Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "No Sting" Sunday, 29 June 2014 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.(1 Corinthians 15:56-57)
Ours is a world which is both frightened -- and fascinated -- by
death. When people come upon an accident, in horror they put their hands over their eyes, and then they open their fingers so they can get a glimpse of the wreckage. Death is all around us, but many prefer never to speak its name. That's why, rather than saying a person has died, some prefer to say, he "bit the bullet," "bought the farm," "cashed in his chips," "crossed the river," "flat-lined," "went to the happy hunting ground," "kicked the bucket," "is pushing up daisies," "has rung down the curtain," or been "de-animated."
In truth, it's difficult to write about the "whys?" and "how comes?" of death for millions of people.
It is difficult because a fair percentage of folks have problems with death, in general. Some think if they ignore death, it will go away. There are others who think there is no point in talking about the questions of death because no answers are possible, and all discussion is just suspicion and speculation. Of course, there are those who don't like to speak of death because it is too close. Perhaps a loved one is ill, or someone in your family or friendship has recently died. For you, the subject is a painful one.
The truth is I wouldn't broach the subject at all if it weren't for the fact that the Bible speaks of death.
The Bible tells how, because of humankind's deliberate disregard of the Creator's single commandment, sin was born into this world, bringing death and a pantheon of other evils along with it. Scripture speaks of how no person, at least on his own, can defeat death. Medicine may advance and find cures for cancer and the common cold, but each of us will die. There is no fountain of youth that remains undiscovered; there is no plastic surgery that can guarantee perpetuality; there is no cloning procedure that will make you indestructible, invincible, invulnerable.
All of us are going to die.
This is why you need to know two things.
First, you need to know the Lord doesn't delight in death. On the contrary, God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift (see James 1:17), including the gifts of forgiveness, salvation, resurrection, and best of all, His Son, our Savior.
This takes us to the second thing you need to know: God hates death as much, even more, than you do.
If circumstances have caused you to doubt the truth of that statement, even in the least little bit, then I encourage you to look at the price God was willing to pay so death, your death, might be destroyed. Look into the manger of Bethlehem and see God's Son, Jesus. See your Savior who left heaven's glory to enter a world of sorrow and sadness, where He would be a sacred Sacrifice to pay sin's debt. See Him live His entire life as that Sacrifice. See Him as He sacrificed His will, His happiness, and the world's joys.
Yes, see how Jesus turned down the joys of this world so He might die on the cross for us. There He endured our punishment; there He carried our sins. There, for us, He fulfilled all that had been asked of Him. Then, with His glorious third-day resurrection from the dead, He let the world know ... He let us know that death had been defeated and the grave had been conquered.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for Your love that has granted me victory over the grave, I give thanks. May my attitude be shown in my words and life so others may see that in Jesus death has lost its sting. In Jesus' Name I pray it. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours, Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
Ecclesiastes 4:1 Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive. 3 Yes, better than them both is him who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4 Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
5 The fool folds his hands together and ruins himself. 6 Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.
7 Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone? 12 If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more. 14 For out of prison he came out to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor. 15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him. 16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
5:1 Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil. 2 Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words. 4 When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.
8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.
10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?
12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.
13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. 14 Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind? 17 All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.
18 Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.
6:1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy on men: 2 a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
3 If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that a stillborn child is better than he: 4 for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. 5 Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other. 6 Yes, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet fails to enjoy good, don’t all go to one place? 7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. 10 Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he. 11 For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man? 12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
Acts 9:23 When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26 When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 He was with them entering into[Acts 9:28 TR and NU add “and going out”] Jerusalem, 29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.[Acts 9:29 TR and NU omit “Jesus” and reverse the order of verses 28 & 29.] He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists,[Acts 9:29 The Hellenists were Hebrews who used Greek language and culture.] but they were seeking to kill him. 30 When the brothers[Acts 9:30 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”] knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32 As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose. 35 All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated, means Dorcas.[Acts 9:36 “Dorcas” is Greek for “Gazelle.”] This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. 37 In those days, she became sick, and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men[Acts 9:38 Reading from NU, TR; MT omits “two men”] to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
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