Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (KJV)
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
Discussion
There are days when the world feels like it's unraveling. Wars, corruption, and increasing evil can leave our hearts feeling unsettled and afraid.
Paul wrote to believers in Thessalonica who may have felt similarly — they were grieving loved ones who had died (possibly from persecution) before Christ's return, uncertain whether those believers would share in that glorious day. Paul's answer was not vague comfort; it was doctrine: The Lord would bring them with Him.
Because Jesus rose from the dead, everyone who has died trusting in Him will physically rise as well (1 Cor. 15:20–22). After, those who remain will be "caught up" together with them to meet the Lord in the air (v. 17) — and it happens instantly (1 Cor. 15:52).
From this passage we learn that neither the living nor the dead in Christ are left behind. This is why sharing the Gospel with those we love matters. The comfort Paul describes belongs only to those who are in Christ.
So, when the headlines press in, we can anchor our hearts to this: Christ is coming back one day, and we will be with Him forever.
Prayer
Dear LORD, thank You for the living hope we have in Christ's return. Forgive us when we lose sight of it, getting entangled with the things of this world. Keep our hearts from fear, and grant us opportunities to boldly share the hope of Christ with those still without it. And help us be faithful in holy readiness as we watch and wait. In Jesus' name.
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By JerryS on March 13, 2025 in collaboration with Claude (Anthropic): prompted, revised, edited, organized, and formatted by JerryS. For devotional purposes only. All Bible references are from the King James Bible unless otherwise noted.
