Ever wonder how things will play out when Christ comes again? I was reminded this morning and began thinking and studying what happens.

“¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.” – 1 Thessalonians, 4:14-15 (ESV)

“Asleep”, here Paul is referring to those who have died. The Thessalonians were likely concerned for those that had died before the 2^nd coming. Their concern was valid based on the newness of their faith and the ignorance in their belief. Paul assures them that those Christians that had passed from this world would not be forgotten, in fact, they would “awake” and rise even before those still alive.

As Paul refers to the dead Christians as “asleep” indicates that they will again awake and their bodies will be called up. I have no doubt that at death in this world, Christians went to be with the Lord and are in fellowship with Him now. What I am reminded of is that simply their bodies are still here.

I have to think of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He died and in three days rose again. When Jesus died, he went to be with His Father, our Lord in heaven. Then, three days later He returned to wake His body that we all may have an example of what is to come. We have/will die here on earth and our bodies will be left behind. Until the 2^nd coming and our bodies will “wake” and we will be reunited with them in Christ.

I am encouraged by the words written by Paul. I know that my fate has been sealed in my salvation. I have no reason to fear being left behind, as I will indeed return to claim my body with Christ in His return (if He returns after my body has gone asleep).

What are your beliefs related to your passing or the passing of those you love? Are you aware of the impact that the 2^nd coming will have on the bodies of you and your loved ones? Are you able to believe that all Christians will rise at the 2^nd coming of Christ Jesus?

As a Christian I am in prayer. In prayer I do my best to follow the model that Jesus gave to the disciples. Giving thanks is a great part of my prayer each day for that which God has blessed me with. Well, what about those that came before me and are with me in Christ today?

“¹⁶I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,” – Ephesians 1:16 (ESV)

Paul made it a point in his letter to the Ephesians that he was in constant prayer of thanks for them. A bold declaration that he was praying for them constantly, that gets even bolder in the verses that follow.

“¹⁷that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” – Ephesians 1:17-21 (ESV)

Paul not only tells the Ephesians that he is thankful and praying continuously for them, he tells them why and for what exactly he is praying. It is one thing to indicate that we are praying for someone, however giving them the intimate details of what we are praying brings life and real empathy and love to the prayer and the interaction with the person.

I look back at the times I have told others that I am praying for them, and when I have told them what exactly I am praying for and really see the difference in the eyes and feel the difference in the hearts of those I pray specifics over. Yes, God does know what the person needs, but as a Christian, stating it to the person, especially a fellow believer, I am able to connect them more firmly to the love I have for them and the love that God has for them as His child.

When you pray for others, are you generic? Will you pray for the specific item of need for the individual? Are you bringing love and prayer directly to your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Abraham was was made promised even before the law was enacted. And that promise was to him and his offspring.

“¹⁶Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ. ¹⁷This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void;” – Galatians 3:16-17 (ESV)

Promises of God are forever and cannot be changed. The covenant that was with Abraham remained in place until Jesus Christ. And even then, the promise of Jesus Christ was in place, so the promise never changed or was added to or subtracted from.

“²¹Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²²But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” – Galatians 3:21-22 (ESV)

Promises made by God are unchanged. They cannot be amended. God knows and has known all for all time and when making the promises He has the now and later in mind. I have to believe the promises of God and not hang on the law to get me there. I am a child of God and therefore I believe in the promises of God.

“²⁸There is neither Jew not Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no make and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” – Galatians 3:28-29 (ESV)

What about you, are you relying on the law? Are you aware of the unchanging promise of God? Do you believe in the promise?

Great, eloquent speakers fill the world with rhetoric that mesmerizes the audience. I will admit that I enjoy listening to those that speak well and grandly in the world. But, I am impressed by how they speak and less by what they speak.

“¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” – 1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV)

Paul writes to impress on the Corinthians, that he was not there to wow them with his words and speech. He was sent by God to preach the gospel and it was highly likely that he would not be the great orators of the day that impressed with how they spoke. He was there to preach and allow the Holy Spirit to work among the people as opposed to he himself be revered for his rhetoric.

