25 Sep October 22nd Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

HEAVEN WILL BE FULL

2 Corinthians 4:15 “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”

The result of many polls over the years tell you that Christians are giving up their faith, no longer attending worship services, and forsaking their faith and trust in Jesus for their salvation.  According to Lifeway Research as reported in January, 2023, 4,500 churches closed in the United States while 3,000 new ones were started.  There has been a median decline in attendance in existing churches of 7% between 2015 and 2020. The survey, fielded just before the coronavirus lockdown, finds that half of the country’s estimated 350,000 religious congregations had 65 or fewer people in attendance on any given weekend.

All that is happening in the church today and all that  St. Paul has written in second Corinthians chapter 4 could be depressing.  All that is happening in the world today is a concern to you, isn’t it?  All attacks against the teachings of the Bible are disturbing.  It is possible there are things occurring within your own congregation that bother you.

St. Paul says in today’s devotional verse, “all of this is for you.”  It is for your benefit.  It is happening so that you never lose sight of the fact that it is upon God’s grace, not opinion polls and gathered statistics your faith is anchored.  It is because of God’s goodness and kindness through His Son Jesus you need never be afraid of the negative things that are happening.  God is faithful in keeping His promises.

God’s grace continues to be poured out upon all of sinful humanity.  He continues to send His Holy Spirit to work through the Gospel and sacraments to bring people to faith.  It continues to be God’s goal that all people should believe in His Son Jesus.  God desires that sinners turn from their sins, seek His forgiveness, and receive His pardon and gift of eternal life.

In the Old Testament, Micaiah the prophet of God was given a vision, “I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around Him on His right and on His left.” (1 Kings 19:22) John writes about a vision God gave him in Revelation 7:9-10, 13-14 “. . . there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb . . .  Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Dear believer, heaven will be full because the grace of God overflows and does its work among the people of the world.

Prayer:  Father, grant me faith each day to trust Your promise of everlasting life through Your Son Jesus.  Amen

Sing with all the saints in glory, Sing the resurrection song!

Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story, To the former days belong.

All around the clouds are breaking;

Soon the storms of time shall cease; In God’s likeness we awaken,

Knowing everlasting peace.

Oh, what glory, far exceeding All that eye has yet perceived!

Holiest hearts for ages pleading Never that full joy conceived,

God has promised, Christ prepares it;

There on high our welcome waits. Ev’ry humble spirit shares it,

Christ has passed the_eternal gates.

Life eternal! Heav’n rejoices: Jesus lives who once was dead.

Shout with joy, O deathless voices! Child of God lift up your head!

Life eternal! Oh, what wonders

Crowd on faith; what joy unknown,

When, amid earth’s closing thunders,

Saints shall stand before the throne!

(LSB 671)