Resurrection
Jesus Wake Us Up
TIP: THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOUL
Death. It seems so final. I’d prepared for my mother’s death because she’d been ill for a long time. But the casket. The cemetery. I broke down weeping. Some family members whispered they were surprised at my grief, but all I could think of was how much I was going to miss her. So what does Jesus want us to know about death? What did He prove when He raised Lazarus and others from the dead? He wants us to know that death isn’t final. Jesus describes death as sleep, and just as a loved one rouses us from sleep by calling our name, Jesus will rouse us from death.
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (John 5:25)
Yes, believer, you will hear Christ’s voice (Imagine that!) and will wake in Jesus’s presence. There are no better words we could hear. Who do we need to share them with?
Lord, thank You for the eternal promise and evidence that You raise those who are dead in Christ. We will see You and our loved ones again.
Jesus Wake Us Up
TIP: How to Pray for Unbelievers
Death. It seems so final. I’d been prepared for my mother’s death because she’d been ill for a long time. But the casket. The cemetery. I broke down weeping. Some family members whispered they were surprised at my grief, but all I could think of was how much I was going to miss her. So what does Jesus want us to know about death and what did He prove when He raised Lazarus and others from the dead? He wants us to know that death isn’t final. Jesus describes death as sleep and that just as a loved one rouses us from sleep by calling our name, Jesus will rouse us from death.
Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (John 5:25)
Yes, believer, you will hear Christ’s voice (imagine that!) and will wake in Jesus’s presence. There are no better words we could hear. Who do we need to share them with?
Lord, thank You for the eternal promise and evidence that You raise those who are dead in Christ. We will see You and our loved ones again.
Jesus Wake Us Up
TIP: How to Pray for Unbelievers
Death. It seems so final. I’d been prepared for my mother’s death because she’d been ill for a long time. But the casket. The cemetery. I broke down weeping. Some family members whispered they were surprised at my grief, but all I could think of was how much I was going to miss her. So what does Jesus want us to know about death and what did He prove when He raised Lazarus and others from the dead? He wants us to know that death isn’t final. Jesus describes death as sleep and that just as a loved one rouses us from sleep by calling our name, Jesus will rouse us from death. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25) Yes, believer, you will hear Christ’s voice (imagine that!) and will wake in Jesus’s presence. Better words could never be said. Who do we need to share them with?
Lord, thank You for the eternal promise and evidence that You raise those who are dead in Christ. We will see You and our loved ones again.
When Final Isn’t Final
During our lifetime we’ll lose someone to death. Jesus’s disciple, John, saw Jesus die. The scourging. The nails. The cross. The blood. The tomb. It seemed final. But then, John saw Him again! Imagine what it must have been like for him to see Jesus transformed from the cross’s goriness to heaven’s gloriousness. John was overcome. “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the LIVING ONE; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’” (Revelation 1:18) Why did John fall like a dead man when he saw his friend in heaven? Jesus is glowing! His eyes are brilliant. His voice tumultuous. He told John to bring us the message that He has the keys of death and Hades. In other words, after your death, you don’t have to be locked in death. God recreates repentant sinners with a glorified body, soul, and spirit capable of living eternally in His presence. How can we not tell everyone we know that a glorious resurrection awaits them if they call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation?
LIVING ONE, brilliantly glorious One, even though we can’t see You, we believe in You. Help us love You more each day so our lives are displays of Your glory that draw others to You.
Praying for our unsaved friends and neighbors is crucial. I designate a column in the Week at A Glance section of Prayers of My Heart to pray for the United States and Unsaved. What do I pray? Check out this short SLIDE SHOW.
Jesus Will Wake Us Up
TIP: How to Pray for Unbelievers
Death. It seems so final. I’d been prepared for my mother’s death because she’d been ill a long time. But the casket. The cemetery. I broke down weeping. Some family members whispered they were surprised at my grief, but all I could think of was how much I was going to miss her. So what does Jesus want us to know about death and what did He prove when He raised Lazarus and others from the dead? He wants us to know that death isn’t final. Jesus describes death as sleep and that just as a loved one rouses us from sleep by calling our name, Jesus will rouse us from our death sleep. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25) Yes, believers will hear Christ’s voice (imagine that!) and wake in His eternal presence. Better words could never be said. Who do we need to share them with?
