The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam — that is, Christ — is a life-giving Spirit.
—1 Corinthians 15:45 NLT
Death, the immutable reality of our physical mortality, is an enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). Yes, there are times for those who follow Jesus that death is a blessing. The hard reality, however, is that death, and the decay of everything good and precious to us in this world, hold our world captive. They have done so since the sad rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Adam brought this captivity to us, and we have compounded it by our own rebellions, big and small. This decay, and our dance with it, spread the vile smell of death to our relationships, our physical lives, and our dreams. But Christ Jesus, who is God's Messiah, faced death and triumphed. His bodily resurrection began the sure hope of our own escape from our world of decay. His Spirit is now alive in us. The Spirit is our guarantee of ultimate victory over sin, death, and decay (Ephesians 1:13-14). Death no longer holds us captive. The antidote courses through us just as surely as our blood does. God's life-giving Christ is alive in us through the Spirit, and we are assured we will stand with him, redeemed and whole, alive and victorious.
O Father, my heart feels the weight of rebellion and the death, decay, and despair that poison my world. Please make me always aware of the antidote, the Spirit that was given me by Jesus Christ. Please show your life through my choices, my actions, my thoughts, my words, and my attitudes. O come, Holy Spirit, and bring life in me and through me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
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—1 Corinthians 15:45 NLT
Key Thought
Death, the immutable reality of our physical mortality, is an enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). Yes, there are times for those who follow Jesus that death is a blessing. The hard reality, however, is that death, and the decay of everything good and precious to us in this world, hold our world captive. They have done so since the sad rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Adam brought this captivity to us, and we have compounded it by our own rebellions, big and small. This decay, and our dance with it, spread the vile smell of death to our relationships, our physical lives, and our dreams. But Christ Jesus, who is God's Messiah, faced death and triumphed. His bodily resurrection began the sure hope of our own escape from our world of decay. His Spirit is now alive in us. The Spirit is our guarantee of ultimate victory over sin, death, and decay (Ephesians 1:13-14). Death no longer holds us captive. The antidote courses through us just as surely as our blood does. God's life-giving Christ is alive in us through the Spirit, and we are assured we will stand with him, redeemed and whole, alive and victorious.
Today's Prayer
O Father, my heart feels the weight of rebellion and the death, decay, and despair that poison my world. Please make me always aware of the antidote, the Spirit that was given me by Jesus Christ. Please show your life through my choices, my actions, my thoughts, my words, and my attitudes. O come, Holy Spirit, and bring life in me and through me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
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