Theological Thursday

LIFE-GIVING POWER

"If God can really overcome death and raise someone to life, surely is God not also able to strengthen, heal, or provide for us in times of trouble? Furthermore, "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 through his Spirit, who lives in you" (Romans 8:11). The question it seems then is whether we believe that this same life-giving power can be at work within us or whether we've resigned ourselves to "This is just the way it is."  Danielle DuRant, Slice of Infinity

ABSOLUTE LIMITS

"God isn't out to spoil our fun; He knows that life without limits results in anarchy & misery. It's only when we have absolute limits that we can be truly free to enjoy the best life has to offer."  Tom Landry, Men's Devotional Bible

DEATH

"Thank God our Easter hope sets us free from all fears of death. For believers, our death will simply be a falling asleep in anticipation of our awakening o the Lat Day. Indeed, the word 'cemetery' is a Greek word meaning 'a sleeping place.' Jesus is the 'firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep' (1 Cor. 15:20) . . . Our last enemy, death, has lost its sting. It no longer holds terrors for the believer. We now have the victory that overcomes the world--our faith (1 John 5:4). What an inspiration for all of us to follow Paul's example (1 Cor. 15:10) & 'be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord [our] labor is not in vain' (1 Cor. 15:58)".  Gregory Lockwood, The Lutheran Witness, April 2020