DAY 40, I THESSALONIANS 4-5

Good Morning!  My name is Bob Jackson and I was asked to give you a devotional thought from the book of I Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5.

KEY VERSES:   4:13, 16-18

¹³But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

¹⁸Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

REFLECTIONS: 

As I reflect on the loss of loved ones in my life and others’ lives, I am comforted that there will be a grand reunion in the air!  Paul teaches the rapture of the New Testament church in these verses, and what a lesson it is.  Christ is victorious over death and hell, and gives us who believe in Him this same victory.  Physical death is only a short time that we will be away from our loved ones and others who have trusted Christ as Saviour.  As Jesus was raised from the dead, so shall we who die in Christ Jesus be raised.  Then we will be reunited with the living who will be caught up with the resurrected saints.  The power and majesty of the Lord with the trump of God and the voice of the archangel will summon all who sleep in Jesus.  No one who knows the Saviour will be left behind!  When loved ones who know the Lord leave this world, we have this blessed hope and promise of eternal reunion.

APPLICATION:  

We need to encourage others who grieve and experience the loss loved ones and friends.  They need to know we care and are praying for them in their time of personal loss.  Always take time to listen and give love and support.

Thank you for being a part of the 40-Day Challenge.  Thanks for reading, and you have a blessed day!

In Christ,

Bob Jackson

NAME:  Bob Jackson
SAVED:  6 years old
FAVORITE BIBLE CHARACTER:  Jesus
FAMILY:  Wife Margie, Children Jessica, Amanda (David), Rebecca, Will, Daniel
OCCUPATION: Electrician
FAVORITE BOOK IN BIBLE:  Proverbs 
HOBBIES:  Reloading, shooting, model building
MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT AT VBC:  Usher, security