Death is Swallowed Up in Victory

There are parts of a marriage that are private. Just as, I suppose, there are pieces of a relationship with God and Christ Jesus that can be deemed as personal and intimate. But other things about a marriage are public and I feel the same can be said regarding faith. Like a wedding ceremony, baptism is an open declaration of love and commitment. There are just certain behaviors that go hand in hand with the union of a husband and wife as with receiving grace and the Holy Spirit. A single person behaves differently than one with a spouse likewise an unbeliever from one who believes.

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV)

When I ponder the question, "Why blog?" I feel the above scripture sums it up nicely... to not only "share the gospel of God but also" a bit of myself (however awkward that may be at times) because the body of Christ, (those yet to be, and even those who are not) are "very dear" to me.

In the Lord Your Labor is Not in Vain

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

"Death is swallowed up in victory."

"O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ESV)