Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 5
Friday


THE RIGHT
INFORMATION

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
____________________________________________________________

Our flight had been airborne about 15 minutes when the pilot announced that the aircraft had a serious problem the crew was trying to analyze. A few minutes later, he announced that it was a vibration and that we would have to return to the airport. Then the flight attendants made a series of step-by-step announcements explaining what was going on and what would happen once we were on the ground. In an event that could have been terrifying, the fears of the passengers were relieved because we were given the right information.

In the first century, a group of believers in Thessalonica were afraid that their believing loved ones who had died were gone forever and would miss out on the second coming of Christ. For that reason, Paul wrote, "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 Thess. 4:13). Paul's words of comfort were intended to soften their fears by giving the the right information, which made all the difference in the world. While grieving their loss, they could still have hope of a coming reunion with those who were in Christ.

In seasons of loss, we too can find comfort and hope because the Bible has given us the right information. Bill Crowder
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```````````````He's coming back! The dead shall rise,``````````````
````````````````Caught up to meet Him in the skies.```````````````
```````````````````Upon that hope my soul relies;````````````````
```````````````````He's coming back! __Sherbert````````````````
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Death is not a period--its' only a comma.

***********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<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The key in this text is the contrast between "sorrow" and "hope"
(v.13). The hope that we have in Christ is the key to dealing with life's
sorrows. Most significantly, this hope is not empty optimism. It is
anchored in the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (v.14). Paul
says that Christ's resurrection is the key to our own hope. And his
words echo Jesus' promise to us, I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever
lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25-26).
__BILL CROWDER