1 Corinthians 15:21-26 Destroying Death
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 2, 2020 1 Corinthians 15:21-26
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
(Understanding the Text) Adam was not supposed to die, but he chose a path that leads to death. Adam was the first human. In Him was a power to regenerate after his own image. If he had kept relationship with God, that regeneration would have been of a trusting people who were full of love, but Adam’s decision altered his genetics. Adam’s lack of repentance altered who his descendants would be. Death entered our genetics. But Jesus reversed that process. He chose to live in a new way, which was actually the original way. He chose to go to the cross because in the process, He became the new template for mankind. When the time comes, we will be transformed genetically into new humans who are patterned after Jesus. He is our progenitor now. Even Adam will be grafted back in as a branch from Jesus.
(Revelation of God) Paul points out that we are not resurrected until Jesus’ coming. We sleep until Jesus comes to bring all his human descendants back to be presented to the Father. The kingdom was taken away from God and given to Satan by Adam. Adam gave his loyalty to Satan rather than God. As the new human representative, Jesus can choose who we will follow. He chooses the Father. Thus, He will bring those of us who chose to be with Him to present us to the universe as His kingdom and to show the universe that humans now are part of the Father’s kingdom. We are not in rebellion anymore.
A time will come when death itself will be a faint memory. Now, it dominates our thoughts and lives, but a time will come when the idea of death is meaningless. There will only be life. That is Jesus’ ultimate goal–to save as many of us as He can for life. The only way we can live is in connection to Him. That connection is faith, hope, and love. His love for us draws a corresponding love for Him.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that Jesus is my king. He is my Friend, yes, but He is also my King. He is my leader who represents me before the Father, not because the Father doesn’t love me, but because my lack of faith and love separates me from the Father, but Jesus bridges that connection. Thank You, Jesus, for loving me enough to form a connection to me that transforms me into life and away from death. Help me to see that life, even when I am surrounded by death and death worshippers. I pray to point them to life and away from death also.