Seeking the Life in Christ: October 2025

Thursday, October 23, 2025

You Don’t Love Me

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 23, 2025

You Don’t Love Me

“But I have this complaint against you.

You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

Revelation 2:4

The verses quoted below, when the Apostle Paul met with the disciples from Ephesus, are a compelling vision of the Godly love for one another that Jesus prayed for the church in John 17.

“When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship”. (Acts 20:36-38)

However, the love so deeply held among the disciples in Ephesus was almost totally lost. Revelation 2:4, quoted above, is when the church in Ephesus is next mentioned in the Bible. Here Jesus rebukes them, “Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.” (Revelation 2:5) The situation in Ephesus reminds me of the fable, "The frog in the kettle.” The analogy illustrates that a frog placed directly in boiling water would jump out, but one placed in cool water that is slowly heated would not perceive the threat until it's too late and is then boiled to death. This fable warns against complacency.

The Apostle Paul implores Timothy, and us, to “guard what God has entrusted to you.” (1 Timothy 6:20) I believe it is vitally important for us to know what we believe, and to pray and live what we believe. One of the enduring gifts of the ancient confessions and liturgies of the Christian church, is that they can keep us grounded in the truth of God in Christ Jesus. Paul modeled what it looks like to have our lives hidden in Christ and where we live, move and have our being in Him. Seeking the life in Christ as our way of life is a 24/7 endeavor and requires constant vigilance so that we can strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. Then we can run with endurance the race God has set before us as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. (See Hebrews 12:1-2)

My Takeaway: Will you pray with me? “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen” (Collect for Purity, BCP)

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life. The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Why Do We Worship God?

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 22, 2025

Why Do We Worship God?

I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart;

I will sing your praises before the gods.

I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.

I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;

for your promises are backed

by all the honor of your name.

Psalm 138:1-2

Psalm 138 addresses the question, why do we worship God? by focusing on two virtues of God: His Word and the fulfillment of His purpose.

Every church has an underlying theme that permeates their public worship services. For some churches, the theme centers on the act of worship, whether joyful and full of energy, or thoughtful and steeped in the traditions and harmonies of ages past. Others may focus on summoning the Army of the Lord to overcome the evils of society through ministries of peace and justice, while others will seek to rightly divide the Word of God through preaching and teaching the Bible.

Many in the congregations specifically chose their church because of the attraction of the theme, while many others may gather out of habit, and may not be consciously aware of the worship theme. Psalm 138 can serve as an invitation to examine our heart. How do we understand our experience of God? How does our understanding of God’s nature lead us in worship? If you feel uncertain in answering these questions, I encourage you to turn to the magnificent 40^th chapter of Isaiah. Read the chapter aloud, purposefully. I am convinced your heart will resonate in awe of God, our Savior.

A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms,

Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name;

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40: 3,8,11,26,28,31 (NRSV)

My Takeaway: You may recall, one of my life verses is from Hebrews 12: 28, “. . . worship with reverence and awe,” so it is not surprising as I read these verses from Isaiah 40 aloud, and purposefully, my heart resonated in awe of God, our Savior.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Do Something

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 21, 2025

Do Something

I will show you my faith by my good deeds.

Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

Just as the body is dead without breath,

so also faith is dead without good works.

James 2:18,20,26

The Epistle of James is attributed to James, traditionally recognized as a prominent leader in the early Christian Church and the brother of Jesus. He surely did not sugarcoat his counsel. As harsh, and to the point, as his teachings are, he is not encouraging us to earn our right standing with God by our good deeds. He is showing us how acting on our faith will help us remain in God’s grace for each day.

Cheryl and I often include this Collect for Guidance in our morning prayers:

Heavenly God, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This prayer is asking the Holy Spirit to help us stay in God’s grace for the day and thus fulfill God’s purpose for us each day. The good deeds in James’ imperative do not require rocket science to accomplish. Our work for the Lord can include writing a letter, asking for forgiveness, intercessory prayer for someone, adding extra food for a food bank to our shopping cart.

My Takeaway: Today I will do something that demonstrates my faith in Christ. Will you join me?

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, October 20, 2025

Your Name

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 20, 2025

Your Name

“. . . rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Luke 10:20b (NRSV)

Your name is important. It is important to you, and to God. I was named for a 17^th Century relative who was an educator and Methodist preacher. In elementary school, I received a good bit of teasing for my name and for a few months pondered changing my name. I’m glad I didn’t; the older I become, the more important my heritage becomes to me.

