GOD’S WORD FOR JULY 28

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

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GARDEN OF LIFE

1 Corinthians 15:42-44

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.  It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

D.L.MOODY

As I go into a cemetery I like to think of the time when the dead shall rise from their graves.  We read part of this chapter in what we call the “burial service.” I think it is an unfortunate expression.  Paul never talked of “burial.”  He said the body was SOWN in corruption, SOWN in weakness, SOWN  in dishonor and SOWN a natural body.  If I BURY a bushel of wheat, I never expect to see it again, but if I SOW it, I expect results.  Thank God, our friends are not buried; they are only  SOWN!  I like the Saxon name or the cemetery – “God’s acre.”

ERWIN LUTZER

Years ago, Rebecca and I visited Herrnhut in eastern Germany.  Herrnhut (meaning “God’s watch” or “God’s care”) housed Moravian Christians in the early eighteenth century.  The cemetery features a tower with a 360-degree balcony – depicting God watching over their dead.  The people were buried according to their choir positions so, at resurrection, they would be ready to sing praises to God!

Christians respect the body because of our fervent belief in a bodily resurrection.  As Paul said, the body is like a seed placed in the ground that will eventually grow (be resurrected) into a new, indestructible, and eternal body (1 Cor 15:35-58).

Like Christ, whose body was placed in a tomb, just so, we also anticipate that God will raise up our bodies, recreated in the likeness of Christ.  Yes, God watches over the dead, for someday, the trumpet will sound and the dead will live!

So, when death comes calling for you, what will your legacy be?

PRAYER

Father, thank You that I can live in hope of the resurrection.

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1 Corinthians 15:20-22

    “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

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John 11:25-26

    “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”

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Romans 8:11

    “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” –

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Philippians 3:20-21

    “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

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1 Peter 1:3

    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

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Job 19:25-27

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

And He shall stand at last on the earth;

And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,

That in my flesh I shall see God,

Whom I shall see for myself,

And my eyes shall behold, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!

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Daniel 12:2

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,

Some to everlasting life,

Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

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