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12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15 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. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. (1 Corinthians 15:12-20 New Revised Standard Version)
Happy Tuesday, ConCafe Family! Be a blessing to the unblessed today, Dear Friend. I heard that Baby Hudson has moved to Houston for care there, and so far, no change. We call on the Lord Almighty to rain down grace upon that baby boy and bring him to full health, in the Name of Jesus. Who's with me? Join me in praying for that precious blessing. Pray for one another. Pray for your needs. Pray for the world.
There's always at least one. I've been that one. Maybe you have as well. You sit in the lecture, take notes, and you find yourself not quite either understanding or accepting of the material. And you also have them in church. Maybe sitting right next to you! Or, behind you; or the last one in the last row. The sermon is preached, and it's on life after death, and that one person doesn't quite buy it. And she tells her best friend, and he agrees. "The idea of living on just doesn't make sense! How could that be scientifically possible?" Such was the problem with Pastor Paul and his congregation in Corinth. His main message and now a group of "believers" was questioning the resurrection of Jesus and everyone else. Paul states plainly, "If we can't believe in the resurrection of the dead, then we can't believe that Jesus was Himself raised from the dead, and that makes our message a vain message, and then our faith has been in vain as well." And Paul stresses that that even makes the entire faith in vain. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Church. And further, it is the foundation of those whose loved ones who have died, that they are still alive in Jesus and in Heaven with them.
Friends, it is normal to have doubts, but doubts should be only stops on our journey of faith, not the final destination. For our faith, as that of the Apostle Paul, speaks of a life beyond life in Christ Jesus. Paul had a face-to-faith encounter with Jesus and found In Him the faith and power he needed to live out his life's mission as the first world evangelist. We stand on the faith that says that there is life beyond death. We affirm every Sunday and even every time we think of any of the creeds of the Church that Jesus rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God. Paul could not wait to die. He knew he loved life and the work to which he was called, but he said, To live is Christ, to die is gain; meaning that he longed to be with Jesus, but while alive it meant more opportunities to share Him and His message; and when he died it would gain the life where he would live eternally with Jesus. Where do you stand, dear one?
PRAYER: Loving Author of Life, grant to us the faith of Paul. As we journey throough peaks and valleys, lift us when we need, and guide us to stronger faith. Bless those who mourn during these days, and help them be lifted in the faith that says that those who die in You never truly die. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Bless those who need to hear about your faith in Jesus today!
Receive my blessings of joy and faith,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
