Today’s scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Don Clark):
These verses come alive for me in The Message translation by Eugene Peterson. Smoke and mirrors . . . Paul was continuously arguing with the believers who were formerly Jews, some Pharisees and some Sadducees. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead; that’s why they are “Sad-you-see.” (Sorry, seminary humor.) Paul here was writing to encourage believers. He writes, “And face it — if there’s no resurrection for Christ, everything we’ve told you is smoke and mirrors, and everything you’ve staked your life on is smoke and mirrors.” I look for what is real in life. I hate stuff that is imitation. I really hate to hear falsehoods in the guise of Christianity. I want my faith to be real and have value, both here and in the hereafter.
Paul writes, “If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot.” My faith is not just something for motivation or to make me feel good. It’s more than a lifestyle of serving others or a moral code. I don’t live the Christian life just to be a good person. Our faith needs to be based on God’s real and eternal purpose for me and you!
Paul writes, “Everybody dies in Adam; everybody comes alive in Christ.” Bazinga! (Yes, it’s now a theological term!) We just experienced another Easter/Resurrection Sunday! We still proclaim, “Christ is risen; He is risen, indeed!” Yearly, weekly, daily, hourly, our faith is in the risen Christ! Paul says that the last enemy to be defeated by the risen Christ is death! Of all people on this globe, believers in Christ should be the most hopeful. The resurrection is the foundation for all the claims of Christianity! And our hope is based on that glorious event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Thought for the day: Your life and my life have value because of this living faith in a living, risen savior. Keep the faith alive!
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.