Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

The context of Paul’s earthly tent passage is Paul’s jars of clay passage.  He is defending his speaking ministry by saying that he speaks by faith, “knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (4:14). His faith is not in a conscious intermediate state, but in the resurrection from the dead.  He does not want to be found naked (the intermediate state) but to be clothed with immortal life at the resurrection (5:4).  Since he has this hope, he is able to face tribulation and death confidently, knowing that anything he faces in this life is but a “light momentary affliction” (4:17).  His hope is in a permanent “building from God” (5:1).

LORD, we put our faith in you, and confidently expect you to bring us out of this temporary state and into a permanent one.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

Acts 1.  Luke’s Gospel was about what Jesus began to do and teach (1). Acts was about what he would continue to do and teach through his witnesses. He told his followers that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and empower them to witness, wherever he sent them — even to the end of the earth (8). Peter understood that to be a witness is to testify that Christ has been raised from the dead (22). That fact has validated all of what Jesus did and taught. Because he is risen we know that he will come again. Because he is risen — not because of us– we know that he will keep his promise to give us eternal life. This changes everything.

LORD, we trust not in our nature, but in your resurrection.

Republished from marmsky.wordpress.com with permission

What does one do when he is treated unfairly by someone so wealthy and powerful that he fears no human law or justice? This is the riddle that the sons of Korah pose in psalm 49. The answer isTRUST GOD.  Here are the reasons: 1) No one has enough money to escape death (7-9). 2) Death will reduce the powerful to dust. They will perish just like the beasts (12,20).  3) After death, everyone goes to Sheol (the death state) and is totally dependent upon God for deliverance. Only the righteous have hope beyond the grave. God promises to ransom their souls from Sheol’s power, and receive them back to life (14-15). They will awake, and be satisfied with God’s likeness (Ps. 17:15).

LORD, when people make trouble for us, and there is nothing that we can do, help us to trust in your justice.