The Gift of God

April 5, 2020

John 11:25 (NIV)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die…”

Psalm 21:4 (NIV)

He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, for ever and ever.

1 John 5:11-13 (NIV)

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Devotion

With all that is going on in the world with the coronavirus, many people are coming to terms with their own mortality. For many today, it’s a real issue to have some certainty about the reality of eternal life. So how can we settle this issue for sure? Easter offers us the certainty of IMMORTALITY! Because Jesus lives, we can be certain that we will spend eternity with Him. It is very comforting to know that I have eternal life. Jesus extends His offer of salvation to everyone. I may or may not die from COVID-19…but I guarantee you this: I will die from something. But I am so thankful for these words, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Thanks be to God who gives us the victory (over sin and death) through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

God provides the power to do things you alone could not do. He provides the strength to overcome things you alone could not overcome. He provides the strength to endure things you alone could not endure. Easter offers us Christ’s resurrection power in this world to change things that we alone could not change. God’s strength is available to all those who will put their trust in the risen Savior.

Questions to Ponder

Do you know for certain that you have eternal life? How does the reality of eternal life impact how you live your life? How does the certainty of eternal life impact how you view and engage the current health crisis in our world?

Prayer

  • Pray for comfort and peace for those who are mourning the recent loss of a loved one. Pray we will mourn with those who mourn but with a deep abiding peace in Him.
  • Pray for hearts and eyes to be fixed on the Lord and on eternity.
  • Pray for the Word of the Lord to spread swiftly. Pray the Global Church will give testimony daily how God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son, Jesus Christ. We take comfort in the fact that whoever believes in the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, will have eternal life.
Suggested prayer:
Sovereign God, I praise You that this world is not my home. I praise You that this life is but a “dot” compared to all of eternity. Thank You Lord that my citizenship is in heaven and although things around me are falling apart, You are not. You are steady, sure, and my firm foundation. Thank You that You conquered the grave, defeated death, rose again, and eternal life is in You. Thank You that I too have eternal life because of You. This gives me a peace that surpasses all understanding and joy in the midst of the trial. God direct my heart into Your love and Christ’s perseverance. I ask in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.