Day 27 of 365
HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION
The death of a child is a terribly tragic experience. Indeed, anytime a loved one or a close friend dies, deep anguish follows - as is the case here with the death of David's son. In the midst of sorrow associated with death, Christians have complete confidence to believe they will be reunited with a deceased loved one. The story of the death of David's son suggests that David believed he and his child would be reunited. David said, "I will go to him, but he will not return to me." Christian believers can hold to the same hope that Old Testament believers understood faintly - that death is inevitable, but God's people will have life after death. Jesus said: "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" (Jn 11:25 - 26). Jesus' words were not empty but rather were validated through his own resurrection. Truly, Jesus has power over death - the greatest and most feared inevitability in the human experience - and has promised to apply that power to his followers (1Pe 1:3 - 7).
Jesus, I thank you and praise you that the end of this life is not the end. Help me to remember when I am grieving that death is nothing, thanks to you. Amen.
2 Samuel 12:15-23 NASB
15 So Nathan went to his house.
Loss of a Child
Then the L ord struck the child that Uriah's widow bore to David, so that he was very sick. 16 David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground. 17The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them. 18 Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm!" 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." 20 So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the L ord and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate.
21 Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food."
This chapter has 9 verses
1 Peter 1:3-7 NASB
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
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