We don’t grieve as those without hope

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13 NIV)

The longer you live, the more people you will have waiting for you in Heaven. So far, as I write this, I have lost parents, most aunts and uncles, some siblings and many dear friends. Losing someone through death is inevitable for everybody because death is ahead for all people. There are no exceptions. 

We aren’t without hope

The good news is that we as born again believers don’t have to grieve the same way others do because we have a sure hope because of what Jesus has done for us. 

Remember what Jesus said

“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22 ESV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1 ESV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Therefore…

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom. 15:13 ESV)

“… the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Rom. 8:18 ESV)

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39 ESV)

Mike Frenchbible promises, grieve with hope, hope, grieve
Godliness has value for all things!

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8 NIV)

This verse points out that physical training is of “some value.” It’s great to take care of your body, it’s the temple of the Holy Spirit. But, as hard as we try, we will not be able to keep our earthly bodies forever. We are all temporary here. But, “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

So, what exactly is godliness?

According to Strong’s Concordance, the word “godliness” is translated from the Greek word for “piety,” and is used in the New Testament fourteen times in the letters of Peter and Paul. While the expression also refers to the divinity of God, godliness in the Bible is mainly used to describe a positive way of life influenced by God.

We should aspire to live godly lives!

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.” (1 Tim. 6:6)

The word “godly” is defined as conforming to the laws and wishes of God

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-8)

Therefore…

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1 ESV)

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,” (2 Peter 3:11 ESV)

Mike Frenchbible promises, godliness
Do not fear, God will help you!

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13 NIV)

The late President, Ronald Reagan, once said jokingly, “Some of the scariest words ever spoken are, ‘I am from the government, and I’m here to help you!’”

Unfortunately, many feel the same way about God! He says, “I am the LORD … and I will help you.” And yet, they treat that statement with fear instead of with delight!

Why is this so? 

It’s because many don’t understand the true nature of God (love)! They picture Him wrong! They don’t understand that God loves them and really wants only the very best for them.

Understand this about God

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Therefore…

“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever, Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners.” (Psalm 146:5-7)

“So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:6)

Mike Frenchbible promises, fear, do not fear
Some will become followers of Jesus!

“When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, ‘We want to hear you again on this subject.’ At that, Paul left the Council. Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed.” (Acts 17:32-34)

Idols were everywhere!

The Apostle Paul was troubled by all the idols he saw around Athens when he visiting that city, so he spoke to them about who the real God is. He told them about Jesus, and when he got to the part about God raising Him from the dead, there were three distinct reactions.

  1. Some sneered.

  2. Others said, “we want to hear you again on this subject.”

  3. Some of them became followers.

This is typical when you share your faith with others. Some will sneer, some will be positive, but put it off, and some will believe. And, it’s worth it! God can and will change lives and it’s wonderful to be used by Him to reach others with the good news!

 Here’s what the Bible says about sharing your faith

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” (Mark 16:15)

Therefore…

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:2)

“Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.” (Psalms 96:3)

Mike Frenchbible promises, preach, some will sneer, some will wait, somw will believe, share christ
Mercy and Grace at the right time!

“We may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16b)

Grace and Mercy to you from God!

  • Grace means to get something that you do not deserve; unmerited favor.

  • Mercy means you do not get a punishment that you deserve instead you receive; compassion and forbearance.

God is abundant in grace and mercy!

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

His greatest act of grace is the gift of salvation available for all people through faith in Jesus

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”  (Eph.:8-9)

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3:23)

When the gift of salvation is accepted, eternal life is promised to the recipient

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved.”  (Eph. 2:4)

Mike Frenchbible promises, mercy, grace, mercy and grace
God commendeth His love to us!

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8)

Never attack the person you disagree with personally!

It really bothers me to see people who claim to be followers of Christ viciously attacking other believers who they disagree with. This is rampant on social media sites. Yes, false doctrines and false teachings should always be exposed, but never in an attacking, non-loving way. Never attack the person you disagree with personally! Too often, religious people resort to personal criticism, gossip, lies, and accusations. By doing this, they become no better than the lost people out in the world.

“If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25)

“But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.” (Gal. 5:15)

Love others the way God loves you!

How has He loved us? He loved us while we were “yet sinners,” before we accepted and received his gift of salvation. (Rom. 5:8)

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)

Therefore…

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

Mike Frenchbible promises, god commendeth his love, love, god loves you, love others, don’t attack orhers
You may abound in every good work!

“May abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8b)

The key to being successful in life is being able to make the right decisions in what you do. And, that is possible because you have the mind of Christ. 

“But we have the mind of Christ.” (2 Cor 2:16b). 

God gives you wisdom, just ask

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5). 

This means you are able, through God’s involvement in your decision making, abound in every good work!

A wonderful Back-up plan

If for some reason you make a mistake, similarly to a GPS system, God can fix it for you. He will “recalculate” for you and get you pointed back towards the right direction.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”  (Prov. 16:9)

Therefore…

“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:6)

Mike Frenchbible promises, abound in good work, abounding in god
Let us do good to all people!

“Let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Gal. 6:9b)

As opportunities to serve others come your way, don’t get tired of doing good deeds and helping them because eventually it will pay off! And, this is especially true for fellow Christians. Christians are fellow family members and should take care of one another. 

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Heb. 6:10)

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Therefore…

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (2 Peter 4:10)

Mike Frenchbible promises, serve one another, do good, serve others, serve god, help others
God searches your heart and tests your mind

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jer. 17:10 ESV)

God knows and searches all hearts

“And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:27 ESV)

The heart is deceitful above all things

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9 ESV)

“…the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” (1 Chron. 28:9 ESV)

Above all guard your heart!

”Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Prov 4:23 NIV)

Use God’s living Word to search your thoughts and intentions

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12 ESV)

He helps you in your weakness

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Rom. 8:26 ESV)

Therefore…

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)

“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” (Prov. 30:8 ESV)

Mike French