Because He lives
Because I live, you also will live.”
John 14:19; Acts 17:22-31; I Peter 3:13-22
A few weeks ago we celebrated the Resurrection of the God-Man Jesus Christ. “ I believe in the Resurrection of the body” we say. Today in light of Memorial Day coming tomorrow and the fact that this is the 6th Sunday of Easter we have an opportunity to be re-encouraged about this wonderful truth. This gives us hope in the most difficult situations we face in this life. The hymn, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow “written by the Gaithers was written in such a time for them:
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.”
We can have this hope in our own lives as well despite what is going on around us or in us as well. I like what Rev. Lloyd Ogilvie said in his book, A Future and a Hope:
“ But then when I was hurt, why had the Lord waited so long to send help? Even in the fog of my pain, I somehow knew the answer to my own questions. It was when I gave up and surrendered the seemingly impossible circumstances to the Lord that I had made one of the most crucial discoveries of my life: authentic hope is born when we trust Him completely. Hope is a Person.”
Peter talks about this hope we have 1:3 , “ a living hope” “ through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” and in that letter that we read today because of the resurrection we have a hopeful way of speaking to others about our Christian faith despite how we are being treated by them. “ even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake you will be blessed…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” I find this very interesting that our Christian witness can be damaged by how we speak to others. This is a difficult lesson to learn but it is one we must. How we speak to those who are “ captured by (the devil) to do his will” is so important. “ God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:25. We must “ be kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting…opponents with gentleness.”
In our reading from Acts, Paul has such an opportunity. Again his speaking to the Athenians in Athens is a great demonstration of some of these principles. He bases his reasoning on the resurrection. “ He reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace with those who happened to be there. “ 17:17 “ He was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.” V. 18 Paul got the opportunity to speak at the Areopagus,” Mars’ Hill . Two schools of philosophy prevalent. 17:18. The Epicurean philosophers who taught that pleasure was the most important thing in life. The Stoics believed in the power of reason and the will of the rational over the emotions. Paul speaks to them from where they are:” Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious…I found an altar with this description, ‘ To the unknown god.’” He quotes some of their own poets and shows them that this God is “ Lord of heaven”. This God “commands all to repent” and “he will judge the world” by a man “who he has appointed” and “he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 17:31
Because I live Jesus says, you will live also. This is not only talking about eternal life but about living now the abundant life He promised through the Holy Spirit. Even in Acts the Apostle Paul did not see all respond. “ Some mocked. ..others said, ‘ later’.” What did Paul do ? He left the results to God. He had planted the seeds. But some did believe. “ some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” 17:33 Today we have confidence in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, the ground of our faith and the assurance of life beyond the grave. This Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember all who gave their lives for our country in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life. This same Gospel , good news, is the one we hear and believe. May we have this hope as we speak to others with meekness and respect as others have done so many years ago.
“ Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone, and I can know He holds the future, Because He lives. And life is worth the living, Because He lives”
“ Because I live, you also will “
John 14:19; Acts 17:22-31; I Peter 3:13-22
A few weeks ago we celebrated the Resurrection of the God-Man Jesus Christ. “ I believe in the Resurrection of the body” we say. Today in light of Memorial Day coming tomorrow and the fact that this is the 6th Sunday of Easter we have an opportunity to be re-encouraged about this wonderful truth. This gives us hope in the most difficult situations we face in this life. The hymn, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow “written by the Gaithers was written in such a time for them:
“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.”
We can have this hope in our own lives as well despite what is going on around us or in us as well. I like what Rev. Lloyd Ogilvie said in his book, A Future and a Hope:
“ But then when I was hurt, why had the Lord waited so long to send help? Even in the fog of my pain, I somehow knew the answer to my own questions. It was when I gave up and surrendered the seemingly impossible circumstances to the Lord that I had made one of the most crucial discoveries of my life: authentic hope is born when we trust Him completely. Hope is a Person.”
Peter talks about this hope we have 1:3 , “ a living hope” “ through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” and in that letter that we read today because of the resurrection we have a hopeful way of speaking to others about our Christian faith despite how we are being treated by them. “ even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake you will be blessed…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” I find this very interesting that our Christian witness can be damaged by how we speak to others. This is a difficult lesson to learn but it is one we must. How we speak to those who are “ captured by (the devil) to do his will” is so important. “ God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:25. We must “ be kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting…opponents with gentleness.”
In our reading from Acts, Paul has such an opportunity. Again his speaking to the Athenians in Athens is a great demonstration of some of these principles. He bases his reasoning on the resurrection. “ He reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace with those who happened to be there. “ 17:17 “ He was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.” V. 18 Paul got the opportunity to speak at the Areopagus,” Mars’ Hill . Two schools of philosophy prevalent. 17:18. The Epicurean philosophers who taught that pleasure was the most important thing in life. The Stoics believed in the power of reason and the will of the rational over the emotions. Paul speaks to them from where they are:” Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious…I found an altar with this description, ‘ To the unknown god.’” He quotes some of their own poets and shows them that this God is “ Lord of heaven”. This God “commands all to repent” and “he will judge the world” by a man “who he has appointed” and “he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 17:31
Because I live Jesus says, you will live also. This is not only talking about eternal life but about living now the abundant life He promised through the Holy Spirit. Even in Acts the Apostle Paul did not see all respond. “ Some mocked. ..others said, ‘ later’.” What did Paul do ? He left the results to God. He had planted the seeds. But some did believe. “ some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” 17:33 Today we have confidence in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, the ground of our faith and the assurance of life beyond the grave. This Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember all who gave their lives for our country in the hope of the resurrection to eternal life. This same Gospel , good news, is the one we hear and believe. May we have this hope as we speak to others with meekness and respect as others have done so many years ago.
“ Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone, and I can know He holds the future, Because He lives. And life is worth the living, Because He lives”
“ Because I live, you also will “
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