“For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).

In Adam, all die.  This age is filled with sinful people who have been doomed to death and destruction.  It is of our own bringing.  When we tell the Lord we do not want His presence, how then can we expect His mercy?  Yet, He has come that all who turn to Him, though they die, yet shall they live.  This is the Gospel that He offers.  Come to Christ and live in Him, now and forever.

Lord, it is so simple, but I often find myself confused, but then, You have told me who the author of confusion is.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may no longer be confused, but know that in You is true life.  Take my hand and teach me to follow You in all of Your ways and know the true life You infuse to all believers.  Teach me to walk in all of Your ways and live in the hope of eternal life.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth that I may walk with You leading me.  Let me not look to this world which is confused, but to You who is the author of all life.  In You is the hope for all who are living in this sinful age.  Redeem me that I would forever abide in You and You in me.  Amen.

“If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:19-20).

The very thing the world accuses us of is what they believe. They believe Christ was a mythical creature and that no one has ever risen from the dead.  Of course, if they are right, we are to be pitied. But Christ has risen from the dead and this is at the heart of our faith. So stand firm against those who think you crazy. Denying the Lord of all creation is truly what is crazy.

Lord, I too often fall prey to the forceful and insistent voices of this age which are hostile against You. Help me to see this for what it is knowing that in You alone is all hope. You have risen from the dead and because You live, I too shall live. Help me to be bold in this faith You have given me that I may stand firm in a hostile world which does not want to believe the truth.

Lord Jesus, You have come to me and called me by my name. You have reached into my life to give me Your life. Help me, O Lord, to live into this life which You have given me. Guide me that I may learn to abide in You as You abide in me. Prepare me as I need to be prepared that I would become whom You are making me to be. Resurrect me with You now and forever. Amen.

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” (1 Corinthians 15:17-18).

How important is this? It is the backbone of the hope we have been given. Jesus was not just some good guy that taught us some good things. If He is not God in the flesh, if He did not rise from the dead, then there is no hope. It is not about being good, but about becoming children of God. Live then in the hope you have been given through the resurrection; Christ has been raised!

Lord, so many things are said that confuse and confound. Lead me through these things to see that my hope is eternal because of what You have done. Guide me in the truth of Your salvation that I may know and not just hope in my mind the truth of the resurrection. Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life that I may now and always abide in You as You abide in me.

Lord Jesus. Lord of the living and the dead, lead me in the upward path of faith that I may now and always abide humbly with You, following where You lead. Guide me in Your goodness to see through the haze of this world’s tirades to live out the faith You have given me. Guide me now and always in the hope of the resurrection that because You live, I too shall live. Amen.

“Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised” (1 Corinthians 15:15-16)

We believe and confess the resurrection of the dead. In the face of what so-called moderns often deny, it is an essential part of the faith. It all hinges on Christ being the only Begotten Son, died, buried, and resurrected. If Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too shall be raised. This is the hope given us through the resurrection. Christ has been raised from the dead!

Lord, help me to see through the fog of this generation which does all it can to discredit the greatest thing that has happened in history. Help me to see that we do not have a faith built on fables, but facts. Help me to know that because Christ lives, I too shall live. Like Job, help me to hope in the declaration that even after my skin has been destroyed, I myself shall live and see my Redeemer.

Lord Jesus, though the world calls you a fable, You have come and revealed Your glory to one as lowly as me. Help me to simply follow You all the days of my life here until that day when I stand before You face to face. Guide me in hope and wisdom that I may not be unbelieving, but believing, doing those things You give me to do. May my life become all that You intend through Your grace. Amen.

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain” (1 Corinthians 15:13-14).

Are there important things to remember? Yes! Our faith is not built upon wishful thinking, but upon the truth of what God has done. He has accomplished salvation for us, therefore, we ought not live as people who have no hope. Instead, live into the life of faith you have been given knowing that Christ has been raised from the dead and because He lives, you too live in Him.

Lord, this world denies things based upon lies. Help me see through the lies of this age that I may live in the hope of the resurrection that You give. Guide my mind to be assured in the truth of the never-ending glory You have revealed. Because Christ lives, I shall live. Because Christ was raised from the dead, I shall be raised. These things are a part of the truth You have revealed for all to see.

Lord Jesus, You are not some ancient figure as the some in this world now declare. You came back from the dead that we might have the abundant and eternal life that comes through faith. Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life that I may abide in You and You in me forever. Remove all doubts and fears that I may faithfully and humbly live into this life that You have given. Amen.

“Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:11-12)

I have saved no one. I do not have a tally of those who have come into a saving relationship with the Lord because of any words I have spoken. Whether I or they, it is the moving of the Holy Spirit and the will of the Father that brings any to that eternal relationship made possible by grace. “Jesus saves” is a true saying. I am a part, but He is the Whole. Come then and do your part that God may be glorified.

It was never intended that the world would rest upon any one of our shoulders. It has always been intended that we, the created, would depend upon the Lord who is the Creator of all, Live in this relationship which the Lord has created and be content with the grace given you. Be thankful that He has opened your eyes and ears to see and hear the truth of the Gospel.

Lord Jesus, You have come that as many as believe would not perish but have everlasting life. Lead me in the goodness Your grace supplies that I may be a part of Your eternal kingdom. Let me not be caught up in the wicked schemes of the devil, but in the glorious truth of Your appearing. Guide me by Your grace to live the life to which You have called me that I may learn to be faithful in all things. Amen

“For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10).

We are whom we are. By the grace of God, we have been appointed in the time and place in which we find ourselves. Come then in the grace you have received and be a workman for the cause to which You have been given. Do not be as the world looking for places of self-appointment, but be content in what the Lord has given you that you may be pleasing in His sight.

Lord, the world is constantly looking for upward mobility. Guide me in the way of truth that I may be content with the grace You have given me. Guide me according to Your will that I would now and always abide in You and do those things You give me to do. Lead me according to Your grace that I may reflect the truth of Your presence in my life now and always.

Lord Jesus, You did not come as One who seemed superior in any way, but as a servant of all. You through whom all things have their being did not seek to be the center, but You are the center. Lead me in Your example that I would now and always humbly abide in You as You abide in me. Guide me to do those things for which I have been appointed with thankfulness and humility. Amen.

“Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also” (1 Corinthians 15:7-8).

The sin of pride is in all of us. We are whom the Lord has made and we are not our own. The freedom Christ gives through grace is not a freedom to do as we please, but to become whom the Lord is making us to be. Do not be caught off guard, nor think more highly of yourself, but think in terms of what the Lord has said. See all that He is and lift Him up above all things; including yourself.

Lord, help me see where I do have issues of the self above others. Let me learn to be content in You and in all situations. Guide me according to Your goodness to come into Your presence with thanksgiving and live the life You have given me to live. Lead me in the way of truth that I may learn from You and be guided through the grace You give to live the life You have created for me.

Lord Jesus, You came as a servant and modeled the godly life. Lead me in the example You have given to live for You and not for myself. Help me to see beyond myself and see those places where I place myself first. Guide me now and always that I would walk with You, doing what is pleasing to the Father. In all things, teach me how to praise, thank and worship You for all things. Amen.

“And that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:5-6)

When one asks for proof, they are often referring to the scientific method. One can prove nothing in history in this way. What has happened cannot be repeated. However, when one asks for witnesses, five hundred is something altogether different. We are all called to be a witness of the resurrected Christ through the reality of our lives being changed by His grace and mercy.

Lord, this age has become very demanding, wanting proofs and yelling you down when the answer you give is not to someone’s liking. Lead me, Lord, away from the cacophony of insanity this world yells to hear Your gentle voice speaking to me in the quiet times of my life. Guide me Lord according to Your goodness that I would abide with You, walk with You, and listen to You.

Lord Jesus, it really was no different in Your day. Even Paul who wrote this was, before that time, hostile and against You until You called him into Your service. Guide me, Lord, in Your goodness that I would walk with You in spite of the noise and confusion of this age. Help me to be one of Your witnesses living out the truth of the Gospel now and always. Lead me, Lord, that I would abide in You now and always. Amen.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

The heart of the Gospel is that the Lord has done what needs to be done. We love to talk about it, think about it, ponder over it; but never lose sight of the simple fact that Christ has accomplished what needs to be done. This is the thing of first importance. Realizing that Christ has died for our sins, what then? Live in Christ and know that He has accomplished salvation for you.

Lord, You have commanded that we learn to obey all that You have commanded. You have also done all that is needed for salvation. In between these two is the reality of life in this age. Lead me to walk between the law, which is good, and the salvation You have accomplished, which is my hope. In this place, as far as I am able, help me to live in the law. Beyond that remind me that it is You who accomplishes all that needs to be done.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world in order that all who believe might be saved. Guide me in the goodness of the law and of Your salvation. Lead me to know that in You alone is all hope and glory. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of the freedom You have purchased that I may abide in You as You abide in me. Guide me, O Lord, and teach me to follow You in all of Your ways. Amen.