20 Jan February 2nd Daily Devotion

 A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

WE WHO ARE ALIVE WILL BE CAUGHT UP WITH THOSE WHO ARE RESURRECTED

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 “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. 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. 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.”

Yesterday’s devotion focused on life for those whose bodies are currently interred or inurned.  Today’s devotional verses address what happens to those who are living at the time when Christ returns on the Last Day.  Today’s verses reinforce the message of yesterday’s with the message that “the dead in Christ will rise first.”  Then, “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.”

Peter, in Acts 10:42, Paul in 2 Timothy 4:1 and Peter in 1 Peter 4:5 say that Jesus “will judge the living and the dead . . .” Rev. Dr. Paul Raabe writes, “God the Father has given the authority of judgment to His incarnate Son, Jesus of Nazareth, according to His human nature (Daniel 7:13-14; John 5:22,27, Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18.) The crucified and risen Jesus is the promised messianic King who will exercise judgment with righteousness (Isaiah 11:1-5), ‘. . .the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:42)  “. . .we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:10.)  (Large Catechism, Page 443)

When Jesus returns, He will separate the believers from the unbelievers.  (The Bible uses the term “sheep” and the “goats” in Matthew 25:31-46)  This will be a time when Jesus will publicly reveal the believers who were resurrected and those who are living at the time of His return to judge.  All believers will inherit eternal life. . . all unbeliever’s eternal death.  (John 3:16-18)

Rev. Dr. Herbert C. Mueller, Jr.’s essay in the recently published annotated edition of Luther’s Large Catechism included this quote from Martin Luther, “. . . the goal of our faith in Christ, of Baptism, of sermon, and of Sacrament, that we hope for a new life, that we come to Christ, that we rule eternally with Him, delivered from sin, devil, death, and every evil. . .on that Last Day . . .our Lord will return, all the dead will be raised bodily either to eternal glory or unending shame.  Those who are in  Christ will live and reign with Him forever in imperishable, immortal bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)”

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, I believe that whether my body is buried or inurned or I am alive at the moment of the Last Day, because of the faith the Holy Spirit worked in my heart to believe in You, You will grant me eternal glory.  Thanks and praise be to You!  Amen.

Jerusalem, my happy home,

When shall I come to thee?

When shall my sorrows have an end?

Thy joys when shall I see?

O happy harbor of the saints,

O sweet and pleasant soil!

In thee no sorrow may be found,
No grief, no care, no toil.

Thy gardens and thy gallant walks

Continually are green;

There grow such sweet and pleasant flow’rs

As nowhere else are seen.

There trees forevermore bear fruit

And evermore do spring;

There evermore the angels dwell

And evermore do sing.

Apostles, martyrs, prophets, there

Around my Savior stand;

And soon my friends in Christ below

Will join the glorious band.

O Christ, do Thou my soul prepare

For that bright home of love

That I may see Thee and adore

With all Thy saints above.

(LSB 673)