Give Up Death
Psalm 23:4
Wednesday , April 4th
God is with you . You are not hidden from his sight . He is near .
I probably have not told you anything new . I ' m sure you ' ve heard that before . I ' m also sure you have sometimes forgotten that God is with you . Sometimes I have .
Why ? Why do we forget ?
Maybe your fears led you to forget . Or maybe you were so busy that this just slipped your mind . But our forgetfulness doesn ' t change reality . The Lord is with you . Even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death , he is with you . Even if you don ' t feel it , he is with you .
That ' s true even in the face of death . It hurts so much to say goodbye to the people we love . Yet not even death can separate God from his people . Death loses some of its sting when we remember that God uses it to usher his flock into heaven . God will be with you , even when death stings .
Think about Lent . A lot of people gave up things for Lent . Maybe they gave up candy or coffee or some meat . Maybe they avoided a vice and temptation . If that is what you did , more power to you .
But don ’ t miss what God gives up for us . Jesus suffered to give up and end our prospect of suffering in hell . Death for you isn ’ t an unknown mystery . Death is the beginning of eternal life in paradise . You do not need to be afraid . Your Good Shepherd won ’ t leave your side , not even on your death bed .
Think about Easter . Jesus conquered death . He destroyed death ’ s domain , he simply left his tomb alive . You will live , just like Jesus lives . You will rise , just like Jesus rose . Your body will be glorified , just as Jesus ’ body is glorified . Give up death . Death isn ’ t your end . You won ’ t have an end . Your Good Shepherd is with you now and forever .
Prayer : Heavenly Father , thank you for sending Jesus to rescue me from sin and death . Remind me of your promises when I am discouraged . Give me a hunger for your Word and keep my faith fed until it is time for me to go to my heavenly home . Through Jesus Christ , my Lord . Amen .
Activity : Jesus is our Good Shepherd . Using the internet or an encyclopedia , figure out why this is such a beautiful picture of our relationship with God . How do shepherds deliver their sheep from death ? How do sheep know who their shepherd is ? How do shepherd provide for the needs of their sheep ? Lastly , how is Jesus your Good Shepherd ?
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