SCRIPTURE: 1Thessalonians (NIV) 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
OBSERVATION: We believe! We are believers! Our faith is founded upon historical fact. We believe Jesus was crucified. He died. But that is not all we believe. We believe that Jesus rose from death. Jesus came back to life. Jesus proved that death is not the end. Jesus passed through death and returned.
APPLICATION: AND SO … Believing the first part logically leads us to believe the second part. Because we believe Jesus died and rose, we also believe that those who have died while believing in Him will accompany Him when He returns. As Paul wrote in another place, “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” {2Co 5:8 } They are with the Lord as their body lies asleep in death. They will come with the Lord when He returns to this earth.
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the assurance we have that the parting of death for those who die knowing you is only temporary. Amen
NOTE: As I was reading this verse my thoughts were drawn to those who have experienced the death of a loved one this past year. This will be the first Christmas season without them. May the One Jesus sent to be our Comforter, the Holy Spirit use this SOAP to ease some of the pain. As great as the pain has been in the separation, even greater will be the joy in being reunited in the presence of God.
Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!
On Facebook: Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
A note re: Pastor Andrew in Sierra Leone. As a lingering result of the robbery and assault he developed some severe headaches for which the doctor needed to do surgery. The money for the surgery was finally gathered, then the doctors wanted Doris to supply five units of blood before they would do the surgery. She sold their refrigerator and borrowed $75 to purchase the blood; the doctors did the surgery. Praise the Lord, Pastor Andrew is doing well in recovery and will be there for another week. Please continue to pray for Pastor Andrew as he recovers, and for his wife Doris who still needs to repay the loan and purchase special meals the doctors have ordered.
SOAPs by Pastor Leon 