PB Devotional

Losing a loved one who followed Jesus is never easy. Trying to grieve their death while hearing people tell you that you shouldn’t be sad because they are in heaven is painful. They may be in a better place, but we have to deal with the hurt that they are not here. How can we have a reason to hope when the tragedy leads us to believe all hope is lost?

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The people were wondering why many Christians were dying and what would happen to them when Jesus returns. Paul wrote to encourage them that death is not the end of the story, and to challenge them to comfort one another when loved ones die.

During these Ordinary Days of the church I want to encourage you and remind you that death is not the end of the story. The death of a thing is not the end. We serve a resurrected king. King Jesus can and will resurrect the dead things in your life for His glory. Loved ones in Christ are more alive than ever. Hopes and dreams in Christ are more real than ever. Trust God with death. He is the life giver.

The OrdinaryDays