Week 42 Day 4
I. Prayer to enter the Lord’s presence:
Be still for a moment. “Lord, I give the day that is now past to you. It is yours. I give the day that is to come to you; help me to see where you are working and to join you there. Speak to me during these moments. I commit them and myself to you.”
II. Prayer of Confession:
“Lord, you are faithful to forgive me and cleanse me of my sin when I confess it to you. I confess my sin(s) of ______________. Thank you for forgiveness.” (1 John 1:9)
III. Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Choose to be thankful, speak out loud of what God has done.
“Thank you, Father, for _________________. Fill my heart and my mouth with gratitude throughout this day.”
IV. Scripture Reflection
Read
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:
Death has been swallowed up in victory., 55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?,
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Reflect
In most Bibles verse 55 is set apart with quotation marks or special indentation. This is to indicate it is a different genre(type of writing) than the verses that surround it. What is it’s genre? It is a taunt. A taunt is best described as “mocking” or “provocative” speech. Like a sports team pointing at its opponent and laughing and saying derogatory things. A taunt indicates a lack of respect. Paul is not saying that death is to be taken lightly or that it’s not heartbreaking now. He is specific about the timing of when death will be worthy of this taunt, it will be after the future resurrection. There will come a time in the future when the dead in Christ will be raised to resurrection and those still alive at the time of Christ’s return will be changed “in place” to a resurrection existence. There is much confusion and disagreement about the timing of all this…but the timing is of no consequence for us. We are to trust God with the timing. We are often like small children in the car on a long trip, “Are we there yet?” No, we are not there yet. Yes, we will be there someday. On that day our most formidable foe…death will be taunted, disrespected.
Respond
Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Do you have anxiety about the future? About death or suffering? Do you have grief regarding a loved one who has died? Christ has taken the only power Satan has over you regarding death…fear. Give thanks to God for this. If you are able, listen to this song and give thanks to God for the gospel future hope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIahc83Kvp4
V. Prayer for others:
Pray specifically for the concerns of your life and the lives of others.
VI. Prayer of commitment:
“Lord God, I commit to love you with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength and with all my mind and to love my neighbor as myself. Empower me today to love you and others with everything that I am.” (Luke 10:27)
This Month’s Scripture Memory:
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.