“¹⁸For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…²¹For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18 & 21 (ESV)

There are many smart people in the world, and they are able to provide for the world in their own way, and I am grateful for these. That is all they are though, smart for the worldly view of things. My need is much greater than this world and I have to look to the Lord for the wisdom needed to get there. The wisdom provided by God is not found in the world, by the world’s standards. Godly wisdom is found only in Him and His Word. I have to focus on it and not look for elegant speakers to bring it to me. I have to look at His Word and those that are also focused on His Word. I am looking for God’s Wisdom and Salvation, NOT that of the world as brought to me by man.

Where are you looking for wisdom? What is your source of salvation? Are you looking for the speaker or the Word of God?

I have been studying “believe” for the past few weeks and until this morning, I have appeared to see the inward heart action of belief. This morning I was reminded that I not only should believe in my heart, I should also confess with my mouth.

“⁸But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in you mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your hear that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” – Romans 10:8-10 (ESV)

Over the past 3 years with the guidance of God, I have chosen a word to live out for each year. Stand, Example, Authentic in that order. Each year builds on the previous and leads me to my Kingdom Purpose. I have been more of each of them as the days and weeks and months and years have passed and with that I have been more vocal. I have confessed more and as a result have been met with more and more adversity over the past year or so.

Paul writes to guide the readers of the approach to Christ-like living. He encourages and guides me to the way of Christ. He gently, and sometimes not so gently, tells me the truth of what I should be doing and the right way to do it. I am charged with reading and listening and understanding and doing.

Believing in my heart is hard, especially when the adversity continues and even ratchets up. Confessing with my mouth is even harder as I share with those around me the reasons for my actions and the what is in it for me and them. Knowing that my confessions will likely generate even more adversity does not make confessing any easier. But, God is there to provide the actions to take, guidance for those actions, protection against the enemy, and reward in heaven.

Are you one that truly believes? Are you aware of just how hard believing is? What about confession, will you confess with your mouth? Are you able to believe and confess daily?

The first 3 words of the title are pretty morbid there. What I refer to is that if I believe that I have died with Christ for in my sin, I have to believe that I live in the eternal life through His resurrection.

“³Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” – Romans 6:3-4 (ESV)

There is a lot going on in those verses, but what I see in them is that when I accepted the salvation of Christ and was baptized, I died in the sin that was and would be part of my life, and was created anew in the life of Christ as He rose.

I continue to be a sinner, and for that I must repent daily. I am also alive in Christ and live thanks to Him and for Him. I believe that my life prior to salvation was wrought with sin and I was slowly dying to that sin, and now with the life of Christ in my heart, I live a glorious filled life.

“⁸Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we also live with him.” – Romans 6:8 (ESV)

When you think of your life, are you still living in sin? Have you died with Christ? Do you believe you died and now believe you live?

“²⁰No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith and he gave glory to God, ²¹fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. ²²This is why his faith was ‘counted to him as righteousness.’” – Romans 4:20-22 (ESV)

Abraham was fully trusting in God. Every day he grew stronger in his faith as “he gave glory to God”. What a great approach to life with Christ. Giving glory every day and growing in faith as a result of that glory.

And look at the result of that growth, it led to being “fully convinced”. Not just a belief in the power of God, but ultimate and complete belief that He would provide for any and every need that came up.

“²³But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, ²⁴but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ²⁵who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” – Romans 4:23-25 (ESV)

Abraham was not the only one that benefited from faith in God. For as “the father of many nations”, he was writing the story for me. Abraham was fully convinced and committed to my Lord and serves as an example of what it looks like to believe and be fully convinced of the glory of God in my life.

I am just a believer that struggles every day with my faith. When I read about Abraham and how he did not “waver” and grew “strong” in his faith through giving glory to God, I am encouraged to do the same and follow the leading example. I will be approaching life “fully convinced” of the glory of God.

