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Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. (1 Corinthians 15: 12-20)
May this be a Tremendous Tuesday for you, dear Friend! The sun set last night on yesterday's worries and when it peaks through this morning it will be on the new day before you! Make the most of it!
The late humorist Will Rogers used to say, "I love colleges and universities, because they take our young right when they're asking all the tough questions." And he was right, though I think nowadays, with tiny heads buried in tiny screens some tough questions are already coming their way. Chief among the questions that our young will ask, especially those not exposed to a praying, worshiping family; is God real? They have looked carefully at their parents and have decided whether mom and dad truly believe in God; if there was any doubt, they will more than likely go the doubter's way. And many an adult when faced with tough situations such as the loss of a parent, spouse, child, may also wonder and question whether God is real or not. Imagine the job of Paul. He knew God to be real, he always did; though he was on the Jewish side and the persecuting side at that; but when he met Christ in a real face-to-face encounter, he came to know Him as Lord and Savior and his faith deepened. And off he went preaching and sharing Jesus with whomever would listen. And many were quick to listen, as Jesus had foretold in the parable of the sower; but when persecution came against Christians, many fell away and questioned every part of Paul's message. It's hard to believe in resurrection at the grave of a loved one. But that is precisely where the believer should be energized with faith! Paul wrote this passage to the doubters and questioners. "How can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is not resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain."
The bedrock of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus. The Apostle some years after the actual event, had that encounter with Jesus. Jesus knew Paul by name and even changed it from Saul to Paul. He spent three days instructing him on the faith and all he was to do and even suffer and die; and still Paul said yes. Just yesterday I was talking about one of the professors I had in seminary who boldly told us that the objective eye of a camera would not have captured the resurrection of Jesus because it was a "faith event," and not an actual occurrence. I dropped my pen and stopped taking notes. I listened, but I also prayed. He was sharing something that went against the core of my faith. I, like Paul, truly and really believe that Jesus rose from the dead, and no one can convince me otherwise. A faith event does not count except to say it's pretty close to mass hysteria. A real bodily resurrection counts. It builds up and strengthens the Body of Christ. We the believers are not to be pitied; we are a people blessed with the bedrock of a living faith that will see us through all trials and challenges here and one day lead us to the side of those who went before in death.
Dear friend, may our prayer be today that our faith be made stronger, and that we live a bold life strengthening the faith of the little ones around us. And the big ones, too!
PRAYER: Lord, count me among the bold, not the pitied. Count me among those who believe and who share that faith with others. Grant me opportunities to share with others as You share with me the words to bless and build up. My faith is not in vain, but in truth. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Bless someone today with a word of truth and hope!
Eradio Valverde
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