January 21 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 11:20-27:

²⁰Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
²¹Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
²²But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
²³Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
²⁴Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
²⁵Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
²⁶And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
²⁷She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Devotional

What a terrible thing death is! Death came into the world by reason of sin. "The wages of sin is death." Death passed upon all men; for that all have sinned. Death is an enemy, an enemy to feared. Who does not fear death as such? We read in the letter to the Hebrews of those in their natural state: "Who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." That is, they were in the power of sin and death and hell; and they could not deliver themselves. That is our condition in our natural state.

But thanks be to God, there is a Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who through death destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and delivered them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. He delivered them that they might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of their life, and be partakers with him and through him of eternal life. Paul writes, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Death is swallowed up in victory. Christ said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." He has it now. He is passed from death unto life. John says, "We know that we have passed from death unto life." The believer shall never die; he shall not even see death. But the unbeliever shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Prayer

O Lord God, increase our faith, so that we may believe with our whole heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; that He is the resurrection and the life, and that he that believeth in him, though he were dead, yet shall he live. May we realize that our death is not dying, but a going home to be forever with the Lord. We ask it for Christ's sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Rom. 6:23; 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:26; Heb. 2:15; 2:14, 15; Luke 1:75; Col. 3:4; 1 Cor. 15:54; John 6:37; 1 John 3:14; John 11:26; 8:51; 3:36.

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