Counting on Rising from the Grave

by Jim Elliff

I've been reflecting some on the future, the new world, and the resurrection of the body. What will happen tonight when you sleep? Will you die? Can you say you know for sure what will happen? Thomas Watson said, "We are more sure of rising from the grave than we are of our beds."

The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of your bodily resurrection. That experience, witnessed by the apostles, was so incredible that they made it the centerpiece of their story the rest of their days. But he is only the first fruits of the harvest, according to Paul. We are the rest of that harvest. We obtained a future resurrected body in the gift of salvation through Christ, and we can be sure it will happen.

Be encouraged by that truth as you rest tonight. Think, "If I do not rise tomorrow from my bed, I will certainly rise from the grave when Christ returns." "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," Paul also taught us. Our souls will be in heaven when we die. But the resurrection of the body completes the gift of life to us. One day you "will be preserved, body, soul, and spirit" in the future world. Count on it if you are His child. Like the apostles before us, find courage in the fact of the resurrection.

The Beautiful Boy With Down Syndrome

by Steve Burchett

A beautiful boy with Down Syndrome showed up this morning with his loving mom and grandma at the Panera Bread where I led a men's Bible study. His presence reminds me of this tragic statistic: About 90% of those who find out their child has Down Syndrome abort. That percentage is astonishing and saddening.

Even as I type this post, he's laughing and playing. He sometimes looks over and smiles at me. God, who is wise, good, and powerful, made him (Psalm 139:13-16). So he is valuable. He has worth. He is made in God's image. His life matters. He is a gift from God (Psalm 127:3). He deserves love, care, and respect, and he always did--even in the womb.

Raven Express

by Jim Elliff

I've gotten encouragement this morning from a phrase showing up in the life of Elijah: "I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there" (1 Kings 17:4).

Jesus, hundreds of years later, tells us to consider the ravens: "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet YOUR heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" (Mt. 6:26)

The ravens, who haven't worried one day about provision, were employed in Elijah's case as transports for His provision for the prophet. Elijah got his meals through Raven Express, delivered right to the door.

We have all the reason in the world to be confident that God is well aware of our needs and will meet them as we fully devote ourselves to Him. It sometimes amazes me that God is so personally tuned to our needs. He actually KNOWS them before we ask. And if He does not supply them at some point, it is only because He believes not supplying that moment is a higher need in our lives or need for the community of Christ.

It is YOUR heavenly Father that feeds the birds and can send the birds to supply your needs if He wishes.