Getting Closer – The Presidential Prayer Team

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. – 1 Corinthians 15:19

Have you ever planned an exciting trip? Perhaps your state is landlocked and you were headed for the ocean. Maybe you had a chance to visit another country. Or it was winter and you were heading somewhere sunny. You probably looked forward to it with great anticipation. Believers in Christ have better travel plans than an exciting vacation. Christians have the hope of spending an eternity with God in heaven, a perfect place where there’s no sickness, sorrow, or death.

In Paul’s day, there was a rumor going around that there was no resurrection. the apostle probably could hardly believe his ears that people of the church were saying those things. If there is no resurrection, Paul explained, Christ wasn’t raised and believers are still dead in their sin, his preaching was in vain and all that he suffered for the gospel was useless. The church would be a miserable lot of people! As it says in today’s verse, they would be “people most to be pitied.”

But Christ did rise from the dead. He did promise eternal life. Believers are not to be pitied because the hope of Christ is for all eternity. As you pray for the country, pray for softened hearts toward the gospel (Ezekiel 11:19). Pray for workers to be sent into His harvest (Mark 9:38). Be prepared to share the hope you have in Christ with those around you (1 Peter 3:15). As you grow older, be encouraged that you are getting closer to that final wonderful destination.

Today’s Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:19

¹⁹If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Philippians 3:7-11, 17-21

⁷But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

¹⁷Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.