Living Free - January 19, 2016

Today's Scripture

"It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies." - (1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NLT)

Thoughts for Today

This week we are looking at issues we may have to deal with when we come face-to-face with death. Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross describes stages of dying.⁽¹⁾ Today we are looking at anger.

Anger can be directed in many directions:

• At God for letting it happen
• At the physician for bringing the bad news
• At survivors because they are going to continue to live
• At oneself for not taking better precautions against accident or disease

Anger often strikes without warning and is directed indiscriminately. Dr. Billie David has said, "The anger subsides more quickly when it is allowed to run its course with as little reaction from others as possible."⁽²⁾

Consider this …

If you are working your way through this kind of anger, you may find help by meditating on today's scripture. This time of pain is temporary. If you belong to Jesus, God promises eternal life . . . glory to replace brokenness  . . .  strength to replace weakness.

If you've never received Jesus as your savior, it's not too late. These promises can be yours if you believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins and reach out to him for forgiveness.

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. (Romans 3:22-25 NLT)

Prayer

Lord, thank you for being with me even while I work through this time of anger. I do believe your son, Jesus, died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me and receive me as your child. In Jesus' name . . .

⁽¹⁾ Kubler-Ross, Elizabeth (1969). On Death and Dying. New York: Macmillan.
⁽²⁾ Davis, Billie C. (1984). Teaching to Meet Crisis Needs. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, p. 93.

These thoughts were drawn from …

Handling Loss and Grief: How to Face Losses in Life and Grieve Christianlyby Raymond T. Brock, Ed.D. This study teaches participants what the Bible has to say about handling the losses of life. It offers biblical coping methods for facing loss.