I can remember walking out of a very crowded stadium and getting separated from my group; then I heard my daughter call me by my first name. I stopped and turned around. There is something about hearing our named called. I had a similar experience with my wife recently. We were sailing on a Tall Ship excursion in Halifax harbor. I was standing near the wheelhouse taking a picture of the sails unfurling with the wind. The captain offered to take a photo of me, and I wanted Cheryl to join me, but with the noise and ship’s movement I couldn’t get her attention. Then I called her name, and she turned towards me. (We got a great photo!)

Our names are so important to God, He has recorded them in heaven. Our names are so important to God, that in the moment we embraced Jesus as our Savior, heaven’s sky lit up like Boston Harbor on the 4^th of July.

My Takeaway: Let’s purpose in our heart to sit quietly before the Lord and listen for Him calling our name. Let’s also purpose in our life to rejoice here, as much as heaven’s rejoicing, when we learn of a person giving their heart to Jesus.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, October 17, 2025

The One Who Stands by Us

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 17, 2025

The One Who Stands by Us

Jesus wept.

John 11:35 (KJV)

The story of Lazarus’ death and resurrection is recorded in John 11:1-44. The full context of this story makes clear Jesus fully knew what had happened to his friend Lazarus, and more importantly, what he was going to do. This story is hugely important to us for affirming that resurrection is not an event, it is a person: “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (John 11:25) If Jesus knew he was going to command Lazarus to live again, why did he weep?

The Prophet Isaiah answers this question for us:

“For the Lord has comforted his people

and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

Can a mother forget her nursing child?

Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?

But even if that were possible,

I would not forget you!

See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

Isaiah 49:13-16

This passage from Isaiah, and ten thousand more, is why the Apostle Paul could affirm that we do not grieve like people who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13) Our hope is both in the eternal life of the followers of Jesus, and on the One who stands by us as those we have loved are lowered into the grave.

My Takeaway: Paul also wrote, “All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” (1 Corinthians 13:12b) I take great comfort knowing that God knows me completely, and that He stands by me. This truth helps me stay in God’s grace for today.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Christ, the Eternal Word

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 16, 2025

Christ, the Eternal Word

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

John 1:1 (NRSV)

The Gospel of John presents the words and actions of Jesus and includes an interpretative meaning or theological significance of all that Jesus did and spoke. John is very clear about why he wrote the gospel: “that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name” (John 20:30).

John’s Gospel is almost evenly divided. The first eleven chapters include a series of six signs that are written so “that you may continue to believe.” Chapters 12 - 21 present Jesus’ last days in Jerusalem, concluding in the seventh sign: the crucifixion and resurrection of The Messiah.

John begins his gospel with the same words the writer of the Book of Genesis used: “In the beginning.” John then describes the creative energy that God used to form the universe as God’s Word. For John, Word is not just words like we read in a book or hear a person speak. Word is the very essence of God. John tells us Jesus is God’s Word. He then concludes the opening passage by telling us that Jesus is God, and that Jesus has revealed God to us. John calls us to jump into the deep end of the theological pool in the very first passage.

The crowning achievement of the creation story in Genesis is God’s creation of humankind. As John opens his Gospel, he tells us God’s crowning achievement continues to be His care and love for His people. John writes that when we believe in Jesus, we are given the right to become children of God. We are reborn with a birth that comes from God. “From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another” (John 1:16).

My Takeaway: We have received grace upon grace! Yes, and Amen. And it is our heart’s desire to stay in this grace upon grace each day.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

My Refuge

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 15, 2025

My Refuge

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.

“Be still, and know that I am God!”

Psalm 46:1, 10a

Where is your refuge? I know today’s text affirms God is our refuge. I am asking, “where is your refuge as a particular location, your safe place?” I have two: my home and my church. They both have spaces used for different purposes, and I am blessed to know I am safe, secure, and loved in those spaces. Knowing my home as a refuge was especially realized by me after Cheryl and I took a long trip. We were away from our home, and church, for seventeen days. At the end of our trip, we both longed to be in our safe places where we are secure and where we especially experience God as our refuge and strength.

The Apostle John wrote, “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) Because God is Spirit, God is with me 24/7, no matter where I may be. Yes, and amen. Even so, the familiarity of surroundings I know as my safe places is a blessing. In my home, I have a place to sleep, a place to prepare and consume food, a place to study and work, a place to welcome guests, and a place to relax. In my church, I have a place for worship and participation in the sacrament, a place for fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, and a place for study. In all these places, I know I am loved and accepted and valued.

My Takeaway: I wrote a few days ago about God’s heart, our home. (Psalm 91) My safe places here inspire be to become more comfortable with God as my true home. In God’s home for me, I receive his loving words of acceptance and His joy in calling me His own.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Grace

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 14, 2025

Grace

Because of his grace he made us right in his sight

and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Titus 3:7

Today’s text reminded me of a sermon by Pastor Alistair Begg, of Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. In this sermon, The Power and Message of The Cross, Begg asked what happened when the thief on the cross next to Jesus arrived in heaven. Begg suggests the thief might have been asked many questions seeking to establish why he should be admitted to heaven, and for which he had no answers, except to say,

“The guy on the middle cross said I could come.”

