1 Thessalonians 4 - 12.31.24
SCRIPTURE: 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13 - 18
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
OBSERVATION
This scripture is a great encouragement and source of hope to anyone who has lost a loved one that knew Jesus as their Savior but is no longer on this earth.
APPLICATION
This specific scripture highlights the difference between how believers and the world handle the death of someone – because the world has no hope. They have no hope because death, by the world’s standards, is final with no future.
Paul addresses the reality that we all grieve yet says “do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” We can cry, mourn their loss on this earth, yet believers need to grieve WITH HOPE. We have hope for the future of being together again for eternity. In 1 Corinthians 15:54-55, we read that as believers our perishable bodies are clothed with an imperishable body, mortal with immortality, and that death no longer has its grip on us:
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[a]
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[b]
Through Jesus, his sacrifice, and our acceptance and faith in Him, death is no longer final. There is no victory in death, no sting, all because of Jesus!!
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Grieving with hope is when we remember 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 18. When we miss our loved ones, visualize the Lord’s return as He gathers those who have “fallen asleep” with those alive – to be “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” We have hope in Jesus to be with our faithful and saved loved ones again for eternity. Hallelujah!!!
PRAYER
Lord, the holidays can be a painful reminder in missing those who have passed from this earth. I pray your comfort and mercy surround all who grieve and miss a loved one. Help us all grieve with hope – not without hope. Having lost my mother, both of my precious in-law’s, and many friends in Jesus, I anxiously await the moment we’ll be together again. Oh what a sweet reunion! Thank you Lord!!
This is also a reminder to reach out to those who don’t know you yet so they, too, can have your hope. As the new year begins tonight, help us all have a deeper heart and yearning to reach the lost so no one lives life on this earth with no hope. Help me have the words to share your saving grace and hope for eternity. Give me your boldness to speak up when my flesh is feeling weak. Help me spread your Good News and saving grace so everyone can hope – so death will no longer sting and will no longer be final. In Jesus name! Amen
- Mary Oberg