Lord, thank You for the eternal promise and evidence that You raise those who are dead in Christ into Your eternal presence. We will see our loved ones again.
When Final Isn’t Final
During our lifetime, we’ll lose someone to death. Jesus’s disciple, John, saw Jesus die. The scourging. The nails. The cross. The blood and water. The tomb. It seemed final. But then, John saw Him again! Imagine what it must have been like for him to see Jesus transformed from the cross’s goriness to heaven’s gloriousness. John was overcome. “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the LIVING ONE; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’” (Revelation 1:18) Why did John fall like a dead man when he saw his friend in heaven? Jesus is glowing! His eyes are brilliant. His voice tumultuous. He told John to bring us the message that He has the keys of death and Hades. In other words, after your death you don’t have to be locked in death. God recreates repentant sinners with a glorified body, soul, and spirit capable of living eternally in His presence. How can we not tell everyone we know that a glorious resurrection awaits them if they call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation?
LIVING ONE, brilliantly glorious One, even though we can’t see You, we believe in You. Help us love You more each day so our lives are displays of Your glory; drawing others to You.
Praying for our unsaved friends and neighbors is crucial. I designate a column in the Week at A Glance section of Prayers of My Heart to pray for the United States and Unsaved. What do I pray? Check out this short SLIDE SHOW.
Jesus, Wake Me Up
TIP: How to Pray for Unbelievers
Death. It seems so final. I’d been prepared for my mother’s death. She’d been ill a long time. But the casket. The cemetery. I broke down weeping. Some family members whispered. “Certainly Debbie should have been prepared.” After all, I’d cared for mama her last years. But it didn’t matter. It still seemed so final. So what does Jesus want us to know and what did He prove when He called Lazarus’s name and raised him from the dead? Death isn’t final. Jesus describes death as sleep. For instance, I hear my husband’s voice, “Debbie, wake up!” and I wake from earthly sleep. In John 5:25, Jesus said believers will hear His voice and wake from sleeping death to living in His eternal presence. Better words could never be said. Who do we need to share them with?
Lord, thank You for the eternal promise and evidence that You raise those who are dead in Christ into Your eternal presence.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” John 5:25
Praise to the LIVING ONE
“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the LIVING ONE; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’”
Death seems final, doesn’t it? I wept at my mother’s graveside even though we had known her death was near. Friends and families’ words, “You’ll see her again,” were comforting. But the reality was the casket. The shovel. The dirt.
During our lifetime, we’ll lose someone to death. Jesus’s disciple, John, clearly saw Jesus die. The scourging. The nails. The cross. The sword in His side. The blood and water. The tomb.
But then, John saw Him again!
Can you imagine what it must have been like for John to not only see the resurrected Christ, but to also see Christ glorified in heaven?
John recorded his experience. You can read it in Revelation 1. Jesus is glowing! His eyes are brilliant. His appearance is glorious. His voice tumultuous. He’s not barely alive. He’s abundantly alive! And He has a message for John to take to earth. He has the keys of death. In other words. You’re not staying locked in a casket or an urn. The one who made Adam out of dirt is regenerating you to your glorified body – fit for the Kingdom.
In light of knowing that we and our loved ones aren’t staying dead, what is our response? I want to run out the door and shout that a glorious body and place await us. I want to tell people that sin is the cause for eternal separation from Christ’s glory and He is ready to forgive. What can we do if not run out the door and shout the good news? Pray. Present the gospel. Put His glory before our lives so others see and believe in the resurrected Lord.
LIVING ONE, brilliantly glorious One, even though we can’t see You, we believe in You. Help us love You more each day so our lives are displays of Your glory; drawing others to You.
Praying for our unsaved friends and neighbors is crucial. I designate a column in the Week at A Glance section of Prayers of My Heart to pray for the United States and Unsaved. What do I pray? Check out this short SLIDE SHOW.