March 28th, 2018

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:19-25)

We look forward to the resurrection—not just the coming celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, but our own resurrection, guaranteed because of Jesus. Until then, we still struggle with our own sin and the pain of living in a sinful world. We still suffer as a result of disease, disaster, deception, demons, and death. Yet we live with hope, looking forward to Christ’s return and the completion of our salvation: new bodies, a new heaven and earth, and a new relationship with God and with each other, free of sin, selfishness, suffering, and the sting of death.  Christ is risen—as we shall be!

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the coming celebration of our reconciliation and resurrection, made possible because of Your love poured out through Jesus. Empower us with hope to share with all whom we meet this week, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ANTICIPATION…

A man was known by friends to be particularly terse and to the point.

He was not unfriendly, but certainly never wasted words.

One day, a new saleswoman selling cosmetics knocked on his door. 

When she asked to see his wife, the man told her that she wasn't home.

"Well," the woman said, "could I please wait for her?"

The man silently led her to the living room and went back to work outside.

For an hour the woman busied herself, but finally she could wait no longer.

She found the man in his shop back behind the house.

She asked, "May I know where your wife is?"

"She went to the cemetery," he replied.

"And when is she coming home?"

"I don't know," he said. "She's been there eleven years now."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Lord bless your celebration and anticipation of the resurrection, in Jesus!

Pastor Kirk