WELS: Today's Devotion - Alive to God – November 14, 2016

View this email in your browser Alive to God – November 14, 2016 [Jesus said,] “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Luke 20:38 Alive to God Daily Devotion – November 14, 2016 Devotion based on Luke 20:38 See series: Devotions Many people hope that, if God does exist, they will be able to live with him in heaven. Unfortunately for those who do not have faith in Jesus, this is a baseless hope which ends only in disaster. In contrast, Jesus helps me understand what it means to be alive to God. He also provides the assurance I need to know that I will live with him forever. Jesus’ words appear to be challenging. He said, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” There are two implications. The first is how God views those who die. When this life comes to an end, people don’t simply fade into nothingness. God still recognizes and preserves the soul, namely the life-giving force he placed into all people. This leads to a second, and greater implication. How does that soul remain alive to God? The answer is found in only one place and with only one person. In the Bible, God’s Word of truth for every age, he reveals the person to whom I need to hold. It is through Jesus and his precious work that I have every confidence I am alive to God. In Jesus, I escape the justice of my disobedience. I am set free from the condemnation of my sin. In Jesus, I am released from the sentence of God’s eternal punishment. I am declared not guilty of all charges against me. In Jesus, I am liberated from the tyranny of death and the grave which pursue me. I will live even though my body is embraced by the dust of the earth. My confidence comes as the result of Jesus’ blessed assurance. He promised, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26). It is only because of Jesus’ precious work and his never-failing promise that I have this confidence: I am alive to God, and I will live with him forever. Prayer: O gracious God, Lord of life and death, bless me with the gift of faith which not only takes hold of eternal life, but which also holds on to the source of that life–my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Print PDF Share Tweet Devotions | Subscription Help   Copyright © 2016 Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or subscribed to one of our newsletters. Unsubscribe  - CHANGE EMAIL SETTINGS Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive Waukesha, WI 53188 Add us to your address book Note: Recipients of this forwarded e-mail will be able to access your subscription preferences.