The Deaf Devo from The Deaf Missions in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States "The Leaning Tree" Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 for Tuesday, 14 February 20171 Corinthians 15:50 Let me say this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot share in the Kingdom of God, nor can something that decays share in what does not decay. 51 Look, I will tell you a secret — not all of us will die! But we will all be changed! 52 It will take but a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever, and we too will be changed. 53 For this material which can decay must be clothed with imperishability, this which is mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 When what decays puts on imperishability and what is mortal puts on immortality, then this passage in the Tanakh will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.[1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8]
55 “Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?”[1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14 ]
56 The sting of death is sin; and sin draws its power from the Torah; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!
58 So, my dear brothers, stand firm and immovable, always doing the Lord’s work as vigorously as you can, knowing that united with the Lord your efforts are not in vain.
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Our neighbors had a large spruce tree in their yard. Last year they dug up the tree and moved it to another place in their yard. But soon after the tree was replanted, we had some very strong winds. The tree started to lean and did not stand straight any more.
Why did the tree start to lean? Because the winds blew before the tree's root system was firmly planted in the ground. The tree had no support system to hold it straight. So finally my neighbors decided to attach ropes to the trunk of the tree. Then they fastened these ropes to stakes in the ground.
Sometimes people are like that tree. They do not have a strong faith. These people do not read the Bible, pray or obey God's commands. They are like the leaning tree. Because they do not have a relationship with God, they move away from God. In our Bible verses today, Paul reminds us to stand strong. We can be like a tree that stands tall and straight.[Carol Whitney]
"So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don't let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord."[1 Corinthians 15:58a]
PRAYER: Dear God, I want to stand strong for You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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