v 13). Yes, death brings a period of very painful separation, but we can take comfort that it is not a permanent parting. For Christians it is ‘until we meet again in Christ’.
Respond: Praise God for the hope he gives us in the face of death. Pray that this truth would comfort those who are mourning.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-10-27
Hope beyond death
Death is a frightening and confusing concept for many of us. The death of someone we love can make us question what, if anything, lies beyond the grave.
The Thessalonians were worried that Christians who had already died were going to miss out on Jesus’ return and eternal life. Paul supports these grieving Thessalonians by reminding them of the hope that God has revealed (v 15; compare with Matthew 24:23–31).
Until we meet again
When Jesus returns, it will be a cosmic event (v 16) and all his people (dead and alive, vs 14,16,17) will be raised to a transformed life, to share his glory (in biblical terms clouds are associated with the presence and glory of God, v 17). Jesus has told us and shown us what lies beyond the grave.
Death, like sleep (v 13), is a temporary state. It is right and natural to mourn the death of someone we love, but grief for the Christian is not a hopeless void as it is for those who don’t believe (v 13). Yes, death brings a period of very painful separation, but we can take comfort that it is not a permanent parting. For Christians it is ‘until we meet again in Christ’.
Respond: Praise God for the hope he gives us in the face of death. Pray that this truth would comfort those who are mourning.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-10-27
Scripture
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WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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