Dear Friends,
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk. We give thanks to Rev. Dr Joseph Wood, Dean of Students and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Church History, for writing this devotional.
You are welcome to share this and include it in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
1 Thessalonians 4.13-18 (CEB)
13 Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about people who have died so that you won’t mourn like others who don’t have any hope. 14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose, so we also believe that God will bring with him those who have died in Jesus. 15 What we are saying is a message from the Lord: we who are alive and still around at the Lord’s coming definitely won’t go ahead of those who have died. 16 This is because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with the signal of a shout by the head angel and a blast on God’s trumpet. First, those who are dead in Christ will rise. 17 Then, we who are living and still around will be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet with the Lord in the air. That way we will always be with the Lord. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
Devotional Thought:
Have you thought about what your funeral will be like? I’m sorry if this is a bit of a morbid question, but over the past year it is one that I have considered more than a few times. I turned forty twelve months ago, and I did not expect the questions that would arise from this: Do I have a will? How is my superannuation looking? Will I be able to afford retirement? What will my children do when I am no longer around? What will I do when my parents are no longer around? How is my health? What is my purpose in life?
As we get older we become increasingly aware of these types of ‘end of life’ questions. To be sure, I have also considered many exciting and wonderful things about getting older, but it has just struck me more this year than ever, ‘What do I think about death and dying?’
In our passage this week from 1 Thessalonians, it is apparent that Paul is writing a letter to a group of people who are facing death. Maybe they are thinking about themselves, or maybe they are thinking about friends and family who have already died. Whatever the case may be, Paul is offering words of comfort and hope as they wrestle with grief, pain, or loss. He reminds them that their hope lies in Jesus’ death, resurrection, and imminent return. Hope in these things brings assurance that they can expect to see their loved ones again. Not only this, but also, they can expect a grand and permanent reunion for all the believers, including themselves.
I have not yet planned my funeral, but I have already chosen at least one song for the occasion. The lyrics of this song will form the prayer below. May this be true for you today.
Prayer (Lyrics to Chris Tomlin’s song, ‘I will rise’):
There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes
Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise
Rev. Joseph Wood, PhD
Dean of Students and Senior Lecturer in Theology and Church History