Hallelujah and amen! When all is said and done, this is the exact statement all the saints before me, like the Apostle Paul, or John Wesley, or Billy Graham made. And it is the exact statement I can make when my time comes. This is contrary to almost everything in our performance-based acceptance culture. Even so, we are called by God to get our right standing with Him settled; I have been made right by God not because of my faith, but because of the faith of Jesus. It is never about what I have done or refrained from doing. It is all about what Jesus did for me, because I am 100% incapable of saving myself.

My Takeaway: Any service, any sacrifice I’ve made for God, pales in comparison to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Like the thief on the cross next to Jesus, all I can pray is, “Jesus, remember me.” And, like the thief on the cross next to Jesus, I’ll hear Jesus respond, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Why? Because Jesus’ grace is sufficient for today, and every day!!

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, October 13, 2025

Lord, I Am Coming

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 13, 2025

Lord, I Am Coming

“My heart has heard you say,

“Come and talk with me.”

And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming”

Psalm 27:8

In reading Psalm 27, I am reminded of one of the qualities I admire in the Apostle Paul, his single-minded purpose. He told the Athenians, “In (God) we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28 NRSV), and he summarized his ministry in Corinth as, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). His devotion to Christ sustained him through very difficult times.

The psalmist David expresses a similar single-minded devotion to God in Psalm 27. His prose, as in verse 4, expresses his heart’s one desire: “The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

Some scholars have suggested this psalm may have originally been two psalms because of the shift in tense at verse seven. In the first six verses, the psalmist speaks about God, and in verse seven he begins speaking to God. I think this shift is intentional and expresses an excellent pattern for prayer. In the first portion of the prayer, the psalmist rehearses his personal convictions, his personal core values. Having thus established a firm foundation for his life, he then makes his petitions to God. We too can formulate our own prayer using this pattern. First, my life is not my own, my life belongs to God. Then our petitions.

My Takeaway: I believe one of the greatest lines in all of scripture is verse 8,

“My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”

And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

I believe the Lord desires all his children to hear Him say, “Come and talk with me.” And it is the desire of God’s heart to hear us respond, “Lord, I am coming.”

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, October 10, 2025

Waiting Forwardly

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 10, 2025

Waiting Forwardly

But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

2 Peter 3:13

I have the song, “Come Jesus Come” by CeCe Winans, in my music library, and recently, I’ve been playing it often. The last few months have contained so many tragedies, it is only natural to long for that time when our past will be washed by rivers of grace as God heals every hurt and rights every wrong. In my longing for Jesus’ promised coming again, I don’t ever want to lose sight that while I am waiting for these things to happen, I make every effort to be found living a peaceful life that is pure and blameless in his sight. (2 Peter 3:14)

Max Lucado, in his Book, When Christ Comes, uses the phrase, Waiting Forwardly, to describe the imperative of Saint Peter in verse 14. As we are called to keep one eye on the heavens in anticipation of Christ’s triumphant return, we are also called to keep one eye on our present environment. Peter notes in the following verse (15) that God’s patience in setting the time of Christ’s return “gives people time to be saved.” As we are comforted to know God is using this time to reach the unsaved, let us also remember the teaching of Saint Paul:

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? (Romans 10:13-14)

My Takeaway: I am remembering the Biblical imperative; “let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” (Psalm 107) May this imperative guide me as I seek to wait forwardly for the Lord’s return.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, October 9, 2025

A Home for Your Heart

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 9, 2025

A Home for Your Heart

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

Many years ago, I was blessed to read, My Heart―Christ's Home by Robert Boyd Munger. God used this little book (32 pages) to draw me closer to the intimacy He desired for me to experience in our relationship. A similar book, God’s heart, My Home, could also be written as it would surely capture the point of Psalm 91.

Saint Augustine of Hippo in his book, The Confessions, noted our place of rest in God: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."

Jesus first promised this:

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

“Let your bearing for one another arise out of your life in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5, The New English Bible, 1961) This verse is my inspiration for my life’s mission to make the life in Christ my way of life. This verse also points to the truth of Psalm 91. My life in Christ is not only my way of life, but my life in Christ is also my life. My life in Christ is the home for my heart; therefore, as I live in the shelter of the Most High, I find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

My Takeaway: My goal is to take the platitudes of this last paragraph and make them the actual reality in my life, I want this prose to become the tangible reality of my life. This reality will make firm in my life the assurance of Saint Paul, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31b)

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Praise to God

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 8, 2025

Praise to God

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

Hebrews 13:15

Every time the author of Hebrews contemplates the wonders of our God, he is called to worship and praise. (See the end of Chapter 12) Today, as we contemplate the call to continual praise as we proclaim our allegiance to God, let’s formulate our own psalm of praise. I invite you to fill in the blanks with words from your own personal experience as a follower of Jesus:

You are a . . . . . God. God’s character is . . . . .

