Devotion for 4/6/22 “Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?” 7 Minutes

2 Timothy 1:10

Good evening everyone watching by video this evening,,, it's time for our weekly devotion,,, as we continue our walk with God this week. I'm praying that all of you are having a wonderful week so far. As I've said the last several weeks,,, we need to continue to remember those that are dealing with this virus. Those that are sick,,, since there are many others dealing with this sickness as it continues to grow and,,, those that have lost loved ones,,, we need to continue to remember them as well. Remember the medical teams that are dealing with this and any others that must work and take a chance of contacting this virus. Also,,, continue to remember those on our prayer list,,, and our country and it’s leaders. --------------- Our devotion this evening comes from Billy Graham's "Wisdom for Each Day". Our scripture will be 2 Timothy 1:10 and I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. 2 Timothy 1:10 (HCSB) 10 This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this evening. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this evening,,, with all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. --------------- When Jesus Christ came to earth,,, He publicly proclaimed the good news of salvation.

He taught men that He must die,,, be buried,,, and rise from the dead in order that God might righteously save ungodly sinners.

He abolished death.

But how can this be,,, when we know that death is still very common in the world?

According to my Believer’s Bible Commentary,,, “The thought is that He annulled death,,, or put it out of commission”.

Before Christ’s resurrection,,, death ruled as a cruel tyrant over men.

It was a dreaded foe.

The fear of death held men in bondage.

But the resurrection of the Lord Jesus is a pledge that all who trust in Him will rise from the dead to die no more.

It is in this sense that He has annulled death.

He has robbed it of its sting.

Death is now the messenger of God which brings the soul of the believer to heaven.

It is our servant rather than our master.

Not only has Jesus annulled death,,, He has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

In the Old Testament period,,, most men had a very vague and misty idea of life after death.

They spoke of departed loved ones,,, as in “Sheol”,,, which simply means the invisible state of departed spirits.

Although they had a heavenly hope set before them,,, yet for the most part,,, they did not understand it clearly.

Since the coming of Christ,,, we have much greater light on this subject.

For instance, we know that when a believer dies, his spirit departs to be with Christ,,, which is far better.

He is absent from the body and at home with the Lord.

He enters into eternal life in all its fullness.

Christ has not only brought life to light, but also immortality.

Immortality refers to the resurrection of the body.

When we read in 1 Corinthians 15:53 that “this corruptible must put on incorruption,” we know that even though the body is placed in the grave and returns to dust,,, yet at the coming of Christ that same body will be raised from the grave and fashioned into a body of glory,,, similar to Jesus’ resurrected body.

The OT saints did not have this knowledge.

It was brought to us through the appearing of our Savior,,, Jesus Christ. --------------- Billy Graham titled this devotion,,, “Where, O Death, Is Your Victory?” Billy Graham said,,, Think about the holes children make when they dig in the sand on the seashore. When the waves come in,,, the holes are swallowed up by the ocean. In a similar way,,, when we know Christ,,, our physical death is overwhelmed by the love and grace of God. Death is swallowed up in the victory of Christ. Death is an incident,,, not an end. It is a transition for a Christian,,, not the end of a journey. In death we are freed from all that burdens us here. In 2 Corinthians 5:1 it says: "We lay aside the outward “tent” of our body, and we inherit “a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens”. Here our lives are filled with suffering and confusion. We experience pain and problems,,, and sometimes life seems to have no meaning or purpose. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ changed all that. It gives purpose and meaning to life,,, and life’s greatest joy comes from discovering His will and fulfilling it. His resurrection also gives us hope — hope right now,,, and,,, hope beyond the grave. May these truths encourage you this day! Graham, Billy. Wisdom for Each Day . Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------