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Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Listen: 1 Thessalonians 4

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

After Paul leaves Thessalonica, some of the believers there pass away. Those left behind wonder if their loved ones have missed out on Jesus’s return. They didn’t have a written record of Jesus’s teachings yet. This letter is one of the earliest written New Testament Scriptures. So, Paul responds to their question with the truth that Christ will return, along with all those “who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Paul’s words encourage these believers. They are free to grieve, but they can do so with the hope of resurrection and eternal life. Their grief should look different than the culture around them, one that has no hope of heaven.

The hope that inspired these believers to endure loss and grief is the same hope that should inspire and encourage us today. Jesus is coming back! He will bring with him all “who have fallen asleep in him.” We have the unshakable hope of seeing beloved believers again in the life to come. So, though grieving is normal and needed for processing loss, we can grieve without despair. We have unshakable hope in light of Christ’s sure return.

TODAY: The holidays can be especially challenging for those who have lost loved ones. Paul concludes this section with the instruction to “encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Think of a grieving person you know. Ask God how to encourage that person this season. Consider sending a thoughtful card, writing a note of encouragement or visiting.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Nehemiah 1-2. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Note Nehemiah’s heart for Jerusalem. Reflect on Jesus’s heart for Jerusalem and his people (Luke 19:41-44).