Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
Today's Passage> 1 Corinthians 15: 35-56
Memory Verse> 1 Corinthians 15: 52 & 53
There's a powerful statement in this passage that I never really knew was there. It says, "First the natural, then the spiritual." All this means is, nothing ever becomes spiritual unless it is first manifested in the natural. No dream, no vision, no accomplishment ever materializes without making its presence in the physical realm. This is a spiritual law that God created, so He honored His own law by sending His Son Jesus to take up residence in the body of a human being, and had Him walk this earth. Why would He go to all that trouble just to send Him back home? What was the ultimate goal here?
Christ walked out the whole process of breathing our air, experiencing our joys and pains, and being tempted just like we were, yet without sin. He did all that so He could model for us what life looks like not only here in the natural, but also in the spirit realm that He is preparing for us. And if you have a problem accepting this, how do you explain what happens when all life begins? Every living thing starts out in one form and becomes another, then goes back into the earth and dies, but not really. Life only begins again. Every plant that dies receives nourishment from other dead things and comes back as a new plant.
If you accept that this is true, logic should follow that our human bodies, which also start out as one thing and end up as another, will be resurrected by the Lord Who is responsible for setting the example that death is not the end, but a step in the process. Our hope rests in the fact that our earthly bodies are flawed and tainted with sin. But because Christ the second Adam, Who passed the test of loyalty to the Father, intervened and stripped the power of sin and death from the enemy, He has given us His Word that we will be given new, incorruptible bodies. Unlike any other life forms, we have souls. This is who we really are, and this part of us, in keeping with the natural law, has to live on this earth and follow Christ's example of loyalty to God.
Only a loving God would leave clues as to how our earthly bodies will be transformed into heavenly ones. Everytime we see a bird, a flower, or any other living thing, we know that if God has made provision for life to begin again, why not with us? We are of more importance than any sparrow. We can trust that we WILL live again because Jesus lives again. Prepare to exit this treacherous body, but not for good: there is something better to come. No more headaches, heart problems, or surgeries to fix those things. But even more than that, we will have access to the Father Who loved us unconditionally. We long for the day when we will not only sing of and pray to Him, but will see Him just as He is. That in and of itself is hope worth holding onto.
Prayer: Father, only You could demonstrate love for Your children that You would fix everything we messed up, then give us something extra that we could never deserve. You've given us salvation to keep our heads up while walking on this earth. But then You promise us eternity after our resurrection. I just want to thank You for all You've prepared for me and all those I love. May all those who don't know You be drawn to this love, and to the wonderful promises You are sure to keep. Be glorified in our lives in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage> 1 Corinthians 15: 35-56
Memory Verse> 1 Corinthians 15: 52 & 53
There's a powerful statement in this passage that I never really knew was there. It says, "First the natural, then the spiritual." All this means is, nothing ever becomes spiritual unless it is first manifested in the natural. No dream, no vision, no accomplishment ever materializes without making its presence in the physical realm. This is a spiritual law that God created, so He honored His own law by sending His Son Jesus to take up residence in the body of a human being, and had Him walk this earth. Why would He go to all that trouble just to send Him back home? What was the ultimate goal here?
Christ walked out the whole process of breathing our air, experiencing our joys and pains, and being tempted just like we were, yet without sin. He did all that so He could model for us what life looks like not only here in the natural, but also in the spirit realm that He is preparing for us. And if you have a problem accepting this, how do you explain what happens when all life begins? Every living thing starts out in one form and becomes another, then goes back into the earth and dies, but not really. Life only begins again. Every plant that dies receives nourishment from other dead things and comes back as a new plant.
If you accept that this is true, logic should follow that our human bodies, which also start out as one thing and end up as another, will be resurrected by the Lord Who is responsible for setting the example that death is not the end, but a step in the process. Our hope rests in the fact that our earthly bodies are flawed and tainted with sin. But because Christ the second Adam, Who passed the test of loyalty to the Father, intervened and stripped the power of sin and death from the enemy, He has given us His Word that we will be given new, incorruptible bodies. Unlike any other life forms, we have souls. This is who we really are, and this part of us, in keeping with the natural law, has to live on this earth and follow Christ's example of loyalty to God.
Only a loving God would leave clues as to how our earthly bodies will be transformed into heavenly ones. Everytime we see a bird, a flower, or any other living thing, we know that if God has made provision for life to begin again, why not with us? We are of more importance than any sparrow. We can trust that we WILL live again because Jesus lives again. Prepare to exit this treacherous body, but not for good: there is something better to come. No more headaches, heart problems, or surgeries to fix those things. But even more than that, we will have access to the Father Who loved us unconditionally. We long for the day when we will not only sing of and pray to Him, but will see Him just as He is. That in and of itself is hope worth holding onto.
Prayer: Father, only You could demonstrate love for Your children that You would fix everything we messed up, then give us something extra that we could never deserve. You've given us salvation to keep our heads up while walking on this earth. But then You promise us eternity after our resurrection. I just want to thank You for all You've prepared for me and all those I love. May all those who don't know You be drawn to this love, and to the wonderful promises You are sure to keep. Be glorified in our lives in Jesus' Name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment