Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

—1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We have victory, ultimate victory over death. If we don't have the answer for life's biggest test, death, then we have no lasting victory, ever. The Super Bowl and World Series are played every year. A champion is a victor for only one year and has to earn it again and again by competing and finishing the season in triumph. But a Christian is a champion forever. Because of Jesus, each true disciple of Christ Jesus has lasting victory over death. Yes, "thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

My Prayer...

Thank you, God, for blessing us with lasting victory in Jesus Christ. In our daily struggles with sin, please make your will triumphantly present in us now, just as it will be when he raises us from death and brings us home to you. Through our Triumphant King, we offer you our praise. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Christ has indeed been raised, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

—1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Being eternal is nothing new; in the beginning, God made us to live forever in fellowship with him. Being like Jesus (1 John 3:1-3) completely, eternally, will be new, however, when we're raised from the dead. When Jesus' lifeless body was placed in the ground, our lives with God forever in glory hung in the balance with him. Praise God. The Spirit of God revived Jesus from his death sleep. Jesus' resurrection also ensures our own, because our lives are hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4), that death can no longer claim us. The only death that really matters for us is dying to our sin, through faith in baptism with Jesus (Romans 6:4). If we have shared in that death, we will most certainly share in his resurrection (Romans 6:5). Jesus was "the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." This means that because God raised Jesus from the dead, we too can be confident that we "will be made alive" in Christ and live with him forever. His resurrection forever guarantees our own (Romans 8:11). Praise God, indeed!

My Prayer...

Almighty and graciously powerful God, I praise you. I praise you today because of your grace given to me through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. I know I will see you face-to-face and share in your glory. Help me now to live that resurrected life before others, as the Holy Spirit transforms me each day into greater and glorious likeness to Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). In whose name I pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - Romans 10:9-10

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

—Romans 10:9-10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Imagine Jesus being proud of you! He said if we confess him before others here on earth, he will speak up for us in heaven and claim us as his own (Matthew 10:32). Not only that, because we have confessed Jesus as our Savior and LORD, Jesus presents us to God as "holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." Confessing Jesus as our LORD is acknowledging the truth, the reality of Jesus' true identity that every person will acknowledge one day. Our confession is the anticipation of what is to come when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess Jesus as LORD to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

My Prayer...

Mighty God, your Son is our LORD and Savior. We love him and praise him for his redeeming sacrifice. We thank him for his conquest over death and the grave. We marvel at his sacrificial and triumphant grace. Jesus is LORD. We know those words sound sweet in your ears, O God, so we confess the truth again: Jesus is LORD! O Father, thank you for being so great that you would be so sacrificial in sharing your grace and glory of the Son with us. In the name of our LORD and Savior, Jesus the Carpenter and our King, we offer our deepest thanks and praise. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.