When you think about your belief, are you growing strong every day? Are you giving glory to God always? Are you “fully convinced” in the glory of our God?

Abraham is the father of nations. He was counted as righteous through his faith and not through any other actions.

“⁹Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. ¹⁰How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. ¹¹He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well.” – Romans 4:9-11 (ESV)

Abraham believed and then was circumcised, not the other way around. He believed in God and was counted as a child of God even before the law was enacted that one had to be circumcised. In fact the covenant and act of circumcision was enacted by God with Abraham.

I look for ways that I can demonstrate my faith in the world, and as I read these verses and study more closely about belief, I am reminded that I only need faith and to act accordingly in my life. When I am acting according to my faith, that is the demonstration of my faith. I do not have to do anything “great”, I only need to do the will of God as He has instructed me.

My righteousness is not defined by the works that I do, but by my faith in God my Father. I am only to have the faith and believe, for works are not was get me there, by are the product of my faith and belief.

What order are you looking at for belief and works? Are you looking for the outward actions to show others your faith and belief, or are you simply looking to do the work of the Lord? Are you willing to just have faith in order to believe?

“²¹But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophet bear witness to it—²²the righteousness of God through Faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is not distinction: ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” – Romans 3:21-23 (ESV)

I am no different from you in the eyes of God. Whether Jew or Gentile, Baptist or Catholic, Polish or American, rich or poor. We all have the same opportunities.

God is our Lord and Savior. Not just the Jewish. I am a child of God just as you are a child of God. Salvation is for all of us.

When Jesus died on the cross, he died for all our sins. When it is said all our sins. Not all OUR sins, but ALL our sins. What a difference it makes when I put the emphasis on the different word in the phrase. ALL to me means everyone and every. Not just those that fit into my box, but ALL sins that have occurred or will occur. Not just for me, but for everyone.

Jesus died for us ALL to cover ALL sin in the world.

When you think about it, do you understand the word ALL here? What are you thoughts with regard to Jesus’ coverage of sin? Do you feel as though you fit into the ALL without distinction?

Imagine being wrongly imprisoned as you were accused of something that you were not. I imagine that if there was an opportunity to escape that imprisonment, that a good number of us would do so. Paul and Silas were imprisoned for being “Jews” and for spreading the word of God in the Roman empire which was considered against the law (even though they were not accused of any specific actions).

“²⁶and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s bonds were unfastened…²⁸But Paul cried with a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’” – Acts 16:26 & 28 (ESV)

They prison was shaken so much that everything was opened and in effect everyone was “freed” from their bonds and could (yes I said could) have escaped, whether rightfully or wrongfully accused. But they did not.

“²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,” – Acts 16:25 (ESV)

Everyone in the prison were worshiping to God and therefor they were not thinking of escaping, they seemed to be living more by the law of God as opposed to the law of man. They did not need to be “freed” to be free.

“²⁹And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰Then he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ ³¹And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ ³²And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all where were in his house.” – Acts 16:29-32 (ESV)

The jailer recognizes that something is different about Paul and Silas. He knows that they, along with the rest of the prisoners, had every opportunity to escape and yet they did not take it. He knew that there must be something greater than man to keep them all imprisoned. He was so amazed and taken with what it could be, he asked and truly wanted to know. When he was told, he and his house believed.

I have been fortunate to be in a Christian home as a child and lead a Christian home as an adult. I believe that my household would be more like Paul and Silas and understand that justice will be there when it is supposed to be. I know that our purpose with Christ is more than we know and the seeds of grace that we plant all around will sprout roots when the time is right with the right individual meant to receive them. Every situation provides an opportunity to worship and witness to and for God.

When you are in a difficult situation, what is your attitude? Are you looking for your own freedom, or looking out for the spiritual well being of those around you? Are you using the difficult situations to offer opportunities for other to believe?