Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December 12
Wednesday


GRIEF IS MESSY

READ:
1 Thess. 4:13-18
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I do not want you to be
ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who
have fallen asleep, lest
you sorrow as others
who have no hope.
__ 1 Thessalonians 4:13
______________________________________

On November 14, 1970, a plane crash took the lives of most of the Marshall University football team, the coaching staff, and many community leaders of Huntington, West Virginia. Seventy-five lives were lost in the crash, which devastated the university and the community. Two of the people who lost loved ones were Paul Griffen and Annie Cantrell. Their stories intertwined because Griffen's son, Chris, was Annie's fiance. When Chris died, their lives were plunged into a year of pain that seemed unbearable. Why? Because, as Paul told Annie in the film portraying this tragedy. "Grief is messy."

He was right, grief is messy. All of us grieve at one time or another__ including those of us who are Christ-followers. For the believer, however, there is something beyond the tears, pain, and loss. There is hope.

Writing to a church family who had seen loved ones taken in death, Paul acknowledged the reality of grief. But he challenged them not to "sorrow as others who have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13). Loss and death are part of life, but believers can face them, knowing that Christians never say goodbye for the last time. We can comfort one another (v.18) with the hope of the resurrection and a future reunion. __ Bill Crowder
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The Lord has promised to prepare
A place in heaven above__
A home where we will always be
With Him and those we love. __ Sper
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Because Christ lives, death is not tragedy but triumph.

**********Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18*********

13 But I do not want you
to be ignorant, brethren,
concerning those who
have fallen asleep, lest
you sorrow as others who
have no hope. 14 For if we
believe that Jesus died and
rose again, even so God
will bring with Him those
who sleep in Jesus. 15 For
this we say to you by the
word of the Lord, that we
who are alive and remain
until the coming of the Lord
will by no means precede
those who are asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of
an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the
dead in christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive
and remain shall be caught
up together with them in
the clouds to meet the Lord
in the air. And thus we shall
always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one
another with these words.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<


Like every congregation, the church at Thessalonica had strengths
and weaknesses. They were affirmed for their evangelistic zeal
(1 Thess. 1:8). Likewise, despite their pagan background, they had
demonstrated genuine faith by turning from idols to serve the
one true God (1 Thess. 1:9-10). Yet they had a problem with their
understanding of prophecy and the endtimes. Some believed the
return of Christ was so imminent that they neglected productive
work. Others were perplexed in thinking Christ had already returned
and left them behind. To correct these misunderstandings, Paul
wrote his wonderful passages on the return of Christ (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 2 Thess. 3:6-15). __ HDF