Let's encourage kindness & understanding. "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Eph 4:2). Trust God's guidance in our interactions. "A gentle answer turns away wrath" (Prov 15:1). Appreciate each other's intentions to help. In Jesus' name! 
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
—John 11:26 (KJV)
These were Jesus' words to Martha when her brother had died. She still hoped Jesus would intervene and do something about her brother's death. What Jesus says here fits well with something we emphasized several days ago. Christians who die physically are never really separated from their relationship with God's loving presence in Jesus (Romans 8:32-39). Their life is joined with Jesus, and that relationship is not severed by death (Philippians 1:18-23). In today's passage, Jesus challenges us to believe a similar truth: "Whoever lives and believes in me will never die." Do you believe the genuine living part of you made by God in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-16) will never die? Even though your physical body dies, do you believe you are still alive in Jesus? I hope so because this is an incredible thought! We are eternal, immortal, and joined with Jesus. His future is joined with us because of him (Colossians 3:1-4)! So, will we live believing this powerful truth?
Almighty God, I do believe that because of Jesus, I will never die, that I am never separated from you because my life and future are joined to Jesus. Please bless me, dear Father, so that I can make every minute count while I am here in this life. At the same time, dear God, I look forward to seeing you face to face. In the meantime, please help me live by faith and not fear. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
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—John 11:26 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
These were Jesus' words to Martha when her brother had died. She still hoped Jesus would intervene and do something about her brother's death. What Jesus says here fits well with something we emphasized several days ago. Christians who die physically are never really separated from their relationship with God's loving presence in Jesus (Romans 8:32-39). Their life is joined with Jesus, and that relationship is not severed by death (Philippians 1:18-23). In today's passage, Jesus challenges us to believe a similar truth: "Whoever lives and believes in me will never die." Do you believe the genuine living part of you made by God in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-16) will never die? Even though your physical body dies, do you believe you are still alive in Jesus? I hope so because this is an incredible thought! We are eternal, immortal, and joined with Jesus. His future is joined with us because of him (Colossians 3:1-4)! So, will we live believing this powerful truth?
My Prayer...
Almighty God, I do believe that because of Jesus, I will never die, that I am never separated from you because my life and future are joined to Jesus. Please bless me, dear Father, so that I can make every minute count while I am here in this life. At the same time, dear God, I look forward to seeing you face to face. In the meantime, please help me live by faith and not fear. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Continue reading...
