Death will be no more

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 1 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 2

The Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 3 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 4

Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore. 5 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces. 6

And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 7

 

1 1Th 4.13-14 2 1Cor 15.51-52 3 Phil 3.20-21 4 1Cor 15.53-57 5 Rev 21.4 6 Is 25.8 7 1Th 4.17-18

Prayers

Be gracious to me, LORD,

Because I am in distress;

My eyes are worn out from angry sorrow-

My whole being as well. 

Indeed, my life is consumed with grief

And my years with groaning;

My strength has failed

Because of my sinfulness. 1

 

Help me. 2

 

There is no strength in my bones

Because of my sin. 

My wounds are foul and festering 

Because of my foolishness. 

There is no health in my body. 

I am faint and severely crushed. 3

 

Heal me. 4

 

The enemy has pursued me, 

Crushing me to the ground, 

Making me live in darkness

Like those long dead. 

My spirit is weak within me;

My heart is overcome with dismay. 5

 

Rescue me. 6

 

Troubles without number have surrounded me;

My sins have overtaken me; I am unable to see. 

They are more than the hairs of my head,

And my courage leaves me. 

LORD, be pleased to deliver me. 7

 

Save me, God. 8

 

1 Ps 31.9-10 2 Ps 40.13 3 Ps 38.3,5,7-8 4 Ps 41.4 5 Ps 143.3-4 6 Ps 31.2 7 Ps 40.12-13 8 Ps 69.1

Reward

Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do. 1 There will be glory and honour and peace from God for all who do good. 2

The reward of the godly will last. 3 Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. 4

For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you. He will repay all people as their actions deserve. 5

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. 6

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great. 7

Be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded. 8 Be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 9 I will reward you, there is hope for your future. 10

Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. 11

 

1 Eph 6.8 2 Rom 2.9-10 3 Prov 11.18 4 Hos 10.12 5 Prov 24.12 6 Gal 6.8-10 7 Lk 6.35 8 2Chr 15.7 9 1Cor 15.58 10 Jer 31.16-17 11 Mt 5.12

The Merciful Father

 The Prodigal Son went to his father.“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 1

There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. 2 For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him. 3

He will take great delight in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing. 4 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 5

He does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 6

Let the wicked forsake their ways

and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 7

 

1 Lk 15.20-24 2 Lk 15.10 3 2Chr 30.9 4 Zeph 3.17 5 1Jn 1.9 6 Ps 103.10-13 7 Isa 55.7

I seek You

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 1

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. 3

Your unfailing love is better than life itself! 4 Every good thing I have comes from you. 5 I desire you more than anything on earth. 6

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. 7 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. 8

And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” 9 You granting me the joy of your presence. 10

Let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully. 11 Show me your glorious presence. 12 

 

1 Ps 63.1 2 Ps 42.1 3 Is 26.9 4 Ps 63.3 5 Ps 16.2 6 Ps 73.25 7 Ps 139.17 8 Ps 119.103 9 Ps 27.8 10 Ps 16.11 11 Ex 33.13 12 Ex 33.18 

Love

 God is love, 1 love is from God. 2

Love does no wrong to a neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 3

Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 4

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 5 Love builds up. 6

Love covers a multitude of sins. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. 9 Love never ends. 10

 

1 1Jn 4.16 2 1Jn 4.7 3 Rom 13.10 4 1Cor 13.4-6 5 1Jn 4.18 6 1Cor 8.1 7 1Pet 4.8 8 1Cor 13.7 9 SoS 8.7 10 1Cor 13.8

One Another

Love one another with brotherly affection. 1 Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another. 2 Outdo one another in showing honour. 3

Be at peace with one another. 4 Live in harmony with one another. 5

As each has received a gift, use it to serve another. 6 Wash one another’s feet. 7 Bear one another burdens. 8

Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. 9 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. 10

Welcome one another. 11 Show hospitality to one another. 12 

Encourage one another and build one another up. 13 Exhort one another every day. 14 Instruct one another. 15

Stir up one another to love and good works. 16

 

1  Rom 12.10 2 1Pet 5.5 3 Rom 12.10 4 Mk 9.50 5 Rom 12.16 6 1Pet 4.10 7 Jn 13.14 8 Gal 6.2 9 Jam 5.16 10 Eph 4.32 11 Rom 15.7 12 1Pet 4.9 13 1Thess 5.11 14 Heb 3.13 15 Rom 15.14 16 Heb 10.24