March 11 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep" (1 Thess. 4:14).

Devotional

When the Son of God descends, and, dissolving the soft slumbers of the redeemed dead, reunites each body with its soul—will it add nothing to the glory of that event that then we will perfectly recognize those whom we knew and loved? Will it add nothing to the happiness of that moment that we shall renew the sweet communion, which before was imperfect and limited, but now is complete and eternal?

Dry your tears then, and be comforted, dear saints of God. They are "not lost, but gone before." Their spirits live with Jesus. And when he comes, he will bring them with him, and you will see and know them with a clear sight and a perfect knowledge. The very eyes that once smiled upon you so kindly; the very tongue that spoke to you so comfortingly; the very hands that served you so skillfully; the very feet that traveled with you so faithfully; the very bosom that pillowed you so tenderly—you will meet again. The coming of our Lord draws near, and "through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." Let us "encourage one another with these words" (1 Thess. 4:18)

And will it not be additional joy to meet and to know those eminent servants of the Lord whose histories and whose writings stimulated, instructed, and cheered you, shedding light and gladness on your way? Abraham, whose faith had animated you; David, whose psalms had comforted you; Isaiah, whose visions of Jesus had gladdened you; Paul, whose doctrinal epistles had instructed you; John, whose letters of love had subdued you. To gaze upon the "Magdalene" sitting at Jesus' feet; upon the "beggar" resting in Abraham's bosom; upon the "thief" with Christ in Paradise. Oh! Will this not add to the happiness of heaven? Will this not be joy, bliss, glory? Surely it will!

At Christ's coming, will not his ministers, too, and those to whom their labors had been useful, meet, know, and rejoice in each other? The pastor and the flock—will there be no certain and permanent reunion? No sweet, and fond, and holy recognition? Shall their union in the church below surpass their reunion in the church above in its beauty and sweetness? Here it is necessarily mingled with much that is imperfect. Much concealment is connected with their united labors in the vineyard of Christ. They go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, and often are called to their rest before the fruit of their prayers and tears and toil appears. Here, too, seasons of sickness and of separation frequently take place, cloaking the spirit with gloom, and wringing the heart with anguish. And then, at last, death itself rudely breaks the tender bond and lays the standard bearer low—it leaves the affectionate flock to gaze with weeping eyes as the spirit of their pastor flies away to glory. But the coming of Jesus with all his saints will restore this happy union, invest it with new and richer glory, and place it upon a permanent—yes, everlasting—basis. "For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy" (1 Thess. 2:19–20).

Yes, beloved, we shall know each other again, changed and glorified though we may be.

Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love:
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one,
our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives
our courage by the way,
while each in expectation lives,
and longs to see the Day.

From sorrow, toil and pain—
and sin!—we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign
through all eternity.

(John Fawcett, 1782)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.