Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- help me sense Your presence, hear Your voice, and follow Your leading, as I begin my day seeking You. ...
“By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness. For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:6-9)
As I read this passage this morning two good friends of mine who are father and came my mind. Their mother and wife passed away a couple years ago and passed on from this side of eternity to the next came to my mind. Carrie was a wife and mother who became a mighty spiritual warrior. She “pointed out such things to the brothers and sisters".” She was one who “trained herself for godliness” and took hold of the “promise for the present life and the life to come.” Because of this, in her last breath of her last battle here on this earth, death had no victory and death had no sting. She was delivered through death into eternal life in You, the One who is "the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25). Truly she has "fought the good fight" and received his eternal reward in the fullness of Your presence and death had not sting on her.
"For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' This sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
So I join with her son, husband and family and all who remember her and love her dearly to both celebrate her victory and her life in the Spirit with You in heaven, even as we still remember her, miss her, and grieve our loss of her life here in the flesh with us on earth. And I join with others who have lost love ones that “nourished themselves on the words of the faith and of the good teaching” and “trained themselves for godliness” Thank You that in You, we do not have to "grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have died" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
Through Your victory of the resurrection, we will all rejoice with You and with one another again. In that way, even through hard times like death when our hearts are both full of hope and sorrow at the same time, we hold fast to the promise of Your Word, "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5). Carrie is experiencing the healing of the resurrection; and at the same time, we need the comfort of Your resurrection love here in our hearts as we celebrate her victory in You.
Holy Spirit of God, encourage us to nourish ourselves in Your Word, prayer, and accountability groups that “holds promise for the present life and for the life to come” so it will comfort us and strengthen us through the night times and hard times we endure through the battles of this world, as we look forward to that glorious morning to come. "Thank be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you nourish yourself through reading Scriptures, prayer and accountability groups so you are strengthened and comforted through every battle you'll face through the night time, knowing joy comes with the morning in the resurrection love of God in Jesus Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
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