DAY 11
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 15
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Thessalonians 4
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.
Devotional Thought:
The goal of prophecy and understanding what is going to happen in the future is to encourage us and help us live wisely now. These two passages talk about what happens to us when Jesus returns – whether we have died or we are alive at His return. While there is a lot of discussion and debate on what these passages mean and when they will happen and in what order – the main thing is that physical death is not the end. Jesus’ promise is that when He returns we will be given a new body, one that is free from death and disease. We already have been given the victory through Jesus. So we can encourage each other and we can serve the Lord knowing it isn’t a waste. Serving the Lord means loving people. Many times loving people is challenging and we’re not sure if it is making a difference. 1 Corinthians 15 gives us a different perspective.
Reflection and Discussion:
Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. In what area of your life do you need this truth?
Prayer:
Ask the Lord to help you live this day knowing that your eternity is secure with Jesus in a resurrected body and your work for the Lord today counts.