God’s truth is . . . . . God’s strength is . . . . .

God’s discipline is . . . . God’s provisions are . . . . . for my needs.

God’s light is . . . . . . for my path. God’s grace is . . . . . for my sins.

God’s plan for my life is . . . . . .

(It is OK if you are thinking of Bewildering, Puzzling, or Troubling)

Spiritual exercises like this help us personalize our understanding of God in our life. Of course, we all are tempted to search for what we think is the expected answer – but for now my only hope is that you will express your understanding, your personal experience as a follower of Jesus.

My Takeaway: It has been my experience, the more I am consciously aware that I am a friend of God, that God is for me, that I am blessed to live in the F O G, the favor of God, the more sincere my prayer: My life is not my own, my life belongs to God, by creation and redemption my life belongs to God.

(Fill in the blanks adapted from, Max Lucado - Safe in the Shepherd's Arms - Hope & Encouragement from Psalm 23)

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Carpe Diem

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

October 7, 2025

Carpe Diem

What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle;

they are the new people of God

Galatians 6:15b-16

A handwritten note to Michelangelo's apprentice was discovered in his studio after his death. In the script of an old man, the note said, “Draw, Antonio, draw, and do not waste time.” Or, we could say, Antonio, Carpe Diem!

Yesterday, I mentioned our juggling to keep one eye focused on our new life in Christ, and the other on our life in the heavenly presence of Christ. This is not an either / or choice, but a both / and. In a few verses before those quoted above, Paul noted that the most important aspect of his life was the cross of Jesus Christ, and because of that cross, his interest in the world has been crucified. Paul burned his bridges, and his entire focus was on proclaiming the glory of Christ, each day. This is how Paul understood his life as a new creation in Christ.

The focus of our lives, as new creatures in Christ, may be different than Paul’s. But I believe God’s will for the intensity of our living out our new life in Christ, of our Carpe Diem, seizing each day, is the same as Paul: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

My Takeaway: Those of us in our retirement years may be prone to think our best contributions are behind us. I don’t believe God agrees with that assessment. Michelangelo's advice to his apprentice is good advice for us: Be about the business of the Kingdom of God. Do not waste time.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, October 6, 2025

The Presence of Jesus

Meditations on

Staying In the Grace for Today

The Presence of Jesus

October 6, 2025

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Philippians 1:21

Since the earliest days of the Christian Church, two questions have concerned every generation of believers: When will Jesus return, and what happens when we die? Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he made it clear the answer to the first question is above our paygrade. The Bible is relatively quiet about the ‘afterlife’. Even though the classical affirmations of faith affirm our belief in the resurrection of our body, there is surprising little detail in the Bible about how and when this will come about. Even though the Bible does not shout, but rather whispers about this issue, its whisper is none the less authoritative. Fear not!

The Apostle Paul models this authoritative whisper in Philippians 1:21-24. He is not afraid of dying because he knows that in that state, whatever it may be, he will be in the presence of Jesus. Paul wrote extensively about our new life in Christ. For Paul, the presence of Christ in his life was the source of his life: “For in him we live and move and exist.” (Acts 17:28) But as he so eloquently noted in 2 Corinthians 4, we experience the presence of Christ in our lives in our earthen vessels, or clay pots. As real as is the presence of Christ within us, so also is the reality of our fallen nature. When we die, we will shed our fallen nature and thus Paul says, “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”

My Takeaway: Staying in God’s grace for today can be a bit of a juggling act as we hold dear both truths put forth by Paul, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, October 23, 2025

You Don’t Love Me

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Why Do We Worship God?

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Do Something

Monday, October 20, 2025

Your Name

Friday, October 17, 2025

The One Who Stands by Us

Thursday, October 16, 2025

Christ, the Eternal Word

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

My Refuge

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Grace

Monday, October 13, 2025

Lord, I Am Coming

Friday, October 10, 2025

Waiting Forwardly

Thursday, October 9, 2025

A Home for Your Heart

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Praise to God

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Carpe Diem

Monday, October 6, 2025

The Presence of Jesus

Seeking the Life in Christ

About Me

Blog Archive

Followers

First Think - Then Pray

Books I Am Reading

Recent Books I Have Enjoyed