Paul answers a question many of us think about at times – what happens after we die? Actually, in this instance he only addresses a question about believers in Jesus who pass on before the rest of us. But his answer blows me away.

Paul shares a hopeful message—God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep (died) in him. Then Paul paints an astonishing picture of an unknowable day in the future—The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After the trumpet sounds, and the dead rise, those followers of Jesus still alive (who didn’t die of a heart attack already) will be caught up in the clouds and meet Jesus in the air.

As we join the Lord in the clouds, those of us who follow Jesus (I’m aspiring to that hopeful group) will meet many of our ancestors for the first time.

I wonder—will we know each other’s names?

Will I recognize my great-great-great-grandfather (assuming he and I are both there)? Will he recognize me? Will I know the names of my fellow believers from India and China and Egypt and Iran and Delaware?

Reunions involve lots of introductions, long stories, comments about what young person looks like what old person, and sharing the twists and turns of life.

But this get-together in the air promises much more. The result? We will be with the Lord forever.

I have a feeling we’ll know each other’s names. As Paul writes, encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4 in week twenty-five of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Nick Scheerbart

After writing yesterday on the power of the words we speak, I opened up to 1 Thessalonians early this morning to read Paul’s relief and gratitude upon hearing a good report from the church in Thessalonica.

Timothy carried the news to Paul, who in his relief relayed back, Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

Proverbs tells us that good news from afar is like cold water to a weary soul. Paul experienced a long, cold drink in the news from up north. The refreshment pushed Paul and his team forward in their mission.

The church stood firm, the people held to the faith, and the love of God spread through Macedonia to the whole world.

1 Thessalonians 3 in week twenty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Laura Chouette

The Bible says a lot about the way we speak, often warning of the destructive potential of the tongue. But the flip side also gets mentioned—the power of well-spoken words.

Here are three such encouragements from the book of Proverbs:

Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land (25:25).

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone (25:15).

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips (24:26).

When we speak truth with grace our words heal, and bring hope, and move people to do great things.

In a world filled with bellowing, featuring an endless cacophony of speech, I find it more important than ever to slow down and speak well.

Week twenty-four of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Juri Gianfrancesco