^“’But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ‘I Am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ He is not the God of the dead but of the living.’” When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.”  Matthew 22:31-33 (NIV)

Dear God, One small journey through Your Word and the pattern of death being swallowed up in life emerges and thrills us. Cain killed his brother Able, and Adam and Eve received a son in Able’s place (Genesis 4:25). Abraham offered Isaac on the altar and received his son back alive (Genesis 22:12). Isaac lost his son, Jacob, because he fled for his life to Harran. He and receives him back with many sons. (Genesis 27:43). Jacob lost Joseph, his son, to treachery and receives him back alive as ruler in Egypt (Genesis 45:16-18). Bathsheba lost her first-born son, and receives consolation in Solomon, a son and king (2 Samuel 12:24). A widow lost her son in death, and receives him back alive through Elijah, Your prophet (1 Kings 17:21-23). 

Another widow was burying her son, and Jesus, You presented him back alive to his mother (Luke 7:14,15). In Your parable, a father lost his prodigal son and receives him back from the “dead” (Luke 15:31,32). Mary and Martha lost their beloved brother, Lazarus, and You gave him back, from out of the grave (John 11:43,44). Your Father sacrificed His Only Son, and received You back alive as Victor over Death (Matthew 28:5-7). All Your created souls were lost to Your Father, and Jesus, You brought them back as Living Children of God (1John 3:1)! You set aside the Children of Israel, but one day, You, Beloved Son, will bring them back to the Father, alive (Romans 11:26)!

Your book is filled and overflowing with the accounts of people lost and found, dead and now alive. In it we see Your amazing heart of love and redeeming power displayed. Through it, we come to know You and Your over-arching desire to save and restore. We are witnesses, returned to You, and amazingly alive!

In Jesus Name Forever!

Photo Credit: Knut Troim, https://unsplash.com/photos/uu-_JuKe3P8