[APRIL 23] A New Normal

Read: Romans 6:1-11

"Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

--Romans 6:4

After my doctor announced that I has cancer, I tried to listen to what he said, but I couldn't. I went home, pulled a blanket over my head, and fell asleep on the couch, as if sleeping could change the diagnosis.

When I finally gained enough strength to tell my loved ones, my friend Judy Schreur said something especially memorable. After expressing her sympathy, she said, "This is what will happen. You will feel really bad for 3 days. Then you will get up, figure out what you have to do, and get on with your life." Then she sdded, "I think it has to do with death, burial, and resurrection."

At the time, I didn't believe it. I was sure that life as I knew it was over. Nothing would ever be the same. I couldn't imagine feeling normal again. But she was right. Three days later I woke up and realized I didn't feel quite so bad. And little by little, despite the physical misery of chemotherapy treatments, my emotional and spiritual condition improved significantly. I "died" to my old reality and was "raised" to a new normal.

Thankfully, God is in the business of resurrection. For those who have died in Christ, the death of one reality means resurrection to a new, glorious normal so we can "walk in newness of life" (Rom.6:4). --Julie Ackerman Link

Jesus redeemed us and died in our stead;

In Him we died and rose from the dead.

No longer is death a thing that we dread;

The old is behind us, the new is ahead. --D.De Haan

REFLECT ON THIS:

To be "in Christ" is to share in His life, in His death, and in His resurrection.

[MARCH 5] The Right Information

Read: 1 Thess. 4:13-18

"I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" 

--1 Thessalonica 4:13

Our flight had been airborne about 15 minutes when the pilot announced that the aircraft had a serious problem the crew was trying to analyze. A few minutes later, he announced that it was a vibration and that we would have to return to the airport. Then the flight attendants made a serious of step-by-step announcements explaining what was going on and what would happen once we were on the ground. In an event that could have been terrifying, the fears of the passengers were relieved because we were given the right information.

In the first century, a group of believers in Thessalonica were afraid that their believing loved ones who had died were gone forever and would miss out on the second coming of Christ. For that reason, Paul wrote, " I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13). Paul's words of comfort were intended to soften their fears by giving them the right information, which made all the difference in the world. While grieving their loss, they could still have hope of a coming reunion with those who were in Christ.

In seasons of loss, we too can find comfort and hope because the Bible has given us the right information. --Bill Crowder

He' s coming back! The dead shall rise,

Caught up to meet Him in the skies.

Upon that hope my soul relies;

He's coming back. --Sherbert

REFLECT ON THIS:
Death is not a period, it's only a comma.