The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, November 2, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 (All Souls Day)
TOPIC: THE COMFORT OF CHRIST'S COMING
TEXT: IThessalonians4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Wednesday, November 2, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
Many times, we have sorrow that our loved ones are not here - we miss them! It is natural to feel grief - Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus, his friend-but we are not to be sad for them, but encouraged by the hope and promise Jesus gives us of the resurrection to eternal life. St. Paul in our text today, speaks about those who have died in hope, describing them as asleep in Jesus until the general resurrection. He maintains that when Jesus appears again, those who are asleep will rise first and those who are still alive, shall be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in tin-air.
We must prepare ourselves now through repentance and faith, purifying ourselves by the Body and Blood of Christ that we might draw closer to God and to our faithful departed loved ones. Paul assures the believers that people who die in the Lord will not miss out on that great event. They will have places of honour as the saint's rise to meet tin; returning King. Those who died in the Lord are not left out of the party they will be raised so everyone can celebrate together. The bottom line is simple: "And so we will be with the Lord forever" (v.17). This is our comfort.
Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us grace to prepare ourselves for your coming and to be faithful to the end so your coming will not take us unawares in Jesus name, Amen.