This week's posts from our series Hope: When Life Hurts Most come from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  Here we find the Apostle Paul helping a group of new Jesus followers to understand what happens AFTER we die.  The words are filled with hope.  One of the key statements is found in verse thirteen.  It reminds us that we don't grieve like people who have no hope.  It doesn't tell us not to grieve, but to grieve with hope.  Let's look at the entire passage right now:  ¹³And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.  ¹⁵We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.  ¹⁷Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.   ¹⁸So encourage each other with these words. 

As we move through the week, we'll take a verse by verse look at the passage and see why Jesus' followers have reason to hope even in the face of death.  The words are not hollow platitudes for me, as you may know.  Our family has been going through the death of Jon Marshall, my nephew, the past couple of weeks.  I give thanks to God that in the midst of the grief, there is hope--eternal hope, and the ultimate assurance of victory in and through Jesus Christ!

I hope you'll be able to join us in worship today as we celebrate God's love and truth together, as we read and reflect on His word, and as we encourage one another in Jesus' love and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Our worship times are 8:45 and 10:15 a.m. and we meet at the South Butler Primary School on Knoch Road in Saxonburg, PA.   I hope to see YOU there!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for loving us enough to give us hope in EVERY situation of our lives through the redeeming love of Jesus, and the ongoing presence of Your Spirit.  Fill us with that Spirit now, that we may love You with our whole hearts, and share Your love and life with others.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.