“If we have been united with him [Jesus Christ] like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.”1
“There’s an old story about a small boy who was walking along the street with his parents during the Second World War. They saw a house with a gold star hanging in the window. ‘What does that mean?’ asked the boy. His parents told him that it meant that that family had lost a son in the war, and that star symbolized their loss. Later on that evening, as the boy saw the first star come out in the summer sky, the boy excitedly exclaimed, ‘Look! God lost a son, too!’”2
Regardless of the time of year may we ever be mindful of the “so great a salvation” God provided for us through the giving of his Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for all our sins and, through his resurrection, to give us the guarantee that we, too, will arise and be given the gift of eternal life—that is, life after this life—through Jesus Christ our Lord. This is God’s promise to all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and therein have received God’s forgiveness for all their sins*
Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you not only gave your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in my place, but also that he rose again giving me the hope and guarantee of the resurrection for all who believe in you and have accepted Jesus as their Savior. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
*To be sure you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and received God’s forgiveness see the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.
1. Romans 6:5 (NIV).
2. “The Grief of God,” A sermon by Donald B. Strobe, of East Lansing, Michigan
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